Kids' Sports Entertainment Network The Whistle Named "One of the Most Revolutionary, Market-Ready Start-Ups"

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - March 05, 2013) - The Whistle's efforts to deliver compelling and appropriate sports and entertainment content to kids and families across multiple media platforms has earned the company a coveted spot at the upcoming NAB Show, including its new feature "SPROCKIT - Gearing Startups for Glory."

SPROCKIT judges selected The Whistle as one of ten "revolutionary" market-ready start-ups that will be featured center stage at the NAB Show. Billed as the world's largest media and entertainment event, NAB Show will include over 90,000 attendees and 1,600 exhibitors from more than 150 countries from April 6-11 in Las Vegas.

"With our partners we've identified your company as one of the most promising, potentially game-changing startups in this industry," wrote Gordon H. Smith, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters and Harry M. Glazer, Founder and CEO of the World Series of Start-Ups LLC in their invitation to The Whistle.

SPROCKIT selects only the "most revolutionary market-ready startups" and will connect The Whistle "directly to decision makers, industry visionaries, global media and potential funders," the two wrote.

"We are honored by the selection and excited by the opportunity for The Whistle to be part of the NAB Show in this unique way," said Whistle Founder and Chairman John West.

The Whistle is the first sports network and community that's authentic to kids and their families while avoiding the scandals, steroids, adult-themes and adult-focused advertisements that make up so much of existing sports coverage.

Its owners and investors include sports heroes such as Derek Jeter, Peyton Manning, Mia Hamm and Tim Wakefield; media pioneers including former Nickelodeon President Gerry Laybourne, MLB Baseball President Bob DuPuy and Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman; and partners like the NFL, PGA Tour and US Soccer.

With the goal of entertaining, inspiring and equipping the next generation of fans and their families, The Whistle had its pre-launch last October across five platforms (including NBC Sports Network), which introduced The Whistle's mix of pro sports, curated content, fitness & nutrition, sports science & math, games and insider access to professional athletes. The company plans a larger national launch this spring.

The company's leadership team includes founder West, a successful entrepreneur who has started, grown and sold two companies; co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Urban, a former SVP of Sports Marketing at Gatorade; Brian Diamond, a former SVP of Production at Spike TV and MTV; Scott Roback, a former business development executive at Yahoo! and Zumbox; and Brian Selander, a former adviser to Governors and Senators.

SPROCKIT's participating companies were selected by a team that includes the Angel Capital Association, Dell Founders Club, NAB Show, National Venture Capital Association, Startup America Partnership, The Paley Center and Springboard Enterprises. Each company selected "represents the next level of media and entertainment, offering products and services that promise to enrich our industry across the Content Lifecycle -- from creation through consumption."

For more information on the NAB Show and SPROCKIT, visit www.nabshow.com.

Follow The Whistle at www.thewhistle.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thewhistlesports, and @thewhistle.