FIRST on TV

[Kit Gerhart]

Originally posted by D.J. Fluck
You are absolutely right, but each network focuses toward a different age group with ABC focusing to the more general audience. Disney obviously focuses toward the wee ones and ESPN focuses toward the sports fans of any age.

Lets modify this thread and take it another direction:

Which type of network would FIRST fit with best?

1. The general basic channel that focuses on all age groups?

2. The channel that focuses on the young audience?

3. The channel that focuses on the sports enthusiast?

4. other

Very early in this thread, I remember it being mentioned that PBS would be a good medium for stuff about FIRST. I think that still applies. They definitely cater to people of all ages, though they are not heavily into "sports" in the normal sense.

Where PBS tends to be different from all commercial media outlets, is that they don't worry about every show being something that will appeal to millions in order to make money. If they did need a mass market for every show, they wouldn't have shows on, say, competitive ballroom dancing, which I suspect would have a fairly small following. Individual PBS stations should be quite receptive to airing shows on FIRST, especially if the show was produced by someone else, like FIRST itself. Most of the stations are very willing to air non-controversial productions which they don't have to pay money for.

[gsensel]

PBS does sound like it would be good. Of the ones in the poll ABC because it has shows that would work to show FIRST like the Wide world or Sports. Also in the new modification
1. The general basic channel that focuses on all age groups?
Would be the best.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

What you really want to do is get an audience that cries for more. You are more likely to get that with an ESPN special or Discovery maybe even History channel. But I will tell you right now, they want it for free or as close as they can get it. We (as an international group) must get better attendance at events. We have to beat the bushes and get as many people as possible to competitions. Networks view us as special interest groups so we must compete with dog shows, outdoors shows, antique shows, etc., just to get an audience. Once you have an audience you still must get sponsors who see a value in the audience demographics that you attract.
I see a huge potential in the regional events and post season being able to attract more non-FIRST fans. It may mean that these events would have side attractions to get more audience. Things like a parts flea market (aka Ham fest, computer show) or a showplace for non competition robots or science fair. Ultimately, a sponsor could be attracted to the crowds who attend the competition. Think what it would have been like if we had filled the Reliant Center to the rafters.

[IMDWalrus]

Personally, I think that TechTV would be a great carrier for televised FIRST events. Look at what else they show - TechnoGames and Robot Wars are somewhat like FIRST, and they have covered FIRST before on their news show (TechLive). The only problem is that the channel isn't wide reaching yet. Still, it's a great fit.

[Jeff_Rice]

Techtv not wide reaching? Haven't you heard of the Screen Savers effect? Whenever they show a site on the Screen Savers it is almost like a DNS attack.

[generalbrando]

Disney=Bill Nye (Bill Nye the Science Guy is a Disney/ABC Show)
Bill Nye=Battle Bots
Battle Bots=Evil Evil Evil (Don't make Dean cry!)

And since they've all been clearly linked together except NASA TV, maybe that's the way to go. Although, I have to admit, I've never watched NASA TV! (how do you get that anyway?)

Originally posted by IMDWalrus
Personally, I think that TechTV would be a great carrier for televised FIRST events. Look at what else they show - TechnoGames and Robot Wars are somewhat like FIRST, and they have covered FIRST before on their news show (TechLive). The only problem is that the channel isn't wide reaching yet. Still, it's a great fit.

Right now this channel is only available on Digital Cable or Satellite companies (for the most part) and many people don't even have that. Until Tech TV grows, it wont be suitable for getting FIRST message out to the public

[kmcclary]

Originally posted by generalbrando
I have to admit, I've never watched NASA TV! (how do you get that anyway?)

For more information on NASA TV, go here:
- http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

You can get schedules there. If you don't have cable, you can always download RealPlayer and watch it via the web.

- Keith