The ISU athletic department has created a new online magazine to cater to Cyclone fanatics across the country.

CycloneVision, a semiweekly subscription-based online video publication, sent out its first iMag, a video magazine, on Aug. 14.

The medium is intended to give fans an inside look at Cyclone sports.

“It will give people a chance to meet the athletes more than they would through a TV interview or the newspaper,” said Nathan Terry, athletic department sales coordinator.

“We will have inside access to everything [including] locker rooms, and we’ll travel with the team. We’ll show fans what it’s like to travel — what they do from the minute they get off the plane.”

Fans can obtain a free two-week trial subscription by downloading the software at www.cyclonevision.com. Subscriptions start at $6.95 per month with a six-month option for $59.95, or a full-year subscription for $79.99. Terry said the athletic department tried to keep prices competitive with other publications.

“Ohio State charges around $100 for a full year for the same type of service,” he said.

Each edition of CycloneVision will be created through a collaborative effort between the athletic department and B&G Productions, a video contracting company based in Ames.

Since the launch date, more than 1,000 people have downloaded the software, Terry said.

“We know how many alumni love ISU athletics,” he said. “We want to hit the die-hard Cyclones; the people who crave information on Iowa State.”

Subscribers to the magazine can expect to receive updates every Tuesday and Thursday.

“A subscriber downloads the [connection] software from the CycloneVision Web site,” Terry said.

“Then a logo will pop up in the corner of the PC to alert the subscriber that there is a new issue available.”

The software is not currently compatible with Macintosh computers, but B&G Productions associate Jeff Grummer said the athletic department hopes to have a Mac version online soon.

The iMag will cover every varsity sport at Iowa State, Terry said. He said he hopes it will help fans to put a face with the names they read in the newspaper.

“It will help people to get to know who our coaches are, not just the football and basketball coaches that they see on TV,” Terry said.

“We don’t want this to be a football subscription.”

Dick Lee, head coach of the women’s cross country and track and field teams, said he hadn’t learned a lot about CycloneVision yet but that anything that gives more exposure to athletics, especially the Olympic sports, would be a good thing.

“So much of people’s reading and keeping up with athletics is done through the Internet that it seems like a logical step,” Lee said.

“There are so many good things happening,” Terry said.

“This just gives [the fans] another avenue to pursue. What fans want is of the utmost importance.”