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Vibes and CW Multimedia Give Boxing Fans a Voice in Who Wins the Title with “Fight Text”
August 1, 2007
First-ever Text Message-based Voting Platform for Televised Boxing to Debut on August 8 for Seminole Warriors Boxing’s “Rough Rugged and Raw” Cruiserweight Attraction
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CW Multimedia, provider of mobile solutions for enabling business success, has teamed up with Vibes Media, the leading provider of interactive text message and mobile content marketing programs, to roll out a service that finally gives boxing fans a voice by delivering the ability to interact with televised matches on a real-time basis. The new service, called “Fight Text,” delivers a truly interactive television experience by letting viewers text-in round-by-round scores to the broadcast network right from their cell phones.
Fight Text will debut on Wednesday, August 8 for Seminole Warriors Boxing’s “Rough Rugged and Raw” cruiserweight attraction featuring former undisputed world champion “Supernova” O’Neil Bell and “The Lion” Louis Azille. The event is promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing in association with the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida. ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights will carry live coverage of the event.
While on-site sanctioned judges will still decide the official outcome of each bout, fight fans at home can finally weigh in with their opinions. Using CW Multimedia’s patent-pending Fight Text technology and Vibes’ industry-leading text messaging platform, viewers send round-by-round scoring updates by texting to a designated short code. To participate for voting for the Bell-Azille event, viewers can text “FIGHT” to 36266. The television audience results are then tabulated in real-time for the broadcast team to report as part of the viewing experience.
“This will be good for boxing because, for the first time ever, this will truly give televised fight fans a voice. And, while the voter scoring will not impact the official outcome, it will certainly be a great way for viewers to see how their scores rate against those of the judges,” said Chris Webb, founder and president, CW Multimedia. “We’re excited to be working with Vibes on this venture. We really needed a partner that we have confidence in, and Vibes has the right technology and a long history of successful programs we felt this initiative needs to succeed.”
After the viewer texts in his vote for a particular round, he will get a return message thanking him for his participation. Each message will include a sponsorship component and may offer additional chances to win prizes, purchase merchandise, play trivia or participate in other loyalty programs.
“For mobile programs to succeed, they have to create a spark with consumers and get them to want to participate,” said Alex Campbell, CEO and co-founder, Vibes Media. “The Fight Text program reaches right out to the viewer who has, until now, been unable to connect with the fight broadcasts in a meaningful way. Now, he feels like he’s a part of the process and comes away with a more positive connection to the sport, the network and the brand that’s sponsoring the text program for that event.”
