The Winnipeg Goldeyes have announced an agreement with California based Interactive Broadcast Network (iBN) that will broadcast all of its home games via video on ibn.com. Winnipeg is not the only baseball team that has an agreement with iBN, they are now the third team to join the iBN Network along with the Kansas City T-Bones, and Gary SouthShore Rail Cats, also of the Northern League. With the announcement of the Goldeyes joining the group, iBN Baseball will cover nearly 1000 professional and college games through the 2009 season.
iBN Sports provides both LIVE and On-Demand programming. Baseball is not the only sports that sports fans can watch. Fans are able to view full screen HD video footage from amateur to professional sports that include; Surfing, Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Motocross, Ultimate Fighting MMA, Boxing, Pro Cycling, Pro Baseball, High School, Ivy League College, Motor Sports, Sturgis Bike Week, Maccabi Games, AAU, and other high interest Action and Extreme Sports.
iBN was founded in 2007 and according to iBN Executive Producer Ed Hart, this is a landmark day for the company, “With the addition of Winnipeg to our repertoire of teams, we are now in international baseball. We are targeting additional international teams, and the Goldeyes are opening that door for us. This is an exciting time, and we are thrilled to be partnering with the Goldeyes, a truly remarkable organization.” Hart has consulted with over 30 major league, minor league, NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS franchises, as well as with dozens of sports venues around North America. He was also the General Manager of the Orange County Flyers professional baseball team.
Independent teams and independent baseball are on another level when it comes to revenue stream when you compare it to affiliated minor league baseball. With the current economic situation, each team has to outperform competitors on and off the field to stand out amongst others with superior products. It is a gross understatement when you say that independent baseball has to be economical with their spending, while continuing to be creative for the individual, organization and the consumer. Thinking outside of the box generates the most creative and long lasting ideas, and Goldeyes General Manager Andrew Collier, sees this as another way to give the fans the best product possible, “Wherever our fans are tuning in over the Internet, this partnership with iBN is just one more way for us to connect with them”, “We’ve seen what has taken place in Kansas City and Gary and it is something we are very excited to be a part of.”
Devon Teeple is an author for the Business of Sports Network, which includes the Biz of Baseball, the Biz of Football, the Biz of Basketball and the Biz of Hockey. He is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals & Gateway Grizzlies. Devon is a former student within Sports Management Worldwide’s Baseball General Manager Class. Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective and is a intern with The Football Outsiders and contributor with the Plymouth River Eels.
Currently, Devon is a Branch Manager at a financial institution in Southern Ontario Canada. He can be reached at thegmsperspective@gmail.com or devon@businessofsportsnetwork.com
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