CSA & Sportsnet plans for live streaming video of game in St Kitts?

[Guest Dave]

The last minute audio coverage from St Lucia last month was great, and very much appreciated. Apparently, given more lead time to set things up, it may have been possible to have a live video stream as well. There's a week to go before the game in St Kitts. Anyone hear anything about audio or hopefully video streaming arrangements by CSA / Sportsnet? (no expectations of "broadcast" quality, I'm sure everyone here would be happy with "family vacation handheld" video quality :-)

[tyler453]

The last minute audio coverage from St Lucia last month was great, and very much appreciated. Apparently, given more lead time to set things up, it may have been possible to have a live video stream as well. There's a week to go before the game in St Kitts. Anyone hear anything about audio or hopefully video streaming arrangements by CSA / Sportsnet? (no expectations of "broadcast" quality, I'm sure everyone here would be happy with "family vacation handheld" video quality :-)

I'm pretty sure there just simply was not enough bandwidth for a live video stream to be secured in St. Lucia due to the stadium and location. As for Saint Kitts, it's possible that we may have to deal with another audio stream but I'm sure the CSA is working hard to secure a video stream.

[squizz1402635577]

It won't be on Sportsnet TV, though they are sending John Molinaro down to cover it.

[Guest Dave]

I saw something on twitter from one of the guys at CSA or SN who set up the audio from St Lucia indicating that video might have been do-able given a day or so more lead time. This was just prior to the audio stream, I just wish i could remember who 'tweeted' it.

IIRC, the available bandwidth turned out to be better than we had been led to believe by the locals beforehand.

I'm hoping that this time around we might pull it off with a bit more lead time.

[The Ref]

How much bandwidth does a webcam requires over the internet?

[Guest Dave]

lol - not much. That's the thing. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. I don't need fancy camera work etc. If someone set up a stationary camera with a view of the entire field, and streamed video through that, along with audio similar to last time in St Lucia, I'd be happier than if I'd won an all expense dinner at Phillip's Bakery.

[Tuscan]

Apparently, given more lead time to set things up, it may have been possible to have a live video stream as well.

I don't remember Max speaking to this. If it is so then I'd be delighted. From what I remember, there just wasn't the infrastructure at the stadium to put on a video stream. I'd be happy with the audio stream once again but if they can do video, we'll all owe them big.

[Toronto MB]

Hi All,

Seems like a good time for me to chime in with the latest.

Here's what we know:

- Sportsnet are hard-at-work working with 'Lime' the telecoms company down there to get a 'broadband' line installed in the stadium

- Based on reports at this time, we believe that the stadium in St. Kitts is in even worse shape than the one in St. Lucia in terms of being able to support this kind of line

- Sportsnet are sending a camera man, as well as Gerry Dobson and John Molinaro. If the line is capable of supporting a video stream, they will do so and they will also call the game

- If they don't feel that the line can support a video stream, Gavin and I would step in again to do an audio broadcast

- Failing that, we will be restricted to tweeting off of our blackberries and mobile phones...

Just as an FYI: the reason we opted for audio last time was simply because it was the only service we could provide without worrying about things cutting in and out.

As you guys know, even in high-quality broadband areas you can still have trouble with Skype, live streams and other streaming video. When you are working down there with patchy internet infrastructure across the board, you need quite a high quality line for something reliable.

Will keep you guys in the loop as we learn more. We will likely pay our first visit to the stadium in Thursday.

Cheers,

MB

[Tuscan]

Awesome. Thanks for the update Max. Here's to hoping everything works out with Lime. Put a broadband connection in the stadium and drink it all up.

[Grizzly]

Sportsnet has gotten a lot of criticism here in the past, often justifiably, about lack of effort in broadcasting matches. I have to give them a lot of credit though for the amount of effort they are making in trying to get some sort of broadcast of this game. I doubt they will come anywhere near recouping their expenses for this so I appreciate the effort.

[ThiKu]

+1! Thanks for the effort SN!

