SportingNews.com rolls out iPhone app with MLB focus
April 6, 2009
Check out favorite players
SportingNews.com, a sports publication, has introduced Sporting News Baseball, an iPhone application that provides real-time updates and exclusive fantasy content on all teams and players in Major League Baseball.
The new application was developed, designed and will be distributed by Zumobi. It gives fans access to scores, full standings, stats, MLB league and team news, player details, in-game updates and post-game recaps.
"The strategy is simple: SportingNews.com wants to continue connecting with current fans, as well as grow their audience, in an innovative and revenue-generating fashion," said Cindy Spodek Dickey, vice president of marketing at Zumobi, Seattle.
"For SportingNews.com, with the deep loyalty of their fan base and the demonstrated popularity of sports apps on iPhone, adding this free mobile app was a natural next step to extending an already robust online media presence," she said.
Fantasy enthusiasts can now monitor their players and rosters with the application's custom "Favorites" team-builder feature that creates a virtual team with up-to-date stats.
Baseball on your iPhone
Users can access pitching leaders in wins, saves, innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA, as well as hitting leaders in runs, RBIs, HRs, average and steals.
The application also provides player rankings and projections for the upcoming season as well as access to exclusive news and Sporting News blog content.
Adidas and Weplay will be the first brands to insert their branding messages into the Sporting News Baseball application.
The content from adidas and Weplay further links to their respective Web sites for additional interaction.
"Opening day is fast approaching and adidas' support of Sporting News Baseball helps to make this unique app free to baseball fans," said Mark Clinard, baseball business director for adidas America in a statement.
"Knowing well the value of getting stats on the go, this is a great way for adidas to interact with our consumers and give them access to elite athletes on our roster like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Vlad Guerrero," he said.
Why mobile for SportingNews.com?
"Mobile is an important and effective way for brands and advertisers who want to engage with a desirable demographic with a high-quality, entertaining and versatile experience," Ms. Spodek Dickey said.
"With the rising popularity of what Zumobi has coined the 'Superphone,' -- that is, the newest generation of technologically advanced smartphones -- these apps provide a much richer, multimedia experience than WAP sites can deliver," she said.