Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Figure Skating Telecasts Go Interactive With LiveHive Technology

NBCSports.com adopts NanoGamingTM for U.S. Figure Skating Championship

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 23, 2008) - LiveHive SystemsTM, a pioneer in interactive television, has announced that it has signed an agreement with NBCSports.com that will bring NanoGaming technology to the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championship being held this weekend. NBC telecasts this Saturday, January 26 (4 p.m. ET. and 8 p.m. ET) and this Sunday, January 27 (7 p.m. ET) will effectively launch interactive viewing for the figure skating TV audience. The telecasts will be seen by millions of viewers in primetime.

"This will be the first time that figure skating has gone this route in live TV telecasts," said Dave Bullock, President, LiveHive Systems. "Figure skating is a huge sport, and through NBCSports.com Skate-Off we can deliver interactive TV to a brand new audience.

"Fans want to interact and engage with the competition, which includes athletes and other viewers, while they are watching. NanoGaming will let figure skating fans experience the excitement of the U.S. Championships as the action unfolds."

Powered by LiveHive's NanoGaming technology, NBCSports.com Skate-Off allows fans to play along while they watch, accumulate points, and qualify for prizes. Players will take part in trivia and make such real-time predictions as which skater will win the Ladies competition, or how many jumps Evan Lysacek will successfully complete in his routine.

To play, viewers go online to www.NBCSports.com/skateoff before each event and click on the 'Sign In' button. Previously, LiveHive has brought its NanoGaming technology to football, baseball, hockey, NASCAR, Mixed Martial Arts, and reality TV.

The interactive nature of the broadcast will begin with pre-show questions for viewers, with most questions happening in real-time during the live televised events - before and after each individual performance.

About NBC Sports Figure Skating
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held annually since 1914, is the nation's most prestigious figure skating event. The 2008 competition will take place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn., and will be broadcast on NBC Saturday afternoon and evening, Jan. 26, and Sunday evening, Jan. 27. Coverage of the event will include seven hours of competition in the ladies and men's singles, pairs and ice dancing, with five hours in primetime plus an extra hour of the Exhibition of Champions. The 2008 U.S. Championships will in part serve to select the 2008 U.S. team for the World Championships. This is the first year of a multi-year agreement between NBC Sports and U.S. Figure Skating Association that will run through the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

About LiveHive Systems Inc.
LiveHive Systems is a privately held software development company that specializes in interactive entertainment solutions for TV broadcasters, fantasy sports sites, and web portals looking to differentiate their offering and increase value to viewers, advertisers and stakeholders. Its flagship product, NanoGaming is a technology platform that powers viewer interaction with entertainment media, such as live television broadcasts and streaming video. It gives audience members a continuous and engaging way to accumulate points, play with friends, and win prizes. LiveHive provides software, integration, joint marketing initiatives, and a 24-hour Broadcast Control Center. LiveHive Systems is based in Waterloo, Ontario, which was recently named the world's top intelligent community by the New York-based Intelligent Communities Forum. For more information, visit www.livehivesystems.com.

For more information, please contact:
LiveHive Systems Inc.
Jerry Amernic
1 (888) 540-4707
Email: press@livehivesystems.com
Website: www.livehivesystems.com 

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