NFL partners with NBC to stream games online

The NFL has announced that it will partner with NBC to stream games online during the upcoming season: NFL, NBC to Stream Complete Games Online

This is a first for the NFL starting with all Sunday and Thursday night NBC broadcasts. The segment is going to be called "Sunday Night Football Extra" and will feature additional camera angles of live game shots and multiple video streams as well. It's a good move and there is likely more to come of this with other networks that carry the traditional 'Sunday Lineup' of games. Question remains - who will host the stream? Should it be featured on the NFL website or NBC's website or both? It depends on how the partnership is cut out, yet one thing that I always like to point out in these types of situations is that when you engage in activities with another brand, it's important to be clear about 'which party will be responsible for what' and always take in to consideration how it affects other channel partner activities that you are currently running or plan on running in the future. You may be setting a precedence that doesn't bode well for your brand down the line.

Does the NFL want to run the stream from their website and do so in all cases or will the carriers be permitted to do so from their websites? Either way, it means that if only one route is available, that the owner of the channel controls the traffic or the 'viewer' in this case and as a result, many strategic and commercial advantages remain to be gained from being in that position - Be careful NFL...This is new territory.

Microsoft Live Search Partners with Facebook

I've said this before and I will say it again...without Distribution Partnerships like the one that Microsoft Live Search has recently agreed to with Facebook, Microsoft will not increase their market share within the 'search category' all that significantly. Looks like they are starting to focus on their Partner strategy, which is good news for them. It's hard to say if Facebook members will use MSN Live Search or not, but it's a solid strategy on the part of Microsoft and I credit them for getting in with Facebook ahead of Google.

You can read more about this Partnership here:

Microsoft adds Windows Live Search to Facebook

The Basics of a Marketing Partnership

Came across this article yesterday...Like what Kaye Z. Marks has to say about developing Marketing Partnerships....

The Basics of a Marketing Partnership

Toronto Maple Leafs Partner with Coca Cola to give away free tickets

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added an extra game to their 2008 preseason schedule, and they're opening the doors free to all fans with a unique ticket giveaway opportunity in partnership with Coca-Cola Canada.....Read more here:

Leafs partner with Coca Cola

Bank of America, MLB & Bon Jovi Partner....

Bank of America, MLB & Bon Jovi Partner....

With the 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game fast approaching at Yankee Stadium, Bank of America is hoping its promotional activities leading up to the game will keep its brand top-of-mind among New York consumers.Among several initiatives, Bank of America will present a free MLB All-Star concert on the Great Lawn in Central Park. Local Jersey boy Jon Bon Jovi, whose current "Lost Highway World Tour" is the top-selling tour in the world, will be the one to perform at the concert on July 12.