AOL’s new original docu-series My Ink, produced in partnership with Mandalay Sports Media and executive produced by award-winning producer Mike Tollin, launched today and features celebrity athletes across major professional sports sharing their personal stories behind their tattoos.
In each episode, a different featured athlete gives viewers an intimate look at their lives and their body art revealing a personal side rarely seen before. Audiences will follow each athlete as they visit with their favorite tattoo artist, experiencing first-hand the process they go through in selecting their next piece of ink and witnessing them get it tattooed then & there.
The first 6 episodes of the 12 part series are available now at www.MyInkSeries.com and include Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl Champion running back Ray Rice, iconic skateboarding prodigy Ryan Sheckler, electrifying NY Knicks shooting guard JR Smith, WNBA dunking phenom Brittney Griner, bone crushing UFC fighter Benson Henderson and NASCAR pit crew CrossFit superstar Christmas Abbott. Future episodes will feature Philadelphia Phillies clutch closer Jonathan Papelbon, outspoken Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson, and Gold medalist pro soccer player Sydney Leroux. With the addition of My Ink, AOL continues to significantly bolster its premium sports video offerings, highlighted by its premium video syndication agreement with ESPN, successfully launched on 10/13/13, and its first original sports series FLAT OUT, released in mid-September.
The partnership with ESPN allows AOL to feature the majority of ESPN’s video, including news, highlights and analysis across AOL’s owned & operated and partner sites. This includes the show pages for My Ink and Flat Out, which will feature relevant ESPN videos tied to the series and series talent.
AOL’s first original sports series Flat Out (www.FlatOutDK.com), produced in partnership with NASCAR Productions and Vuguru, is a 10 episode reality series following 18-year-old, 2013 K&N Pro Series East champion, Dylan Kwasniewski, as he balances family, friends and newfound celebrity on and off the track. The series had a successful batch launch on September 17th, garnering more than one million total views to date.
“All-star athletes have compelling stories to share, whether it’s about their sport or the tattoos beneath their jersey. My Ink captures these personal stories, letting fans get to know their favorite sports figures on an intimate and uniquely aesthetic level.” Said Gabe Lewis, Head of AOL Studios.
“’My Ink’ offers the rare opportunity for intimate and revealing portraits of our favorite athletes. We think this is great storytelling and a chance to see these performers like you’ve never seen them before,” said Mike Tollin, Co-Chairman of Mandalay Sports Media.
