PLAINVIEW, N.Y., Aug. 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeuLion, Inc. (TSX:NLN), a leading technology product and service provider that specializes in the digital video broadcasting, distribution and monetization of live and on-demand content to Internet-enabled devices, and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), conference home to the 2016 and 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey national champions, today announced a partnership extension through the 2021-22 season. The extension terms include several new features and supported devices on NCHC.tv, a direct-to-consumer digital video solution, for the coming 2017-18 season. NeuLion and the NCHC first collaborated in 2014 to create, build and launch NCHC.tv, making the NCHC the first single-sport NCAA conference to offer a fully integrated digital network with live and on-demand content.
The digital network has grown in subscribers and revenue over the past three years. During the 2016-17 season:
- NCHC.tv delivered more than 1,000 hours of NCHC video content to fans, with a 35% increase in hours of live streams consumed from a season ago
- Live stream views were up 84% from 2015-16
- Subscriptions have increased more than 50% from 2014-15 to this past season (2016-17)
NCHC.tv will be Available on iOS and Android Devices
As part of the partnership extension, NeuLion and the NCHC will continue to build upon the success of NCHC.tv with new mobile apps for iOS and Android, in addition to the already existing OTT apps with Apple TV and Roku. The iOS and Android apps will be available prior to the 2017-18 college hockey season. With the launch of the new iOS and Android apps, fans will have the ability to stream video through mobile or tablet devices to their televisions through Airplay and Chromecast, respectively.
“We are increasing the value of NCHC.tv and improving the fan experience by delivering new, exciting ways for our subscribers and fans to consume, engage and personalize their experience for both live and on-demand NCHC content,” said NCHC Commissioner Josh Fenton.
Enhanced Interactive Features
New to NCHC.tv are timeline markers that enable fans to re-watch and navigate live and on-demand events. Viewers watching full archive games on PCs and iOS tablets can now watch goals, saves, and other big plays with ease. Fans will continue to watch games in adaptive HD through any device with increased playback features, including DVR functionality, picture-in-picture, quad view, slow motion and more. Through new features coming as part of a product rollout in December, fans will have the ability to customize their user experience to their favorite school, including personalized, school-specific social feeds, stories, video features and other exciting content.
“We’re excited to continue to grow our partnership with the NCHC, expanding upon the already established hockey OTT service,” said Tim Vargas, SVP at NeuLion. “The newly added enhanced interactive features will give fans the ability to create their own immersive experience, to control when and where they want to watch all the action.”
Great Content
NCHC.tv is the only source for watching over 140 live hockey games featuring NCHC schools, complemented with great video-on-demand content, including post-game highlights, press conferences, full archived games, condensed games, unique features during each week of the season, and much more! As part of the partnership extension, NeuLion will commit resources to help broaden the reach of NCHC.tv and deepen the content offerings available to fans. The NCHC and its member schools are also enhancing various aspects of their live game production standards.
“In an ever changing linear and digital video world, we believe NCHC.tv, with the new apps and interactive features, along with great content, will provide all hockey fans an incredible experience to stay closely connected to the conference,” said Fenton. “We are excited to continue this partnership with NeuLion as we strive to build one of the best digital video experiences in all of college sports.”
About NeuLion
NeuLion, Inc. (TSX: NLN) offers solutions that power the highest quality digital experiences for live and on-demand content in up to 4K on any device. Through its end-to-end technology platform, NeuLion enables digital video management, distribution and monetization for content owners worldwide, including the NFL, NBA, World Surf League, Univision Deportes, Euroleague Basketball and others. NeuLion powers the entire video ecosystem for content owners and rights holders, consumer electronic companies, and third party video integrators through its MainConcept business. NeuLion's robust consumer electronics licensing business enables its customers like Sony, LG, Samsung and others to stream secure, high-quality video seamlessly across their consumer devices. NeuLion is headquartered in Plainview, NY. For more information about NeuLion, visit www.NeuLion.com.
About the National Collegiate Hockey Conference:
The NCHC is an eight-school NCAA Division I men’s hockey conference entering its fifth season. Its members are: Colorado College, the University of Denver, Miami University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University. Since the NCHC began play in 2013-14, 17 NCHC programs have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, including seven Frozen Four berths in the NCHC’s four-year history, with the conference producing the last two NCAA National Champions in North Dakota in 2016 and Denver in 2017. NCHC programs have now won a combined 19 NCAA national championships in their history. For more information, visit the NCHC website at www.nchchockey.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements herein are forward-looking statements and represent NeuLion’s current intentions in respect of future activities. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words “will,” “expect,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” statements that an event or result “may,” “will,” “can,” “should,” “could,” or “might” occur or be achieved, and other similar expressions. These statements, in addressing future events and conditions, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, NeuLion cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and NeuLion assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Many factors could cause NeuLion’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: our ability to derive anticipated benefits from the acquisition of Saffron Digital Limited; our ability to realize some or all of the anticipated benefits of our partnerships; our ability to increase revenue; general economic and market segment conditions; our customers’ subscriber levels and financial health; our ability to pursue and consummate acquisitions in a timely manner; our continued relationships with our customers; our ability to negotiate favorable terms for contract renewals; competitor activity; product capability and acceptance rates; technology changes; regulatory changes; foreign exchange risk; interest rate risk; and credit risk. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. A more detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual results to materially differ from current expectations is contained in the “Risk Factors” section of NeuLion’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which is available on www.sec.gov and filed on www.sedar.com.