**FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

"Greetings Canadian Teams:

We're happy to inform you that Discovery Channel Canada will be broadcasting the Greater Toronto Regional competition LIVE online on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31!

Can't make it to the competition? Want a recap on the seeding matches? By visiting www.discoverychannel.ca/FIRST, you will be able to watch the play-by-play as if you were there. There is also an online forum where you will be able to post your remarks and communicate with other fans.

Go to www.discoverychannel.ca/FIRST and join the action.

Go Teams!"

Wow... This is going to be awesome, the (Canadian) Discovery Channel is totally covering the event. I don't have any details about this, just saw the email, but I heard from Steve this weekend that they are going to be running the webcast.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Is it just going to be a big show webcast or actual on TV? I'll be watching no matter what, sweet! god job guys up north.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

This is excellent. Since I cannot travel with 269 this is a dream come true. Awesome!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

"SORRY! You can't play the CTV Broadband Channel videos in your country.

Find Discovery Channel in your country:"


Will this be a problem for us USA people?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

haha, i'll contact the regional director and see if this will be a problem. I am sure we can get an international feed.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

who involved the Discovery Channel with this in Canada, maybe if a bunch of us in the US get together, we can get some of the big regionals (UTC, Florida, VCU ect.) on the US network too... like what else are they going to show....animal documentaries...

Lets make it a goal for us US teams to get some regionals on the Discovery Channel US. (or one of their branches, The Learning Channel, or The Science Channel.)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

This is so cool. At The Blue Alliance we did coverage of the UTC New England Regional, talking to special guests and teams about their manipulators and recapping strategy. However, we're not the Discovery Channel, and I am sure they are going to do an amazing job covering the GTR Regional!

This is really exciting.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Don't forget to make sure all the other Toronto media are well aware of this year's GTR regional, Toronto sun, star, Globe, National post, Missisauga news, CBC, GLOBAL NEWS:), CityTV, send out info now to the "ASSIGNMENT DESKS" AND then again on Thursday and why not hit em agin Friday morning?! Depending on the news day you could get some good coverage and I hope you do.

I am not 100 percent sure I will be there, I would like to but I have no idea what I'll be assigned to, of course if anyone (team or FIRST) needs the services of an extra cameraguy with a Sony DSR-570 (dvcam) feel free to contact me, like I say I have no idea what Friday hold in store for me at this point, all I know is things have been way to busy lately and an 8th and 9th day have still not been added to the week :) and now some computer problems have led to the mysterious accumulation of over 25 empty diet coke cans on my desk..........

mark
stormcentre@rogers.blackberry.ent

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

and of course, the event will be achieved and put on SOAP108

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I went to a meeting with Karen Rosenthal, FIRST Regional Director of Canada, and Discovery Channel earlier today and brought up this issue. Due to business matters, online CTV videos are typically only available to viewers within Canada, but the Discovery Channel's webcast of the Greater Toronto Regional will be an exception to this. Everybody around the world will be able to enjoy the coverage.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

That is fantastic news! Now I won't need to dig around for a Canadian proxy...

I am extremely excited to watch this coverage. I want to see how a professional company that understands science and technology handles spreading the word about FIRST. There are so many interesting angles, I can't wait to see what they do!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

It will also be web cast with a NASA link. Discovery Channel will also be streaming to NASA if my info is correct.

I believe that Breakfast Television will be doing something Friday Morning. I dropped off some footage of the Waterloo regional today for the Producer and I believe that there will be some students at the studio.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

This sounds pretty cool. I'm curious will this be like watching the other web casts where it is basically the FIRST feed w/FIRST MCs, announcers, etc. OR will Discovery's people be covering it themselves.

Curious,

Justin

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

They will be using their own cameras.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

From the sounds of it, it's going to be like watching a professional sporting event. During matches you'll still be hearing the MC and the Game Announcer, but between matches Discovery will be conducting interviews, and showing footage from the pits. It should be a really neat production.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Wow! sounds really cool, will they be running it also on thursday and friday?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Except that at GTR there isn't really much time between matches......But I do think the pit action will be pretty cool!

