USA Today and Fantasy Sports Ventures (FSV) have formed a multi-platform editorial content and marketing alliance, it was announced today by USA Today and Fantasy Sports Ventures senior management.

USA Today, the nation's top-selling newspaper, and FSV's Fantasy Players Network, the leading online destination for fantasy sports content with more than 100 specialty websites, have built the strategic partnership around the distribution of fantasy sports and news content.

"With more than 15 million fantasy players in the U.S., the fantasy space is an extremely important component of USA TODAY's overall sports strategy," said Jeff Webber, publisher of USATODAY.com. "This alliance with Fantasy Sports Ventures will provide USA TODAY readers with unparalleled news, analysis, and features while providing our advertisers with new ways to reach this highly engaged fantasy audience."

USA Today'S award-winning sports content will be distributed through the sites that make up the Fantasy Players Network. In addition, FSV's fantasy sports experts will provide branded, in-depth information including statistical analysis, roster tips and draft predictions to USA Today in print and online, USA TODAY's Sports Weekly and other USA Today affiliated publications and websites.

"We're excited to share our distinctive content with USA TODAY's audience across multiple platforms," said FSV CEO Chris Russo, former senior vice president of New Media at the NFL. "Exposure via USA TODAY's publications and Web properties represents a unique promotional opportunity for the sites in our network."

USA Today and FSV will also create unique, customized sponsorship opportunities for brand marketers interested in reaching one of the most active and highly engaged audiences on the Web -- fantasy players. These marketing initiatives will be developed for distribution via the Web, print, mobile and other media and will feature large media event platforms.

The Fantasy Players Network includes more than 100 fantasy sports and related websites, delivering approximately 5 million unique users per month. These owned and affiliated sites provide high-quality fantasy news, information, analysis and game products across all major sports. The fantasy sports category continues to experience robust growth with an estimated audience of more than 15 million players in the U.S.

USA TODAY has also completed a minority investment in Fantasy Sports Ventures. FSV will use the funding to acquire additional websites and develop new programs and initiatives to benefit its affiliate sites. Terms of the agreement are not disclosed.

(Source: Sportsbusinessnews.com)