Crystal Clear: Twins in HD

FOX Sports North continues to increase high definition production. 95 of the regional network's 115 Minnesota Twins game schedule is in high-definition for the 2009 season.


Check Out Our Upcoming HD Games:
May 15 at N.Y. Yankees, 6:00 PM
May 16 at N.Y. Yankees, 12:00 PM
May 18 at N.Y. Yankees, 6:00 PM
May 19 at Chicago White Sox, 7:00 PM
May 22 vs. Milwaukee, 7:00 PM
May 23 vs. Milwaukee, 6:10 PM
May 26 vs. Boston, 7:00 PM
May 27 vs. Boston, 7:00 PM
June 2 vs. Cleveland, 7:00 PM
June 3 vs. Cleveland, 7:00 PM
June 8 at Oakland, 9:00 PM
June 9 at Oakland, 9:00 PM

Media: http://www.startribune.com/sports/42508017.html?elr=KArksUUUU
Video: Twins in HD on FOX Sports North promo

North Hits 6,000 Fans on Facebook & Twitter

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve heard a lot about Facebook and Twitter recently. Why? These social networking sites seem to be taking the world by storm. They are the fasting growing online communities and serve as both a news source and a meeting place for family, friends and fans…including sports fans.

FOX Sports North recently started promoting these social networking sites during broadcasts and through marketing and PR initititaves. It is an attempt to attract new online fans after receiving a challenge: Which regional sports network can attract 5,000 combined Facebook fans and Twitter followers first? Not only did North win the challenge, but went above and beyond...with over 6,000 fans and growing.

Current Totals:
Facebook: 4,586 fans
Twitter: 1,831 followers

If you’re not following us on Facebook or Twitter, sign up today!

To learn more about how FOX Sports North is using Facebook & Twitter, check out these features:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn5mIqkWAGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVK6tGpQpi4

Bert vs. Nightcrawler Raises $15,000 for the Minnesota Parkinson's Association

It started as a casual on-air conversation between Dick and Bert. They were chatting about the Minnesota fishing opener when Dick told Bert he was collecting nightcrawlers to use as bait. It ended in a challenge: Bert vs. Nightcrawler. Bert would eat two nighcrawlers to raise awareness for the Minnesota Parkinson’s Association and Dick and Ron Coomer were both in with $100 donations.

For the next week leading up to the Minnesota fishing opener, FOX Sports North encouraged fans to make donations and show their support for Bert vs. Nightcrawler. The Minnesota Governor even sent his words of encouragement. Bert raised over $15,000 and ate two live nightcrawlers during the Qwest Twins Live pregame show on May 9.

Media: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/44452017.html?elr=KArksUUUU
To watch the entire feature visit: www.facebook.com / search: FSN North

Espanol on FOX Sports North

FOX Sports North is bringing diversity to their Twins broadcasts this season by incorporating the Spanish language into a variety of different features.

FOX Sports North play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer recently interviewed Alexi Casilla and Luis Ayala in Spanish while the on-air marketing and promotions team recently debuted a Spanish version of “Tales from Twins Territory” featuring Twins player Tony Oliva. Miguel Ramos, the Emerging Markets Manager for the Minnesota Twins, has been a great resource to the team, working on-site to help with translations and converting the final product with English subtitles.


Photo: Dick Bremer with Twins pitcher Luis Ayala
Video: Tales from Twins Territory Promo with English Subtitles

Kids in the City Event Raises over $100,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs

FOX Sports North and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities hosted the fifth annual Kids in the City Event on April 30 at the Metrodome. Over 500 people attended this year’s event including event emcee and Minnesota Twins Right Fielder Michael Cuddyer.

A major fundraising event for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, the 2009 event raised over $108,000. Over the past five years, the Kids in the City annual event has raised over $540,000 for the organization.
The event showcased the FOX Sports North Youth All-Star Program and celebrated the achievements of Boys & Girls Club members throughout the Twin Cities. Guests enjoyed sport themed pre-game activities, silent auction, celebrity autographs and photos, dinner and live entertainment by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities Performing Arts Troupe.

The FOX Sports North Youth All-Star Program was designed to recognize kids who are going above and beyond in displaying good characteristics at the club. Each month, one boy and girl (ages 8-13) from each of the Twin Cities clubs is chosen by Club leaders as a Fox Sports Youth All-Star. The kids earn this honor by achieving success in five important categories: Character & Leadership Development, Education & Career, The Arts, Health & Life Skills and Sports, Fitness & Recreation.

