Web site changes on the NASCAR.COM horizon
New look, interactive racing application, Community and more
NASCAR.COM
January 22, 2007
10:11 AM EST (15:11 GMT)
• TRACKPASS RACEVIEW SCREEN SHOT
• NASCAR.COM REDESIGN SCREEN SHOT
• INFIELD COMMUNITY SCREEN SHOT
Turner Sports New Media and NASCAR on Monday announced plans for two innovative online initiatives designed to enhance the interactive experience for one of the top sports league Web sites on the Internet.
On Feb. 1, NASCAR.COM will relaunch with a new look and cutting-edge features. The redesign marks the first since 2002. Exclusive features will include TrackPass RaceView, a 3-D application that features animation similar to that of popular sports video games, which is the ultimate way for fans to follow their favorite NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver during a race.
The redesign also marks the launch of the Infield Community on NASCAR.COM, a unique online social gathering space for NASCAR fans to interact.
"NASCAR.COM has broadened offerings and services, as well as enhanced consumer applications to add a new dimension of interactivity that brings fans closer to the race action on the track. In addition, the TrackPass Scanner product has been significantly improved to include access to more in-car audio feeds so every fan can experience a greater number of live in-car communications," said Lenny Daniels, senior vice president of production and new media, Turner Sports.
"We're proud to continue to lead the charge in providing cutting-edge technology products, such as TrackPass RaceView, to race fans and give them better access to all things NASCAR. NASCAR.COM prides itself on being innovative, and as a partner in the sport we will continue to lead the way in providing the most ground-breaking and technologically advanced products and services."
TrackPass RaceView is an unparalleled interactive racing experience that gives fans the ultimate way to follow their favorite driver alongside the race telecast. Multiple data-rendered views are available for every driver throughout every NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race. Cutting-edge technology, powered by Sportvision, generates instant race data that displays onto the computer screen, showing drivers' positions and movements to within a few inches at all times.
Fans can select one driver or switch among the full field of drivers to follow them around the track, during pit stops, cautions and lead changes while viewing driver data such as live position, speed and time behind leader; they can also listen to all available in-car audio feeds.
Three different race views are available for each driver, including Lead View, which shows the front of the driver's car, as well as, the cars in pursuit; Flyover View, an aerial view from above; and Draft View, which shows the car from behind and the field in front of the driver. Other enhancements include pit road statistics, lap-by-lap editorial commentary and a fantasy game integration.
"NASCAR is very excited that with Turner Sports New Media and Sportvision we can once again set new standards for serving the fans with creative, comprehensive, precedent-setting interactive content and experiences," said Dick Glover, vice president of broadcasting and new media, NASCAR Digital Entertainment.
"The RaceView application represents the first-ever live rendering of a major sporting event in 3-D, providing fans the most dynamic interactive experience ever developed," said Hank Adams, CEO, Sportvision. "RaceView is at the forefront of a new wave of convergence applications that will change the way fans interact with and watch with their sport."
TrackPass RaceView will be available exclusively on NASCAR.COM beginning Feb. 15 for $12.95 per month or $79.95 annually and requires broadband access. The application builds on the technology of the existing TrackPass PitCommand, an Emmy-award winning application that allows fans to follow their drivers using 2-D animation.
TrackPass PitCommand will continue to be available with basic Internet access for $9.95 a month or $64.95 annually and will be upgraded to provide in-car audio feeds. NASCAR.COM will also continue to offer TrackPass Scanner, a popular product for fans that simply want to hear drivers and their crews communicate during the race reacting to situations on the track.
The scanner is $4.95 a month or $29.95 a year. Existing TrackPass PitCommand members will receive a $10 discount off of the annual price if they upgrade to TrackPass RaceView during Speedweeks.
