America East, NeuLion Launch Digital Network

America East, in conjunction with NeuLion, has announced the creation of AmericaEast.TV, a comprehensive digital network built to expand the content and reach of the conference’s digital presence beginning with the 2013 fall sports season.

AmericaEast.TV, the first-ever conference-wide digital platform, will provide live streaming of an unprecedented number of events from eight of the nine institutions, as well as on-demand video content including interviews, feature stories, and highlights throughout the year across a variety of the 19 America East sports from all nine members. Most importantly for fans, the platform, delivered by NeuLion, will be free of charge for all users. Users will have access to AmericaEast.TV on multiple devices, including PCs, smartphones and tablets, meaning fans the chance to watch America East teams on any device, anytime and anywhere.

“The debut of AmericaEast.TV is a significant step in expanding our brand in the digital space,” says America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “We are excited to be working with NeuLion on this endeavor, which will provide a high-volume of free live and on-demand content for all fans as we continue to focus on increasing the exposure of our great institutions and conference.”

The newly created network offers marketers an opportunity to reach targeted audiences both regionally and nationally, while enhancing the conference’s presence in the digital landscape. The league also has a television contract with ESPN which includes live event coverage of men’s and women’s basketball as well as the men’s and women’s lacrosse championship games.

“The digital network will continue to showcase the tremendous athletic talent, academic prowess and leadership that exist in our student-athletes and on our campuses,” says University of Maine Athletic Director and Chair of the America East Athletic Directors, Steve Abbott. “AmericaEast.TV will provide even greater opportunities for fans to connect with the conference and its members, and will further complement our partnership with ESPN.”

Powered by the NeuLion College Platform, AmericaEast.TV will be available to fans at the end of August with the beginning of the fall sports season, in conjunction with a redesigned AmericaEast.com.  The network will feature 10 unique channels on an easy-to-navigate interface. Each of the conference’s nine member institutions will have its own school-branded channel featuring live and/or on-demand video content across a variety of conference sports, while the America East will have its own conference-wide channel featuring all available digital content and all team championship action. Due to an existing agreement, the University of Vermont will continue to stream its home live events for free through the Northeast Sports Network in 2013-14; however, on-demand content will be available through AmericaEast.TV.

NeuLion has been the home for the America East official website, AmericaEast.com, since 2007. A leader on the digital college landscape, over 175 colleges, universities and conferences trust and rely on NeuLion to power their digital experiences while connecting fans worldwide.

“We are extremely excited to expand our long-standing relationship with the America East with the launching of the all new Digital Network,” says Ed O’Brien, Vice President, NeuLion. “AmericaEast.TV represents a huge collaborative effort coordinated by Amy and her staff.  We can’t wait to get the product out to fans so they can experience it first-hand on PC, mobile, and tablet.”