3ality Digital’s first-ever Live 3D broadcast of an NFL game named one of Sports Illustrated’s Innovations of the Decade
Dec. 4, 2008 Broadcast Set Standard for Next Generation of Sports Viewing
A groundbreaking 3D broadcast by 3ality Digital LLC (www.3alitydigital.com) has been named one of the decade’s best innovations by Sports Illustrated magazine. The Dec. 4, 2008 live 3D broadcast of the National Football League’s Oakland Raiders versus the San Diego Chargers marked the first time a league game had been carried live in digital 3D.
The landmark event carried on a proud tradition of sports broadcast innovation by the Modell family. For years, Art Modell shaped NFL broadcast policies as the owner of the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. Modell’s sons, David and John – 3ality Digital’s chairman and co-founder, respectively – were instrumental in the landmark 3D broadcast.
“On behalf of everyone at 3ality Digital, we’re thrilled and honored that Sports Illustrated chose our NFL broadcast project as one of the most notable innovations of the decade,” said David Modell. “It was a pleasure to partner with the NFL to make this industry first a reality and lay the groundwork for the more comprehensive slate of live-action 3D programming now hitting the market.”
“We started development of real-time 3D production systems over ten years ago,” said Steve Schklair, CEO of 3ality Digital Systems, the technology arm of 3ality Digital. “3D for cinema is easy compared to live broadcast, yet we always knew that the right set of technologies would make live broadcasting in stereo a reality. Our live 3D broadcast of the Raiders versus Chargers was a key milestone in 3D’s migration from the cinema to the living room.”
In describing the broadcast experience, Sports Illustrated wrote in part: “If a one-sided snoozer of a game can be that engaging, one can only imagine the excitement of a postseason game or Super Bowl in three dimensions.” The magazine went on to say, “the brilliant final product is a testament to their (3D telecasts’) inevitability.”
“We approached the live 3D broadcast of Thursday Night Football as a proof of concept and came away extremely impressed with the results,” said Howard Katz, the NFL’s senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations. “The NFL has a long tradition of using emerging technologies to enhance the consumer experience, and live-action digital 3D clearly has enormous potential in this regard.”
“I’m proud and humbled to see our work included on such an exclusive and prestigious list of achievements,” said John Modell, who also serves as a 3ality Digital producer. “High-profile projects such as the NFL broadcast clearly demonstrate the value of the medium to every segment of the entertainment industry and firmly establish 3ality Digital as the premier 3D broadcast provider.”
The live 3D broadcast of the NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football was shot and transmitted by 3ality Digital and shown to invited guests at theatres in Boston, Hollywood and New York City. The three-dimensional nature of the broadcast, which incorporated state-of-the-art technology built into 3ality Digital’s camera platforms, was acclaimed for conveying the sense among viewers that they were actually on the field with the players.
“This is an amazing way to close out 2009 and begin what promises to be another watershed year for 3D,” said 3ality Digital LLC CEO Sandy Climan. “I’m thrilled to see the impact this broadcast and similar 3ality Digital projects have had on the global broadcast community. From the United Kingdom to Spain to Japan, broadcasters around the world have seen the potential of live-action 3D and will be launching dedicated 3D initiatives in 2010.”
The success of the NFL broadcast led a month later to the first live 3D broadcast to consumers, when 3ality Digital produced a live 3D broadcast of college football’s national title game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the University of Florida Gators.
Source: 3ality Digital
Derek Jeter named 2009 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
Sports Illustrated Group Editor Terry McDonell announced that Derek Jeter is the 2009 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. Jeter is the first New York Yankee to receive this award. Previous winners include Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. The 2009 SI Sportsman of the Year issue hits newsstands Wednesday, December 2. The issue marks the 11th cover appearance for Jeter.
Since 1954 the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year has been presented annually to the person who excelled in athletic performance and demonstrated great character. “Over all the years SI editors have used the same language to define the award,” said McDonell. “It is not for the victory alone that he (or she) is honored; rather, it is for the quality of his effort and the manner of his striving.’ And that defines Derek Jeter.”
“While having a Hall of Fame career and under a brilliant spotlight, Derek conducts himself with class and a selfless demeanor that allows not only his teammates but also his sport and his community to flourish,” McDonell continued. “It was his leadership both on and off the field that drove the Yankees to the world championship, and his Turn 2 Foundation is one of the most efficient and effective foundations of its kind. It is an honor to include Derek Jeter in the Sportsman fraternity.”
Jeter’s selection caps another outstanding season for the 35-year-old team captain and future Hall of Famer. In 2009 he batted .334 while leading the Yankees to their fifth World Series title in his 14 full seasons, their first since 2000 and their major league record 27th. On September 11, Jeter got his 2,722 hit, breaking Lou Gehrig’s 70-year-old franchise record. Jeter now has 2,747. In 2009, Jeter led the American League by reaching base 289 times, finished second in the league in hits (212), third in batting average and on-base percentage (.406), fourth in runs (107), and eighth in stolen bases (30). He was named an All-Star for the 10th time, including the sixth time as a starter, while winning his fourth AL Silver Slugger as the best hitting shortstop in the league, and his fourth Gold Glove as the league’s top defensive shortstop.