The new NASCAR.COM site will offer a simpler, sleeker, and more immersive online experience giving fans even more news, stats, and video of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Race footage and replays of NASCAR races will be available on the site's own free broadband channel, which will also host exclusive content such as pre-race and post-race shows and NASCAR 24/7, a daily video update of NASCAR news, in addition to other features and footage not available elsewhere. NASCAR.COM will also incorporate TNT broadcast race announcers through online features and contributions throughout the season.
The Infield Community on NASCAR.COM will create a "track away from the track" experience where fans can meet, upload their own photos and videos and create personalized pages. The Infield Community is free to all fans and establishes a sense of belonging while giving them a way to share interests and stay connected.
Fans can create their own 'crews' based on their interests or affiliations with drivers, teams, tracks, series, geography and programs. Infield members can easily navigate through the Infield Community section using their personal dashboard, which provides instant access back to personal information, networks and contributions.
Once the season starts, NASCAR.COM will engage members and crews in weekly community challenges that will eventually allow fans and crews to compete against each other.
The Infield Community will be available at the relaunch of NASCAR.COM on Feb. 1. Fans who already have a NASCAR.COM account can simply add the Infield to their account and instantly begin building their personalized pages.
Overview of TrackPass RaceView features:
• Three-dimensional rendering of racecars with instant track position information and multiple virtual views to give viewers the ultimate way to watch their favorite NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver
• Exclusive online in-car audio from all available feeds
• Toolbar display with pit road statistics, live position, speed, laps and time behind leader
• Other enhancements include lap-by-lap editorial commentary and fantasy game integration
• Requires computer broadband access
TrackPass RaceView -- $12.95 monthly, $79.95 annually
TrackPass PitCommand -- $9.95monthly, $64.95 annually
TrackPass Scanner -- $4.95 monthly, $29.95 annually
Overview of NASCAR.COM redesign features:
• Simpler, sleeker design allows for easy navigation within site and more immersive online experience with access to NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races, drivers, breaking news, products and series pages
• Broadband channel with exclusive content such as pre and post race shows and NASCAR 24/7.
• Contributions from NASCAR on TNT announcers.
Overview of the Infield Community on NASCAR.COM:
• A social networking site within NASCAR.COM to connect race fans with shared interests
• Allows fans to create personalized pages, upload photos and videos and meet other race fans with shared interests
• Not meant to replace mainstream social networking sites, the Infield focuses on NASCAR-specifics with information such as how long a user has been a race fan, favorite track, favorite driver, best race memories, etc.
• Advertisers can host pages on the Infield to interact with fans and crews and can tie into their own sponsored content on the Web site
About NASCAR.COM
Turner Sports New Media (TSNM), the interactive division of Turner Sports, Inc., acquired all of NASCAR's interactive rights in October 2000 and became the exclusive producer of NASCAR.COM in January 2001. One of the fastest growing sports league Web sites, NASCAR.COM is home to broadband news coverage, fantasy games and the NASCAR.COM SuperStore. The site consistently ranks among the top sports league sites and was named one of the best sports Web sites on the Internet by BusinessWeek (October 2005).
Through September 2006, the site averaged 3.9 million unique users per month during the 2006 NASCAR season. Additionally, multimedia usage on NASCAR.COM is up 40% over 2005. In 2003, NASCAR.COM was awarded an Emmy® by the National Television Academy for its TrackPass PitCommand application.
Turner Sports, Inc., a Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on two networks -- TBS and TNT -- Turner Sports' line-up includes the NBA, NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, Major League Baseball, college football, professional golf, PGA.com, PGATOUR.com and ACCSelect.com.
About Sportvision
Sportvision, Inc. is the leading innovator of new media sports content and broadcast enhancements. A privately held corporation, Sportvision solutions have enhanced experiences for fans and marketing partners of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, NHL, IRL, PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, NCAA, MLS, NTRA and other sporting events on-air and online. The company has won eight Emmy Awards for its products, including three for their signature broadcast enhancements, the virtual yellow 1st and Ten? line and K Zone?, and three for its pioneering advanced media work with NASCAR. Sportvision can be found on the web at www.sportvision.com.
