Comcast Joins Sporting News For Electronic Publications

Electronic magazines will feature regional sports content

By Jon Lafayette -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/17/2010 9:00:00 AM

Comcast Sports Group has entered into an electronic publishing deal with the Sporting News to create regional editions of Sporting News Today in the markets where Comcast has regional sports networks.

The first edition launched this week in Philadelphia.

Comcast's regional sports networks have adding staff to become more of an online sports presence in their markets at a time when ESPN has been creating web pages in major cities including New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. Comcast staffers will help produce 8 to 10 pages of news for new digital publications, which will be combined with the full national edition of Sports News Today under a localized cover.

Comcast Sports Group will sell local ads and Sporting News will manage national advertising sales.

The local editions will be available on Macs, PCs, iPhones and iPads. A monthly subscription will cost $3.99 per month. The national edition costs $2.99.

"During the past 18 months we have built the strongest local digital sports desk in our markets featuring some of the most respected local sports journalists," said Comcast Sports Group executive VP  and Chief Digital Officer Eric Grilly.  "Today's partnership allows us to extend the reach of our growing hometown coverage to new audiences in conjunction with one of the most storied and innovative names in national sports journalism."