In 14 postseason games Jeter lived up to his reputation as a clutch player, batting .344 with a .432 on-base percentage, three home runs and six RBIs. He batted .407 in the World Series to help lead the Yankees to a six-game victory against the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies. During the Series Jeter was named the American League recipient of the Hank Aaron Award, given to the best hitter in each league as voted on by the fans, and the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player who best displays skill on the field while giving back to the community off it.
Jeter will be honored at a ceremony in Manhattan on December 1 along with SI Kids’ SportsKid of the Year, Austin McCarthy. Sponsors for the Sportsman of the Year event include Ford, Gillette, Liberty Mutual and Verizon.
Jeter is the 10th baseball honoree and only the third in the last 34 years. Others players named Sportsman after great World Series-winning performances include Johnny Podres (’55), Sandy Koufax (’65), Tom Seaver (’69), Pete Rose (’75), Willie Stargell (along with Terry Bradshaw ['79]), Orel Hershiser (’88), Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson (’01) and the Boston Red Sox (’04).
Source: www.si.com/sportsman
Athlete: The Sports Illustrated photography of Walter Iooss opens Oct. 9 at the Newseum
See some of the greatest names in sports as you’ve never seen them before in “Athlete,” a new Newseum exhibit featuring highlights from the career of legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss Jr. For this exclusive exhibit, Iooss selected more than 40 photos that represent his favorite moments from nearly 50 years as a sports photographer.
From classic images of superstars such as Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams and Michael Phelps to photos of children playing soccer and stickball, Iooss’s work reflects a lifetime of documenting the impulse that connects all athletes: a pure love of the sport. His photos have appeared on more than 300 Sports Illustrated covers — the most by any photographer.
“‘Athlete’ truly captures the passion and personalities of sports worldwide, and these powerful images are amplified by Walter Iooss’s own words,” said Ken Paulson, president of the Newseum.
Iooss’s descriptions of his photographs provide an insider’s look at some of the legends of the sports world. He talks about his relationship with his favorite athlete, Michael Jordan, and recalls the emotional day he photographed his boyhood hero, Johnny Unitas, whose hand was so damaged by football that he couldn’t hold a cup of coffee.
Also on display in “Athlete” are Iooss’s personal diaries, filled with collages of his photos, quirky headlines and his handwritten notes. The exhibit includes an original Newseum-produced video in which the photographer talks about his photos and the bonds he forged with his subjects.
Iooss (pronounced “yose,” as in “dose”) has been called the “photo laureate of American sports.” He started photographing sports events at age 16, when his father gave him a camera. Two years later, his photos appeared in Sports Illustrated for the first time.
Many of the photos in “Athlete: The Sports Illustrated Photography of Walter Iooss” were published in Iooss’s 2008 book, “Athlete.” The Newseum exhibit includes Iooss’s most famous photograph, “The Catch,” which captured the last-minute touchdown catch by San Francisco 49ers’ receiver Dwight Clark that ended the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl dreams in 1982.
“Athlete” will be on display at the Newseum from Oct. 9 through Dec. 31, 2009.
Source: Newseum
Recession Fouls Basketball Superstar – A Player’s Loss is Collectors Gain
There are times when a team transcends the game and steps over the boundaries of the sports pages and into the consciousness of a nation.
It could be argued that the Chicago Bulls during the mid 1990′s was such a team – so well known that even people who never opened an issue of Sports Illustrated could name the starting lineup.
The “repeat the three-peat” wins of the NBA finals of ’96, ’97, and ’98 created a cadre of basketball superstars and characters and set the bar at a new high for the next generation of players. Now a little piece of that victory is up on the auction block. In a testament to the far reach of the recession, former Bulls guard and assistant coach to the Sacramento Kings, Randy Brown, has declared bankruptcy, and his three championship rings will be for sale to the highest bidder via online auction at WestAuction.com.
The Chicago Bulls of the mid ’90s has been considered one of the best teams ever to set foot on a court, and Brown’s role – both as guard and as a team player – was integral. Brown, who made a name for himself in Sacramento as a solid and hard-working assistant coach to the Kings, was well liked by players and fans alike. His focus and ability to help players get the most out of their training was a mainstay during the team’s recent trouble and instability.
Yet these hard financial times have impacted everyone, and Brown is no exception. “It’s a tough situation,” says Dennis West, of West Auctions, the company charged with auctioning the rings. “Randy seems like a really good guy, and he was a great player. However, these are tough times for a lot of people from a variety of backgrounds. People are making difficult financial decisions, and for some that means bankruptcy.” With bankruptcy rates rising rapidly across the nation, you can expect many more auctions in the future.
Brown’s three championship rings are expected to hit the auction block at WestAuction.com on May 19. The bid will start at $19,000 – a bargain in the world of sports collectables.
For more information visit http://www.westauction.com/.
