Rallypoint Launches Fantasy Sports App Based on Yahoo! TV Widgets Platform

Rallypoint, a San Francisco-based company that specializes in developing widgets for Internet-connected HDTV's, last week launched a social networking-enabled fantasy sports app, called Rallycast Fantasy Sports. The company also announced a deal with retail chain, Best Buy, to distribute its Rallycast TV Apps through the latter's Web site and retail stores.

According to Rallypoint, its Rallycast TV Apps service allows users to overlay personalized content on their HDTV sets. The service features a toolbar menu system that allows users to access the Rallycast Fantasy Sports TV App, check sports scores and stats, send text messages, and post status updates on Facebook and write on their Facebook friends' walls. In the future, the company says, it will offer additional apps that feature Web 2.0 content from popular Web sites, expanded TV show content, and home shopping.

With the Rallycast Fantasy Sports package (which is sold on a dedicated Rallycast Web site, as well as through Best Buy), the company says, users will be able to access real-time fantasy scores and stats, make roster substitutions for their existing ESPN, Yahoo! and CBS fantasy sports leagues, and even "talk smack" with their friends. Rallycast apps are overlaid on the program that the user is watching, and users can view multiple apps simultaneously, the company says. "Research has shown that nearly 90% of fantasy sports players watch sports on television with a laptop close at hand," Rallypoint CEO, Jeff Allen, said in a prepared statement. "Our Rallycast product can supply these users and others with a seamless integration of their online and offline worlds."

According to Rallypoint, Best Buy will use its in-store video network to display more information about the Rallycast product line, and in-store HDTV models will be equipped to demo the Rallycast fantasy sports and text messaging services. Rallycast is built on the Yahoo! TV Widgets platform, and, Rallypoint says, consumers with compatible Internet-connected HDTV's can download the Rallycast Toolbar from the Widget Gallery to access free Rallycast apps or purchase the Rallycast Fantasy Sports TV App.

The Rallycast Fantasy Sports TV App is priced at $59.99 per season per sport, and will kick off with the 2009 NFL season. In addition, three free Rallycast apps are currently available:

• Rallycast Toolbar, which allows users to search for and manage TV apps from Rallypoint and its content partners.
• Rallycast Scores, which allows users to view scores and stats for multiple sports and which can be customized to feature the user's favorite teams.
• Rallycast Messenger, which allows users to communicate with their friends via text message or Facebook.

According to Rallypoint, the HDTV sets that currently support its Rallycast apps are the Samsung Series 6, 7 and 8 (i.e. HDTV sets that support Samsung's Internet@TV service); and the LG Electronics LH50 and PS80 (i.e. HDTV sets that support LG's Netcast Entertainment service). In the near future, the company says, Vizio XVT HDTV sets will also provide Rallycast support.