TV Show Finds Online Sponsor on eBay

    /24-7PressRelease/ - VALHALLA, NY, August 07, 2008 - "Playing for Peanuts" has announced the winner of its first eBay auction for online TV sponsorship. Most Valuable Network (www.mvn.com) has won sponsorship rights for the online release of Episode 1.

"I'm very excited to bring MVN on board as the show's first online sponsor," explained producer John Fitzgerald. "For a TV show about baseball, it is great to have a sports-related company as the first sponsor."

"Playing for Peanuts" chronicles a year in the life of the South Georgia Peanuts of the independent South Coast League. The TV series premiered in May 2008 on regional sports networks in nine markets. The series averaged 150,000 viewers per week, across all markets.

Most Valuable Network is an independent sports media company that hosts blogs and podcasts about professional sports teams in communities of baseball, basketball, football and hockey fans.

The final price for the eBay auction was $1,500. As part of the agreement, MVN ads will "bookend" each of the episode's four segments - each segment will be preceded by a 5-second ad and followed by a 10-second ad. Each segment will be distributed on major video sharing networks.

MVN ads will also appear on full-length episode downloads, which will be available at HungryFlix.com.

"I think 'Playing for Peanuts' is a TV series that matches MVN's philosophy," said MVN co-founder and president Evan Brunell. "Both MVN and Peanuts are grassroots, independent sports media entities that are redefining the way sports and media information are distributed on the web."

"Playing for Peanuts" producer John Fitzgerald says that selling sponsorships via online auction fit the show's needs.

"It was a risky move, but I felt like it was the best choice," explains Fitzgerald. "For starters, I am an independent filmmaker, so I don't have a sales staff. Additionally, putting the show on eBay seemed like an easier way to reach forward-thinking companies. It definitely beats making cold calls because it allows you to lay out the opportunity with text, images and video."

MVN has also agreed to distribute "Playing for Peanuts" throughout its network of sports blogs, via embeddable video players.

"MVN is committed to expanding our sports-related offerings beyond our existing sports blogs," explained Brunell. "Adding video is something we've been looking at as a way to enhance the value we provide to sports fans and bloggers. Sponsoring 'Playing for Peanuts' and distributing it through our network is really a win-win situation."

In addition to online video distribution, MVN will also have their company logo included on 1,000 "Dropcards" - gift cards that will be given away at minor league games in late August. The Dropcard recipient will be able to enter an online code to receive a free episode download.

"I think the gift cards will bring the show to baseball fans who might not be inclined to look online for a TV show," says Fitzgerald. "We are giving fans a tangible, collectible card that will translate into increased awareness of the show and Most Valuable Network."

The online release of Episode 1 of "Playing for Peanuts" is scheduled for September 1, 2008. Fitzgerald plans to hold a similar eBay auction for future episodes.

ABOUT PLAYING FOR PEANUTS

"Playing for Peanuts" is a 10-episode docu-reality TV show about minor league baseball. Producer/Director John Fitzgerald previously directed "The Emerald Diamond" - an award-winning 90-minute documentary about Ireland's National Baseball Team. For more information on "Playing for Peanuts," contact John Fitzgerald at 914-316-2056 or visit http://www.playingforpeanuts.com.

ABOUT MOST VALUABLE NETWORK

Most Valuable Network, LLC is an independent sports media company. This summer, MVN.com will be re-launched to better serve a community of sports fans and bloggers by focusing on producing a higher quantity and stronger quality of multimedia content. For more information on MVN, contact Evan Brunell at [email protected] or content director Cory Humes at [email protected] or 412-567-6491.

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