03.15.2012
, FRANKLIN, Tenn.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S NCAA TOURNAMENT PREVIEW ISSUE TO FEATURE AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCE EXCLUSIVELY DESIGNED FOR SMARTPHONES
Infiniti Becomes Exclusive Launch Sponsor
Beginning today, the Sports Illustrated Magazine app for smartphones adds groundbreaking technology that combines a universal scan tool capable of reading all print-to-mobile-action codes and an enhanced augmented print viewer into one device. This groundbreaking technological enhancement coincides with today’s debut of the Sports Illustrated Magazine app for the iPhone. Previously, the Sports Illustrated Magazine smartphone app was available exclusively for Android smartphones.
This new technology is on full display with the SI NCAA Basketball Tournament Preview set to hit newsstands today. Readers can use their smartphone to scan the cover gatefold in order to view six computer-generated images “floating” over the cover image collage. Those images are clickable and will launch exclusive videos including one which announces Sports Illustrated’s College Basketball Players of the Year and another announcing SI’s Coaches of the Year. Additional videos include: SI Senior Writer Seth Davis’ providing an NCAA Tournament preview; a compilation of fan videos; SI’s stories of the year and a feature on great moments from the 2011-12 season.
“So often the conversation about technology revolves around new devices. What we’re really excited about is the potential to use technology to bring print pages to life in surprising ways,” said Terry McDonell, Time Inc. Sports Group Editor.
Advertising partner Infiniti takes advantage of the tool by watermarking the inside front cover gatefold which, when triggered, will launch an Infiniti commercial. Infiniti’s campaign also includes post roll running in conjunction with the aforementioned SI videos. The post roll features NCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches in a program that supports Coaches vs. Cancer.
“It’s a perfect match for Infiniti, a brand that prides itself on creating world’s first technologies, to partner with Sports Illustrated to become the exclusive sponsor of its App featuring the first-of-its-kind universal scanner tool,” said Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti Americas. “Together, we are able to use technology to deliver inspiration and awareness in the fight against cancer.”
This new integrated platform is capable of reading all print-to-mobile action codes (2D barcodes such as QR and Microsoft Tag, Invisible Watermarks, 1D barcodes such as UPC codes). The enhanced print engine (or augmented print engine) enables augmented reality / augmented print experiences such overlaying and rendering 2D and 3D images that synchronized with the printed page and include dynamic content such as videos, content and social connections.
These technologies enable the app to function as a true engagement platform for delivering integrated print-to-mobile and print-to-social programs that enhance advertisers print placements more connected, dynamic and interactive. The platform was created in partnership with Nellymoser, a highly-respected mobile marketing and tech services company. “We value our close partnership with Sports Illustrated and their push to continuously innovate their magazine with print-to-mobile experiences that engage and entertain SI readers,” said John Puterbaugh, Founder and CEO of Nellymoser. “By overlaying dynamic content on top of the printed page via the mobile phone, mobile AR adds a degree of brand interactivity to the magazine experience that is unmatched. We’re excited to bring this high quality mobile experience to SI Magazine and others.”
The Sports Illustrated phone app, available on iOS and Android, enables SI subscribers to access the weekly magazine in an optimized format on their smartphone. The Sports Illustrated phone app is available as part of SI’s All Access subscription package, which includes print, the Web, and all major tablet and smartphone platforms.
About SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a multimedia sports brand that takes the consumer into the heart and soul of sports. The SPORTS ILLUSTRATED franchise is anchored by the weekly magazine—the most respected voice in sports journalism, reaching a weekly audience of nearly 22 million adults—and www.SI.com, the magazine’s 24/7 sports news website that delivers more than 300 original stories to its users each week. The franchise also includes SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS (www.sikids.com), a monthly magazine targeted to kids age 8 and up; GOLF MAGAZINE and www.GOLF.com; www.FanNation.com, a social networking and sports-news aggregation platform; SI Presents, the magazine’s specialty publishing division; as well as SI Books, SI Pictures, SI Productions, SI Digital and SI Events. Founded in 1954, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a division of Time Inc., the world’s leading magazine publishing company and a subsidiary of Time Warner.
About Infiniti
Infiniti offers a full line of luxury performance automobiles, including the G Coupe, Sedan and Convertible, Infiniti M sedan, EX and FX crossovers, and the QX full-size SUV. More information about Infiniti and its Total Ownership Experience® can be found at www.InfinitiUSA.com.