FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 4th, 2016
BYTES: ROTOWORLD 2016 FANTASY BASEBALL DRAFT GUIDE AVAILABLE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 ON ROTOWORLD.COM
NBC SPORTS DIGITAL “BYTES”
February 4, 2016 – Vol. 83
NBC Sports Digital “Bytes” is a collection of highlights, information and metrics for NBC Sports Digital properties. Previous editions can be found on NBCSportsGroupPressbox.com.
Rotoworld 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide Available Tuesday, February 9, on Rotoworld.com
With just two weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Rotoworld 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, the industry-leading source for fantasy baseball news and information, will be available beginning Tuesday, February 9, at Rotoworld.com.
From Single-A prospects to MLB All Stars, the Rotoworld 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide features player and team profiles, updated team depth charts, analysis, rankings and customizable projections for more than 1,000 players. In addition, the online guide features articles on prospects, offseason moves, sleeper picks and position tiers.
Rotoworld 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide packages begin at $19.99 and include:
- Draft Guide – The industry’s most comprehensive tool for fantasy baseball drafts, the Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide is available for $19.99 and features fully customizable cheat sheets, more than 1,000 player profiles and projections, ADP reports, closer and rotation reports, AL and NL projected lineups, and much more.
- Double Play – Available for $29.99, the package features the 2016 Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide and the Rotoworld Baseball Season Pass. The Season Pass includes player tracking reports for up to 100 players, updated ranking and projection reports, premium closer and rotation reports, and RotoDirect, which features e-mail updates on selected players
- Draft Day Package – Available for $34.99, the package includes the 2016 Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide and Rotoworld Draft Master. The Draft Master features offline draft tools, auction and non-auction drafts, premium draft guide stat projections, rankings and profiles, as well as mock draft tools to test draft strategies.
- Triple Play – Available for $44.99, the Triple Play package features the most comprehensive collection of fantasy baseball draft resources and tools offered by Rotoworld. The Triple Play package includes the 2016 Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Season Pass, and Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Draft Master.
To purchase the 2016 Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide & packages, visit Rotoworld.com.
In addition, Rotoworld.com experienced its 16th consecutive month of year-over-year growth in visits in unique users in the month of January. Last month, Rotoworld.com delivered 5.5 million unique users (up 5 % over Jan. 2015) and 20.3 million visits (up 2% over Jan. 2015).
January’s most popular players on Rotoworld.com:
- Stephen Curry (NBA, Golden State Warriors)
- Derrick Favors (NBA, Utah Jazz)
- Anthony Davis (NBA, New Orleans Pelicans)
- Marshawn Lynch (NFL, Seattle Seahawks)
- Kobe Bryant (NBA, Los Angeles Lakers)
- Blake Griffin (NBA, Los Angeles Clippers)
- Hassan Whiteside (NBA, Miami Heat)
- Tyreke Evans (NBA, New Orleans Pelicans)
- Mike Conley (NBA, Memphis Grizzlies)
- Julian Edelman (NFL, New England Patriots)
NBC Sports Digital Shorts Launches Ever Wonder? Series on NBCSports.com Tomorrow
NBC Sports Digital Shorts, NBC Sports Digital’s initiative focused on producing short-form original digital content, announced the launch of its third series, Ever Wonder? beginning tomorrow, Feb. 5, on NBCSports.com and across other NBC Sports Digital platforms. Ever Wonder? takes some of the most compelling, odd facts about different aspects of the sports world and breaking them down for fans in 1-2 minute videos.
The videos will roll out weekly, with the first taking a look into the cost of some of the most prestigious trophies in the world, including the most expensive, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, made of solid 18-carat gold and worth $20 million (U.S.).
In addition, this week’s episode of “Sports…The Musical?” — a short-form original digital video partnership between NBC Sports Group and Above Average’s sports comedy website, The Kicker — is live now on NBCSports.com and across other NBC Sports Digital platforms. The episode spoofs the relationship between country music and the NHL as it relates to this past weekend’s NHL All Star Game from Nashville, Tenn. Click here to view the piece.
GolfNow Offers Chance To Win ‘Caddielac’ in Online Contest
GolfNow, the world’s leading technology company specializing in golf-related products and services with the largest tee-time marketplace in golf, is participating in style at this week’s PGA TOUR event in Phoenix with the GolfNow “Caddielac.” This custom-built, street-legal golf cart seats four and comes complete with LED lighting accents and fiber optics in the ceiling, a cooler under the seat, sound system and custom rims – and it’s up for grabs in the GolfNow Golf Cart Giveaway through Feb. 7.
