FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

BYTES: AROUND-THE-CLOCK NFL FREE AGENCY CONTENT BOOSTS NBC SPORTS DIGITAL TO ALL-TIME RECORD TRAFFIC

NBC SPORTS DIGITAL “BYTES”

March 11, 2015 – Vol. 49

Around-The-Clock NFL Free Agency Content Boosts NBC Sports Digital to All-Time Record Traffic

Yesterday marked the official start of NFL free agency for 2015. Blockbuster moves included former New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham heading to the Seattle Seahawks, and former New England Patriots CB Darrelle Revis opting to return to New York for a second stint with the New York Jets. The moves from around the league yesterday boosted NBC Sports Digital’s sites to all-time record traffic:

  • ProFootballTalk.com had its best day ever yesterday in visits with 3.5 million, and page views with 7.9 million.
    • Views on ProFootballTalk.com peaked between 4 and 5 p.m. ET yesterday, with a record of more than 1 million page views in one hour.
    • Uniques for ProFootballTalk.com were up 112%, visits were up 81%, and page views were up 41% vs. the first day of NFL free agency in 2014 (3/11/14).
  • Rotoworld.com experienced its best day this year with a record 617,000 uniques, 1.2 million visits, and 5.3 million page views yesterday.
  • CSNPhilly.com was boosted to it best day ever in page views with 898,000, following the news that St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for QB Nick Foles.
  • Growth was also seen on NBCSports.com/NFL, which recorded 28,000 uniques (up 102% vs. 2014), 33,000 visits (up 95%), and 62,000 page views (up 78%) – excluding ProFootballTalk.com content.

Throughout the free agency period, ProFootballTalk.com will continuously provide in-depth content, and will stay updated around-the-clock with the latest free agency news and transactions.

Rotoworld.com’s NFL free agency coverage includes a “Free Agency Tracker,” the latest cut candidates for each division, and a look at player prospects leading into NFL free agency, including Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray. Following the free agency period, Rotoworld.com will feature a “Winners and Losers” column, outlining the best and worst transactions.

Golf Channel’s Arnie & Me

As previously announced, after the overwhelming viewer response to Golf Channel’s presentation of the critically acclaimed three-part television event – Arnie – last April, Golf Channel invited fans of Arnold Palmer – affectionately known as “Arnie’s Army” – to submit videos that captured their own personal stories, with the intent to create the fourth installment to Arnie. The feature, titled Arnie & Me, will premiere next week, on Tuesday, March 17 at 10 p.m. ET.

Golf Channel asked fans to share their photos, videos and anecdotes of their moments with The King via social media using the hashtag #Arnie, and thousands of entries poured in from all over the world. In addition to the film, Golf Channel also will be showcasing some of the stories featured in Arnie & Me on its social media platforms via a video countdown that began Tuesday, March 10. On the day of the premiere, fans will be encouraged to share their thoughts on the stories and The King using the hashtag #Arnie. They also can follow @GolfChannel and the social conversation around Arnie & Me using the hashtag #Arnie or by visiting GolfChannel.com, which has a robust library of extended cuts of interviews.

Click here for more information and air times for Arnie & Me.

CSNChicago.com’s “Road to the NFL Draft”

Comcast SportsNet Chicago launched its “Road to the NFL Draft” – presented by AT&T U-verse – series today.  CSNChicago.com will release four profiles each day in the 50 days leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago (April 30-May 2).  The profiles are biographical capsules of 200 prospects, including video interviews with each player and what the scouts and experts around-the-league are saying highlighted by NBC Sports and Rotoworld NFL Draft expert Josh Norris. Click here for a link to the first profile on Auburn WR Sammie Coates.

More than 575,000 minutes of PBC on NBC coverage streamed via NBC Sports Live Extra

The debut of NBC’s new boxing partnership, Premier Boxing Champions, delivered more than 575,000 minutes via NBC Sports Live Extra to desktops, tablets and mobile devices – ranking as the third-best Saturday night this year behind the NFL Wild Card Playoff (Jan. 3, 2015) and the NHL Stadium Series game (Feb. 21, 2015). On social media, #NBCBoxing trended on Twitter worldwide throughout the telecast, along with #PBConNBC, boxers’ names and other key terms trending on the national level.

This Week on NBC SportsWorld

Coming up this week on NBC SportsWorld, Joe Posnanski spent time with the Kansas City Royals in Arizona for spring training to take a look at life “after the champagne,” following the 2014 World Series. Posnanski also appeared in a video essay that takes a closer look at the Nationals’ impressive pitching staff. Click here for a link to the video.

– NBC SPORTS DIGITAL –