The A's announced that 24 of their games on FSN Bay
Area this season will be interactive with the Microsoft
WebTV Plus service. The A's claim it marks the first time a
pro sports team has used the interactive TV format on a
local level. The service will launch for tonight's game
against the Red Sox. The format will enable WebTV Plus
subscribers to click on the team's lineups, from which
viewers can access player profiles and statistics from the
current game as well as the entire season. A live scoring
update from all MLB games is also available. The service is
produced for the team by ACS Sports.com Inc. (A's).
MLS GETS KICK WITH SLINGSHOT: MLS has partnered with
Slingshot Networks to bring live and video-on-demand Web
casting of the 2000 MLS All-Star Weekend on MLSnet.com. The
Webcasts will consist of video features and player
interviews, as well as live video streaming of game action
and events from Saturday's All-Star Game (MLS).
HALL PASS: The WALL STREET JOURNAL INTERACTIVE's David
Sweet reported that a dozen employees of NFL.com and a 16-
member Internet team from NFL Films will "deliver a live"
Webcast of the NFL HOF induction ceremony this weekend in
Canton, OH. The group will also deliver hourly chats with
former players, an Internet-only radio program and a daily
slide show. Sweet wrote that NFL.com "is expecting record
summer traffic" between Friday and Monday, "reaching seven
figures" (WALL STREET JOURNAL INTERACTIVE, 7/26). The
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Noah Liberman writes, "There will
be archives of memorable past speeches and a 360-degree
real-time stationary camera streaming the view of the
induction ceremonies" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/24).
NOTES: THE MOTLEY FOOL's Bob Fredeen wrote on Nike's
new Web site design, which was launched in mid-July, and
called it "entertaining, easy to use, and easy to navigate."
Nike's Digital Video "is one of the funniest parts of the
site. Essentially, it is a tool to make your own Nike-style
commercial videos to send to your friends." More Fredeen:
"Nike is the innovator in [the sporting goods] industry, and
the recent website redesign shows that the company is adding
the online space to its innovations" (THE MOTLEY FOOL,
7/25)....Dallas-based eFANshop has signed an agreement with
the ECHL to open online stores at the league's Web site, at
www.echl.com, as well as the Web sites of all 25 ECHL teams.
eFANshop will manage all aspects of the merchandising, order
processing, fulfillment and customer service (eFANshop).
