 | 
America Online To Launch Extensive Free Fantasy Sports Games and Features for AOL(r) Members and Other Online Consumers
August 16, 2004 |
|
Offerings Include Ability to Purchase Fantasy League Management Software at Significantly Lower Cost than Competitors
Fantasy Sports@AOL Will Feature A Wide Range of Games, Prizes and Extensive Content Offerings
Dulles, VA, August 16, 2004 -- America Online, Inc. today announced a new fantasy sports initiative that includes a variety of games available at no charge to AOL(r) and AOL(r) for Broadband members or other online consumers. For fans already playing in fantasy leagues who want to take on the role as league manager, the necessary management tools are now available at up to half off the price offered by main competitors.
Fantasy gamers can compete for a wide range of prizes that include a grand prize VIP trip for two to Super Bowl XXXIX to be awarded to the most skilled and devoted "Draft-to-Play Fantasy Football" fan, widescreen and flatscreen TVs, home theater and entertainment systems, iPods, DVD recorders, and more. Games will be offered for all major professional and college sports, and starting today, fans can go to AOL Keyword: Fantasy Sports or http://www.fantasysports.aol.com/ to sign up for NFL and college football fantasy games. Consumers who do not currently have an AOL or AOL(r) Instant Messenger(tm) (AIM(r)) screen name will be prompted to register for one, at no charge, when visiting the Fantasy Sports link.
In addition to free games and prizes, Fantasy Sports@AOL features an extensive array of other content including draft kits, team and player news, insider analysis, stats, in-depth team and player profiles, injury reports, and more. By signing up at Fantasy Sports@AOL for AOL(r) Alerts, fans can instantly receive the latest news, scores and stats so they will always be up-to-date on the performance of their players. Elsewhere on the Web, most of the games and features available at Fantasy Sports@AOL are offered for a fee.
"The popularity of fantasy sports games is undeniable and this is a unique opportunity to offer fans something not previously available -- the ability for any fan to play games that best suit their interests for free or at a significantly reduced cost, while also allowing them the chance to win great prizes," said Carlos Silva, Senior Vice President for AOL News and Sports. "Coupled with a fantasy sports center featuring extensive player information, news, stats, analysis, and the option to receive immediate updates through AOL Alerts, we feel that Fantasy Sports@AOL will be a huge hit with all sports fans."
More than 15 million people participate in fantasy sports games each year. The most popular fantasy sport is NFL Football, with 92 percent of fantasy sports participants playing NFL football at least once.* Fantasy Sports@AOL is giving these millions of fans an extensive suite of games and features -- their ultimate fantasy sports resource.
Wide Selection of Games to Choose From
Fantasy Sports@AOL offers a variety of games that will appeal to all types of players, from lifelong experts to first time fantasy gamers:
* Bracket Games - for event-based sports such as the NCAA college basketball tournament. Fans will be able to play these games free of charge and have an opportunity to win prizes.
* Challenge Games - aimed at the casual fan who wants to take the next step in fantasy gaming. Players compete in a pool against other players, rather than in a league. This simple format makes it easy for a broad range of fans to play, from the casual player to the fanatic. These games are free and feature the chance to win prizes.
* League-Style Games - for the more experienced gamer where fans play in leagues against 10-12 other players and AOL serves as the league manager. Knowledgeable sports fans will enjoy the lively competition as well as the simplicity of not have to manage a league. Games are free and feature the chance to win prizes.
* League Manager - for people already playing in fantasy leagues but who want the advantages of running their own league. League managers will have access to management tools so they can run the league. League Manager costs $59.95 (plus applicable taxes) and does not feature prizes.
Ready for Some Football?
Starting today, fans can sign up for Fantasy Football games at AOL Keyword: Fantasy Sports for or at http://www.fantasysports.aol.com/. For this football season, Fantasy Sports@AOL is featuring several games:
* Draft-to-Play Fantasy Football - lets fans participate in a real-time, online draft to select their players before the start of the season and manage their team throughout the year. Players can join public or private leagues, get live scoring, make unlimited trades and free agent acquisitions, and more. Fans will compete for a grand prize VIP trip for two to Super Bowl XXXIX to be awarded to the most skilled and devoted fan, including airfare, accommodations and tickets to the game. Second prize is a 55" Widescreen HDTV and third prize is a 34" Widescreen HDTV.
* Bid-to-Play Fantasy Football - a league where players can ditch the draft and experience the frenzied excitement of an online auction -- fantasy style. Fans are given a salary cap from which they must bid on players to make up their initial teams. During the season, fans bid on free agents in their quest to win their league championship. The grand prize is a 30" LCD Flat HDTV, second prize is a 17" Widescreen HD Flat TV and third prize is a 15" Widescreen HD Flat TV.
* Pro Football Pick 'Em - lets fans try to pick the winning teams each week for a $100 gift certificate from a major sporting goods store. The player that accumulates the most points during the season will win a five-DVD Super Audio Home Theater System. Second prize is a 40 GB iPod and third prize is a DVD Recorder.
* College Football Pick 'Em - where picking the winning college teams each week is good for $100 gift certificate from a major sporting goods store. A five-disc DVD-CD Home Entertainment System is the grand prize for the player that picks the most winning teams during the season. Second prize is a 128 MB Audio Key Ring Digital Camcorder and third is a mini Audio System.
* Fantasy Football League Manager - fully customizable league management software with all the power of competing sites but at a significantly lower price. Quick and easy league set up makes it easy for fans to form a league with friends and family. Fans can try the software at no charge through the third week of the regular season to make sure it's the perfect fit for them.
* Office Pool Manager - where a group of people can create their own pool and manage it independently.
Fantasy Sports@AOL Created Through Alliance with Fanball.com
AOL is launching Fantasy Sports@AOL through a new alliance with Fanball.com, a leading online sports fantasy service. Fanball has created the portal for Fantasy Sports@AOL, including all the fantasy games and content, and will operate the areas in conjunction with AOL Sports. Fanball has been an innovator and leader in the fantasy sports world since 1994. Fanball.com is the leading pure play fantasy sports provider on the Web and also publishes the leading print publication for fantasy football, Fantasy Football Weekly.
This new agreement expands AOL's growing list of comprehensive sports content available to its members. AOL(r) Sports provides sports enthusiasts with access to a wealth of on-demand programming, Webcasts, stats, news and extensive features on all five major sports franchises, professional and college levels as well. Enhancements to AOL Sports include a dynamic welcome screen with embedded video welcoming fans, a customizable scoreboard and a programmable area for AOL for Broadband fans to customize their sports page to receive news from their favorite pro teams.
Contact Info:
Billy Kenny, America Online, Inc.
646-805-2025
|
|
|
