Fang's Bites

Turner Launches New NCAA Sports Mobile App

Just announced by Turner Sports, a new NCAA Sports mobile app that will be made available for the iPhone and Android platforms. This will give mobile phone users the opportunity to see over 60 NCAA Championships.

The live game streaming will begin with finals coverage of Divisions I-III field hockey and Division II and III soccer.

Turner has also optimized the NCAA.com site for mobile users. Here’s the press release from Turner Sports on the new NCAA Sports app.

NCAA Digital Launches NCAA® Sports, a Year-round College Sports iPhone App to Feature Exclusive Live Video Streaming of More Than 60 NCAA Championship Events

NCAA.com also launches new mobile website for touchscreen mobile devices

Turner Sports and the NCAA announced today the launch of NCAA Sports, a new iPhone app that provides in-depth regular season coverage of college football and basketball, as well as NCAA championship coverage of all NCAA sports.  In addition, NCAA Sports offers fans exclusive live video streaming of more than 60 NCAA championship events including Division II football, Divisions II and III wrestling, Divisions I, II and III field hockey, Divisions II and III men’s and women’s soccer,  and Divisions II and III women’s volleyball. Turner-hosted NCAA.com is also unveiling a new mobile website for touchscreen phones (iPhone, Android, etc.), accessible via your mobile browser. The new mobile website will allow fans to get live scores, schedules, news, rankings and video recaps suitable for the mobile screen.

For fans on the go, NCAA Sports provides college sports news and scores throughout the year, with live and on-demand video coverage of NCAA championships. Users also will be able to virtually check into games and chat with friends via Facebook and Twitter. NCAA Sports is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod Touch.

Click to here to access NCAA Sports

“With the launch of the NCAA Sports iPhone app and the new NCAA.com mobile website, we’re giving  college sports fans greater access to NCAA championship and regular season content than ever before,” said Mark Johnson, vice-president of Turner Sports’ NCAA Digital group. “College sports content is underserved in the mobile space right now and we’re excited to offer fans mobile products that are 100% dedicated to college sports.”

“NCAA Sports is the next step in providing fans with more convenient digital access to many NCAA championships. We’ve seen the success with March Madness on Demand and other NCAA.com initiatives over the years and are excited to launch these new features for fans of our other NCAA championships,” said Greg Shaheen, NCAA interim executive vice president for championships and alliances.

“The NCAA Sports mobile app will provide live game streaming, interactive opportunities and access to more championship information,” Shaheen added. “This new mobile capability also will broaden the NCAA audience and overall reach with messaging whether fans are at the championship or viewing from another location.”

To kick-off the live game streaming, NCAA Sports will feature live finals coverage of: Divisions I, II and III women’s field hockey, Divisions II and III men’s and women’s soccer, National Collegiate men’s water polo and Divisions II and III women’s volleyball. The live video streaming coverage also will include Division II football quarterfinal games on December 3.

Additionally, the NCAA.com mobile website is now available for touchscreen devices by typing ncaa.com in your address bar. Fans have the opportunity to follow their favorite NCAA sports and receive live scores, schedules, video recaps and interviews with the same feel as the home site – NCAA.com.

That’s it.

It’s Been Way Too Long Without Linkage

I appreciate you still visiting Fang’s Bites as I’ve been trying to keep the site updated for you. Linkage has been scarce since Sunday. Been busy helping my sister with her son and then I was out for most of the morning.

Time to provide you with some linkage.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says Fox Sports will be using infra-red technology during the World Series.

The Nielsen Wire blog notes the MLB teams that topped their local markets in the TV ratings.

Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk looks at Bryant Gumbel’s controversial commentary about NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing says while Gumbel’s “plantation overseer” comment is what’s driving controversy, it’s Stern himself who’s stirring the pot.

Robert Littal at Black Sports Online is uncomfortable with Gumbel’s commentary.

Lauren Schutte of the Hollywood Reporter has a look at Stephen Colbert’s mock ad on the NBA lockout.

