SI today is debuting another new digital video franchise, SI Wire. The effort will comprise short-form breaking news video, with video segments typically lasting 30-45 seconds. While somewhat analogous to the 120 Sports OTT venture, of which SI is a partner, SI Wire will not have official league highlights. Also, content segments will be shorter and focus more on news headlines and SI's own editorial voice. SI Wire will be produced out of the magazine's N.Y. studios. Anchors will include Ryan Asselta of WNYW-Fox in N.Y., Priya Desai of New York 1, and Aubrey Aden-Buie, formerly a producer with the Heat. John Hancock has signed on as the exclusive launch partner for SI Wire. The introduction of SI Wire adds to a digital video portfolio that also includes SI Now, Pro Football Now and Underdogs. "We really felt like breaking news video was the last piece of the puzzle we needed to round out our offerings there," said Time Inc. Sports Group Editor Paul Fichtenbaum. "There is a real appetite among our audience for quick-hit, short-form video. This is sort of a rip-and-read for the digital age." SI Wire segments will appear within SI.com news stories, and later this week, a dedicated section on the site for the content is expected to be created.
