ESPN.com re-released its Insider Services on Monday "in
direct response to SportsLine's rival Rewards Plus program,"
according to Matt Mills of ZD Net. At $39.95 for 12 months,
ESPN's pay-service is a "self-dubbed 'sports club'" that
gives users "access to exclusive columns," 10% discounts on
ESPN Store Online merchandise, as well as discounts at
Disney theme parks and restaurants affiliated with the Go
Network. ESPN.com feels a "final selling-point" of the
service will be the chance for members to win a trip to ESPN
headquarters. ESPN's Jim McGee: "This demonstrates what you
can do with a large family" (ZD Net, 8/10). The service
also offers discounted annual subscriptions to ESPN
Magazine, 75% off the newsstand price of Golf Magazine and
special offers on the ESPN Product of The Month (ESPN).
ESPN Internet Ventures Dir of Marketing Leslie Andrews said
that when the company surveyed some focus groups, they found
that respondents "essentially wanted more of what they were
already getting." Andrews: "When we talked to people about
what that means, that evolved into the type of things we'll
be layering into the premium-content area" (EM, 8/9 issue).