The “Caddielac” has been making appearances around the Phoenix area, visiting golf courses and hanging out at an Arizona State basketball game. Already accumulating more than 24,000 entries, patrons at the Waste Management Phoenix Open this week are able to see the golf cart in person and register on site to win. Fans also can enter online at www.golfnow.com/golfcart.
“Day Day” All-Star News Video Scores for CSNBayArea.com
The announcement that Golden State Warrior Draymond Green was named to his first All-Star team garnered over 100,000 views in one day on CSNBayArea.com. During an interview on “SportsTalk Live” (@CSNSTL), Green was discussing his chances of an All-Star reserve slot with host Jim Kozimor, when the feed suddenly cut to his mother, Mary Babers-Green, live from his hometown of Saginaw, Mich. Babers-Green broke the news to “Day Day” that he was named an All-Star and will be headed to Toronto for All-Star Weekend. Click here for a link to the exclusive video.
CSN Chicago Launches New Online Bracket Tournament To Determine Illinois’ Top High School Sports Team Nickname
Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the television and online home of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Championships, announced the launch of a brand new online tournament entitled “Mascot Madness,” which will enable fans to determine the state’s top high school sports team nickname.
Beginning Monday, February 8 at 12 Noon CT, fans can begin casting their first round vote by visiting the network’s dedicated “Mascot Madness” page — CSNChicago.com/MascotMadness — with the poll closing on Thursday, February 11 at 4:00 PM. The “Mascot Madness” web page will utilize Twitter and Facebook for tabulating votes. Fans are encouraged to offer up their support and comments for their favorite school team nickname by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #MascotMadness. Click here for more information.
Golf Advisor Top 50 List Generates Record Traffic
With its Jan. 25 unveiling of its list of Top 50 public courses in the United States, GolfAdvisor.com had its best week ever for page views (285K), up 117% over the previous week and 17% over the site’s previous best week (7/20/2015). Golf Advisor, the world’s leading golf course ratings and review website, determined the Top 50 list from more than 121,000 reviews from more than 75,000 golfers who took the time to share their golfing experiences in 2015. Golf Advisor’s rankings differ from similar lists typically generated by industry insiders because it was created by golfers, for golfers.
Nationals Insider and Terps Insider Added to CSN Mid-Atlantic Digital Roster
CSN Mid-Atlantic announced this week a pair of promotions that add two insider positions to its digital team. Chase Hughes has been named Nationals Insider and Dan Martin will now serve as Terps Insider, covering the Washington Nationals and University of Maryland football and basketball, respectively. In addition to providing comprehensive daily coverage to CSN’s digital properties, which are led by CSNmidatlantic.com, Hughes and Martin will also regularly appear on the network’s news and entertainment programs.
In their former roles as digital media producers, Hughes and Martin contributed extensively to coverage of their new respective beats. They join CSN’s experienced roster of team insiders, which includes Redskins Insider Tarik El-Bashir, Ravens Insider Clifton Brown, Capitals Insider Chuck Gormley and Wizards Insider J. Michael.
CSNNW.com Delivers 22% Increase in Video Views During January 2016
CSNNW.com saw a 22% increase in video views during January versus Q4 of 2015. The boost was thanks in part to viral videos picked up nationally relating to the accidental benching of Trail Blazers’ guard CJ McCollum in a game against the Clippers due to a clerical error on the pregame roster sheet.
Go Live with CSN Philly and Facebook
CSNPhilly, the online home of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, has embraced the new “Facebook Live” feature, which was recently rolled out and allows brands to directly connect with followers using live video.
CSNPhilly.com is utilizing this feature on the network’s daily talk shows – “Breakfast on Broad” and “Philly Sports Talk.” Before every show on-air talent give Facebook followers a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes, plus a preview on that days show topics. Each “Facebook Live” post has reached approximately 10,000 followers.
ICYMI on NBC SportsWorld, NBC Sports Digital’s Long-Form Website
As Peyton Manning nears what might be his final game, Joe Posnanski looks at quarterbacks’ final outings and finds that walking away is never easy.
The Golden State Warriors are the toast of the NBA, and it’s in no small part due to forward Draymond Green. Joe Posnanski catches up with green to talk about the value of dirty work.
Wayne Gretzky’s shadow still looms over hockey, and his records look more and more unattainable. As the Great One turns 55, Joe Posnanski tries to measure the depth of his genius.
— NBC SPORTS DIGITAL —
