NBC SPORTS DIGITAL “BYTES”
May 13, 2016 – Vol. 89
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.
Johnny Weir’s Tweet-Powered Brooch Activates 6 Million Times On Derby Day As NBC Sports Social Media Surrounded The Kentucky Derby
As a part of NBC Sports Group’s most comprehensive social media plan ever for the 142nd Kentucky Derby, fashion and lifestyle correspondent Johnny Weir wore a tweet-powered brooch on his lapel in the shape of a small white horse. The horse galloped and lit up as users tweeted one of six designated hashtags (including #WatchMeNeighNeigh), resulting in more than 6 million activations of the brooch.
On Derby Day, NBC Sports Group rolled out coverage across all social platforms, resulting in 10 million impressions on NBC Sports’ Facebook (up 372% compared to the 2015 Kentucky Derby), 1.5 million impressions for the @NBCSN Twitter handle (up 123%), and 1.1 million video views across Facebook and Twitter. A replay of the race, sponsored by Longines, racked up 1 million views on Facebook, and was shared more than 6,000 times. In addition, nearly 35,000 fans tuned in to NBC Sports Group’s Facebook Live content on Derby Day.
NBC Sports Live Extra Post Gains for 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Through the first two rounds, the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports Live Extra - NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connect TVs - have totaled 1.2 million unique visitors and 244.7 million minutes, up 26% and 99%, respectively, from the comparable period of the 2015 NHL Playoffs.
GolfNow Rewards Surpasses Half-Million Members
Motivating golfers to play more golf so they can earn more golf is the philosophy behind GolfNow Rewards, a new GolfNow loyalty program that has become a popular enhancement for golfers utilizing the web’s leading tee-time marketplace. The program recently surpassed half-million registered members, and has awarded more than 43 million points since the program was launched on January 1. With GolfNow Rewards, the more golfers play, the more they earn. For every round booked and played via GolfNow, a golfer will earn 10 points or more. Once 100 points are accumulated, GolfNow will send the golfer a promo code worth $10 off the next “Hot Deal” booked or the golfer has the option to save the credit and add it to future points earned.
Additionally, TaylorMade is supporting GolfNow’s loyalty program as presenting sponsor and has supplied GolfNow with equipment, apparel and accessories with a retail value approaching $2 million to surprise GolfNow’s best customers throughout the year.
NBC Olympics and Snapchat Partner To Present Unique Perspectives Of The 2016 Rio Olympics & U.S. Olympic Team Trials
As previously announced, NBC Olympics and Snapchat will partner to present unique perspectives from this summer’s 2016 Rio Olympics and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, which will include daily Snapchat “Live Stories” and an NBC Rio Olympic Discover channel. Both the Live Story experiences and Discover channel will be available to Snapchatters in the U.S. for over two weeks around the Games. NBC Olympics will co-produce the NBC Rio Olympic Discover channel with Buzzfeed, a regular contributor to both the Snapchat Discover platform and NBC’s content projects.
The Live Stories will allow thousands of Snapchatters attending select U.S. Olympic Team Trial competitions and the Rio Games to contribute through photo and video Snaps to one collective, Snapchat-curated story. Click here for more information on the partnership.
CSN Bay Area Posts Digital Milestones for Warriors Playoff Coverage & Tim Lincecum’s MLB Showcase
Throughout the Golden State Warriors-Portland Trail Blazers Western Conference semifinals, fans consumed 928,000 minutes of SportsNet Central: Warriors Playoff Central pre- and post-game shows on CSNBayArea.com via NBC Sports Live Extra, up 635% from last year (146,000 during the 2015 Warriors-Grizzlies semifinals). The live stream of Stephen Curry’s MVP press conference on May 10th generated nearly 70,000 views on the CSNBayArea.com-live page, up 37% compared to Curry’s MVP press conference last season (May 5, 2015, 44,309 views).
In addition, live stream of Tim Lincecum’s MLB Showcase on Friday, May 6, generated 88,000 views on the CSNBayArea.com-live page.
“Gold Map” Launches To Promote Youth Participation in Olympic Summer Sports During Rio Games
Last month, NBC Olympics, the United States Olympic Committee, and the U.S. summer sport national governing bodies (NGBs) launched Gold Map® to promote youth participation in Olympic summer sports by leveraging the excitement that will be generated in the lead-up to and during the Rio Olympics this August.
Gold Map leads young viewers on a journey that begins on their television sets and ends with their participation in an Olympic sport in their local area. During its upcoming coverage of the U.S. Olympic Trials and Summer Games, NBC Olympics will integrate a series of short promotional features that drives interested viewers to NBCOlympics.com/GoldMap, the Gold Map homepage that hosts an overview video and provides links to the websites of U.S. summer sport NGBs. At the NGB website, viewers can find out how they can participate locally in the sport they were watching. Click here for more information.
CSNNE.com Creates Draft Lottery Simulator Ahead of 2016 NBA Draft Lottery
Ahead of the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery, CSNNE.com created its very own Draft Lottery Simulator presented by the New England Chevy dealers. The Celtics have the third-best chance at getting the top pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and fans can “run” the mock simulator to test the odds of the Celtics getting the top pick. The initiative debuted on social media as well as an on-air execution with Celtics Owner, Wyc Grousbeck, which can be found here. CSNNE.com hosts the most comprehensive Boston Celtics offseason coverage for fans, including the latest news, analysis and information.
CSNNW Goes Live on Facebook During Blazers Postseason
CSN Northwest migrated their online streaming Trail Blazers pre- and post-game show, The Scoop, to Facebook Live for the NBA playoffs, and saw a 20-fold increase in video views during the second round against the Warriors compared to the regular season average.
ICYMI on NBC SportsWorld, NBC Sports Digital’s Long-Form Website
Alexander Ovechkin is one of the most brilliant players of his generation, but playoff success continues to elude him. Joe Posnanski looks at why Eight isn’t so Great in the playoffs.
There were other options, but Stephen Curry was the obvious choice for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award, writes Joe Posnanski.
Home runs are up in the Majors this year, but one, in particular, will enter lore and be remembered for years to come, writes Joe Posnanski.
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