Highlights will range from NCAA football to qualifying matches for soccer’s World Cup 2014 to the X Games.

Users can view highlights via Twitter’s mobile applications and website, and ESPN will sell ads running inside the video clips, sharing all revenue with Twitter.

ESPN and Twitter first teamed on video highlight trials late last year, recruiting Ford Motor Company to sponsor game-changing moments from the network’s college football broadcasts. ESPN said the highlights were viewed more than 7 million times.

Twitter executives are in talks with other broadcasters, including CBS and NBC Universal, to explore additional opportunities for collaborating on digital video efforts distributed across the Twitter platform, with each side selling ads to accompany the clips.

Twitter has pitched to networks that videos will drive viewership by convincing users to turn on the television for the remainder of the broadcast–programmers also can reward viewers who’ve already tuned in by offering exclusive Twitter clips.

Twitter passed the 200 million monthly active user milestone in late 2012. The majority of these users visit the site via their mobile devices.

“We want to be able to push ESPN’s content wherever sports fans are,” said Eric Johnson, ESPN’s executive vice president of multimedia sales. “Twitter is a great opportunity for us to do that.”

Twitter is on pace to generate advertising revenues in the range of $580 million in 2013.

The post ESPN and Twitter to Join Sports Media Forces appeared first on Sports Networker.

The film is based on the life story of Jackie Robinson and his history-making signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers under the guidance of team executive Branch Rickey.

The film has already received rave reviews and one of the highlights from the film is the authenticity of the uniforms worn by the actors.

From the uniforms of the Dodgers to those of the Montreal Royals, the garments and their authentic nature are unbelievably done.

The uniforms for the film were produced by Jerry Cohen and his staff at Ebbets.

Cohen – who grew up the son of a Brooklyn Dodgers fan – and Lisa Cooper founded Ebbets in 1988.  The company prides itself on remaining as authentic as it can when it comes to the uniforms they produce and they tried to achieve as authentic a feel as they could for the picture.

“Jackie Robinson brings everything together; Brooklyn origins, Negro leagues and Montreal in the minor leagues.  People seem to forget that Robinson broke the minor league colour barrier as well,” said Cohen when asked why he was so happy to work on this film.

“Working on the film was exhilarating and nerve wracking.”

Cohen explained that the toughest challenge of working on the film was staying as close to historically accurate as possible while still maintaining the look and feel the costume designer was trying to achieve, while still meeting the tight deadlines that were laid out for him and his company.

“We initially cut all jerseys in standard sleeve length, but the sleeves had to be redone, all Montreal jerseys had to be re-cut and made perfect to achieve what was needed for the film. We really had to go the extra mile,” said Cohen.

“We were thrown a lot of curveballs during production process. The costume designer was very specific and not always historic. There was some give and take to get her what she wanted for effect and remain historically accurate as well.”

Ebbets has been focussing on minor league historic uniforms for 25 years and it was a meeting in London, England that earned Cohen this unique gig.

“The production company knew about us and called last February. Their costume designer was in London when I just so happened to be. We met in London with research and fabric swatches in hand and we got the job. It was good fortune,” said Cohen.

“It was really exciting. It was great to see my work on screen. I was very proud of it.”

‘42’ is currently in theatres, so go check it out if you get a chance. Check out the trailer for the film below:

 Photo Courtesy of: dawn.com

The post Ebbets Brings Historic Feel to ’42′ appeared first on Sports Networker.

Are you pursuing a career in sports media, broadcasting or journalism?

Do you dream of becoming the next on-air talent like Tracy Wolfson interviewing college football coaches on CBS? Or maybe you want to be Jim Nantz and Verne Lundquist calling NCAA Tournaments games? Or how about Craig Sager strolling NBA sidelines interviewing the likes of Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Russell Westbrook (hopefully you’ll be sporting a better wardrobe than Craig)?

If this sounds like your DREAM JOB IN SPORTS, then let’s get your sports career kickstarted as the NEXT Sports Executives Association LIVE Q&A CO-HOST!

What Is The SEA And Who Will You Interview?

The Sports Executives Association is a new place to learn from industry pros, advance your sports career and build a more powerful network. Part of the value we provide our SEA members is in giving them access to top sports professionals every 2 weeks via a LIVE video streaming service called Spreecast.

Some of our past SEA LIVE Q&A guests include Tiki Barber (Founder of Thuzio.com), Darren Heitner (Founder of SportsAgentBlog.com and Forbes.com Contributing Author), Craig Pintens (Senior Associate Athletic Director of Marketing/PR at the University of Oregon). And, future guests include Kristi Dosh (Sports Business Reporter at ESPN), Justin Schulman (Sports Agent – Athletes First Sports Agency) and many more big names in sports business to be announced soon!

