Friday, August 21, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference has renewed its agreement with Stretch Internet as the league’s video streaming partner.

Free-to-view streaming service for all 11 full GNAC members can be accessed via GNAC.tv or through the Stretch Internet portal housed on each institution’s official athletic web site. The new agreement will run through the 2017-18 academic year.

“The GNAC’s partnership with Stretch Internet has been extremely positive and rewarding for our fans, and we’re excited the conference will continue to be aligned with the industry leader for video streaming,” said Commissioner Dave Haglund. “In addition to the many features available through its innovative GameCentral 2.0 platform, Stretch Internet has built a well-earned reputation for providing best-in-class customer support.”

The pact between the GNAC and Stretch is the continuation of a partnership initiated in 2012. At the time, the GNAC was one of the first U.S.-based collegiate conferences to enter into a league-wide arrangement with Stretch.

Based in Mesa, Ariz., Stretch has grown into one of the largest and most respected streaming specialists in its sector, providing delivery platforms to more than 600 clients.

“We are excited to renew our partnership with the GNAC,” said Stretch Internet President and CEO Ryan Ermeling. “When Commissioner Haglund approached us in early 2012, we worked collaboratively to develop one of the first conference-wide digital platforms in the country. Over the past three years the quality of broadcasts has continued to improve dramatically, and with the iteration of our GameCentral 2.0 platform, fans have an even more immersive experience. We’re excited to continue to see this partnership unfold over the next three years.”

Highlights of the GNAC’s all-free video streaming service includes the following:

Easy Access: Just type GNAC.tv into the URL of any device and be immediately taken to the home page of the conference video portal. While there, access all video streams being offered by full members of the GNAC.

GNAC Integration: Viewers can easily switch to live video of any game without leaving the portal.

Live Stats Integration: In addition to tracking the updated game situations and stats, viewers are provided the option of experiencing a rich statistical presentation featuring comparison of team stats, trends, box scores and more.

Social Media Integration: The GNAC.tv portal features incredibly tight integration with Twitter, allowing fans to share links and engage with others on the portal via either GNAC or member institution Twitter handles.

Live Game Feed: GNAC.tv allows viewers to track a host of features in one convenient tab, including the most recent plays, game-specific tweets and instant highlights.

Multi-View Option: Streams are viewable in multiple screen layout options, including picture-in-picture, multi-view format (to watch up to four games simultaneously) and full-screen.

Anytime, Anywhere: GNAC.tv allows fans to access streams, stats and more on any device – computer, tablet, phone and many smart TV’s – while enjoying an experience customized for their specific medium.

Outstanding Support: Stretch Internet personnel provides prompt, live game-night email support to all viewers via its support ticketing system accessible on the GNAC and school portals.