The importance of Live Streams

[adamkungl]

With most of the upcoming international matches not being high enough profile for commercial TV to take an interest in, luckily we live in an age where anything can be broadcast live around the world with relative ease through internet streaming.

Unfortunately, as with most things, Rugby League's approach to this has been disorganised at best, completely missing at worst, relying on under-resourced individual nations to scrape things together at the last minute or not at all.
Asking about streams in the weeks before some of the matches has either got no reply at all, or a "We hope so/fingers crossed" type response. To their credit, the recent Hawaii event had a stream, but it was only publicly announced a day or two before. Haven't been able to get anything useful about the upcoming qualifiers or warm-ups, and the last 2 America's Cup games were (as far as I know) not watchable.
American games have been and the past, and even nations as low ranked as Ukraine and Czech Republic have managed to provide a good quality stream in the past.

I think, hand-in-hand with an international calendar from 2018, this has to be a priority for the RLIF going forward. Ensuring international matches are viewable by fans is a vital step in growing the game. Furthermore it could be turned into a much needed revenue stream. I'd buy a season pass (at a fair price for the quality of games and broadcast) to watch international matches if they were locked in advance annually. Sponsors could be enticed.

To me this doesn't seem pie-in-the-sky optimistic. There are obviously costs associated but the ease of doing this is constantly increasing with technology.

Thoughts? Would you buy a modestly priced season pass to watch 2nd-3rd tier international RL?

 

[langpark]

I would certainly pay a decent amount for such a subscription, but sadly, I don't think most supposed league fans would. Especially the 'internet generation' that has now gotten used to getting everything for free.

relying on under-resourced individual nations to scrape things together at the last minute or not at all.

This. This is the reason I do not blame the countries that are playing for this. I know that for many of these matches to even take place, the already exhausted volunteers in those countries are having to put their hands into their own pockets to cover the necessary expenses, so if they cannot afford to set up a live stream, then that's understandable. But ideally, as you said, it would be great if the RLIF could take such an initiative. I too watched that stream from the Ukraine in June and it was nothing short of sensational. This shows that it can be done.

For me it's most disappointing when the likes of Serbia and Ukraine are able to do it, then an established and quite well-resourced nation like Wales never seem to be able to.

Things are slowly getting better though, so let's hope we're getting closer to this becoming a reality. I'd personally like to see a neutral trio of match officials and live streaming become mandatory for any sanctioned Test match.

 

[latingringo101]

You're right, these kind of games should be live streamed.

The only challenge is $$$.

Generally to get a Livestream going is around $2000 and that doesn't include finding commentators, right infrastructure, cable outlets etc.

Plus on top of that you have ground hire, insurance, referees, food & beverages, officials, team management etc which is around $4-$5000.

The RLIF could help, but their main priority is making sure the game takes place in a safe and regulated way.

Well done for the organisations who can make this work, but i think it's a case of trying to find sponsors to break even and set up a connection without breaking the bank.

 

[adamkungl]

I know Latin Heat have done it ($2000 is pricier than I expected, to be honest).
USA and Canada have done it sporadically.
Most surprising was Ukraine! And great quality too.

I think it would be very sad if the WC qualifiers are invisible. These are important games.

 

[deal.with.it]

Again, the only way to move forward is:

1) RLIF accepted into Sports accord
2) Each nation is accepted as a sport by their country's government/ministry of sport
3) Each nation applies for government funding for the provision of sport, helping underprivileged youth, etc.
4) Each nation can develop the sport further by employing staff
5) Said staff can now develop the sport, generate sponsor income, apply for further funding
6) The sport continues to grow

 

[langpark]

Again, the only way to move forward is:

1) RLIF accepted into Sports accord
2) Each nation is accepted as a sport by their country's government/ministry of sport
3) Each nation applies for government funding for the provision of sport, helping underprivileged youth, etc.
4) Each nation can develop the sport further by employing staff
5) Said staff can now develop the sport, generate sponsor income, apply for further funding
6) The sport continues to grow

All are important, but if #4 could ever happen, that would be huge. The rapid spread of the game over the last decade has largely been done by passionate volunteers who have done it whilst juggling jobs, studies and/or family commitments. If there could ever be dedicated full-time staff, then that would be enormous and surely spark even further growth.

 

[adamkungl]

Looks like nothing for Ireland v Italy

 

[langpark]

Looks like nothing for Ireland v Italy

Yeah it's a shame too, because it's definitely being filmed, and this page has been putting up preview videos and interviews all day today: https://www.facebook.com/mastrocacho/?fref=ts

So it's a shame it won't be streamed. Oh well.

By the way, back to your original post, I wouldn't say live stream is actually important for development at all. All it means is fanatics at home like you and me get to watch. But these streams often struggle to even attract 100 viewers. So, considering the cost, I'd rather see that money invested elsewhere, as much as I would like to watch these games.

 

[spinnerhowland]

I have often thought of investing in a decent camera and laptop, and traveling to games in the future to Live Stream ones that a lot of people have an interest in. We are working on a USARL North vs. South game in Tampa on Oct 22, and have confirmed the venue has the ability to give us enough upload bandwidth. Looking into cost of a good production package for it now.

 

[Evil Homer]

The issue is that livesteams can be costly are unlikely to be of benefit to anyone apart from people who are already interested, i.e. us on this forum and pretty much nobody else. As someone said earlier, even the majority of RL fans wouldn't care, I've posted links to livesteamed matches in various places and they are generally met by apathy. Which is understandable really given that the vast majority of people are not as interested in international development as us, and that the standard is almost always lower than a local park match so there really is no reason for average fans to watch from either perspective. The issue is creating content that people can actually invest in and want to watch. Legit professional TV coverage is different because it's something that you can casually sit down and watch, and people who enjoy the game would be much more likely to do so than seeking out and watching some patchy online stream of extremely niche content.

 

[siv]

You're right, these kind of games should be live streamed.

The only challenge is $$$.

Generally to get a Livestream going is around $2000 and that doesn't include finding commentators, right infrastructure, cable outlets etc.

Plus on top of that you have ground hire, insurance, referees, food & beverages, officials, team management etc which is around $4-$5000.

The RLIF could help, but their main priority is making sure the game takes place in a safe and regulated way.

Well done for the organisations who can make this work, but i think it's a case of trying to find sponsors to break even and set up a connection without breaking the bank.

Worst case should be a simple digital video camera setup record and uploaded on a youtube or with a RLIF website link - costs nothing

 

[siv]

My main gripe with live streams - is that I dont want to wake up at 2am to watch them

Rather be able to watch at my leisure the following morning

And of course quality is a issue when it becomes popular

 

[adamkungl]

All good points. Definitely know what you mean about most fans being apathetic.

Still, i think there are big benefits to more visibility - especially for WC qualifiers.

A few hundred people watching from home to see if Italy or Serbia qualify (plus the few interested Aussies and Poms) is a worthwhile activity.