NHL extends relationship with Synacor for online portal

The National Hockey League (NHL) and Synacor today announced an extension of their partnership to offer premium services content for the 2007-08 NHL season. NHL Premium Video and Game Notes is a premium, all-inclusive, online package that will offer consumers NHL game summary videos, pre-game profiles, post-game summaries and more through their service provider’s online portal homepage.

This package will be provided by the NHL through its partnership with Synacor, a leader in the development and integration of value-added online content and technology solutions for broadband and Internet service providers. This premium content will be available to service providers, who then can offer this value-added service to their high-speed data customers throughout the NHL’s regular season, playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final.

Also as a promotion, Synacor plans to make some NHL content available to select clients for use on their portals for the remainder of the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“Teaming up with Synacor demonstrates the NHL’s commitment to making hockey accessible to its fans,” said Keith Ritter, President of NHL Interactive CyberEnterprises. “We are pleased to offer premium NHL content to our consumers through Synacor.”

Leveraging Synacor’s enhanced online portal functionality, service providers will be able to integrate NHL Premium Video and Game Notes into premium content packages that are prominently featured on service providers’ homepages. Consumers then will have the opportunity to access this premium content using Synacor’s single sign-on technology that allows one sign-on for portal and premium content.

“Customers are increasingly turning to the Internet to view video content and get the inside scoop on their favorite sports team or player,” said Ron Frankel, president and CEO of Synacor. “We are excited to be working with the NHL and offer our service provider customers the NHL experience when they deploy our unique package of premium online content, which is proving to be an integral part of the online user experience more and more each day,”

NHL Premium Video and Game Notes will be offered as part of Synacor’s Variety Pack premium content packages. The NHL package will include Premium NHL Video, including 20-minute NHL game summary videos, while Premium Game Notes will include pre-game profiles including lineup cards, game-by-game summaries and player bios; post-game summaries; game schedules, draft results and more.