MINNEAPOLIS (July 30, 2004) - In its continuing effort to bring professional bass fishing to the masses, FLWOutdoors.com - a leader in technological innovation within the tournament-fishing industry - announced Friday that its FLW LiveT technology will now feature streaming video in addition to audio. With the addition of video, bass-fishing enthusiasts may now watch Wal-Mart FLW Tour weigh-ins live on the Web as well as receive real-time weigh-in results. The first webcast coincides with the $1.5 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship presented by Castrol Aug. 11-14 on Logan Martin Lake in Birmingham, Ala.
FLW Live was launched with audio capabilities during the 2003 FLW Tour Championship and will now deliver results instantly from the weigh-in stage to the Web site so fans can listen and watch the weigh-in as it happens. FLW Live brings real-time audio and visual play-by-play action as host Charlie Evans talks with the anglers weighing in their bass. Be sure to tune in Friday, Aug. 13, as the new Ranger Comanche Z Series will be unveiled at the weigh-in and on FLW Live.
"Adding video to FLW Live was the next logical step. Now fishing fans and families can visit FLW Live and have the closest experience to a live weigh-in one can have without being there in person," said Irwin Jacobs, chairman of FLW Outdoors. "This innovative advancement in our live technology will aid in our ongoing efforts to broaden our audience. At the same time it will also increase exposure for our anglers and sponsors alike."
Anyone with Internet access who is unable to attend the actual event can now experience the play-by-play action through FLW Live. FLW Live gives by-the-second updates of pro standings with live audio and video so visitors can listen and watch anglers comment as their catch weight is recorded. Constantly updated are the pro and co-angler leaderboards, and visitors are also able to search for any angler to get a specific day's weigh-in results.
"FLW Live was developed for the tournament fan, and we really wanted to expand our audience to those visitors who have never experienced an FLW Outdoors weigh-in," said Bill Petrowiak, vice president of marketing and communications for FLW Outdoors. "Video will let the new fans experience a weigh-in entirely without any edits. FLW Live is a great way for fans, families and FLWOutdoors.com visitors to stay on top of the action and allows them to be virtually involved with the tournament when they are not able to be there in person."
FLW Live will also be available for the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship, scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 2 on the Mississippi River in Illinois, and the EverStart Series Championship, scheduled for Nov. 3-6 on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. In the coming months, FLW Live will also be integrated into other FLW Outdoors tournament trails, including qualifying RCL Tour and EverStart Series events.
FLW Outdoors is the world's leading marketer of competitive fishing. Wal-Mart and many of America's most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.com.
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