Fox Sports Holds Soft Launch Of New Locally-Tailored Web Sites

FSN Soft Launches Local Sports Web Sites In 12 Markets

Fox Sports Net (FSN) is the latest RSN group to invest in locally tailored Web sites. The group soft-launched 12 Web sites earlier this month, adding an unknown number of new hires to manage the project. "The sites are an open Beta test, meaning they are available to the public but are still a work in progress with features being added and tested," said FSN VP/PR Chris Bellitti. It is not known when the soft launch ends and the real launch begins. The new Web sites feature up-to-date local and national headlines, original video, pre- and postgame reports and individual pages dedicated to local teams. The sites also include social media elements, such as integration with Facebook and Twitter. Clark Pierce, VP/Emerging Technologies at Fox Sports Networks, is in charge of the initiative. FSN execs said the plans are not in response to ESPN's move to launch local Web sites. ESPN launched ESPNDallas.com, a market where FSN operates FS Southwest. "Our plans were underway long before ESPN rolled out their sites," Bellitti said. "Our goal is to be the best at serving local sports fans and a strong online platform helps us achieve that." The following Web sites were launched earlier this month; FSN's second phase is scheduled for next year and could include FoxSportsKansasCity.com, FoxSportsOklahoma.com and FoxSportsWisconsin.com (John Ourand, THE DAILY).

LOCAL FSN WEB SITES LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS MONTH
FoxSportsFlorida.com	FoxSportsSouth.com
FoxSportsOhio.com	FoxSportsArizona.com
FoxSportsSouthwest.com	FoxSportsTennessee.com
FoxSportsNorth.com	FoxSportsMidwest.com
FoxSportsWest.com	FoxSportsCarolinas.com
FoxSportsHouston.com	FoxSportsDetroit.com

STAFF ADDED FOR SITES: PAID CONTENT’s Staci Kramer reported though Fox Sports confirmed it has “added some staff for the sites, nothing is being said about hiring beat writers for each team or the like.” While ESPN and Comcast SportsNet so far are “concentrating on a few key cities, Fox Sports has pushed out a fresh template with new features for each owned-and-operated RSN.” But Kramer wrote, “The fact that I can’t really tell you how this differs from whatever they had before says something” (PAIDCONTENT.org, 11/19).