New Orleans Hornets Use KickApps to Bring Fan Participation to Web : NBA Team Launches Social Network for Fans to Extend Reach; Taps Fans to Name the Network

KickApps (http://www.kickapps.com), the industry’s leading on-demand social media, video player and widget platform, today announced that the New Orleans Hornets (http://www.nba.com/hornets/interact/socialnetwork.html) have launched a social network for fans of the team powered by KickApps. The website is a destination for the supporters of one of the most popular professional basketball teams in the U.S. to gather online with other fans to share their passion for the Hornets and NBA basketball, create, share and discover fan submitted photos, videos and blogs, and interact exclusively with official club content.

NEW YORK (Business Wire EON) November 19, 2008 -- KickApps (http://www.kickapps.com), the industry’s leading on-demand social media, video player and widget platform, today announced that the New Orleans Hornets (http://www.nba.com/hornets/interact/socialnetwork.html) have launched a social network for fans of the team powered by KickApps. The website is a destination for the supporters of one of the most popular professional basketball teams in the U.S. to gather online with other fans to share their passion for the Hornets and NBA basketball, create, share and discover fan submitted photos, videos and blogs, and interact exclusively with official club content.

Our new fan social network will enable us to bring people together before and after games to let their love for the Hornets and the game of basketball flourish regardless of where in the world they are. Throughout this season and in the off-season we'll be able to keep our fans engaged with each other and with their favorite players.

Using social media, the Hornets capitalize on an opportunity to increase their connection with fans by extending the Hornets experience beyond the basketball court. The new website features its own social network with video and photo sharing functionality, forums, and the ability for members to take video and photos from the site to other social networks, blogs and websites using Hornets branded video and photo widgets.

“The New Orleans Hornets have some of the most dedicated and faithful fans in the world, so creating an online destination that is social, interactive and participatory is high on our priorities,” said Matt Rose, Web Services Manager, New Orleans Hornets. “Our new fan social network will enable us to bring people together before and after games to let their love for the Hornets and the game of basketball flourish regardless of where in the world they are. Throughout this season and in the off-season we’ll be able to keep our fans engaged with each other and with their favorite players.”

To tip-off participation and activity on the site, the Hornets are holding a competition for fans to name the social network. Fans simply join the network and leave a comment with their proposed name and why they chose it. Additionally, the team has uploaded behind the scenes videos of the Honeybee cheerleaders and press conferences, with additional unique programming planned.

The New Orleans Hornets joins the Phoenix Suns’ Emmy Award winning PlanetOrange.net (www.planetorange.net), New York Knicks, Phoenix Mercury, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New York Rangers and Arena Football League, as teams that have embraced the KickApps Platform.

“Online communities have proven to be a very powerful and expected medium for sports teams connect with their fans,” said Alex Blum, CEO of KickApps. “Using social media will enable the New Orleans Hornets to grow and reinforce the fan community, strengthen team and brand affinities, and create new revenue opportunities through merchandising, sponsorships and online advertising. As one of the leading brands in professional basketball, the Hornets have taken the opportunity to deliver an extremely engaging and viral resource for both official and fan-created content.”

About KickApps

Selected by BusinessWeek readers as Best of the Web 2008, KickApps provides on-demand social media, online video and widget applications that enable web publishers and marketers to drive deeper customer relationships, and grow, engage and monetize online audiences. Its SaaS platform includes social networking, user-generated content, programmable video players, drag-and-drop widget building, WidgeADs™ and other applications that are tightly integrated with robust media moderation, member management and reporting. Customers include: SOAPnet, CW Television, Guinness World Records, Scripps Network Interactive, HBO, Cinemax, Cox Television, the Phoenix Suns, the New York Knicks, the New York Rangers and thousands of other sites. For more information, visit www.kickapps.com and www.kickdeveloper.com.