Apple unveiled iOS 9 making devices more intelligent and proactive with powerful search and improved Siri features. New multitasking features designed specifically for iPad allow you to work with two apps simultaneously, side-by-side or with the new Picture-in-Picture feature, to keep watching a video while browsing the web, composing email or using any other app.
Trucoin announced that customers in 26 states can now buy bitcoin using their Visa or MasterCards online, a partnership with BitPay to sponsor the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl. Trucoin will be the preferred Bitcoin ATM provider at the St. Petersburg, FL event that will be broadcast to millions by ESPN.
Capital One (COF) has nailed the title sponsorship of the Orange Bowl for this year. The multi-year ESPN deal builds on Capital One’s substantial support of college athletics by becoming the official credit card and bank of the new College Football Playoff.
ESPN Events has announced BitPay as the new title sponsor for the annual college football postseason game played in St. Petersburg (Fla.). Beginning with this year’s December 26 game, the bowl will now be known as the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl. BitPay will serve as title sponsor for three years through the 2016 game.
The latest Discover Fan Loyalty Poll finds that pizza is king and diets go by the wayside when fans are watching their favorite team play. When asked what their favorite snack was, 23 percent said pizza. Additionally, fans said Wings, 15 percent, Chips and dips, 14 percent, Nachos, 8 percent, Hot dogs or sausage, 6 percent, Pretzels, 4 percent, Something else, 20 percent, Not sure, 10 percent. When asked do game day calories count, 46 percent said ‘No, my diet goes out the window when I’m tailgating or watching my team play;’ 39 percent said ‘Yes, but I still indulge in a few favorites;’ and 10 percent said ‘Absolutely, I don’t overeat or drink when I’m tailgating or watching my team play;’ while 4 percent were unsure. College football fans still have a healthy appetite for Alabama as nearly half, 49 percent, chose them as the best team in the country right now. The Crimson Tide has secured the top spot each week since the beginning of the season. West Virginia also sneaked back onto the list and into the top five after falling off of last week’s poll.
The Discover Fan Loyalty Poll finds that women are showing more spirit than men when it comes to watching the game and wearing their school colors. In the third week of Discover’s national survey designed to gauge college football fan loyalty, fans were questioned on the depth of their commitment to their teams. When asked how important is it that they watch their favorite team’s game each week, 75 percent of all fans consider it somewhat to very important to tune in. However, more women than men, 78 percent to 73 percent, see it as a higher priority. When fans were asked if they regularly wear clothing or other items with the logo of their favorite college football team, 46 percent said yes, down from 55 percent last week. Once again, women showed more team pride when it comes to wearing a team’s logo: 58 percent of women wear it compared to 38 percent of men. The University of Southern California dropped out of the running after its loss to Stanford last week. Only 16 percent of fans said they would consider naming a pet or a child after a team, and of those who said they would, women leaned toward pet names while men leaned toward baby names.
Discover will launch a 15-week fan loyalty poll in September that will give die-hard fans a platform to showcase dedication to their favorite college football team. Title sponsor of the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game and 2013 Discover Orange Bowl, Discover will survey college football fans to find out which school truly has the most loyal fans in America and release these findings weekly alongside an additional bi-weekly supplement. Beyond title sponsorship of the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game and 2013 Discover Orange Bowl, Discover’s commitment to college football includes relationships with ESPN and Notre Dame football on NBC.
As American Express embarks on its 19th season as a partner with the US Open, it’s introducing its digital and on-site benefits, designed to serve tennis fans at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. American Express is offering even more ways for tennis fans to get involved with the action of the US Open with the “US Open American Express Fan Experience.” For the second year at the US Open American Express Fan Experience, fans can perfect their game, catch the action on the courts and challenge their friends to a match. The Experience, which is located just inside the East Gate, has moved indoors and now features 20,000 square feet of interactive elements for all fans at the US Open. This offers Swing Analysis; a Game Center with virtual tennis; a Fan Court with live programming, match previews and player meet-and-greets; and Exclusive Offers for Cardmembers.
StubHub ticket marketplace launched its comprehensive loyalty rewards program, StubHub “Fan Rewards,” offering rewards for eligible purchases plus the opportunity for unique fan experiences and complimentary seat upgrades. Fans across the country can sign up for StubHub Fan Rewards online and start earning rewards on their next purchase. Similar to rewards programs in the travel industry, StubHub Fan Rewards offers perks and benefits to frequent users of StubHub.com. The program is the result of customer feedback from the company’s most frequent users and StubHub’s continued commitment to rewarding brand loyalty. The rewards program offers the Star and Superstar levels, letting users earn 2% in rewards for each eligible purchase and- once they reach $10 in rewards, they become eligible for a $10 FanCode to use on any future StubHub.com purchase.
American Express announced a series of offerings for both golf fans and American Express Cardmembers to enhance the 2012 U.S. Open Championship experience at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., including the release of its updated Course Curator digital concierge, the first-ever Golf Fitness Studio and the fan-favorite American Express CourseCast Radio. Located near the main entrance to the course, the American Express Championship Experience provides an extraordinary, interactive space for fans to learn more about the game of golf and the latest Championship news, improve their golf game, and enhance their experience while out on the course, including: Presented exclusively by American Express, golf fans on and off the course can follow all of the U.S. Open action on the ESPN Radio broadcast available on ESPNRadio.com, the official iPhone Application of the U.S. Open and through CourseCast Radio earpieces. Radios will be available Thursday through Sunday. Fans can also tweet questions using #AskAmexGolf for a chance to have their question answered live, on-air by one of the ESPN golf commentators.
Discover Financial Services is offering cardmembers the chance to purchase premium tickets to the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl along with an exclusive Orange Bowl experience in South Florida, by redeeming Cashback Bonus rewards or using their Discover card. The company is offering an exclusive experience for cardmembers ordering their tickets at www.discover.com/orangebowl with a sneak peek at the Orange Bowl half-time entertainment the night before the game; access to the Orange Bowl Fan Zone on game day; and admission to the pre-game Discover Tailgate Party featuring food, beverages and entertainment. Discover coincidentally launched its newest “Peggy” ad featuring former Ohio State quarterback and current ESPN college football analyst, Kirk Herbstreit, as he grapples with some of the challenges consumers encounter when calling their card’s customer service department.
Chase Card Services enhanced its “Chase Sapphire Preferred” premier affluent rewards card, giving cardmembers two points per dollar spent on travel and dining purchases in addition to existing benefits, including no foreign transaction fees and dedicated, immediate customer service. The card now offers two points per dollar on travel purchases; two points per dollar on dining purchases; no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the United States; dedicated customer service; 20% fewer points to redeem for travel through Ultimate Rewards; the ability to redeem points at leading hotels and airlines at a 1:1 Ultimate Rewards Points to Partner Points/Miles value; and the ability to collect 7 percent Annual Points Dividend each calendar year, even on points already redeemed.