MSN Adds Reality to Fantasy Baseball
MSN on Tuesday launched a new online interactive reality television show that would allow viewers to play a part in the real life fortunes of an actual baseball team. The Microsoft portal has partnered with LivePlanet to launch "Fan Club: Reality Baseball," featuring the minor-league team the Schaumburg Flyers.
The Flyers are a professional team based in a suburb of Chicago. Through the innovative partnership, fans would run the team through the second half of the season as it makes its playoff push. This includes selecting the team's roster, batting order, pitching decisions, and even playing a part in making off-the-field decisions.
Fans would vote to make the changes, which MSN says brings users back to see how their choices affect the team's play. Additionally, the site includes content from the first half of the season as well as player profiles. Family members, teammates and friends will use MSN's Spaces service to blog about the experience.
"'Fan Club' has something for everyone: the thrills of pro sports and the drama and humor of tangled human relationships," LivePlanet CEO Larry Tanz said in the announcement. "The close-up and personal view of baseball that MSN Originals provides in 'Fan Club' is better than a reality television series. Fans run the team and call the shots."
Tanz's LivePlanet was also behind Bravo's Emmy award-winning series Project Greenlight.
Microsoft said 'Fan Club' would make extensive use of the company's technologies, and marks an evolution in the reality television brand, where the viewer would have greater control over what he or she sees. The service would be made available at no charge to MSN users through advertising, much like the company's Live-branded services.
Those interested in participating in the program can visit the show's Web site on MSN.