As our SEA LIVE Q&A Co-Host, you will be responsible for interviewing our guests via LIVE VIDEO, fielding audience questions and engaging with our LIVE audience via interactive chat.  You will work directly with our SEA Production Team to ensure that we deliver top quality content for our SEA Members.

How Can You Become Our Next Co-Host?

We are looking for an ambitious, outgoing personality that wants to fine tune their interviewing skills while expanding their network in the sports industry.

If you are looking for experience and exposure in your pursuit to become the next sideline reporter for the NFL or a sports news anchor with ESPN, then this opportunity is one that you don’t want to miss out on.

Video Application Rules

1. Record a 60-90 second video including the following:
   1. Tell us your name and educational background?
   2. Tell us why you are passionate about sports?
   3. Tell us what your dream job in sports would be?
   4. Tell us your favorite moment in sports history?
   5. Tell us why we should choose you as the NEXT SEA LIVE Q&A Co-Host?
2. Upload your video to Youtube with the following information included:
   1. Video Title: I Want To Be The NEXT Sports Executives Association Co-Host
   2. Video Description: Include this link at the start of your description (http://sportsexec.net/live), describe your video submission and be sure to include information on how people can connect with you (Website, Twitter, Linkedin, etc).
3. Submit your video application by posting it on our Sports Networker Facebook Fan Page and/or by sending us a tweet to @SportsNetworker
   1. Get your friends/family/classmates/colleagues to help promote your entry.  The more buzz you make online the better!

If you have any questions about how to enter, please email support@sportsexec.net

*Please note that this is an unpaid internship that requires a passion for the sports industry, tireless hustle, attention to details and the ability to meet all deadlines.. You will be provided with training that will help you excel in this position.  And, of course, you will gain the experience that you need to separate yourself from your competition in your pursuit of your dream job in sports!

The post Who Will Be The Next Sports Executives Association LIVE Q&A Co-Host? appeared first on Sports Networker.

He’s had his fair share of good and bad moments in his career, but one thing Howard is known for is his media image.

Howard frequently works on expanding his image through multiple sources and the superstar is back at it once again with contact lense company ACUVUE.

Howard recently teamed up with ACUVUE, pop stars Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas and television actress Shay Mitchell of Pretty Little Liars to encourage young people to pursue their dreams and inspire them.

The ACUVUE 1-DAY Contest – returning for its third year – stars the aforementioned celebrities encouraging young teens to be confident and follow their dreams.

The ACUVUE 1-DAY Contest is a unique opportunity for young teens to meet in person and be mentored for a day by one of these celebrities.

“I made my own dreams a reality through a lot of hard work and sacrifice and I think that’s the most important piece of advice I have for teens,” said Howard .

“If you’re willing to really work toward your goals, you won’t be disappointed with the effort and heart you put in.”

The lucky winners stories will also be featured on the brand’s official Youtube channel as well as getting a one-year supply of ACUVUE MOIST contact lenses.

The last day to submit a video is May 27th.

Photo Credit: blacksportsonline.com

The post Acuvue, Dwight Howard and Sports Media appeared first on Sports Networker.

The Supersonics moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City – who later became the Thunder – to begin the 2008-2009 season.

However, in 2012, a group of investors came forward with a plan to build a new arena and revive the Supersonic name. This led to a chain of events that may in fact move the Sacramento Kings to Seattle.

The NBA owners will meet April 18-19 in New York City to consider the fate of the Kings. If the move is agreed upon the Kings will be no more and the Supersonics will come back from the dead.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson – a former NBA point guard for the Cavaliers and Suns – announced on Monday a fan-focused video competition called The Last Word.

The Last Word gives Kings fans age 10 and older the opportunity to submit a 60-second video that makes a “closing argument” for why the NBA should keep the Kings in Sacramento instead of allowing the team to move to Seattle.

Contest participants have until noon on April 15 to submit their video to the Think Big Sacramento website. The next day, the top ten will be shown on the website and the creator of each video will receive a $500 gift card from Fila.com.

Fila announced its plans to release a retro basketball shoe in honor of Johnson’s playing days in the NBA. The shoe company has already donated $25,000 with a commitment of $25,000 for in-kind merchandise to support Think Big Sacramento’s efforts to save the Sacramento Kings and build a downtown arena.

The video contest is a joint effort of Think Big Sacramento and grassroots organizations such as: Here We Stay, Crown Downtown, Here We Buy, the Playing to Win Tour, and Sactown Royalty. All of the organizations have been major contributors in the effort to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

Photo Credit: sbnation.com

The post Kings Fans Asked to Use Sports Media to Save Team appeared first on Sports Networker.

