TORONTO – In case the excitement of live sports just isn’t enough for today’s twitchy generation of TV viewers, Canadian hockey fans will see a new level of interactivity added to their Rogers Sportsnet NHL broadcasts.
The regional sports channel and Waterloo’s LiveHive Systems have signed a two-year agreement to make NanoGaming, an interactive entertainment platform that powers viewer interaction with live television, available during all of Sportsnet’s regional NHL games.
Sportsnet’s NanoGaming-powered offering, called Game in the Game, debuted on Sportsnet West on Sunday, October 12 when the Oilers hosted the Colorado Avalanche at Recall Place, and is being offered for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 hockey seasons.
LiveHive’s NanoGaming is already available on channels such as LeafsTV and TBS, as Cartt.ca has reported.
Viewers have an opportunity to play while watching the game live on Rogers Sportsnet, and logging on to www.sportsnet.ca/gameinthegame.
“Game in the Game will enhance our 206 NHL broadcasts by providing an opportunity for Canadian hockey fans to interact with the game while it’s going on,” says David Ballingall, vice-president of marketing and general manager of Sportsnet.ca. “It will also offer a forum for viewers to interact with each other, generating a fun community environment on Sportsnet.ca, and it’s all centered around a live game.”
Game in the Game lets viewers make such predictions as “Who will score the next goal?” or “Who will be thrown into the penalty box first?” They can answer such trivia questions as “Which goaltender holds Calgary’s record for the most career wins?” or “Who scored Ottawa’s second goal tonight?” They can also take part in polls: “Should the Sens have picked up Khabibulin?”
In addition, fans are able to chat with other hockey fans, and create groups with their friends in order to establish mini-competitions amongst themselves.
Participants compete against each other for points, prizes, and a position on the leaderboard, and are eligible for prizes, including HDTV’s and prize packs.
