The Associated Press announced AP Sports Extra, a series of 10 paginated pages which will preview top events like MLB playoffs, top golf tournaments, the NFL draft with stories, photos and graphics. It is provided the content and layout free of charge to its member newspapers that carry AP sports, according to a press release.
Its first edition was released for the British Open and future editions will cover the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, college football, NASCAR, Major League Baseball’s post-season, NFL playoff preview and draft, and the Masters tournament. It has only been released for U.S. newspapers.
The news service is providing text, images and data to its partner Postmedia Editorial Services in Ontario, Canada, who will paginate Sports Extra. The .pdf format will then be available for member newspapers who can send it off to the printer and add more content, and a new section, to their paper.
In an effort to help media outlets generate revenue, there is advertising space reserved in the section, which the each newspapers advertising team can try to sell.
“At AP, we continue to look for ways to create added value for member papers carrying our sports report,” James J. Reindl, directory of AP Sports Products and Business Development for U.S. Newspapers said in a press release. “AP Sports Extra is a creative and attractive package for member newspapers that saves time preparing previews of major events and offers a way to add incremental revenue through ad sales.”
Pages are available in full-, half-page and tabloid format, and AP Sports will be available for subscribers 10 times during its pilot run.