Digital Drop In: New-Look ESPN Action Sports Adds New Features, Content and Collaborations

New XGames.com; Video Content and Promotion Agreement with Tony Hawk’s Shred Or Die; New Contributors and Snow Reports

The new-look ESPN Action Sports and its network of sites is expanding the content, features and collaboration that it brings to action sports fans and participants.   Launched in concert with the January 5 unveiling of the re-designed ESPN.com, the new ESPN Action Sports network of sites replaced its predecessor, EXPN.com.  In addition to the rollout, ESPN Action Sports is expanding its content through an agreement with Tony Hawk’s Shred or Die, and with the addition of new bloggers, contributors and snow and surf report applications (powered by On The Snow and Surfline). 

The new ESPN Action Sports is network of connected Web sites, including the new ESPN Action Sports homepage; XGames.com, the new home for all things X Games, including news, event info and schedules, athlete bios and much more; Multiple vertical sites dedicated to coverage of a specific sport or discipline (snowboarding, freeskiing, skateboarding, motocross, surfing, BMX and more); and other premiere action sports destinations such as Surfline.com, Vans.com, Active Ride Shop and more. 

ESPN Action Sports and Shred Or Die

Adding to the lineup, ESPN Action Sports network has reached a content-sharing and co-promotion agreement with Shred Or Die (SoD), an online destination for action sports video created in collaboration with Or Die Networks, skateboarding icon Tony Hawk and his filmmaking company, 900 Films.

ESPN Action Sports will feature select video clips produced by Shred Or Die, its regular contributors and its user generated video content.  Promotional branding and links back to ShredOrDie.com will be featured throughout the site.

Shred Or Die will feature ESPN Action Sports content, with promotional branding and links back to ESPN.com where content is featured.

XGames.com

Among the new additions to the ESPN Action Sports network of sites is XGames.com, the new home for all things X Games, including coverage of all of the worldwide X Games events (X Games, Winter X Games, X Games Mexico, X Games Brazil, X Games Asia and more), results, schedules, athlete bios, video, audio, history, polls, live chats with top athletes and much more.  In addition, the section will feature X Games casual video games, popular advertising spots and easy access to all X Games and ESPN branded action sports gear, clothing and merchandise.  With the global growth of the X Games events, XGames.com will be filled with content 24/7/365 from one corner of the globe or another.

ESPN Action Sports – 24/7/365 Dedication to Action Sports Content and Coverage

In developing its new identity, ESPN Action Sports sites has placed a premium on top-quality, authentic, daily coverage of the entire action sports landscape.  This dedication to leading content will take many forms, including:

NEW COLUMNISTS AND CONTRIBUTORS

ESPN Action Sports will feature the ramblings, insights, information and reporting from a Who’s Who list of action sports insiders and athletes including:

• Expert Columnists:  Chris Nieratko (skateboarding), Mike Mason (Moto X), Brian Tunney (BMX)
• Reporters, Writers and Contributors: 
• Surfing: Jake Howard, Christina Scannapiego
• Skateboarding: Josh Brooks, Mike Sinclair
• Snowboarding: Tracy Anderson, Colin White
• Freeskiing: Tim Mutrie,
• BMX: Mark Noble
• Moto: Tes Sewell, Busty Wolter

VIDEO

• Original Video:   ESPN Action Sports will continue to develop original digital programs. Already it has launched shows including "Guerilla Cam," “Whisper Tricks” and “Truth to Me;”
• Video Podcasts: ESPN Action Sports video podcast began last September and has grown from an average of 10,000 downloads per month to an average of nearly 100,000 downloads per month via ESPN Podcenter and iTunes.

ACTION SPORTS REPORT ON ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS this week debuted the ESPN Action Sports Report a weekly five-minute -minute report covering the latest developments on the sports landscape, in the industry and with the action sports lifestyle.  Hosted by ESPN Action Sports editorial director Dave Finger, it features reports by ESPN Action Sports writers and editors.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Community:  The ESPN Action Sports Network sites will integrate and build upon the fast-growing ESPN.com community platform that includes Fan Profiles, user groups, user-generated photos and blogs, and ESPN Conversations.
• Web 2.0 Tools:  ESPN Action Sports sites will continue to add to an array of social media and content portability tools such as RSS syndication, widgets, podcasts, embeddable video players and more.  

MOBILE

• ESPN Mobile Platforms:  ESPN Action Sports content is integrated across ESPN’s industry-leading mobile Web site and signature mobile properties, ESPN MVP on Verizon Wireless and ESPN Mobile TV.

AUDIO

• Music:  Music is a central part of the action sports lifestyle. ESPN Action Sports brings original music, exclusive songs, and song debuts from bands big and small -- putting that music to video of athletes performing, or debuting music on podcasts.
• Podcasts:  The ESPN Action sports podcast is downloaded tens of thousands of times a month via iTunes and ESPN's Podcenter.

PHOTOGRAPHY

• ZOOM Galleries:  ESPN Action Sports will continue to advance how action sports photography is utilized online. ZOOM galleries showcase hi-resolution, large format photography, paired with captions or audio in dynamic slide shows.
• User-Submitted Photos: Via ESPN’s Fan Profiles, fans can upload and share their own original action sports photography. 

OTHER

• Feature Writing:  ESPN Action Sports will continue to build on its expanded focus on top-quality feature writing, delivering industry-leading action sports features.
• Rider Profiles and Interviews:  Personalities drive action sports, and ESPN Action Sports delivers profiles and interviews of all the top athletes that fans follow including original photography and video.
• Online Video Games:  ESPN Action Sports and ESPN Arcade, will collaborate on action sports-themed online video games. 

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