• November 15, 2011

Amplify Social, a new social-focused digital marketing technology company that has quietly been incubated by San Francisco-based digital agency Catalyst S+F, this morning unveiled “The Virtual Fan Network,” a rich media content network using athletes to tap their fan base on behalf of brands. AS describes the network as a “short-term, CPM-based, media campaign” model, and said it launches with more than 300 active athletes including MLB’s Tim Lincecum, the NFL's Marcedes Lewis, Mike Wallace, Michael Turner, and Brett Favre. Additional athletes include Shannon Boxx, of the Women’s US Olympic Soccer Team, and Freestyle Skiers Simon Dumont and Sarah Burke.

“Our model allows athletes and fans to engage remotely, wherever they may be in digital media, and brands benefit from that integration,” says Cory Treffiletti, a co-founder of Catalyst S+F, who has also taken on the role of CMO of AS. “Brands win with a solution that integrates them into the passion of sports, while driving high levels of engagement with consumers and fans. Fans win because they are able to connect with their favorite athletes across any number of sports. Athletes get more of a local, national and international digital marketing presence and a new source of revenue from the world market. Everybody wins.”