The NFL Network (@nflnetwork) has launched a new Twitter-centric segment called NFL Fandom within its flagship program, NFL Total Access. The new segment, which bowed on October 16, integrates Twitter to spark discussion and empower fans to tell the network what they want to see. The segment looks at trending topics to guide its conversations, engaging fans by airing their Tweets during the broadcast and staging hashtag battles via Twitter voting.
NFL Fandom launched its first hashtag battle leading up to the October 17 game between the Seahawks and Cardinals. The show encouraged fans to make their pick to win the game by tweeting #SeahawksTNF or #CardinalsTNF.
Who will win tomorrow’s TNF matchup: #SeahawksTNF or #CardinalsTNF? YOUR results will appear during Total Access! pic.twitter.com/sOvzX0tDmr
— NFL Network ( @nflnetwork) October 17, 2013
Guest commentator Tommie Harris tweeted on air, too; he cast the first vote in the hashtag battle during the broadcast.
— Tommie Harris ( @Tommieharris90) October 17, 2013
Once the battle began, @AZCardinals was quick to ask followers to vote.
Use #CardinalsTNF if you believe that the #AZCardinals will win on Thursday Night Football!
— Arizona Cardinals ( @AZCardinals) October 17, 2013
Some fans were exceedingly enthusiastic about doing so.
#CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF #CardinalsTNF
— Veronica ( @arizonagirl8) October 17, 2013
Others tweeted for the very first time to vote for their team.
@nflnetwork @Seahawks this is my first tweet EVER and I’m using it to say #GO HAWKS!! #SeahawksTNF
— Lisa Swartz ( @CecilBMarie) October 17, 2013
Later in the hour, @nflnetwork reminded fans that they still had time to vote, which @nfl retweeted.
RT @nflnetwork: Still time to tell us who wins tomorrow: #SeahawksTNF or #CardinalsTNF? We’re showing your results in real-time NEXT!
— NFL ( @nfl) October 17, 2013
During the Fandom segment, @nflnetwork displayed the results on air. Naturally, the hashtag percentages grew as more and more Tweets came flooding in, and the Seahawks came out on top (with 68% of the vote) — as they would in the game that night.
Seahawks. Cardinals. 2 hours. #SEAvsAZ And the winner is… WATCH: http://t.co/M9coRKHqMk
— NFL Network ( @nflnetwork) October 17, 2013
Do you know of other innovative uses of Twitter? Write to mediablog@twitter.com.