[Guest Dave]

FWIW i'll happily pay a reasonable fee for access to a streamed video. Of course it won't make a dent in SN's expenses on this, but on principle I'd be happy to pay.

On the other hand, the goodwill among Canadian supporters that SN and the CSA get from this is worth much more in the long term.

[Lord Bob]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the CSA cover Sportsnet's costs in covering the match at Puerto Rico?

[GoalieGrey]

Everyone working hard to set up a possible video feed deserves major props, well done all! Audio would be fine, but even live tweeting works! Friday's game is the first step on the road to Brazil, so it'll be great to know the results as they happen!

[ThiKu]

^It'll actually be the FIFTH step toward Brazil 2014, but ok....

[prizby]

the one's that should be getting the biggest stick of all is concacaf...i thought there was a policy that all WCQ had to be broadcasted...UEFA, I know there is; seen Faroe Islands (home game) on TSN or sportsnet or setanta or goal or fox soccer or somewhere before

[Blackdude]

the one's that should be getting the biggest stick of all is concacaf...i thought there was a policy that all WCQ had to be broadcasted...UEFA, I know there is; seen Faroe Islands (home game) on TSN or sportsnet or setanta or goal or fox soccer or somewhere before

They must all be taped so we have video evidence that the match happened. But it's not mandatory to broadcast it live.

[Kusch to the Corner]

Sportsnet has gotten a lot of criticism here in the past, often justifiably, about lack of effort in broadcasting matches. I have to give them a lot of credit though for the amount of effort they are making in trying to get some sort of broadcast of this game. I doubt they will come anywhere near recouping their expenses for this so I appreciate the effort.

+2 This isn't what I've come to expect from Sportsnet, but I'm pleasantly surprised.

[gator]

I was told that Sportsnet announced Saturday that this match would be live on the main network, this is contrary to the posts on here from Squizz and Max, did anyone hear that?

[tyler453]

I was told that Sportsnet announced Saturday that this match would be live on the main network, this is contrary to the posts on here from Squizz and Max, did anyone hear that?

I don't see any news on Sportsnet.ca about this.

Also checked the TV schedule on their site and OHL hockey along with premier league world and hockeycentral were the programs scheduled in the 6-9 time frame under all sportsnet channels.

[JamboAl]

I was told that Sportsnet announced Saturday that this match would be live on the main network, this is contrary to the posts on here from Squizz and Max, did anyone hear that?

I didn't see the announcement but they may have been talking about next Tuesday's home game being on SN. I've heard on a number of occasions that they aren't able to broadcast the game this Friday.

[tyler453]

I didn't see the announcement but they may have been talking about next Tuesday's home game being on SN. I've heard on a number of occasions that they aren't able to broadcast the game this Friday.

This. The initial announcement from sportsnet were that all 3 home games and the one in PR were going to be broadcast on SN1. Maybe nothing else is in the program slot on their main channels for November 15th, so this game may get in there.

It's a possibility, but who knows.

[dhawk11]

If they want to help grow the game in Canada and help build support for the team, then they should have the games broadcast, this seems pretty lame that we have to search high and low just to find some sort of feed for the game. Come on SN get your crew down there and set it up...........

[Sir Alphonso Applegate]

If they want to help grow the game in Canada and help build support for the team, then they should have the games broadcast, this seems pretty lame that we have to search high and low just to find some sort of feed for the game. Come on SN get your crew down there and set it up...........

If only it were that easy. Maybe I'm misinformed but the main problem for the St. Lucia and now St. Kitts away games is that the stadium isn't equipped for this type of broadcast. Somebody has to pay to get that all setup, and as nice as it would be for SN to cover those costs, why would they pay to install whatever is needed in a St. Kittian (?) stadium? I think there was even an issue about the PR away game, but that stadium was better equipped and SN and the CSA split the costs for that broadcast if I'm not mistaken.

[Sir Alphonso Applegate]

Sorry, just re-read Max's post from page 1. It's bandwidth that is the issue. Like Grizzly pointed out though, SN has deserved criticism for their coverage in the past, but I think they deserve some credit for the efforts they are using to attempt to have a live stream.