oliverfennell wrote:It's just a newsfeed, what's the big deal?
Doesn't journalism require research anymore...See below...
BBC Sport has struck a partnership deal with sport social networking website iSporty to highlight the broadcaster’s coverage of cycling.
The deal will see a branded BBC Sport page on iSporty, which has been dubbed the ‘MySpace for sport.’ Linked to via the BBC’s own website, the page will allow users to create their own profiles and share blogs, photos and videos.
The BBC, previously reluctant to share its content, said that it was keen to exploit social networking sites to build its brand.
iSporty, which launched just three months ago, has attracted brands such as Men’s Health magazine, Red Bull and 20th Century Fox.
The team behind the website includes Mike Lee, former head of communications at the London 2012 Olympics, Chris Ward, formerly of Friends Reunited, and David Maher-Roberts, ex-new media director at Future Publishing.
Claire Stocks, BBC Sport assistant editor, said: "This is part of the BBC's growing commitment to let go of its own content and become part of the wider web.
“This pilot project with iSporty provides us with an innovative way of fostering a community around a popular sport – and allows us to offer our users the community features that they increasingly expect from the web.”
Ward said: “We are providing white-labelled versions of our social networking features and utilising social media generally for brands involved in sport to increase engagement, participation and attendance. Working with the BBC is an exciting opportunity, from both a business and consumer angle.
“Brands have content on the web but people that play sport are not online surfers. They don't visit on the off-chance. They use the web to organise and socialise around their sport, debate the latest news, enter events and book travel. iSporty can make branded communications a seamless and relevant part of people's daily time online.”