Want your tweet aired on SportsCenter? Need help with your March Madness bracket? SporstCenter is giving fans more than one reason to watch and tweet.

I caught an episode of SportsCenter a few weeks back and noticed a brilliant trend – they were using hashtags to introduce rundowns of MLB position players killing it in Spring Training. The hashtags were fun and on-topic and it was a great way to add a layer of conversation to their broadcast for fans who were watching and tweeting.

Unfortunately I didn’t write the hashtags down – thinking I would just catch the next episode of SportsCenter. I waited and watched to try and catch them again – but apparently that was the last of their Spring Training coverage since March Madness started the very next day.

As I sat catching every episode of SportsCenter I could, I noticed a few hashtag trends. Although they aren’t talking about my favorite sport – ESPN is doing a great job of keeping the conversations flowing on Twitter by broadcasting hashtags to use and follow. Although seeing hashtags on your television screen and in sports broadcasts isn’t new – it’s definitely something worth talking about. Here is a breakdown of some of SportsCenter’s most recent and popular hashtags.

#SCTopTen

SportsCenter is known for its “Top Ten” list of the best plays in sports each day. They’ve started to rope their fans into being a part of this list development by giving them a hashtag to use: #SCtopTen.

Each day, dozens of sports fans tweet to SportsCenter to submit the plays they think should be on the SportsCenter Top Ten list. If they pick your tweet, it will air on SportsCenter that night.

Everyone twee about my dunk for #ScTopTen!

— Jordan Henriquez (@TooTall2KnoSo1) March 3, 2013

#FanForum

This hashtag is used to let fans submit questions to be answered on the show. Fans submit questions about team strategies, season predictions, player acquisitions – you name it – they ask it.

NFL guru “The Professor” John Clayton wants to answer YOUR questions on SportsCenter at 11 ET. Use #FanForum and your tweet could air.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 14, 2013

Will the @detroitlionsnfl ever figure out how to put together an elite defense? #fanforum

— King (@Call_me_King11) March 14, 2013

#ChampWeek

This hashtag was used to talk about the NCAA Championship Week. Fans who were watching the tournaments and routing for their teams to win followed the conversation using #ChampWeek.

#MyDeAndreReaction

#MyDeAndreReaction was used to talk about @deandrejordan‘s reaction to his “INSANE” dunk. Fans used this hashtag to tweet pictures and videos spoofing LA Clipper center Deadre Jordan’s viral reaction to an amazing dunk that sent Brandon Knight to the floor.

We’ve seen @deandrejordan‘s reaction to his INSANE dunk, now we want to see yours! Twitpic using #MyDeAndreReaction; best air on 6 ET SC.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 11, 2013

#StreakBuster

Used for fans to tweet their predictions as to who was going to bust up the Miami Heat’s winning streak.

#HelpMyBracket

For fans who are desperately trying to win whatever bracket they’ve entered into with friends and family: this hashtag could be your ticket to triumph. Here’s how it works:

Need some expert advice on your bracket? Tweet your questions using #HelpMyBracket & @sethonhoops could answer YOU live on SC this morning!

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 18, 2013

Why are they so successful?

Why do the ESPN hashtags work so well? Because they use them to enhance the viewer’s experience. It’s a reciprocating promotion because it carries the conversation onto to 2 screens: Your Twitter stream and your TV.

Social media is transforming TV-watching into a more immediate, shared experience. Nielsen Media reports that 44% of U.S. tablet owners and 38% of U.S. smartphone owners use their devices daily to access social media while watching television. SportsCenter is definitely using hashtags correctly and bringing a level of interaction to its broadcasts that didn’t exist before. It also gives fans the chance for their tweet to appear on television – reinforcing the need for fans to watch and engage with the brand online.

I hope ESPN keeps this up. Social media can definitely enhance any sports fan’s experience. Personally, I love to follow and participate online with my favorite teams, players and broadcasters.

Comment below letting us know which of these hashtags you use or any we may have missed. Make sure to follow the conversation on our Facebook page and on Twitter @SportsNetworker

The post SportsCenter Gives Fans a Reason to Watch and Tweet appeared first on Sports Networker.

It is next to impossible to find a female event in other big name sports such as lacrosse, softball, basketball or others and this is a shame.

Although some female athletes such as Mia Hamm, Ronda Roussey and the Williams sisters have made it into the spotlight, it is rare that a woman gets the necessary coverage needed to shoot to stardom.

Because sports media rarely celebrate female athletes, they become disadvantaged when it comes to the benefits from participation in sports.

Things are about to change for female athletes and the exposure they will receive.

