LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SPEED™ announced a partnership with iPowow, the Participation TV specialist, in a first-of-its-kind endorsement of live TV viewer votes in motorsports on the network’s popular pre-race show, “NASCAR RaceDay,” utilizing real time interactive voting technology that shows voter results on-screen, as the events are actually happening.
For the first time ever, revved up racing enthusiasts can voice their own NASCAR predictions while watching their favorite high-octane races on television, then see their responses displayed instantly on their television screens during live broadcasts of “NASCAR RaceDay” (SPEED’s pre-race show). Utilizing iPowow’s pioneering technology, viewers can simultaneously witness their shared opinions in real time with other race car fans and even engage with the brand partners they see on “RaceDay.” The exclusive ground-breaking technology is made available to viewers by iPowow via iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, and the Web.
Kevin Annison, SPEED Vice President of Digital & Interactive Media, said, "The voting power of iPowow technology brings our SPEED viewers even closer to the ‘RaceDay’ action by allowing them to share their excitement for the sport interactively from the convenience of their own home. The SPEED Live Vote is generating up to 10 times the engagement from our viewers, when compared to other types of interactive and social pieces.”
Adrenaline-filled NASCAR challenges on ‘RaceDay’ also provide hot-topic debates that are perfect for live on-screen fan voting. “As program hosts pose a question,” explains Annison, “iPowow’s voting app allows fans to voice their opinion immediately, and then change their vote in real time during the debate. This uniquely enables motorsports fans to ‘participate’ with the TV presenters and even have a direct influence on the outcome of the live studio debates.”
"Audiences are craving the chance to interact with their favorite TV shows, and we are proud to launch our 'Participation TV' platform with SPEED, who recognize how savvy and connected their viewers are,” states Gavin Douglas, Chief Creative Officer, iPowow. “Consumers want a fun, cool, social experience with ‘NASCAR RaceDay’ while it's on the air. We have answered the call with SPEED and the engagement numbers have been fantastic. We also deliver an unprecedented direct line of communication and engagement to SPEED and their brand partners, making it a win-win all around. We look forward to continuing to meet the growing demand for second screen experiences by providing viewers with new and exciting ways to engage with their favorite programs."
iPowow’s latest success with NASCAR on SPEED comes on the back of collaborations with global sports broadcasters including UFC, Top Rank Boxing, as well as the American Music Awards, Dragons Den, Project Runway and NBC/Miss Universe.
About iPowow:
iPowow is an interactive media company based in Los Angeles, on the leading edge of the global shift towards participation television and Second Screen content. IPowow gives Broadcasters, TV producers and Advertisers the power to create a new breed of participation television with compelling engagement for the viewer. Best of all, it generates significant revenue streams for TV shows from on-screen advertising and Second Screen sponsorship. For more information on how participation television is changing the way we watch TV, contact: gdouglas@ipowow.com.
About SPEED™
SPEED, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. Now available in nearly 86 million homes in North America, SPEED, a member of the FOX Sports Media Group, is among the industry leaders in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services, including SPEED2, a groundbreaking new broadband network featuring live, streaming and on-demand events complementing offerings of the linear network. For more information, please visit SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority and follow us on Twitter: @SPEED.
About FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 20 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go; FUEL TV; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FSMG also encompasses FOX Sports Interactive Media, which includes FOXSports.com on MSN, Whatifsports.com Scout.com and Yardbarker.com. Also included in the Group are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network, BTN 2Go and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network and FOX Sports Skybox restaurants.
*“NASCAR RaceDay” airs Every Sunday at 11am/ET on SPEED
(show times vary according to race times)
DEMONSTRATION LINKS
iPowow SPEED video showing the Live Vote in action
Actual Live Vote on the SPEED.com