WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – At more than 40 of this year's NCAA championships game-day programs will be available in digital format, free to college sports fans everywhere.
IMG College Publishing is partnering with the NCAA to provide fans free access to selected NCAA championship programs before, during and after the events on smart phones or computers, in an environmentally friendly manner.
The digital game publications, beginning with the preliminary rounds for the Division I men's and women's soccer championships, will be available to all fans via NCAA.com/gameprograms. The digital programs can be downloaded via the Internet to any electronic handheld device for access at any time or place.
"Providing audiences with more innovative and convenient ways to stay abreast of championship information is a key goal of the NCAA," said Greg Shaheen, Interim Executive Vice President of Championships and Alliances, for the NCAA. "We live in a digital world, and we want to provide our fans, membership, student-athletes and media with the tools to gain access to all the data that will enhance their championship experience, on-site, on campus or at home."
IMG College, the exclusive publisher of NCAA championship game programs , will be producing 11 free digital programs in the fall for NCAA championships in sports including women's field hockey, women's volleyball, men's water polo, and men's and women's soccer. (Fourteen other NCAA championship programs published by IMG College will be available in traditional magazine format.) In the winter and spring, more than 30 additional free e-publications are planned for various NCAA championships.
"IMG College is eager to join the NCAA in taking a leadership role in the future of sports game-day publications," said Joe Potter, SVP of Operations for IMG College. "Fans at the championships and following from home will have access to the same information we have all grown to expect in a championship program; only they'll now be able to access it free online. It's the same valuable information, packaged as a mobile, electronic keepsake."
Potter added that the digital version means IMG's publishing team can integrate more up-to-date information into the publications. Electronic programs are also environmentally friendly in eliminating printing and shipping.
About IMG College Publishing
IMG College Publishing delivers high-quality publishing and design services nationwide utilizing its full-time, in-house editorial and graphic design and management team to create more than 700 total products annually. IMG College oversees a variety of projects ranging from game day programs and annual yearbooks to posters, schedule cards, magazines, specialty publications for its university clients, and all NCAA® championship programs, highlighted by the official NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours and the College World Series programs. Several major conference football and basketball championship programs, as well as bowl game programs are produced annually as well.
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.