Little League International Establishes Partnership With Youth Sports Live to Provide Internet Webcasting
Monday, July 27, 2009
By Communications Divison
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
July 24, 2009
Little League International and Youth Sports Live have partnered to provide coverage of the 2009 Little League Baseball International Region Tournaments and the 63rd Little League Baseball World Series via the Internet at www.YouthSportsLive.com.
With its slogan “The next best thing to being there,” Internet webcasting company Youth Sports Live (YSL) Broadcasting Network, has agreed to provide on-line video coverage of many games at all five Little League Baseball Region Tournaments in the United States, several non-game events at the annual Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Aug. 21-30, and most games from several other World Series Tournaments in baseball and softball. The only games not being webcast are those covered by previous agreements with ESPN. 
This agreement makes Youth Sports Live the official webcasting partner of Little League Baseball and Softball, and will provide webcasting services for local league play, as well as all-star tournaments.
“Having the Little League games available for people to experience and enjoy over the internet is the latest step in our efforts to broaden our program’s exposure,” Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball, said. “It’s wonderful to have the chance to highlight other aspects of our World Series events, but more importantly this relationship with Youth Sports
Live provides local leagues with the services to showcase their own games and activities live or on video replay. Staying at the forefront of advancement has always been important to Little League and by webcasting through YSL; we expect leagues to benefit from the on-line availability as well as the opportunity to bring the on-field action to families members and friends who are unable to make it out to the games.”
Youth Sports Live is expected to make a series of web-based broadcasts available for viewing, at: www.YouthSportsLive.com. Among the events to be webcast from Williamsport are: Opening Ceremonies of the 63rd Little League Baseball World Series, Aug. 21; the annual Little League International Awards Breakfast, Aug. 27; and postgame news conferences for all 32 games.
A full schedule of games for all eight of the 2009 Little League World Series Tournaments is available, at: http://www.littleleague.org/series/2009divisions/index.htm.
“Youth Sports Live is very excited to partner with Little League, the largest organized youth sports program in the world,” Greg Centracchio, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Youth Sports Live, said. “Additionally, our broadcasts of the opening ceremonies, awards breakfast and all postgame news conferences will allow Youth Sports Live and Little League to showcase these events to Little League’s domestic and international fan base that cannot make the trip to Williamsport.”
“Having games at the Region Tournaments and other World Series events available for viewing on the Internet is a fantastic way to bring the Little League experience to more families, friends, Little League volunteers and fans,” Mr. Keener said. “This partnership with Youth Sports Live also provides our program with another platform to educate and enlighten communities on what can be achieved through participation in Little League.”
Youth Sports Live Broadcasting Network
Founded by two former college teammates, Youth Sports Live delivers live stream broadcasts, video-on-demand replays and DVDs of youth sports games via robust Web-based services. The mission of Youth Sports Live is to put each child playing youth sports in the spotlight; bring families who live far apart closer together; create the ability to hold onto sports memories forever; enable busy parents to see their children play live or via replay when they can't be at the game, and help players and coaches learn and teach better through a unique video production system.
For more information on Youth Sports Live, log on www.YouthSportsLive.com; or call 866-615-8499. Little League’s website is: www.LittleLeague.org.