ESPNFC, the global multi-media football brand from ESPN, is launching two completely redeveloped and redesigned digital products in time for the World Cup and has announced that Jason Dasey will return to ESPN to serve as a local editor and content development lead for the brand in Southeast Asia.
On June 1, ESPN will unveil a brand new ESPNFC.com, the core digital home for the company’s coverage of global football. The site has been rebuilt to be fully responsive across all devices – adjusting seamlessly to present the site and its content in the most optimised way on a handset, tablet, computer or connected TV browser. The new ESPNFC features a simple but rich user experience across any screen, which is powered by a “feed” structure that allows ease of use and supports discoverability of ESPN’s extensive breadth and depth of football coverage from around the world. It will present a combination of editorially curated and chronologically organised content, and will provide the user with easy personalisation of their experience.
A local Singapore/Malaysia edition of the new ESPNFC site will also launch later this year, with an Indonesian Bahasa language edition of the site also in the pipeline, announced Mike Morrison, ESPN Asia Pacific’s Vice President and General Manager.
“ESPNFC is a central part of ESPN’s commitment to the coverage of global football into the future – across all media screens and around the world,” said Morrison. “The new site and the coming local editions reflects our focus on building products globally and programme and edit content locally, while creating user experiences that highlight ESPN’s unmatched breadth and depth of football coverage from around the world and the key elements of what makes sport unique – it’s live, personal, social aspects.”
ESPNFC APP – on iOS and Android
The new ESPNFC app is available now in the Apple App Store and through Google Play. Based on the principles, design backbone and code from ESPN’s highly successful SportsCenter app – with more than 53 million downloads – the app gives fans increased control through simple, one-touch personalisation and navigation designed around three core content pillars: Scores, News and Now.
· Scores – Fast, reliable scores; allows fans to set alerts and access expanded information with a simple tap for favourite teams and latest games.
· News – presents the best and latest headlines of the day from the ESPN/SportsCenter news desk. A mix of breaking news, features, video and highlight clips.
· Now – integrates contextual live scoring and social updates for selected tournaments, leagues, clubs and teams from ESPNFC twitter handles, enabling fans to reply, retweet, favourite, share, email etc.
The app’s personalisation features allow fans to easily customise and catch up on their favourite teams and get alerts, scores, video highlights and news, all based on personal preferences and delivered to them in their app via the “Inbox” section.
The ESPNFC app also includes a dedicated World Cup section that will remain in the app through this summer’s tournament and enable fans to access complete coverage of the tournament in a single section.
Jason Dasey returns to ESPN
ESPN also announced that Jason Dasey, the respected journalist/writer, editor, broadcaster and producer who worked for ESPN from 2001 to 2009, will return to the company to spearhead the editorial growth of the ESPNFC brand in Southeast Asia. Returning to ESPN as Senior Editor & Coordinating Producer, Dasey will be based in Singapore. He will focus on developing the multimedia content for ESPNFC in the region.
Most recently Executive Producer and Senior Anchor with Malaysian Network ASTRO, Dasey will continue his hosting duties with Astro through the upcoming World Cup.
“Jason is one of the very best authorities in football and brings decades of experience in sport and content,” said Morrison. “His insight and knowledge will be a great addition to ESPNFC here in Southeast Asia and we are thrilled to welcome him back to ESPN.”
Dasey said, “ESPN remains the strongest sports brand in the world and I am delighted to renew my association with the company. ESPNFC is the number one digital football brand in Singapore and Malaysia and I look forward to bringing my experience and expertise as a content creator to what I believe will be a great new chapter as we continue the brand’s growth in Asia.
“My time at Astro has been a richly rewarding experience, and one that I am proud to have been a part of. To have started as a one-man band, develop acclaimed football programming from scratch and become part of a great team, was fantastic.”
