FSN Northwest Teams With Cypress Consulting and Sitecore to Launch FSN Insider Email Campaign and Web Site

Companies Build Digital Infrastructure for Delivery of Real-Time, Interactive Content to Give Fans Up-to-the-Minute Features on all of their Favorite Local Teams

Seattle and San Francisco, December 15, 2008 – For the more than 3.4 million sports fans in the Northwest, the launch of the new FSN Insider daily newsletter and FSNInsider.com website promises a closer look at their favorite athletes and teams, and an enriched fan experience.   FSN Northwest partnered with Seattle-based Cypress Consulting and San-Francisco-based Sitecore to design a website that features the new FSN Insider, a daily html newsletter that delivers late breaking sports content, high-quality video and upcoming program information and exclusive promotional opportunities every weekday to the fan’s inbox.   

Having recently transitioned to new ownership under the Liberty Sports Group, FSN Northwest sought to differentiate itself and provide its viewers with a more distinct online experience.  The company enlisted Cypress Consulting to redesign the overall look, flow and features of the new Website, and to implement Sitecore’s Web Content Management System (CMS), which is used to deliver video highlights from the TV channel, a seven-day programming guide including game schedules, and inside looks at favorite athletes. 

“Today’s fans want the most authentic experience they can get online,” said Nate Thompson, CEO of Cypress Consulting. “FSN Northwest seized the opportunity to create a destination that supplements its programming for local fans to get a more personalized, fun and content-rich experience. And by using Sitecore to manage this content, FSN’s internal team can creatively assemble and manage the website and newsletter content, as well as efficiently operate the newsletter distribution.”

In under a day, Cypress Consulting trained the FSN Northwest web management team on how to use the new site’s CMS features, including refreshing content, updating program information, and incorporating featured videos both online and in the FSN Insider newsletter.  FSN fans now have access to rich, interactive content that improves their online experience in the way envisioned by the FSN management team.    FSN Northwest expects to significantly grow its number of users by year end, achieving this with ongoing innovations to its interactive features.    

“The new website enables FSN Northwest to provide a fan experience comparable with national sports sites, but with a local flavor,” said Darren Guarnaccia, VP Product Marketing. “Cypress Consulting brought strong creativity and passion to the redesign of the FSN Northwest website, as well as a team of trained Sitecore developers to implement our CMS toolset.” 

About Cypress Consulting:                                      

Since 2001, Cypress Consulting has provided management, strategy and marketing consulting plus interactive web development services to a national customer base. Comprised of a team of industry veterans, Cypress works with customers to strategically apply technology to solve business problems and extend business reach. Cypress’ Business Consulting, Technology and Creative practices enable it to deliver holistic solutions to customers including Microsoft, Starbucks, CBS, Comcast, Fox Sports Northwest, Supersonics.com, College Sports Television, as well as interactive media for professional sports organizations.  Teams include Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, and the USC Trojans. For more information, please visit www.cypressconsulting.net.    

About Sitecore

Sitecore’s Web Content Management System (CMS) and portal software solutions enable companies to deliver compelling web experiences. Sitecore’s award-winning CMS software makes it easy for businesses to create and keep up-to-date dynamic, full featured Web sites of all types. Sitecore’s industry leading flexibility and scalability allows companies to better leverage their content to improve customer experience and drive business growth.  Thousands of public and private organizations, including national governments and Fortune 500 companies utilize Sitecore solutions for their Web sites. These organizations have created and now manage over 5000 dynamic Web sites with Sitecore including Microsoft, Sara Lee, Siemens, Toshiba, Omni Hotels, Computer Associates, WebTrends and Atlanta Falcons.

About FSN Northwest

FSN Northwest is the cable home of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Storm, Portland Beavers, Portland Timbers, Washington Huskies, Washington State Cougars, Oregon State Beavers and Gonzaga Bulldogs. The region reaches more than 3.4 million cable homes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. FSN Northwest is a member of the Liberty Sports Group, which also includes the regional sports networks FSN Pittsburgh and FSN Rocky Mountain. The three networks combined reach more than 8.5 million viewers across 17 states and own exclusive programming and distribution partnerships with more than 23 professional and collegiate teams. Liberty Sports Group is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Entertainment Group (Nasdaq: LMDIA). For more information, please visit www.libertysportsgroup.com.

Media Contacts:

Rob Adler for Sitecore
Vantage Communications
415-984-1970 x104 or radler@pr-vantage.com

Jennifer K. Ritchie for Cypress Consulting
Revolution PR
206-932-2454 or jennifer@revolutionpr.com

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