July 29, 2003

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas State department of athletics will unveil a new and enhanced sports website August 1 in partnership with Omaha-based New Media Networks, director of Athletics Tim Weiser announced today.

K-State becomes the fourth Big 12 university to join with New Media Networks, which will create and maintain the website. The revamped site at k-statesports.com will use the latest Internet technology to provide fans with a seamless, robust experience that is unique to K-State. New Media Networks, in cooperation with K-State's sports information and graphics design staff, has been working the past two months to prepare the site's new look.

One of the site's most distinctive features will be a premier video streaming subscription service called PowerCat PassPort. The service, which will launch on August 18, will offer members exclusive access to comprehensive video coverage of K-State athletics, including live webcasts of selected games, weekly football news conferences, postgame football news conferences and weekly coaches shows, along with game highlights, interviews and features past and present. Members also get merchandise discounts and advance notice on promotions and events, all for just $9.95 a month or $79.95 annually.

Live audio streaming of Wildcat sporting events will be maintained on the new site as a free service.

Some of the new features of the site include an opt-in tool for fans to receive direct e-mails on the sports or topics of their choice and opportunities to purchase K-State highlight tapes directly through the website.

"We're extremely excited about the technical advances and possibilities this partnership with New Media Networks brings to us,'' Weiser said. "K-statesports.com will continue to provide our fans with the most up-to-date information about the Wildcats, and the PowerCat PassPort subscription service will offer unprecedented web-based coverage of many K-State athletics events."

"The new contract gives K-State access to more advanced, integrated technologies, as well as a greater Internet presence for the athletics program," said Craig Petersen, New Media Networks General Manager. "The strength of the K-State tradition, its sports programs and its administration makes k-statesports.com a key player in college Internet properties. We are excited about the opportunity to use our tools and applications in partnership with another university sports program of this caliber."

New Media Networks currently operates websites for Nebraska, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and provides related services to Creighton University. The company will soon launch sites for Colorado and Oregon.