Sports Illustrated Group Announces SI Swimsuit 24/7
A First of Its Kind Launch Initiative for the Annual Swimsuit Issue
Club SI Swimsuit presented by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to be held at LAX in Luxor Hotel and Casino
Southwest Airlines to unveil “SI One” a 737-700 wrapped in Swimsuit Imagery
The Sports Illustrated Group announced details for “SI Swimsuit 24/7, From New York to Las Vegas,” a groundbreaking experiential marketing initiative dedicated to the highly-anticipated 2009 Swimsuit Issue. “SI Swimsuit 24/7, From New York to Las Vegas” features the organization’s first Swimsuit launch event in Las Vegas and the first Swimsuit branded airplane.
“This is a signature moment for the Sports Illustrated Group as we embark on a new program to provide customers with opportunities to extend their message utilizing Sports Illustrated properties and events,” said Mark Ford, President of the Sports Illustrated Group. “The Swimsuit franchise is the perfect launch vehicle for this program and demonstrates how SI can create customizable solutions for our clients through any combination of print, digital, event marketing and property sales.”
Club SI Swimsuit, presented by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority (LVCVA) is scheduled for February 12 at LAX, Las Vegas’ hottest nightclub located in the Luxor Hotel and Casino. The party is the pinnacle event in a week of launch activities for the Swimsuit franchise. More than two dozen SI Swimsuit models featured in the acclaimed annual will be in Las Vegas for a day of autograph signings and events culminating with the launch party at LAX where guests will be treated to a live performance from six-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist John Legend.
“What better place to host the first ever consumer party for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition than fabulous Las Vegas,” said Terry Jicinsky, LVCVA’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “Las Vegas is as vibrant as ever and the Sports Illustrated event will leverage the strength of both brands and provide a platform to showcase the destination’s many amenities. Now more than ever, Las Vegas is the ideal destination to ‘Take a Break.’”
The models will journey to Las Vegas aboard “SI One,” a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, which will be wrapped in SI Swimsuit imagery. Southwest Airlines, will unveil SI One at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Wednesday, February 11. On the evening of the 11th, Southwest will take the Swimsuit models and a traveling party from New York to Las Vegas for the launch. Beginning February 11, SI One will fly throughout the Southwest route system for a limited time. This marks the first time that Southwest has wrapped a plane virtually nose-to-tail in imagery.
“Southwest is always open to innovative projects that showcase our fun-loving personality,” said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines’ Vice President of Communications and Strategic Outreach. “Partnering with Sports Illustrated to launch the 2009 Swimsuit Issue gives Southwest a larger-than-life opportunity to reach fans of the most well-known magazine issue in the world. It’s also a clever way to remind travelers we intend to serve New York City from LaGuardia Airport in 2009.”
SI Swimsuit 24/7 is the first official production for the Sports Illustrated Group’s new Experiential Marketing and Property Sales initiative. This enterprise will generate new Sports Illustrated, GOLF and SI Kids public and private events and properties. To support this vision, the SI Group has realigned internal resources and named Team Velocity AOR for property and experiential marketing asset development, production and sales. Additional programs and events will be announced later this year.
“SI Properties and Experiential Marketing will be focused on the development of franchise-wide, monetizeable property assets and work directly with clients to deliver a very customized solution,” said Andrew Judelson, Sports Illustrated Group CMO.
SI Swimsuit 24/7 will begin with a Bon Voyage event at New York’s Pranna Restaurant. A party of swimsuit models, VIPs and executives will be taken from the party to Las Vegas where sponsors will incorporate various levels of activation through events, contesting and presence at the launch party. For example:
- LVCVA proudly presents Club SI Swimsuit Las Vegas, an anchor event in a week of launch activities surrounding the launch of the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. On Thursday, February 12, 2009, more than a dozen SI Swimsuit models featured in the acclaimed annual will descend upon Las Vegas for a day of autograph signings and photo opportunities at select resorts, all culminating with the first ever launch party in Las Vegas.
- SoBe Lifewater has teamed with Sports Illustrated to create a promotional sweepstakes through radio promotions and the SoBe Lifewater Facebook group page, (http://www.facebook.com/sobe). Each radio spot gives consumers a chance to attend the Club SI Swimsuit Las Vegas party. SoBe Lifewater product will also be served exclusively at both the NY event and the Las Vegas party, with custom bar displays for SoBe Lifewater at the Las Vegas event.
- For the first time ever, Nissan has exclusive ownership of the 2009 SI Swimsuit Cover model teaser campaign video with seven days of presence on the SI.com homepage. In addition to their Associate sponsorship of Club SI Swimsuit, Nissan is sponsoring the Z-List Sweepstakes with SI Swimsuit model Melissa Keller along with a downloadable calendar.
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit franchise reaches more than 66 million adults (approximately one in three Americans over the age of 18). The Swimsuit Issue debuted in 1963 and has become a staple of American culture and has played an integral part in the careers of models such as Kathy Ireland, Cheryl Tiegs, Tyra Banks, Elle MacPherson, Christie Brinkley and Heidi Klum. A digital powerhouse, SI.com/swimsuit drew more than 8 million visitors last year and 500 million page views. The 2009 Swimsuit Issue cover model was revealed on The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday, February 9.
Source: Sports Illustrated