Thread: What does FIRST need to be on TV?
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Unread 24-06-2002, 03:59
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#0047 (ChiefDelphi)
  
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Re: It may be the sponsorships by corporations
Posted by Wayne Cokeley at 04/30/2001 7:49 PM EST


Coach on team #25, Raider Robotix, from North Brunswick Twp. H.S. and Bristol-Myers Squibb.


In Reply to: It may be the sponsorships by corporations
Posted by Andy Baker on 04/30/2001 12:42 AM EST:



: Just a guess here, but I think that the TV producers and stations do not like the fact that companies that sponsor FIRST teams would get "air time".

: Remember back when ESPN would cover the FIRST competition?

: The last year that they did this was 1998. Our team was chomping at the bit to see it on ESPN, since we won Nationals. Our team leader would call FIRST every month or so, and they would give him an update about what was going on. Here's how I remember it:

: Initially, ESPN made a 30 minute show that EDITED OUT ALL CORPORATE LOGOS.

: FIRST responded by saying (again, my opinion here) "if you're going to do that, just forget about it!"

: ESPN responded by doing a 30 minute show that showed some logos and stuff, but it aired in late August or early Sept. This was almost 5 months after Nationals!

: And... who has never covered FIRST since? ESPN. ESPN is owned by ABC, which is owned by Disney. Go figure. You would think that Disney would be able to get ESPN to cover us. FIRST and ESPN must really not like each other.

: I dunno... I think that the corporate sponsorships do scare some TV shows from putting us on. But then again, look at NASCAR. Go figure.

: Andy B.


Interesting observations Andy- Did you ever notice that nowhere in the Disney website or any of their advertising do they ever mention the FIRST competition? I looked for it all of last year and could never find that FIRST even exists anywhere in the Disney postings. Not even on their events bulletin boards.
I doubt if they really have that much interest in FIRST other than as a client to rent the facility. At least a commitment isn't evident in their publicity. If they really were on the band wagon with FIRST to help kids, their publicity would reflect more of it. They could reach millions of kids if they really wanted to....
WC


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