Quokka Sports and its Olympics Web partnership with NBC
are profiled by USA TODAY's Kevin Maney, who writes, "In
coming months, [Quokka's] intensity is expected to pay off
as Quokka climbs to a rarified level of Net celebrity."
Quokka Sports CEO Alan Ramadan: "The Olympics to us is what
'Snow White' was to Disney." Maney writes that NBC is
"nervously betting that Quokka can deliver a new-media
experience that complements the old-media one." Maney notes
the 14-hour time difference between N.Y. and Sydney and
wonders if fans getting results on Quokka's Web site might
"be less inclined to watch on TV." NBC President Bob
Wright: "We don't want to be undermining our own video and
give away results and such. ... We want it to be a companion
piece, not a conflict" (USA TODAY, 2/24).
NEW PARTNERS: Quokka has signed Ford Motor Co., Qwest
Communications and Visa as Web site sponsors. Ford becomes
the official automotive sponsor of Quokka Adventure Coverage
through 2000, Qwest will sponsor Quokka Sports Immersions
section of Quokka.com, and Visa will sponsor
nbcolympics.com. Visa also becomes the exclusive payment
source for any e-commerce conducted on site (Quokka).
