MUMBAI: ESPNFC, the sports media company’s multi-platform global football initiative, is expanding its availability with the launch of a new free multi-device, multi-screen Windows 8 app which provides football fans a new design and user experience optimised for the new operating system and the variety of devices which will feature it.
Available worldwide now through the Windows Store, the ESPNFC app is optimised for multiple devices, including touch screen tablets and laptops, and desktop PCs. The app utilises the Windows 8 live tiles, which provide users with dynamically updated content, and offers ESPN’s Gamecast function, providing access to the live digital experience with commentary, in-game stats, graphical visualisation, match reports and more.
ESPN Digital Media International VP Arne Rees said, “ESPNFC is increasing the number of fans and brands who connect with our football coverage worldwide. ESPNFC is one of ESPN’s most significant global commitments to the sport of football and leverages the core strength of what ESPN does well – serve sports fans.”
As football heads towards the winter transfer window, ESPNFC has also launched TransferCenter, a responsively-built digital destination that will provide fans a real-time catalogue and multi-media connection to the stories, rumours, updates and player transfer news in leagues worldwide during the run-up to, and throughout, the winter transfer window.
As players complete transfers, ESPNFC will also team with Electronic Arts’ EA Sports to produce images and simulations of that player in their new club kit, based on EA Sports popular Fifa’13 game engine and graphics. Additionally, ESPNFC PressPass, the football debate and discussion TV show, will provide exclusive reaction and analysis video from its stable of analysts and experts throughout the winter transfer season.
ESPNFC is organising a developing worldwide network of writers, bloggers and analysts covering the latest news and developments 24/7, regardless of where they happen in the world. The ESPNFC blogger network includes a roster of its own blogs and contributors, and in the coming weeks will include an expanding affiliated blog network – pulling together some of the top independent voices in the football blogosphere.
Over the coming weeks, ESPNFC will launch half a dozen new blogs, with new offerings around continental European clubs such as Roma, the MLS in the US, as well as subject-specific blogs -- for example around the Road to the 2014 Fifa World Cup. These join existing topical blogs such as La Liga, the Boot Room (live matchday blogging), fantasy football, Tactics and Analysis and more.
ESPNFC also features a growing network of correspondents who cover the latest news and stories from key football regions around the globe, including UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Australia, Latin America and the regional hot-beds of football such as Manchester and London.
Online and on mobile, ESPNFC continues to expand its offering of video highlights and reviews of the key leagues and competitions around the world. In the months since launch ESPNFC has in certain territories globally, launched video around leagues including the UEFA Europa League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, the FA Cup, France’s Ligue 1, Germany’s Bundesliga and will continue to add more video.
Across the Indian sub-continent, ESPNFC has significantly increased the sports media company’s connection to football fans, and is the fastest-growing digital football destination among leading sites – with unique visitors up 49 per cent year on year.
Across all devices and platforms, fans spent more than 36 million minutes on ESPNFC since the start of the season, up 52 per cent from the same period last season.
On computers and mobile devices, fans on the sub-continent are accessing ESPN football content in increasing numbers, with total page views up nearly 20 per cent from last season to more than 15 million and site visits up 34 per cent. Via the mobile web alone, fans spent nearly 9 million minutes, which is up by 47 per cent from last season.
