Athletics administrators and College Sports Television have joined together to bring students online video broadcasts of TCU sports events for free in the 2006-2007 academic year.Scott Kull, associate athletics director for external operations, said the streaming video, which will be archived on gofrogs.com, makes games more accessible to students and alumni who wish to stay up-to-date with TCU athletics.
“We have started doing live video and audio for volleyball games this season,” Kull said, “and we are going to broadcast the TCU-UC Davis game this weekend.”
The project, which will also provide audio game coverage online for fans who may be out of broadcast range, is part of the CSTV All-Access program.
Rice University, Texas Tech University, Texas State University and Southern Methodist University are also part of the CSTV All-Access program, according to CSTV.com.
Tony Fleming, a TCU network engineer who is taking care of technical support for the online video, said one problem facing the video feeds are delays between the filming and the time it takes to send the information back out to the public, Fleming said.
Other changes Kull may implement include using broadcast talent in the videos.
He said he may consider using student broadcasters from KTCU 88.7 FM The Choice to cover future sporting events.
Russell Scott, KTCU station manager, said he spoke with Kull about some broadcast possibilities before the semester began. He said that the videos could present valuable opportunities to those who want to be a part of a sports broadcast experience.
“The streaming events open up a real asset to the university,” Scott said.
In addition to volleyball and football coverage, soccer games will be broadcasted using live commentary that can be heard both online and through KTCU, said Ryan Schulz, coordinator of athletics media relations.
Schulz said the play-by-play commentary will come from RJ Choppy with 103.3 FM ESPN Radio and color commentary will come from former TCU soccer player Jackie Rodriguez. The broadcasts will use former Dallas Burn sideline reporter Kelly Webster for a couple of games, he said.
Jess Price, a media producer in the Center for Instructional Services, said podcasting the sporting events will be possible after they are archived and on file.
“If athletics asked me to take the UC Davis game and put it on podcasts, I could have it done by Monday,” Price said.
Price said the podcasts could be edited to show only the action, not the penalties and delays, making a three-hour game take about 45 minutes.
