Cup deal boosts NZ animators

By ADAM GIFFORD

Internet giant Yahoo! has won the internet rights for the America's Cup and Louis Vuitton challenger series, providing worldwide exposure for New Zealand sports animation company Virtual Spectator International.

Louis Vuitton spokesman Bruno Trouble said Louis Vuitton was paying a six-figure sum to build the website, which was due to be launched on September 16, and would provide the content.

"Yahoo! will pay for the hosting, which is an enormous responsibility because we expect to get 500 million page views during the event," Trouble said.

"Yahoo! is also going to promote the event extensively with millions of banners on all its pages.

"This partnership with Yahoo! is extremely important. It will increase the internet visibility of the event."

He said as part of the Yahoo! deal Virtual Spectator had exclusive rights to use the data coming from the boats on the internet.

"That means they will be the only ones able to do 3D animations for pay per view over the internet.

"The America's Cup would not be what it is without Virtual Spectator because it helps people understand the regatta."

In the 2000 America's Cup Virtual Spectator had to link up with John Bertrand's Quokka Sports, which was trying to create a business out of sports event web sites. Quokka eventually went bust.

Trouble said last time Virtual Spectator got about 50,000 subscribers. "They are planning to at least double that."

The Virtual Spectator software for viewing the races over the net will cost US$24.95 ($53.49) for the whole series. It has been enhanced since the last regatta to include live audio to complement the live animation coverage of the races.

Streaming video was not possible because of rights issues.

Virtual Spectator International chairman Neville Jordan, whose Endeavour Capital bought the business of the previous Virtual Spectator (now in liquidation), said that although subscriptions were still important the company planned to make much of its revenue from sponsorships and other branding and marketing partnerships.

He said that over the next few months Virtual Spectator planned to announce details of significant brand partnerships with leading international sports sponsors and marketing partnerships with event organisers, broadcasters and internet companies.

Jordan has brought in new executives and board members to take the company in its new direction.

Greg Young is the new chief executive, taking over the helm from executive chairman Lindsay Fergusson, who remains on the board as deputy chairman.

Young is back in New Zealand after 18 years overseas working for technology companies EDS, IBM and most recently Hong Kong interactive television start-up Yes Television.

Business development manager Craig Meek has been appointed to the board, along with KPMG Consulting managing director Phil Royal and University of Waikato Management School executive director Shirley Leitch.

Darren Green, who was brought in as general manager company this year from game developer Liquid Edge, becomes chief operating officer. Graeme Clarke becomes chief financial officer.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup