Speed Channel and Fantasy Sports Inc. have signed a multiyear deal that gives Fantasy Sports' NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series fantasy games a significant promotional presence on Speed's television and Internet properties, according to executives from both companies.
The deal makes Fantasy Sports' auto racing offerings the "official fantasy games of the Speed Channel." Speed plans to promote the games over the air throughout the NASCAR season as well as with speedtv.com, according to Clive Kabatznik, CEO of Silverstar Holdings, the parent company of Fantasy Sports.
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| Speed Channel plans to promote the games on speedtv.com. |
Both sides are pursuing a weekly fantasy racing show, according to Kabatznik, who said the fact that the products will get off-line promotion makes the deal one of the most important marketing alliances in Fantasy Sports' 11-year history.
"This is the first time we've been able to do a combined online and off-line deal," said Kabatznik, who would not disclose financial terms of the deal.
Fantasy Sports, whose fantasy games are produced and operated by Stats Inc., averages about 150,000 fantasy participants a year on fantasycup.com, which offers half-year subscriptions for $100 and full-year subscriptions for $180, Kabatznik said.
"They're the leaders in the industry," said Bill Osborn, Speed's vice president of marketing, "and this is something our loyal and passionate audiences have asked for. It's just one more thing we're doing to engage more with our viewers, and make Speed a part of what they do."
