TMCnet News

Live Football Over the Phone, Internet
[August 05, 2005]

Live Football Over the Phone, Internet


Technology is becoming more and more relevant within the game of soccer. An example: International Sports and Media Group (ISMG) today announced it will broadband-broadcast the entire upcoming international soccer match between Paraguay and El Salvador live over the Internet. The match will also be archived on the site for future viewing. In addition, ISMG will have the text messaging rights inside the Paraguay stadium.

By DAVID R. BUTCHER, Assistant Editor, Customer Interaction Solutions




Football is the most popular game in the world; this isn't news to most. In the United States, of course, it's called soccer and is the only country wherein the game isn't the most popular sport. It is the Sport of Kings (or is that poker? Badminton? Horse racing?). Anyway, everywhere else it's very popular, and when major rivals face off, it's a clash on the fields and in the stands (and in cable TV-ready pubs).

And technology is finding its place more and more relevant within the sporting arena. Broadly, technology equipment receiving more and more attention and high-profile provisions include for the following: electronic scoreboards; computer match analysis systems (with real-time technology); public address systems; floodlight systems; security; goal-line technology systems (did the ball cross or not?); playback video for referees; and traffic infrastructure, among others. In fact, Avaya* and Toshiba are major sponsors of next year's FIFA World Cup, in Germany.


And so, in its efforts to capitalize on international soccer matches, International Sports and Media Group (ISMG), a diversified sports and news marketing and communications firm, today announced it has secured the Internet and text messaging rights to the upcoming international soccer match between Paraguay and El Salvador. The match in Paraguay is scheduled for August 17, 2005.

ISMG will broadcast the match live via the company's Soccer Television Internet site, www.SoccerTV.tv, which focuses on streaming live and archived professional soccer matches. Although the match will be televised locally, ISMG will broadcast the match live over the Internet to what could possibly be hundreds of thousands of Paraguay and El Salvador fans across the world. As well, the match will be archived on the site for future viewing, accessible only to subscribers.

In addition to the Internet rights, ISMG will have the text messaging rights inside the Paraguay stadium. This will allow the thousands of both countries' obsessive fans to text-message through their cell phones to participate in polls, giveaways and obtain additional information about the match.

ISMG's Smart SMS Text Messaging Service, "Soccer Alert," provides timely soccer news and scores alerts, including player transfers, player injuries and recoveries. This service is available with carriers T-Mobile, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Verizon and Nextel. Soccer fans can sign up for the service for free at ISMG's acquired site www.USsoccerUK.com; consumers are then charged 50 cents per text message. Alerts are sent four times each week.


*For one way Avaya is contributing its technology to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, refer to TMCnet Executive Editor Robert Liu's article at the following: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2005/Jul/1163780.htm.

-----

David R. Butcher is Assistant Editor of Customer Interaction Solutions. To see more articles by David Butcher, please visit:

http://www.tmcnet.com/tmcnet/columnists/columnist.aspx?id=100008&nm=David%20
R.%20Butcher

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]