With leading analystsprojecting that subscription and ad-supported television will be enormouslyimpacted by the collective impact of Internet video, streaming and mobiletelevision services, the new University of Texas Longhorns Vmag onlinevideo magazine series is being used to further build the buzz by givingTexas fans a seat over the Internet.
Fake Louis Vuitton WatchesAccording to Sports Illustrated, The University of Texas v. Ohio StateUniversity showdown on September 10 was the college game to watch in 2005.And, after a 25-22 win, it is obvious that the No. 2 ranked Longhorns haveraised their national profile! Last week, the Vmag video crew traveled onthe team plane and captured all the game day excitement including CoachMack Brown's halftime and post-game locker room comments.
With online advertising alone expected to more than double from last year's$9.3 billion to $19 billion by 2010 at the expense of traditional media,according to Jupiter Research, big brand advertisers are now evaluatingvideo products like the UT Vmag. According to an article in the HollywoodReporter, "Instead of relying solely on consumers finding their programs,TV networks and their Big Media parents are seeking out consumerseverywhere they can... with traditional moviegoing and TV viewing facingaudience erosion as so many other forms of new-media distribution gainspeed, Iger, Murdoch and their Big Media contemporaries are beginning togive the status quo a good shaking."
In a press conference on August 2, 2005, Texas football coach Mack Brownunveiled the Vmag as a unique and innovative way to enjoy the footballseason. Sent weekly, each Vmag contains 5-15 minutes of TV-quality videoand audio with articles, photographs and links to online properties. TheVmag "Webisodes" are sent directly to the desktop of subscribers and bringbehind-the-scenes access to the inner workings of the Longhorns footballprogram. The first two issues built pre-season buzz and gave UT fansexclusive footage and insight into the program -- access they can't get onTV or anywhere else.
The results are illustrative of the quality and success of the newmarketing channel:
-- 88.6 percent of the recipients view the Vmag at least once with the average being 2.1 views per recipient-- 21.4 percent of the recipients click-through to the Longhorns online store ()-- 86 percent of viewers have requested further promotional materials (i.e., newsletters, promotions, general information about athletics, special events, etc.)-- 22.5 percent of those who viewed the latest Vmag forwarded it to a friend-- Subscribers from 49 states and 11 foreign countries
Fans already want more!
Fans are wowed by the Vmag and the access they gain into the inner workingsof the football program. In a random drawing, five lucky Vmag viewers werechosen to attend a practice, visit the players lounge and ride on theofficial team bus, guided on their tour by Brown himself.
"It was just spectacular and exceeded my wildest expectations," said BillRubinsky, a Texas Exes member and one of the five winners. "You put me onthe field, in the huddle, in the locker room and in the coach's office. Fora UT fanatic like me, to actually attend a practice and meet Coach Brownwas the Replica Breitling Watch experience of a lifetime. The best thing is that through your Vmagproduct, I can continue that experience!"
The reaction to this remarkable access has gained even more momentum withthe backing of the Texas Exes. The UT Alumni Association has joined rankswith UT Athletics to promote the series to ensure its 400,000-plus livingalumni are aware and have every opportunity to subscribe.
In the September Vmags, the viewers received about 15 minutes of game-daycoverage -- footage only available to Vmag subscribers. Future Vmag issueswill include even more exciting Longhorns action. Highlights includevignettes on the preparation and hoopla surrounding the much-anticipated"SBC Red River Rivalry" v. Oklahoma, special issues on Brown's locker roomspeeches and a breakdown of game winning plays. November issues will focuson the forthcoming "State Farm Lone Star Showdown" against Texas A&M andthe road to post-season competition.
The Vmag is produced by NEWgame Communications via an agreement with HostCommunications, the multimedia rights-holder for UT Athletics. For moreinformation, please visit .
About NEWgame Communications:
NEWgame is the producer of the Vmag庐, a safe broadcast platform thatdelivers video magazines straight to the desktop using a "polite"background delivery method. By integrating text, images, Web links andfull-screen, broadcast-quality audio and video, Vmag gives brand marketersand advertising agencies a direct connection to consumers by opening acompelling, and unique, e-marketing channel. The NCAA, Saint Mary'sCollege, University of Texas, USDM and Vacation Express currently use theVmag to enhance their online marketing efforts. Based in Charlotte, NorthCarolina, NEWgame can be found on the Web at .