George Winslow from Broadcasting & Cable says the Big 12 Conference has chosen a company to help develop mobile apps for the iPhone and Android platforms.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News writes that ESPN scored a key demographic win for Monday Night Football.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek says low ratings for the MLB League Championship Series isn’t providing much hope for the World Series.

Anthony also looks at the breakdown of talks between the NFL and Time Warner Cable for the NFL Network.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid says while people are talking about Bryant Gumbel’s comments about NBA Commissioner David Stern, there’s another unflattering analogy about him floating around the internet today.

Joe Gisondi of the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center has some suggestions on how to write a proper lead and how to avoid writing clichés.

Brandon Costa from Sports Video Group says Fox Sports Midwest is trying to set itself apart among the outlets covering this year’s World Series.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at the two Lone Star State businessmen behind the Texas Rangers.

To Pro Hockey Talk and Mike Halford who says the Winnipeg Jets are blown away by the local media coverage particularly today in Toronto as compared to when they were the Atlanta Thrashers.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says the byes in NFL Week 7 are leaving Fox with scraps.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call writes that Fox’s Joe Buck doesn’t care if you think he’s biased for one team or another.

From the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg notes that former DC NFL Team quarterback Joe Theismann isn’t in favor of John Beck starting this week over train wreck Rex Grossman. This is why Joe was such a bad analyst.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says ESPN on ABC correctly covered Dan Wheldon’s death and subsequent tribute on Sunday.

To the Houston Chronicle where Anna-Megan Raley shows us how Texans tight end Joel Dreessen took down an NFL Network analyst.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says the Fox Sports crew is looking forward to airing its 14th World Series.

Mel notes that college football topped the local ratings.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the local CBS affiliate won’t carry Carson Palmer’s Oakland Raiders debut on Sunday.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has some sports TV notes including the World Series ratings expectations.

Ed also compares the fates and fortunes of the Cubs and Cardinals as the World Series begins tonight.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that both Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are almost back at full strength after separate physical ailments.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes that Fox won’t be displaying a live strike zone graphic as TBS did during its MLB Postseason coverage.

Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail says like it or not, Don Cherry’s influence on Canadian hockey cannot be measured.

Sports Media Watch notes that CBS finally broke out of its NFL ratings losing streak in Week 5.

SMW says in NFL Week 5, Fox saw a ratings downtick.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Versus/NBC Sports Network will begin airing Notre Dame hockey games this season.

And that will do it for links today.

Going For The Tuesday Links

Let’s do some linkage on this Tuesday. News broke last evening about Gus Johnson leaving CBS and possibly going to Fox. We’ll be following this story today and anything else that breaks.

Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk examines the move by CBS to allow Gus to walk away.

Mike McCarthy of USA Today bids adieu to Gus.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today takes a look at the ratings from the weekend including those of the Kentucky Derby.

Bruce Horovitz of USA Today notes that energy drink Red Bull is expanding into the lifestyle magazine market.

Wayne Friedman of MediaPost examines the extensive rebranding of Comcast’s sports networks under the guidance of NBC Sports.

Also at MediaPost, Gavin O’Malley has a story on ESPN consolidating its print and digital media operations.

Jason Fry at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center tells aspiring journalists not to heed Rick Reilly’s advice and not be afraid to write for free.

Daniel Libit of the Columbia Journalism Review looks at the unique blogging arrangement between former Chicago Tribune NBA beat writer Sam Smith and the Chicago Bulls.

Todd Spangler from Broadcasting & Cable writes that ESPN has launched its Watch ESPN app for Android phones and tablets.

Anthony Crupi at AdWeek wonders if the Los Angeles Lakers’ exit from the NBA Playoffs will mean lower ratings for ESPN/ABC and TNT.

To Yahoo’s Puck Daddy and Greg Wyshynski who writes about a controversy brewing after an NHL player agent anti-gay marriage tweets on his business account following Sean Avery’s vocal support of the issue.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser notes that the Kentucky Derby’s overnight ratings were down slightly from last year.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell has an extensive look at the horse that sired Derby winner Animal Kingdom.

Jason Dachman from Sports Video Group writes about the new man who will head Turner Sports’ digital golf group.

