FOX Sports North Tests Interactive TV with "Scan for Highlight" Feature

• Over a three day period and five live telecasts, over 10,000 people scanned a QR code resulting in over 40,000 video views. 

• A merging of Phizzle and SnappyTV, the QR code brings fans instant highlights from a live telecast.

• The structure works on all platforms to match the diverse technology used by viewers (iPhones, iPads, Android and Blackberry).

This QR code might look like something you would be inclined to scan at the grocery store in the self check-out lane, but it’s actually much more. Recently, QR codes are showing up on products including marketing materials, billboards and more. For the first known time during a live sporting event, FOX Sports North successfully posted a QR code on the TV screen as part of a live telecast.

Minnesotans Go “Wild” for the FOX Sports North Girls

Fans in Minnesota are going “wild” for the FOX Sports North Girls…literally, Minnesota Wild fans love Jenny and Paige.  The FOX Sports North Girls have only been around for six weeks, but are already getting a lot of attention from both fans and team partners.

*Special appearance requests from Minnesota Wild including recent “Let’s Play Hockey” announcement in front of 17,500+ fans

*Closing in on 2,000 Facebook fans and 1,500 Twitter followers

*Multiple appearances on FOX Sports North pre- and post-game shows 

*Photo gallery top viewed page on FOXSportsNorth.com in November

FOX Sports North Honors Military with “Operation Home Base” – 7 Week Campaign

In support of the First Lady’s national “Joining Forces” campaign, FOX Sports North launched a seven-week campaign in August, designed to pay tribute to local military. FOX Sports North also encouraged fans to show their support of the troops by sending “messages of thanks.” The finale aired on the ten year anniversary of September 11.

The seven week campaign was presented by Miller High Life and included the following:

• Eight military themed broadcasts from eight different locations in the FOX Sports North region

• Finale on Sunday, September 11 with a special tribute from the Minnesota National Guard Headquarters, the Minnesota State Capital and from a National Guard base in Kuwait.
• Numerous “messages of thanks” recorded by Twins players and coaches
• Endorsements by the Minnesota Governor, North Dakota Governor and celebrity Josh Duhamel

Operation Home Base was embraced across multiple platforms. FOX Sports North departments worked together to make the military tribute a success, highlights from each week of the campaign are outlined below.

FOX Sports North Gets Social: Twins Host "Social Media Night" to Connect with Fans

• Hundreds of new @fsnorth Twitter followers
• Tweets scrolled at the bottom of TV screen via Tweetcaster technology
• #Tfans a trending local topic, many posts included #FSNpost

• Twins open "Social Media Deck" at Target Field 

The topic of conversation during last Friday’s Twins vs. Yankees game on FOX Sports North: #Tfans.  #TFans, short for “Twins fans,” was identified as a hashtag for Twins fans looking to join the live social media conversation.
FOX Sports North teamed up with the Twins to host some of the Twin Cities most influential bloggers/”tweeps” at the game on the Twins private deck. With fans joining the conversation at home via the broadcast and the support of the Twitter-ers at the ballpark, Social Media Night was a great success.

FOX Sports North's Topic of Conversation: 600 Home Runs for Thome

A historic milestone that only a select few have ever and will ever reach: 600 home runs. FOX Sports North had the privilege of televising Monday evening’s Twins vs. Detroit game and Jim Thome’s 600^th home run. The network captured the momentous occasion and shared it with baseball fans near and far across multiple platforms.

·      Significant increase in TV ratings after the 600^th home run was hit

·      Exclusive postgame interview with Thome and his father as well as impressive “Congratulations Thome” videos from Hank Aaron and Willie Mays

·      A drastic increase in unique visitors at FOXsportsnorth.com  

·      Extended social media coverage, with hundreds of comments and feedback recorded

Spotlight: FOX Sports North Covers NHL Draft for the “State of Hockey"

Minnesota served as Draft Central for the 2011 NHL Draft June 23-26 with events happening across the “State of Hockey” for four days, including the main attraction at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. FOX Sports North kept hockey fans up-to-date with coverage on-air, online, and via numerous marketing efforts and promotions.

·     FOXsportsnorth.com writers wrote fourteen stories over four days, creating exclusive online content and a drastic increase in unique visitors

·     The network provided extensive on-air promotional coverage, including a Draft countdown clock

·      The FOX Sports North marketing team awarded one lucky fan the experience of a lifetime: a behind-the-scenes VIP tour at the Draft

FOX Sports North Presents $25,000 Home Team Scholarship

FOX Sports North, in conjunction with four team partners, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Twins, Vikings and Wild presented the fourth annual ‘Home Team Scholarship’ to the Boys & Girls Clubs Minnesota State Youth of the Year finalists last week. 

•  The $25,000 Home Team Scholarship was designed to bring together the sports community to positively affect the lives of disadvantaged youth by providing financial support.
• The announcement was made by Mike Dimond, FOX Sports North Senior Vice President and General Manager, at the Minnesota Alliance Legislator's Breakfast in St. Paul, Minnesota.The Governor of Minnesota along with numerous State Senators and Legislates were in attendance.

Caption: Front Row: Bryan Donaldson, Minnesota Twins; Brad Bombardir, Minnesota Wild; Mike Dimond, FOX Sports North; Dannon Hulskotter, Minnesota Vikings and Sarah Hugen, Minnesota Timberwolves. Back Row: Boys & Girls Club Minnesota State Youth of the Year Finalists.

FOX Sports North Responds to Disaster in Japan

FS North and Minnesota Twins take action to support new Japanese teammate Tsuyoshi Nishioka and the many victims of the disaster.

Network and team create campaign to raise awareness to support relief efforts.

FOX Sports North & FOX Sports Wisconsin Take the Plunge for Special Olympics

The annual Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge events are quite the rage across Minnesota and Wisconsin. A unique opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses to support Special Olympics by raising money to jump into frigid Midwest waters, it consists of numerous events across the two states during the coldest months of the year.

FS North Scores Hat Trick with Hockey Day Minnesota

• Content created for TV, web, and social media platforms 

• TV ratings up 42% year to year

• 200% increase in uniques, 1,100% increase in page views on FoxSportsNorth.com vs. 2010

• Over 80 instant video highlights from the broadcast were shared across social media platforms

• Designated hashtag (#HDM) trends nationally and locally on Twitter

• Broad media exposure in national and local outlets including USA Today, Pioneer Press, Associated Press, Star Tribune, Grand Forks Herald, NHL.com, WDAZ TV, Yardbarker, Minneapolis Examiner, Hockey Hub, State of Hockey News, Minnesota Hockey, SBNation, and several others. 

FOX Sports North, in conjunction with the Minnesota Wild televised the award-winning Hockey Day Minnesota on Saturday, February 12.  The day-long event included over 14 hours of hockey-related programming and four games from three different Minnesota locations: the Moorhead Hockey Complex, Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. Two of the four games were played outdoors.

All Twins Games Move to FOX Sports North

• 150-Game Telecast Schedule for 2011

• 23^rd Season of Twins Baseball for the Network

For the first time, FOX Sports North will serve as the exclusive television home for the Minnesota Twins, televising nearly every game that isn’t scheduled for national network TV.

FOX Sports North Owns Blyleven Hall of Fame Conversation

The anticipation for Bert Blyleven’s long awaited nomination into the National Baseball Hall of Fame has spanned over 14 years. Bert’s “Call from the Hall” finally came on January 5 and FOX Sports North / FOXSportsNorth.com became a leading news and information source, owning the conversation and creating unique content around the announcement.