DirecTV Sports Networks Picks NeuLion For Web Play

DirecTV picked Internet video services provider NeuLion to design and power websites for its three regional sports channels at RootSports.com.

DirecTV rebranded the three networks -- formerly FSN Northwest, FSN Rocky Mountain and FSN Pittsburgh -- as Root Sports effective April 2011 with the start of the Major League Baseball season.

NeuLion designed and launched websites including video-on-demand sports content for the Root Sports television networks. In addition, NeuLion provides a content management system to give Root Sports staff control of the sites' content so that the regional sites can be updated with articles, videos, advertising and rich media.

Root Sport networks collectively broadcast sporting events from more than 25 teams and conferences through exclusive programming and distribution partnerships to more than 8.7 million viewers across 18 states.

"NeuLion's experience in delivering sports content to any Internet-enabled device and content management systems offered Root Sports what we were looking for," DirecTV Sports Networks vice president of marketing Geoff Walker said in a statement. "NeuLion's brand-new Root Sports online sites are prominent pieces in our rebranding efforts. Local sports fans are able to easily find the sports content they're looking for -- video, promotions, scores and articles."

Publicly traded NeuLion, founded in 2000, posted revenue of $9.95 million and a net loss of $4.16 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. The Plainview, N.Y.-based company has about 240 employees.