FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 19th, 2016

BYTES: 2016 CONCACAF WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING SOCCER TOURNAMENT SCORES FOR NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA

NBC SPORTS DIGITAL “BYTES”

February 19, 2016 – Vol. 84

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.

2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Soccer Tournament Scores for NBC Sports Live Extra

NBC Sports Live Extra’s coverage of the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying soccer tournament, beginning on Feb. 10, scored for NBC Sports Live Extra, with games featuring the U.S. Women’s National Team delivering a combined 8.4 million live minutes and 118,000 unique users across three matches.

The tournament continues tonight, when the USWNT face Trinidad & Tobago in the semifinal round for a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics, at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Live Extra and NBCSN.

NASCARTalk and NBC SportsWorld Surround NASCAR’s Daytona 500 with Around-the-Clock Coverage and In-Depth Stories

As NASCAR gears up for its season launch at the Daytona 500 this weekend, NASCARTalk and NBC SportsWorld on NBCSports.com are providing fans with around-the-clock news and in-depth coverage of the most compelling storylines.

NASCARTalk provides fans with previews, picks to win the Daytona 500, and the starting grid, as well as in-race updates. Post-race, the site will have reaction and analysis from NASCARTalk’s Dustin Long and Nate Ryan.

In addition, NBCSports.com gave Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the No. 17, a tape recorder to provide fans with exclusive access to his preparation in the days, hours and minutes before he starts the Daytona 500. The behind-the-scenes look at how a driver gets ready for one of the biggest races of the season will be available this Wednesday, Feb. 24, on NASCARTalk.

NBC SportsWorld is providing fans with in-depth coverage of storylines ahead of the race, including Dustin Long’s piece on NASCAR mechanic for the No. 88, Travis Mack, and the unexpected home delivery of his second child, available here. In addition, Nate Ryan explores the lengths that crew chiefs will go to land a job, available here, and Long will write on the guys that hop into a car on a moment’s notice – relief drives.

GolfChannel.com Wins Two First-Place Golf Writers Association of America Awards

GolfChannel.com won two first-place awards yesterday when the Golf Writers Association of America announced winners of its annual writing contest.

Senior writers Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner joined managing editor Mercer Baggs to win a first-place award for a special four-part project on Tiger Woods as he turned 40. The pieces asked who is Tiger Woodswhy does he still matter and where does he go now? The fourth piece in the series examined Woods’ impact on today’s stars.

Joe Posnanski, NBC Sports’ national columnist, won a first-place award in the daily columns category for his piece remembering Calvin Peete and how hard he worked to achieve a miracle career in golf. Posnanski also received an honorable mention nod in the daily features category for his piece on how brightly Jordan Spieth shined during his epic Masters performance.

This is Baggs’ second-career first-place award. It is the first for Posnanski, Hoggard and Lavner.

All winners will be honored at the GWAA’s annual awards dinner April 6 in Augusta, Ga.

Voting Available Now for Short-Form Feature And Film Contest CPTR’D (Captured)

Last week, NBC Sports Group announced the five projects selected as finalists for CPTR’D (Captured), a new sports short-form feature contest open to independent filmmakers of all levels who aspire to follow NBC Sports’ Emmy Award-winning storytelling heritage. The first, second and third place finalist selections will be decided by a collaboration of public and judges votes, and fans can vote for each project by visiting http://www.cptrdcontest.com. Voting ends on Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

The five CPTR’D finalists are En Garde!, produced by Rubi Barragan and Raza Naqvi; Not Just Strong for a Girl, produced by Bill PolitisQueens & Knights, produced by Sandra Chuma and Nyasha KadandaraMe, My Mom, and Dennis Rodman, produced by Jason Gilmore and Brian Branch, and Going the Distance, produced by Jessie Beers-Altman.

The select short-form feature submissions will be presented across NBC Sports Group’s digital platforms, and the winning CPTR’D project will be telecast on NBCSN and be awarded $10,000. Click here for more information about the contest.

Rotoworld 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide Available

As previously announced, the Rotoworld 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, the industry-leading source for fantasy baseball news and information, is available now 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. Click here for more information on packages and pricing.

CSN Mid-Atlantic Launches Between The Lines With Duo of College Basketball Legends

CSN Mid-Atlantic Digital last week tipped-off a new daily video feature, Between The Lines, led  by basketball hall of famers Gary Williams, the former University of Maryland men’s coach, and John Feinstein, the best-selling author and columnist. The short-form analysis and commentary covers the top regional and national college basketball subjects each weekday. The exclusive video is produced with a social media focus, but is distributed across all platforms.

President Barack Obama Welcomes the 2015 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks to the White House

President Barack Obama welcomed the 2015 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks to the White House on Thursday – for the third time in six years no less – and CSNChicago.com was there to provide viewers with a live stream of all the festivities.  In addition to a personalized team jersey with #15 on the back, the Blackhawks also a delivered a special gift to the POTUS – a lifetime United Center parking pass.

NBC Sports Films’ “More Than Gold: Jesse Owens And The 1936 Berlin Olympics”Available on NBCSports.com

NBC Sports Films’ latest project, More Than Gold: Jesse Owens and the 1936 Berlin Olympics, a one-hour documentary narrated by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman which chronicles Jesse Owens’ historic performance at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, is now available on NBC Sports.com. The film, which includes interviews with former Olympic teammates, historians, and family members, premiered last weekend on NBC, and is available here.

New NBC Sports Digital Shorts Videos on NBCSports.com

Two new NBC Sports Digital Shorts videos were posted on NBCSports.com this week, including the latest episode “Sports…The Musical?” — a short-form original digital video partnership between NBC Sports Group and Above Average’s sports comedy website, The Kicker — called #LesWarriables. The episode, available here, spoofs the on-court battle between LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

The second episode of Ever Wonder?, which 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, looks at former Presidents who were involved in college athletics in honor of President’s Day. That video is available here.

ICYMI on NBC SportsWorld, NBC Sports Digital’s Long-Form Website

Ronda Rousey admitted this week that she contemplated suicide after her first loss. For athletes used to operating at the highest levels, it’s a difficult search for identity in the wake of defeat, writes Joe Posnanski.

Jared Allen announced his retirement this week by literally riding off into the sunset. Joe Posnanski penned this piece to commemorate Allen’s great career.

If Ken Stabler wasn’t good enough to make the Hall of Fame when he was alive, why should things change after his passing? Joe Posnanski weighs in on an honor that feels more than hollow.

— NBC SPORTS DIGITAL —