Rugby International Develops New OTT Video Platform, the Rugby Channel

Omnigon has been tapped by Rugby International Marketing to develop its all-new over-the-top (OTT) video platform, The Rugby Channel. The Rugby Channel will bring users all the action and live viewing excitement of one of the world's most popular sports to the US audience. The offering, which is designed to drive engagement with current and new Rugby fans, will roll out in two phases. Phase one is live now on iOS and Android mobile devices and the web at TheRugbyChannel.tv; phase two, launching on advanced platforms, will happen June 2016.

The OTT platform will include both free and premium content offerings. Users will be able to stream live matches, get real time play-by-play and head-to-head match stats, view archive match videos, share across social platforms, and receive custom content including the latest news on their favorite clubs. Real time, head-to-head stats will include tries, carries, possession time, clean breaks, and tackles. The free offering will offer short videos and limited content.

We are excited about the launch of The Rugby Channel and are glad to have worked with Omnigon on its design and development, says Nigel Melville, CEO of Rugby International Marketing. They have done excellent, ground-breaking work for us on The Rugby Channel's website and apps. We are confident that American rugby fans will enjoy using the new platform and having unprecedented access to the best in domestic and international rugby programming.

Omnigon is pleased to have been chosen by Rugby International Marketing and USA Rugby to help grow Rugby's profile and popularity in the United States with the launch of The Rugby Channel, says David Nugent, Chief Commercial Officer, Omnigon. Interest in Rugby in the United States has never been higher coming off of last year's Rugby World Cup, the Eagles' semi-final appearance at the Rugby 7's last month, and the Olympics this summer. We look forward to capitalizing on this by working with the USA Rugby team to drive engagement of current rugby fans and ignite interest from new fans leveraging The Rugby Channel.

The Rugby Channel will be available through monthly or yearly subscription options. Among the live events available exclusively through the new platform will be test matches featuring the USA men's and women's national teams; the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series; the USA Rugby national college and club championships; and matches from Europe's Guinness Pro12 competition. On-demand content will include the World Rugby TV weekly newsmagazine and classic matches from the archives of USA Rugby, the England Rugby Football Union, the Rugby World Cup and other global competitions.

Omnigon developed the official 2015 Rugby World Cup mobile app that was downloaded by more than three million users across 204 countries; during the Cup, the app was utilized over 71 million times. Omnigon won Best Digital Media Project at the inaugural TV Sports Awards for their work on the app. The app is shortlisted in the Best Tournament App category by the Sports Technology Awards taking place April 15 in London in addition to the Best Mobile App category at the Cynopsis Sports Awards April 21 in New York City.

LINK:	http://www.sportsvideo.org/2016/04/08/rugby-international-develops-new...
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