Monday, August 14, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – Beginning this fall, fans of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference will be able to watch conference athletics events on the four major over-the-top (OTT) viewing apps.

The GNAC, in conjunction with streaming partner Stretch Internet, has announced that fans can now access content from all 11 conference schools, as well as GNAC Championships events, through custom applications on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. The four apps complement the conference’s online streaming portal, GNAC.tv.

“After introducing Roku as its first over-the-top app last January, the GNAC is excited to provide even more OTT options to its fan base through arrangements with Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV,” said GNAC commissioner Dave Haglund. “We appreciate the good work of our partners at Stretch Internet in providing this significant enhancement to GNAC.tv and our fan base.”

The apps provide fans a seamless way to access content directly on their TVs, with no need to “relay” or “cast” the stream from tablets, phones or desktop computers. Users can access the content simply by searching for “GNAC” on the app interfaces on any of the compatible devices and then downloading the free GNAC.tv app. The GNAC’s existing Roku app will be updated to reflect the new design.

Using the professionally-designed, intuitive interface, fans can easily view a conference-wide schedule of live, upcoming and on-demand broadcasts – or filter by a specific school.

“The GNAC was one of the first conferences, at any level, to build a conference-wide digital network when we formed our partnership back in 2012,” said Stretch Internet president Ryan Ermeling. “They continue to be a trend-setter and offering a full suite of OTT apps represents a modern approach to the fan experience.”

All four OTT apps are available now. The first counting contests of the 2017-18 athletic seasons can be viewed on the apps and GNAC.tv on Thurs., Aug. 31.

ABOUT STRETCH INTERNET: Stretch Internet, founded in 2003 and based in Gilbert, Arizona, is the leading streaming provider in collegiate athletics, boasting partnerships with more than 500 schools and nearly three dozen conferences across North America. Known for its world-class customer support and partner-first mentality, Stretch has built a user-centric platform that complements video with live data, social media and a host of customizable features to deliver an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience across multiple channels.