Message #55 From:
NewsBot Date: December 12, 2006 09:44:00 AM
DTV News DIRECTV and IFILM Invite Viewers to Get off the Bench with New Sports Shorts Video Contest
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Challenging sports fans to the ultimate filmmaking match, DIRECTV, Inc.,
the nation’s leading satellite television
service provider, and IFILM, a leading online destination featuring the
largest library of professionally produced and user-generated content,
launch the inaugural Sports Shorts Video Contest, an online
amateur video competition designed to highlight the best game time
passion, play or bloopers from viewers around the country.
Through Jan. 15, competitors can submit their homemade sports-video
masterpiece to www.DIRECTV.com and www.IFILM.com/sportsshorts
for a chance to win first place in one of three categories, as well as a
Grand Prize trip to the big 2008 football game in Arizona. The winning
video will not only appear on IFILM, but will also be featured on DIRECTV’s
channel 101, which is available to all DIRECTV customers nationwide.
The contest features three different categories in which contestants can
compete for top honors: Most Memorable Sports Moment, Most
Hilarious Sports Blooper, and Most Passionate Sports Fan.
These home videos of amateur athleticism can range from the
buzzer-beating game winner at a high school tournament, to that crazy
sports trick only you can master, or even a video demonstrating team
pride. Entries may not contain any copyrighted footage or music. Each
video can be up to seven minutes in length and will be open to viewer
comment on DIRECTV.com and IFILM.com through Jan. 15. An independent
panel will then choose first place winners in each category and a Grand
Prize winner, which will be announced on Feb. 3, 2007.
“User-generated online content is very hot
right now,” said Karen Leever, senior vice
president, DIRECTV.com. “Teaming up with
industry leader IFILM gives us a chance to tap into that market and
showcase those moments of greatness we’ve all
experienced both as athletes and spectators. It also gives our customers
a chance to be truly immersed in our brand as their creations get
airtime on DIRECTV with a viewing audience of 15.6 million strong.”
“We’ve been on the
forefront of user-generated online content and we are thrilled to be
teaming up with another industry pioneer like DIRECTV,”
said Chris Dominguez, senior vice president, business development,
IFILM. “Their subscriber base coupled with
our online outreach will create one of the best and most expansive
user-generated competitions ever.”
First prize winners in each category will receive a Samsung 42”
Flat Screen TV along with a free year of DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE®
programming. Contestants will also be vying for a Grand Prize
all-expense paid trip to the big 2008 game in Phoenix, Arizona.
IFILM is a leading aggregator and distributor of video online featuring
programming from Hollywood studios, amateur filmmakers, and
user-generated content. The site has the biggest library of short form
entertainment video on the web and reaches more than 10 million users
per month.
About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation’s leading satellite
television service provider, presents the finest television experience
available to more than 15.6 million customers through exclusive content,
industry-leading customer service (which has surpassed cable for six
years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers
enjoy over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound; exclusive
programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming
available anywhere including NFL SUNDAY TICKET™,
and MLB EXTRA INNINGS™. DIRECTV (NYSE:DTV)
also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives
such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan™, US Open
Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon have the capacity
to offer over 150 channels in HD. DIRECTV is approximately 39 percent
owned by News Corporation. For the most up-to-date information on the
Company, please visit directv.com.
About IFILM
IFILM (www.ifilm.com) is a leading
online destination for user-generated and professionally produced
content, providing the Internet's most diverse and compelling selection
of short and long-form videos. With one of the industry's largest online
video collections, IFILM's media library includes movie trailers, music
videos, short films, TV clips, video game trailers, action sports
content, and its renowned user-generated 'viral videos' collection.
Through its broad network of distribution partners, IFILM content can be
found on portals, social networks, blogs, consumer electronics devices,
television networks, and almost every mobile video service. IFILM also
offers effective brand-building programs for major consumer advertising
partners. The company recently launched its first television series, the
popular "WebJunk 20," in collaboration with VH1. IFILM is owned and
operated by MTV Networks. IFILM (www.IFILM.com)
is a division of Viacom, Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) MTV Networks.
