FlexSport On Demand is a webservice application, which means that documents are requested much like you retrieve a web page in a browser. You access our database of statistical documents using detailed URLs and then you store the returned documents on your own servers.

Here's a basic summary of the process.

Where it starts

Our database stores stat documents created by our premier content supplier, The Sports Network, which provides outstanding coverage of all major U.S. sports and excellent coverage of many international sports.

Our data formats

We deliver our sports data in an XML format called SportsML.

SportsML is the only international standard designed for scores, standings, schedules and statistics designed to accommodate every sport, country and language. For more information on SportsML, visit our Why XML? page or SportsML.com.

Many of our documents are also available in an HTML format.

The process

Using a custom URL, you can search for documents and retrieve the ones you want. This is usually done by a webservice application on your server or computer. We do not provide this software — all clients have different needs — but the mechanics are not difficult for an experienced programmer. If your content needs are truly limited, you can also retrieve these documents manually using a web interface we provide.

Searching for documents

Your custom URL asks for a list of documents that were sent over a period of time you specify and matching other criteria: sport, document type, team, etc. The listing that is returned is free. This listing can be returned in several formats: SportsML, RSS and HTML. These listings detail the document title, the document ID and the time the document became available.

Retrieving documents

Another custom URL asks for a specific document ID that was contained in your search. Your webservice application stores the returned document on your server or computer. If you are retrieving files manually, you would view and save it using a browser or an RSS reader.

How you are charged

Your account is charged after downloading or viewing a document. Here are a few key details about pricing:

• SportsML and HTML versions of each document are charged separately.
• You are charged each time you download or view a document. (This protects us from clients sharing their account with others.)
• Revisions of documents sent within 24 hours of the original document are free. Sometimes news stories and boxscores, for example, get updated or corrected.
• Some types of documents update more than once a day: odds, scores, etc. We charge a flat daily price for these documents.

Read more about pricing.