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AmericanTowns.com intrduces new web solution for local sports leagues

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americantowns.jpgAmericanTowns.com, a national network of hyper-local community websites, announced the launch of AmericanTowns SPORTS, a comprehensive set of website and communications solutions for local sports teams and leagues in each of the 10,000 communities it serves. AmericanTowns SPORTS provides tools that enable leagues and teams to keep players, fans and families informed and to reach the broader community. A streamlined version is offered free of charge to individual teams, and a more comprehensive, “premier” version, intended for league use, is available for a fee.

The free, easy-to-use web solution allows individual teams to post their schedules, refreshment assignments, and contact information on the web; to announce rainouts and delays in real time; and to post registration dates, special awards, volunteer recognition and team coverage to their own page and to the homepage of their AmericanTowns community website.

Originally posted on July 18, 2007 @ 6:36 pm

The Surf Network debuts as surf video mecca

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surf-network.jpgFans of surfing in movies and television shows will be happy to know they now have a new place online for their video fix. Opper Sports Productions has announced the launch of TheSurfNetwork.com, containing over 200 television shows and surf movies.

TheSurfNetwork.com makes H.264 MPEG-4 videos available for $2.99 and $3.99 for TV shows and $9.99 for movies. Shows can be managed through iTunes and have no timed viewing expiration. Examples of movies include Bruce Brown’s “The Endless Summer,” Hal Jepsen’s “Super Sessions,” Greg MacGillivray’s “Five Summer Stories,” and Steve Soderberg’s “Ticket To Ride.” TV shows include The Surfers Journal and Long Board TV.

“Surfing has its own music, clothing, language and now we have our own Network,” said Ira Opper, President, Opper Sports Productions. “By utilizing the web as a delivery system, we can offer high quality video downloads of surf films and television shows to a passionate audience.”

Originally posted on July 17, 2007 @ 2:58 pm

Active.com relaunches with new features

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active-com.jpgActive.com, a popular Web site for those into fitness and sports, relaunched its Web site today with a variety of new features. It currently offers more than 55,000 activity listings in over 80 sports categories.

Active.com, besides a new design, offers an enhanced community area with blogs, wikis and private messages. The site also offers new features and tools such as personal profile pages, sharing of sports-related video clips and photo slideshows, more sports-related content from Active’s team of professional athletes, coaches and experts and better search and directory capabilities.

“Active.com’s media partners and 12 million registered users will greatly benefit from our completely redesigned site,” said Chuck Mitchell, vice president of consumer media of The Active Network. “Not only have we significantly enhanced the site’s most popular features, we’ve incorporated the latest Web 2.0 tools providing new and interesting ways for Active.com users to participate on the site and engage with each other.”

Originally posted on July 17, 2007 @ 2:39 pm

FoxSports, MSN launch 2007 fantasy football site

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fox-fantasy-football.jpgFoxSports on MSN launched its 2007 fantasy football site today. It also unveiled pro football star LaDainian Tomlinson as its spokesperson by offering a chance to win a five-day, four-night trip to San Diego where the winner and a guest will spend part of a day with Tomlinson.

Fox Fantasy Football 2007 gets a new look this season. It continues to remain a free service and offers a a redesigned live draft application and a free draft guide with lots of details. It will also offer real-time scoring, commissioner controls, expert analysis and personalized team pages. Those who register for the fantasy football offering will be automatically entered into the Tomlinson sweepstakes.

“Fox Fantasy Football delivers the most complete fantasy football experience on the Web completely free of charge,” said Larry Tobin, Vice President of Product for FoxSports.com. “Fantasy sports is centered on the connection between fans and athletes, and by teaming up with one of pro football’s great athletes – LaDainian Tomlinson – we’re giving our users the chance to win a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Originally posted on July 16, 2007 @ 1:55 pm

FitResolution brings social to working out

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fitresolution.jpgFitResolution announced its presence today as a place to bring together health, fitness and Web 2.0 technology. The site is the creation of founder and president Zach Silverzweig, who came up with the idea while developing his own workout plan to fight a disease he was facing.

FitResolution offers for free the ability for registered users to create, share and search through workout plans based on keywords and fitness goals. It allows users to follow a workout plan and offers a community aspect for networking and support. One can also log progress so he or she can compare and compete against one another.

“We are the first website to fully embrace an online approach to physical fitness,” said Silverzweig. “Some sites are just trying to link social networking and exercise. FitResolution is different. We put the power to get healthy in the hands of our users who create and share workout plans.”

Originally posted on July 11, 2007 @ 7:22 pm