New Sports Website Takes Vol Nation National

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding on the popularity of its GoVolsXtra (GVX) brand, the Knoxville News Sentinel is partnering with digital sports network 247Sports to launch GVX247.com - a subscription-based Internet site devoted to coverage of University of Tennessee athletics.

Through 247Sports, the latest venture from the team that founded Rivals.com, acclaimed sports writers throughout the country provide in-depth recruiting news for college football and basketball, including an up-to-the-minute recruiting database with photos and videos, plus breaking national stories.

This new interactive website offers serious Vol fans exclusive information on events and decisions that impact University of Tennessee athletics.

"Partnering with 247Sports gives us eyes and ears in all the places UT recruits," said Knoxville News Sentinel Publisher Patrick Birmingham. "Bobby Burton and Shannon Terry are a powerful team in sports information. They have taken their vast experience from Rivals.com and produced an exceptional resource for sports fans."

The new site utilizes the latest technologies including an interactive message board that allows fans to converse with experts about the team and recruiting. The site is also integrated with social media services, such as Facebook and Twitter, enabling an active exchange of news and opinion.

"The Knoxville News Sentinel is a name that is synonymous with coverage of University of Tennessee athletics," said 247Sports President Bobby Burton. "Combine that with our network of affinity sites, our expertise in the recruiting space and our technology and social-media offerings, and we think we've formed a great team to cover the Vols."

"This new site will not affect our extremely popular sports site, govolsxtra.com," Birmingham said. "We will continue providing that same in-depth and complete local coverage of UT athletics free of charge on govolsxtra.com. No changes there. The partnership with 247Sports, however, will allow us to provide the serious sports fan more in-depth recruiting news and national breaking stories."

"Forming a partnership like this one with the News Sentinel is another big piece to the puzzle we're trying to build," 247Sports CEO and Chairman Shannon Terry said. "We're putting ourselves into position to provide fans a one-stop shop for their favorite teams."

Subscriptions to www.GVX247.com will be $9.95 per month, or $107.40 a year (a 10 percent savings on the monthly subscriptions). For a seven-day free trial, go to www.GVX247.com.

"As always, the Knoxville News Sentinel is committed to bringing the best local coverage of University of Tennessee sports to our customers," Birmingham said. "This new partnership with 247Sports gives us exclusive, first-hand information and gives our serious Vol fans an opportunity to interact with the experts and be the first to get the scoop on UT sports or other teams of interest as well."

About 247Sports.com

247Sports is an independent digital sports media company that consists of market-leading college team and affinity sites. Offering fans "Your team. All the time.", 247Sports utilizes next-generation technology and social media platforms to deliver news to fans when they want it and how they want it. The company was founded by Rivals.com founder Shannon Terry. Bobby Burton, President and co-owner of 247Sports, is a former Rivals.com executive and football recruiting pioneer. Terry and Burton helped grow Rivals.com into the clear market-leader in the space before selling the company to Yahoo! in 2007 for $98 million. 247Sports recorded more than 400,000 unique visitors in November - just its fourth month online.  

About The Knoxville News Sentinel

The Knoxville News Sentinel is an award-winning E.W. Scripps Company daily newspaper providing in-depth local coverage of sports, news and business to East Tennesseans for over 100 years. The News Sentinel was among the first newspapers to establish a website. To date, Knoxnews.com has won many national awards including three 2008 Digital Edge Awards from the Newspaper Association of America for best overall news website, most innovative user-participation and best site design.  The News Sentinel is the flagship property of the KNS Media group which includes the Shopper-News, MetroPulse and Blount Today weekly newspapers; Skirt!, Knoxville, Greater Knoxville Business Journal, Home Market and Auto Seller magazines; Tennessee Valley Direct direct mail service; The Sports Page radio show; and operations that provide commercial printing and distribution services.

SOURCE The Knoxville News Sentinel