New look, interactive racing application, Community and more
NASCAR.COM
January 22, 2007
10:11 AM EST (15:11 GMT)
• TRACKPASS RACEVIEW SCREEN SHOT
• NASCAR.COM REDESIGN SCREEN SHOT
• INFIELD COMMUNITY SCREEN SHOT
Turner Sports New Media and NASCAR on Monday announced plans for two innovative online initiatives designed to enhance the interactive experience for one of the top sports league Web sites on the Internet.
On Feb. 1, NASCAR.COM will relaunch with a new look and cutting-edge features. The redesign marks the first since 2002. Exclusive features will include TrackPass RaceView, a 3-D application that features animation similar to that of popular sports video games, which is the ultimate way for fans to follow their favorite NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver during a race.
The redesign also marks the launch of the Infield Community on NASCAR.COM, a unique online social gathering space for NASCAR fans to interact.
"NASCAR.COM has broadened offerings and services, as well as enhanced consumer applications to add a new dimension of interactivity that brings fans closer to the race action on the track. In addition, the TrackPass Scanner product has been significantly improved to include access to more in-car audio feeds so every fan can experience a greater number of live in-car communications," said Lenny Daniels, senior vice president of production and new media, Turner Sports.
"We're proud to continue to lead the charge in providing cutting-edge technology products, such as TrackPass RaceView, to race fans and give them better access to all things NASCAR. NASCAR.COM prides itself on being innovative, and as a partner in the sport we will continue to lead the way in providing the most ground-breaking and technologically advanced products and services."
TrackPass RaceView is an unparalleled interactive racing experience that gives fans the ultimate way to follow their favorite driver alongside the race telecast. Multiple data-rendered views are available for every driver throughout every NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race. Cutting-edge technology, powered by Sportvision, generates instant race data that displays onto the computer screen, showing drivers' positions and movements to within a few inches at all times.
Fans can select one driver or switch among the full field of drivers to follow them around the track, during pit stops, cautions and lead changes while viewing driver data such as live position, speed and time behind leader; they can also listen to all available in-car audio feeds.
Three different race views are available for each driver, including Lead View, which shows the front of the driver's car, as well as, the cars in pursuit; Flyover View, an aerial view from above; and Draft View, which shows the car from behind and the field in front of the driver. Other enhancements include pit road statistics, lap-by-lap editorial commentary and a fantasy game integration.
"NASCAR is very excited that with Turner Sports New Media and Sportvision we can once again set new standards for serving the fans with creative, comprehensive, precedent-setting interactive content and experiences," said Dick Glover, vice president of broadcasting and new media, NASCAR Digital Entertainment.
"The RaceView application represents the first-ever live rendering of a major sporting event in 3-D, providing fans the most dynamic interactive experience ever developed," said Hank Adams, CEO, Sportvision. "RaceView is at the forefront of a new wave of convergence applications that will change the way fans interact with and watch with their sport."
TrackPass RaceView will be available exclusively on NASCAR.COM beginning Feb. 15 for $12.95 per month or $79.95 annually and requires broadband access. The application builds on the technology of the existing TrackPass PitCommand, an Emmy-award winning application that allows fans to follow their drivers using 2-D animation.
TrackPass PitCommand will continue to be available with basic Internet access for $9.95 a month or $64.95 annually and will be upgraded to provide in-car audio feeds. NASCAR.COM will also continue to offer TrackPass Scanner, a popular product for fans that simply want to hear drivers and their crews communicate during the race reacting to situations on the track.
The scanner is $4.95 a month or $29.95 a year. Existing TrackPass PitCommand members will receive a $10 discount off of the annual price if they upgrade to TrackPass RaceView during Speedweeks.
