NHL GameCenter streaming coming to Roku, PS3
In addition to an updated app for Boxee, the NHL just announced its GameCenter streaming app is coming to the PlayStation 3 and Roku players. Free to PlayStation Plus members ($9.99 for all others, free on Roku) gamers get access to the app with its highlights, stats and information, while subscribers to the $169 GameCenter Live service get the full package including streaming out-of-market games and some playoff matchups. It's pretty similar to the MLB app that's also available on PS3, but similarly the lack of locally blacked out games makes it more of an alternate way to catch more sports than a cord-cutters best friend. Additional details are in the press release after the break, or check for the app under the video section of the PlayStation Network store.
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NHL GameCenter LIVE™ "Lights the Lamp" On PlayStation®3
NHL GameCenter Application Available Free to PlayStation®Plus Members
FOSTER CITY, Calif., November 10, 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that NHL GameCenter LIVE™, an online service offering streaming video of live games, is available now on the PlayStation®3 (PS3™), an exclusive offer for PS3 users making it the first and only gaming console to stream live hockey games in High Definition (HD). The combination of the PS3 system's technical capabilities and NHL's live HD streaming technology showcases the added power and potential of PS3 as an in-home platform for all types of entertainment: games, movies and TV shows, music, original content, social networks and, of course, live sporting events.
NHL GameCenter LIVE subscribers who enjoy free access to PlayStation®Network and its variety of online content, can now stream live out-of-market regular season and select playoff game broadcasts in HD by downloading the NHL GameCenter application on the PS3 system. In addition to offering live hockey games, NHL GameCenter LIVE also allows subscribers to watch full-length and condensed replays of the current season games they missed (48 hours after they air, no blackouts) and relive NHL history with unlimited access to over 500 classic games from NHL Vault™.
PS3 users that do not have a subscription to NHL GameCenter LIVE will still have access to a wide range of NHL content through the NHL GameCenter application. Fans will have access to features such as post-game highlights, team schedules, standings, player stats and profiles, and full NHL scoreboard.
"PlayStation Network has become an innovative and all-in-one destination for PS3 users to enjoy a comprehensive, customizable on-demand entertainment experience and the addition of streaming NHL content continues the expansion of our library of movies and TV shows, original programming, music, live sports and access to social networks," said Peter Dille, senior vice president, marketing and PlayStation Network, SCEA. "Through our partnership with the NHL, we are giving our customers another important choice to access and stream the content they want, when and how they want it."
"In order to serve our fans, we are continuing to respond to the convergence of technology, media and consumer behavior," said Perry Cooper, NHL Senior Vice President of Digital Media. "With today's announcement, we are able to deliver NHL GameCenter LIVE and NHL Vault to Sony's extensive consumer base and significantly broaden the availability of our products to our fans across the world."
Customers that have an annual subscription to NHL GameCenter LIVE ($169 U.S.) and a free PlayStation Network account can download the NHL application for a one-time $9.99 (U.S.) fee and access it under the "Video" icon on the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) menu. Additionally, PlayStation®Plus subscribers can download the NHL GameCenter application for free, continuing PlayStation's goal to deliver exclusive opportunities only made available to PlayStation Plus members.
Additional features of NHL GameCenter LIVE include:
* Select from home and away broadcasts available in HD to follow your favorite team(s), even while they are on the road
* Follow the action from around the league with game updates in the live scoreboard and plan what games to watch using the full season calendar
* Make the most of your viewing experience with live stats, standings, player bios, and post-game highlights for all 2010-11 games
* Pause, fast-forward, rewind or simply jump to key points of interest for 2010-11 games using event data indicators displayed on-screen
* Easily flip between live video and browsing other NHL GameCenter application features, while the video still plays in the background
Additional features of NHL Vault include:
* Classic Games: Relive historic hockey moments from classic games dating back to the 1960s
* Condensed Games: Catch up on games you missed with 10-12 minute extended highlights
* Game Archive: Watch full length replays of all games since the 2008-2009 season
About Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC.
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStationÒ and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store. Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one, PlayStation 2, PSP and PS3 systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC serves as headquarters for all North American operations.
About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other major professional sport. The NHL entertains more than 250 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, ESPN America, ASN and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and XM Canada). Through the NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.
Roku and the NHL Bringing NHL GameCenter LIVE to the TV
Saratoga, Calif. – November 10, 2010 – Roku, Inc., maker of the best-selling and award-winning Roku streaming player, and the National Hockey League (NHL), today announced that NHL GameCenter LIVE™, a subscription service that offers live broadcasts of up to 40 weekly out-of-market hockey games, classic hockey as well as on-demand access to all NHL® games 48 hours after broadcast, is coming soon to Roku customers. More information can be found at www.roku.com/nhl.
NHL GameCenter LIVE provides the most comprehensive access to the NHL regular season, as well as archived and condensed games, highlights, and select games from the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup® playoffs. NHL GameCenter LIVE is specifically designed for those avid fans looking for the most robust, in-game NHL viewing experience, as well as for the more than 50 percent of NHL fans that live away from their favorite team's local television market and want to watch their favorite team play live. Current NHL GameCenter LIVE subscribers can enjoy the service for no additional cost on Roku.
"In order to serve our fans, we are continuing to respond to the convergence of technology, media and consumer behavior," said Perry Cooper, NHL Senior Vice President of Digital Media. "With today's announcement, we are able to deliver
NHL GameCenter LIVE and NHL Vault to Roku's consumer base and significantly broaden the availability of our products to our fans in the United States."
The NHL is the third official sports league now partnered with Roku, joining Major League Baseball and the Ultimate Fighting Championship® in streaming live and on-demand sporting events to televisions through the Roku players. Roku continues to offer the broadest access to sporting events of any internet streaming television device.
"We are excited to add NHL GameCenter LIVE to our growing list of sports offerings on the Roku platform," said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku, Inc. "Sports is an important part of our content offerings, and Roku aims to bring sports fans the most expansive and best experience possible to stream games from the internet to their televisions."
Roku recently launched its new line of HD-capable streaming players starting at $59.99, featuring the largest collection of streaming entertainment available for the TV and the lowest prices in the industry. Almost all of games on NHL GameCenter LIVE will be available in HD.
The Roku HD ($59.99) streams video in high-definition at up to 720p, and features built in wireless and Ethernet for easy broadband connectivity anywhere in the home. The Roku XD ($79.99) and XDS ($99.99) models deliver the next level of streaming performance, with 1080p HD support (delivered over HDMI) and extended-range Wireless-N. In addition, the XDS model features dual-band Wireless-N technology, component video output, optical audio output, and a USB port.
In partnering with Roku, the NHL joins other major entertainment partners including Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Amazon Video on Demand (NASDAQ: AMZN), Hulu, and Pandora.
NHL GameCenter LIVE™ was co-developed with the NHL's strategic partner NeuLion.
About Roku, Inc.
The market leader in streaming entertainment devices for the TV, Roku has always believed that anything you want to watch, listen to, and enjoy should simply be there on your TV, whenever you want it. Roku streaming players are renowned for their simplicity, variety of entertainment choices, and exceptional value. Roku is privately held and based in Saratoga, Calif. For more information on the company and its products, visit: http://www.roku.com.
About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other major professional sport. The NHL entertains more than 250 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, ESPN America, ASN and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and XM Canada). Through the NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.
NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and NHL GameCenter LIVE, Ice Tracker and NHL Vault are trademarks of the National Hockey League.
All Rights Reserved. Blackout and other restrictions apply
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