iPhone News Updated

ESPN to launch new F1 and cricket apps

ESPN to launch new F1 and cricket apps

ESPN revamps Premier League goals service and will release Cricinfo app in time for World Cup

Sports broadcaster ESPN is to boost its mobile phone service with new Formula 1 and cricket apps, plus a revamped Premier League goals service for smartphones.

The Disney-owned broadcaster will move into new territory with an ESPN Cricinfo app in time for the cricket World Cup later this month. The app, which will be available on iPhone, Nokia and Android handsets, will feature live scores, wicket alerts and match reports.

It will also relaunch its popular ESPN Goals service, which has exclusive mobile rights to show all Premier League highlights and goals until 2013.

ESPN’s complete video highlights service will cost £1.50 a month for Android customers, or £1.75 on the iPhone – a significant drop in price from the current £3.99 a month subscription plan. The revamped app – which is expected to launch on iPhone, Android and Nokia formats this week – will also allow non-subscribers access to free preview clips of games and ESPN shows.

A new Formula 1 app for iPhone, Nokia and Android smartphones is also on its way, in time for the Formula 1 season which starts in Bahrain next month.

The digital expansion is also expected to include a new ESPN Scrum app ahead of the rugby World Cup in September. Tom Gleeson, ESPN’s global digital head, said “fairly soon” the broadcaster will unveil its first app for a tablet computer, understood to be Apple’s iPad.

“Mobile is a natural extension from our existing online and broadcast platforms, and it’s where users are increasingly going,” Gleeson told the Guardian. “It fits into our philosophy around serving the fan wherever he or she is, wherever they want their news – mobile is fundamental to that.”

Asked when ESPN would launch an app for tablet devices, Gleeson said: “Fairly soon. We’re trying to work through what’s the best experience that we can provide on a tablet computer, and not looking at just a scaled-up version of a mobile app. For me it’s something different, and the iPad presents an interesting opportunity.

ESPN has the television rights to 23 Premier League games this season, and UK mobile rights for all of the league’s games for the next three years.

[Thanks: http://www.guardian.co.uk]

Comments are closed.