Well, I didn’t see this one coming. The powerful SB Nation sports blogging network has announced a new content sharing agreement with WEEI.com, the internet arm of Boston sports radio station, WEEI. Under the new agreement, WEEI.com will provide content from SB Nation on its site. In exchange, WEEI’s content will be seen on SB Nation’s Boston sites. This is quite interesting to see this come about.
WEEI.com launched with a huge splash, but since it started, has lost writers Joe Haggerty and Jessica Camerato to Comcast SportsNet New England. This provides WEEI with more content and gives it some extra juice outside New England. The press release:
WEEI.com and SB Nation Announce Content Sharing Agreement
First of its kind content sharing & promotional partnership makes WEEI.com the exclusive in-market partner for national online sports network SB Nation
BOSTON (April 11, 2011) – WEEI.com today announced it has reached a content sharing partnership with SB Nation that will integrate content from the nation’s fastest growing online sports network with WEEI.com’s premier local coverage. The new agreement will enhance the experience for users of WEEI.com by providing fans with relevant content and national & regional points of views on sports news. The partnership also makes WEEI.com the exclusive in-market content partner for SB Nation and its network of over 300 online fan communities.
“We are continually exploring new ways to bring the very best content to our visitors, and partnering with SB Nation furthers that mission,” said Tim Murphy, Vice President of Digital Strategy & Enterprise Platforms for Entercom. “SB Nation is the leader in fan-driven content, opinion and analysis. It will complement our dynamic local journalism to give Boston sports fans the most complete, entertaining experience on the web. Partnering with an emerging sports leader from a national perspective will allow our fans to see how the rest of the country is looking at our beloved teams, and follow national stories of interest from SB Nation’s unique, fan-centric POV. ”
“This is a groundbreaking opportunity that brings one of the nation’s leading sports media brands together with a new generation and form of sports content,” said Scott Langerman, General Manager of SB Nation’s local initiatives. “We see a trailblazing spirit in WEEI.com that mirrors our own and allows us to do new things in the space together.”
The agreement, which is the most expansive of its kind for both WEEI.com and SB Nation, will blend the best of traditional media with interactive user-generated content. Highlights include:
ØWEEI.com will feature headlines and content from SB Nation websites relevant to all the Boston teams, and SB Nation will bring WEEI.com’s highly-regarded reporting and personalities to its readers in Boston and beyond.
Ø A new feature on WEEI.com called “Behind Enemy Lines” will provide news and commentary from SB Nation’s network of team-focused blogs about upcoming Boston opponents.
Ø A new, co-branded landing page will include links to SB Nation content appearing on WEEI.com as well as outbound links to national stories within the SB Nation network.
ØWEEI.com and SB Nation will integrate relevant content within each other’s coverage of Boston sports teams, offering a unique diversity of perspectives on all the local teams.
Ø Content from each partner will appear on dedicated team pages & blogs in widget form for easy-to-use functionality.
In addition to the robust content sharing elements of the partnership, WEEI.com and SB Nation will work together on sales, promotional and other business opportunities.
Added Murphy: “This is a partnership in every way. Not only are we providing better content than ever to Boston sports fans, but our relationship with SB Nation provides new and unique opportunities for sponsors.”
More stuff to follow.