-John

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I believe GTR is only 1 field this year, so there will the some time in between matches to go to the pits and stuff. Plus they will probably have multiple cameras so they can just switch back and forth

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I heard it was two fields again this year. Which is sweet for us, being new to this regional. I'm so pumped for this! and Discovery is hosting a webcast!? that's awesome! Get it hosted onto TV? That's a heck of a lot of publicity! way to go whoever organized this!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

This sounds awesome!
It is exactly what The Blue Alliance wanted to do for the UTC Regional. Of course, the resources available would not allow it. But a valiant effort was made. Check out the episode they made, it won't be as good as what Discovery puts out, but it is decent.
I can't wait to watch it this weekend.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I am so pumped for this. I've been waiting for FIRST to make a return to the Discovery channel since the 2003 coverage.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Wow, my first GTR is getting better and better everyday! Can't wait til this weekend! :D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I cant wait! I will be watching it :D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Awww.. nothing on Thursday?? I guess I'll have to stay in touch with the competition and competitors today by phone/text messages. lol

Oh wells.. Hopefully tomorrow the link will be up, and I'll be able to watch some while at work.

<crosses fingers>

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I went to the Discovery Channel today and it still said that the US people couldnt view the video. Does anyone know if it will change during competition? And steve the NASA broadcast site directs users back to the discovery channel site. Does anyone have any new info on this? My team is there and I'd like to see them. Thanks

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I will check with Discovery as soon as they come in. I will update you as soon as possible. First I have to go and eat some of that great Canadian Bacon and have some pancakes with fresh Maple Syrup. :p

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I have just spoken to my contact at Discovery Channel. Even if the site says that it is not available outside of Canada, it will be available. They will also be giving me a link if people are having problems. More to come

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

As of 8:08am in Warren, Ohio, The site is still blocked. I don't want to be a pain so go get that Canadian bacon and pancakes and get back to me. I wish I was in Canada to join you for breakfast. It sounds delicious

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

The link that I have been given is:

http://www.discoverychannel.ca/FIRST

Link should be available after 9

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Just a question. Is anyone going to be recording the feed from Discovery. I won't get to seem much of it, but I'm very interested in the unique coverage they will be giving this weekend. I want to see how that handle it all.

Someone try out the 3D camera and post about it after a little while too. It's sounds really cool.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

The link is up and working. Thanks Steve
Greater Toronto Regional Webcast Link (You must use Internet Explorer and have Windows Media Player)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Am i the only one seeing a video about a lunar eclipse?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

http://www.ctvdigital.com/discovery/first/first.asx

Direct link to content.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Webcast is really good quality. I like the videos that are shown in between matches that go and show the teams building. Right now they are showing 1547 at work. Interviews show a different view to what you would normally see on a webcast

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Anyone else getting that error?

:(

Been getting that since 9am. All I can see is a pontiac commercial and then that comes up.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

It was working fine, then you posted this and I got the error. Don't know whats up.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Grrrreeat... I broke it.. Oops.. my bad! :o

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Working again now.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

This is definitely interesting, but definitely not too exciting. Overall, it is unimpressive.
I really think if they had someone who knows/knew about FIRST and the teams in more depth, it would be incredible. Needless to say, it was still a step in the right direction in getting FIRST more publicity.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

I am sure Discovery has never done this sort of live coverage from such a dynamic event. Live covering a trade show is a lot different than a robotics competition, or some event that they are running and in direct control over. I suspect that today they are still getting their bearings, and tomorrow we will see even higher quality content during the eliminations. Between highlight reels, "So your robot broke in the last match, what are you doing to fix it?" and other things like this, we ought to get very exciting coverage.

Now if only a major network would make a special about nationals for Primetime TV...

[EDIT] The host isn't wearing her safeties!!! They're not forehead protectors you know! [/EDIT]

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Greater Toronto Regional Live Coverage
 

Can't wait till tomorrow morning. I seem to be network pwnd here at work and can't view all the excitement of GTR today. :(

Thank goodness for text message updates and informative threads on CD. lol Sort of. :)