To TV NewsCheck to look at a new urban TV network that hopes to serve the African American community with news, sports and other programming.

Richard Sandomir at the New York Times reveals that the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was an FBI informant on more than one occasion.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has your first look at the NBA Western Conference Finals schedule.

Dan Gross at the Philadelphia Daily News notes that the Comcast SportsNet regional networks will be rebranded under NBC Sports soon.

The Charlotte Observer says ESPN’s E:60 will profile a family who recently moved to the area to be closer to a minor league hockey team and better medical care.

Garry Smits with the Florida Times-Union recaps last night’s World Golf Hall of Fame ceremonies which posthumously inducted the late CBS producer Frank Chirkinian.

Tom Jones from the St. Petersburg Times notes that a popular local sports radio host could be leaving the #1 station in the market.

W. Scott Bailey of the San Antonio Business Times writes about a new reality show on Fox Sports Southwest that will focus on Texas-San Antonio’s effort to launch a new college football program.

Rob Hernandez of the Capital (WI) Times talks with a former local sports anchor will appear on Oprah to show off a huge transformation.

Chris Vetter of the Eau Claire (WI) Leader-Telegram wonders why there’s hardly any interest in the NBA in the local area.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says there should be no doubt about the legacy of Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

In the Daily Dunklin (MO) Democrat, ESPN video editor Dustin Sullivan gives some greetings to his hometown.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News gives TNT’s Charles Barkley the final say on the Lakers’ ignominious exit from the NBA Playoffs.

James Day in the Salem (OR) Statesman-Journal says Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott followed through on his promise to get a lucrative TV deal for the league.

At Awful Announcing, Ben Koo suggests that Gus Johnson may have had to make the move away from CBS now out of necessity.

Matt Sarzyniak of Matt’s College Sports and Matt’s College Sports Media Blog looks one more time at the Pac-12 media deals and a look ahead to this season.

Kat Hasenauer of SportsGirlKat says hockey agent firm Uptown Sports taking an anti-gay marriage stance is bad for business.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog reviews the UEFA Champions League coverage in Canada.

Sports Media Watch says TNT saw good numbers for Monday night’s NBA Playoff doubleheader.

SMW notes ESPN/ABC scored well for the weekend NBA games.

And my good Twitter friend, Stephanie Gordon at Not Your Typical Girl says sports organizations forget that women are sports fans too.

We will end it there.

“Watch ESPN” App Now Available For Android Platforms

The Watch ESPN app which allows subscribers of Time Warner Cable/Bright House and Verizon FiOS systems to see the linear ESPN on smartphones and tablets. This announcement made in the last hour by ESPN. The app had been previously released for Apple platforms last month. Now, those with an Android device can watch the ESPN networks, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Buzzer Beater as well as ESPN3.com. As someone who’s sampled the Watch ESPN app on a trial basis, it’s really good and provides a quality picture. Those who get Time Warner/Bright House and Verizon FiOS will love the ability to take ESPN everywhere you go.

Here’s the announcement.

‘WatchESPN’ App Now Available on Android Devices

App Gives Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Verizon FiOS TV Subscribers Live Access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com Content on Android Phone and Tablet Devices

NEW YORK, N.Y. – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com are now available on Android phone and tablet devices to Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Verizon FiOS TV subscribers who receive ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription. The WatchESPN App, can be downloaded via the Android Market beginning today. ESPN Goal Line and ESPN Buzzer Beater will also be available when those networks are in season.

The free App – first launched to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in April, 2011 – features a simple user interface that takes the live viewing experience to the high-resolution, Multi-Touch displays of Android devices. Once a user downloads WatchESPN from the Android Market, he will receive instructions to enter the appropriate cable subscriber credentials to begin accessing ESPN content from the device.

The WatchESPN App is available free for Android devices from the Android Market and for Apple devices from the App Store.

ESPN first launched an online-accessible authenticated version of ESPN in October, 2010. Authenticated versions of ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Buzzer Beater/Goal Line launched in January, 2011. Consumers can access the channels through a centralized website, ESPNnetworks.com.

There you have it.