The new NASCAR.COM site will offer a simpler, sleeker, and more immersive online experience giving fans even more news, stats, and video of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Race footage and replays of NASCAR races will be available on the site's own free broadband channel, which will also host exclusive content such as pre-race and post-race shows and NASCAR 24/7, a daily video update of NASCAR news, in addition to other features and footage not available elsewhere. NASCAR.COM will also incorporate TNT broadcast race announcers through online features and contributions throughout the season.
The Infield Community on NASCAR.COM will create a "track away from the track" experience where fans can meet, upload their own photos and videos and create personalized pages. The Infield Community is free to all fans and establishes a sense of belonging while giving them a way to share interests and stay connected.
Fans can create their own 'crews' based on their interests or affiliations with drivers, teams, tracks, series, geography and programs. Infield members can easily navigate through the Infield Community section using their personal dashboard, which provides instant access back to personal information, networks and contributions.
Once the season starts, NASCAR.COM will engage members and crews in weekly community challenges that will eventually allow fans and crews to compete against each other.
The Infield Community will be available at the relaunch of NASCAR.COM on Feb. 1. Fans who already have a NASCAR.COM account can simply add the Infield to their account and instantly begin building their personalized pages.
Overview of TrackPass RaceView features:
• Three-dimensional rendering of racecars with instant track position information and multiple virtual views to give viewers the ultimate way to watch their favorite NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver
• Exclusive online in-car audio from all available feeds
• Toolbar display with pit road statistics, live position, speed, laps and time behind leader
• Other enhancements include lap-by-lap editorial commentary and fantasy game integration
• Requires computer broadband access
TrackPass RaceView -- $12.95 monthly, $79.95 annually
TrackPass PitCommand -- $9.95monthly, $64.95 annually
TrackPass Scanner -- $4.95 monthly, $29.95 annually
Overview of NASCAR.COM redesign features:
• Simpler, sleeker design allows for easy navigation within site and more immersive online experience with access to NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races, drivers, breaking news, products and series pages
• Broadband channel with exclusive content such as pre and post race shows and NASCAR 24/7.
• Contributions from NASCAR on TNT announcers.
Overview of the Infield Community on NASCAR.COM:
• A social networking site within NASCAR.COM to connect race fans with shared interests
• Allows fans to create personalized pages, upload photos and videos and meet other race fans with shared interests
• Not meant to replace mainstream social networking sites, the Infield focuses on NASCAR-specifics with information such as how long a user has been a race fan, favorite track, favorite driver, best race memories, etc.
• Advertisers can host pages on the Infield to interact with fans and crews and can tie into their own sponsored content on the Web site
About NASCAR.COM
Turner Sports New Media (TSNM), the interactive division of Turner Sports, Inc., acquired all of NASCAR's interactive rights in October 2000 and became the exclusive producer of NASCAR.COM in January 2001. One of the fastest growing sports league Web sites, NASCAR.COM is home to broadband news coverage, fantasy games and the NASCAR.COM SuperStore. The site consistently ranks among the top sports league sites and was named one of the best sports Web sites on the Internet by BusinessWeek (October 2005).
Through September 2006, the site averaged 3.9 million unique users per month during the 2006 NASCAR season. Additionally, multimedia usage on NASCAR.COM is up 40% over 2005. In 2003, NASCAR.COM was awarded an Emmy® by the National Television Academy for its TrackPass PitCommand application.
Turner Sports, Inc., a Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on two networks -- TBS and TNT -- Turner Sports' line-up includes the NBA, NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, Major League Baseball, college football, professional golf, PGA.com, PGATOUR.com and ACCSelect.com.
About Sportvision
Sportvision, Inc. is the leading innovator of new media sports content and broadcast enhancements. A privately held corporation, Sportvision solutions have enhanced experiences for fans and marketing partners of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, NHL, IRL, PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, NCAA, MLS, NTRA and other sporting events on-air and online. The company has won eight Emmy Awards for its products, including three for their signature broadcast enhancements, the virtual yellow 1st and Ten? line and K Zone?, and three for its pioneering advanced media work with NASCAR. Sportvision can be found on the web at www.sportvision.com.
