Turner Sports Launches Sports App for iTunes

Turner Sports will provide sports fans with up to date sports information via a new application for iPhones.
Turner's first ever branded consumer product SportsNOW will provide sports fans instant access to up-to-the-minute live scores and player stats initially focusing on NCAA Men's college Basketball, the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL), according to company officials.

The free app --available for download at the iTunes App Store -- will also provide personalized customization for fans with alerts and the "follow" feature, making it the first sports app to focus on live coverage of multiple sports, teams and players at the same time in a single interface.

The SportsNOW App -- which will feature Ram Truck Brand as its charter sponsor -- will integrate a social media messaging feature allowing fans to interact and engage with friends and other fans. Fans can update their Facebook page and Twitter feed with their thoughts on game action and player highlights, read other fans' comments and trash-talk directly from the app.
"The launch of SportsNOW is an organic step for Turner Sports, which manages an impressive roster of mobile apps for some of the top league brands, to move into the multi-sport digital space," said Lenny Daniels, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Turner Sports in a statement. "Our initial offering will include coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball, NBA and NHL, but we will soon look to add additional sports such as Major League Baseball, professional golf, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the NFL. This mobile app will add to our mission to provide the most comprehensive, multiplatform experience possible across television, Internet, mobile and social media platforms."

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.