A new network JanetTV has launched becoming the first sports channel dedicated to featuring 24-hour coverage of female athletes and their sports, which will range from action sports like surfing, snowboarding, and motocross to many other mainstream sports.

The channel launched on April 1 and will open up a brand new kind of sports media to the world.

A recent press release from JanetTV stated the following:

• The channel features sporting events, original shows, articles, movies, scores and news—including an extensive curation effort—to deliver the most robust female sports content experience.

• Janet TV is an online channel/web destination that is available to viewers nationwide via computers, laptops, smart phones, tablets, gaming consoles and connected TVs at www.janettv.com.
  

Darryl Mobley, CEO of Janet TV, got the inspiration to develop the channel while watching one of his daughters and her friends play high school basketball.

“I was sitting in the stands and I started thinking about how hard these girls worked at developing their skills for their sports. I reflected on how female athletes and their sports mostly get ignored by the major sports media,” said Mobley.

“I told another parent sitting next to me that it would be great if these athletes had their own channel where they could get the information, and see the role models, they needed in order to get better.”

Janet TV’s line-up of original shows is slated to begin in May and will include original series featuring athletes, social media driven shows with viewer-generated content and shows featuring sports bloggers going head-to-head on hot topics of the day.

For more information about the network you can visit www.janettv.com

Photo courtesy of: stack.com

The post Around the Clock Sports Media Coverage for Women appeared first on Sports Networker.

The Big East will have a brand new look next season, as it now features Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence  St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier. Butler, Creighton and DePaul are the newest additions to the conference, and were officially announced as new members at the press conference.

“We applaud all the Big East schools for taking responsibility for their own destiny and forming what is clearly one of the top college basketball leagues in the country,” said FOX Sports Media Group Co-President and COO Randy Freer. “The quality of the competition is obvious. Five teams who will play in the renewed Big East next season are playing in this year’s NCAA tournament, and seven qualified for postseason play overall. We’re extremely proud and fortunate to offer college basketball of this caliber on FS1 next season and for many seasons to come.”

The agreement gives FOX Sports rights to all conference-controlled men’s basketball games, as well as select women’s basketball games. The partnership will also allow the network to grow FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports’ new national-multi sport channel set to launch this summer. Next season, the network is scheduled to air over 100 men’s regular season basketball games, as well as all of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The post Big East, Fox Sports Reach Media Rights Agreement appeared first on Sports Networker.

Lewis will appear on Monday Night Countdown, Sunday NFL Countdown and SportsCenter, as well as contributing to ESPN’s annual Super Bowl coverage. During the 2013 season, Lewis will travel to the site of each week’s Monday Night Football matchup for both pre-game and post-game coverage and work alongside Stuart Scott, Steve Young and Trent Dilfer. Lewis and Dilfer were teammates on the Ravens’ first championship team in 2000.

“Ray is a tremendous addition to our NFL roster and he will have an immediate impact on our coverage,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production. “One of the most accomplished players in NFL history, fans will be drawn to his knowledge, experience and, of course, the passion he always exudes for the game.”

In addition, Lewis will make weekly appearances on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike in the Morning. He will also have the opportunity to host specials that are similar to Jon Gruden’s QB Series. Lewis is expected to officially start at ESPN on August 1.

Lewis has past experience on air at ESPN, making a guest appearance on NFL Live last summer. Lewis also had a similar role on Sunday NFL Countdown at Super Bowl XLII in 2007.

The post Ray Lewis Officially Joins ESPN as NFL Analyst appeared first on Sports Networker.

In a recent poll, male sports fans ages 18-54, 76% said the sports section of their local newspaper’s website was their top source for sports news, while 69% cited the printed edition as their top source. In other sources for sports news, 66% cited ESPN.com, 45% cited news league sites (such as MLB.com and NBA.com) and 45% cited ESPN’s SportsCenter.

The poll was conducted by M/A/R/C for the Newspaper National Network. 716 men ages 18-54 participated in the poll, while in-depth interviews were conducted with 404 of the participants. In perhaps the most interesting statistic from the survey, those who didn’t classify themselves as newspaper readers still cited the web sites of newspapers as their top source for sports news.

This poll shows that journalism is not a dying field as many have said in the past, but rather a changing field. While sports fans might not be subscribing to newspapers and flipping between the pages with their fingers, they are still visiting the websites of those newspapers in order to receive their sports news for the day. In the poll, 79% of readers said reading newspaper’s sports coverage is an important part of their regular routine, proving that newspapers still serve an important purpose in this digital age.

Photo: NYTimes

The post Newspapers Remain Top Sports News Source for Men appeared first on Sports Networker.