Thank you to the Minnesota Twins for hosting the event, to all of our team partners who played a role in the event and to the guests and FOX North staff volunteers.

Photos: (top-bottom)
Event Emcee and Minnesota Twins player Michael Cuddyer on stage with some of the FOX Sports North All-Stars (wearing the jerseys of all of our team partners)

TC Bear hangs out with some of the Boys & Girls Club kids

The Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders with some of their biggest fans

A Wild Time with the Twins

The Minnesota Wild recently wrapped up their 2008-09 season. They’re off for most of the summer but will be hitting the road to meet fans and talk about next season during the 2009 Minnesota Wild Road Tour. FOX Sports North wanted to make sure fans heard about the Road Tour so we invited the Minnesota Wild’s Cal Clutterbuck, James Sheppard, Josh Harding and Colton Gillies to a recent Twins game.

The players teamed up with Bert Blyleven and Ron Coomer for the postgame instructional. The topic: How is swinging a baseball bat like swinging a hockey stick? The players even got a few comments from Ron Gardenhire and Justin Morneau. In the end they figured out that a bat and a hockey stick are very different.

For more information about the Wild’s Summer Road Tour visit: http://wild.nhl.com

Photo: (left-right)Minnesota Wild players: Cal Clutterbuck, James Sheppard, Josh Harding & Colton Gillies with Dick Bremer & Bert Blyleven

FOX Sports North & Four Minnesota Professional Sports Teams Partner to Award $25,000 Home Team Scholarship Fund

FOX Sports North, in conjunction with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Twins, Vikings and Wild, recently presented the second annual Home Team Scholarship Fund to the Boys & Girls Clubs State Youth of the Year finalists. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year program recognizes teens for outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. As the Boys & Girls Club highest honor, this year’s Youth of the Year winner is Sahmad Nakumbe, a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities.

The $25,000 Home Team Scholarship Fund was designed to bring together the sports community to positively affect the lives of disadvantaged youth by providing financial support. This is the second year the Minnesota sports community has come together to provide the scholarship to select club kids in helping to achieve their dreams of a college education.

Photo: (back row)2009 Minnesota State Youth of the Year finalists (front row, left to right) Dannon Hulskotter & Bryan Harper, Minnesota Vikings; Ted Johnson, Minnesota Timberwolves; Bryan Donaldson, Minnesota Twins; Brad Bombardir, Minnesota Wild and Mike Dimond, FOX Sports North.


Video: Congratulations 2009 Youth of the Year Finalists Promo

Aquafina Kidcaster is Back

Aquafina Kidcaster is back on FOX Sports North for the 2009 baseball season. Sponsored by Pepsi/Aquafina, this special promotion provides kids ages 8 to 14 the opportunity to interview a Twins player during the FOX Sports North pregame show. Kids can sign up at their local Cub Foods stores, the promotion runs through May 30.

FREEZE FRAME

To View Additonal FOX Sports North Photos, Check Out Our Facebook Page!

Happy Earth Day: Fox Sports North employees “adopt a block” and clean up around the grounds of the Minneapolis office

Vikings fans record their very own sports update at FOX Sports North’s “Be a Sports Anchor Booth” at the 2009 Vikings Draft Party at Winter Park

Robby Incmikoski sits down with Joe Mauer to talk about his return to the Twins after missing the first 22 games of the season

Bert reunites with Ryan Lefebvre and FOX Sports Kansas City's Joel Goldberg on their pre-game show on May 1

Employee Spotlight of the Month: Jean Edhlund

Jean Edhlund (AE Affiliate Sales)

Give us a detailed job description of what you do at FOX Sports North
I work with all of the cable and satellite operators to make sure they not only carry FOX Sports North and FOX Sports Wisconsin, but also provide customer service with regards to schedule questions, renewing contracts, marketing and promotions. I also represent the other Fox Cable Networks including FX, Speed, National Geographic Channel, Fox Movie Channel, Fox Reality Channel, Fox College Sports, Fox Soccer Channel, FUEL TV, Fox Sports en Espanol, and the Big Ten Network.

Where did you attend school?
St. Olaf College (BA) and University of St. Thomas (MBA)

What are some of your interests/hobbies?
I love attending sporting events and spending time with my family, especially my god-daughter, Lucy. I also like golfing and going out and socializing.

Who is/are the most influential people in your life?
My grandparents and my parents.

If I wasn’t doing this job, I would love to…
...run my own event planning business, not weddings or birthdays, but public or corporate events.

Tell us something unique or interesting about yourself.
I am fascinated by politics and government.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?
I would like to be "a fly on the wall" and listen in on interesting conversations.