FIRST on TV

[Carolyn Duncan]

Originally posted by D.J. Fluck


The reason ESPN, ABC, and Disney Channel were the choices is because all three of them are all together in one company....

The thing about that is if one doesn't want to cover the others won't. That was the reason for my mentioing the other stations.

[LIRudie]

we do realize that disney operates 3 of those 4 channels right?

personally i'd be glad to see the competition broadcast on any channel, hasnt it been a few years since it has been? being on the news is great, but id like to see coverage like espn2's in '94

[Kit Gerhart]

I voted for ABC for the simple reason that virtually everyone in the US and many in Canada can receive it. You don't need any of these 'optional at $40/month extra cost' services like cable or satellite dish to receive ABC.

It turns out that ESPN used to broadcast Nationals but has apparently lost interest. They had an hour broadcast in '96 to '98 and maybe some earlier years, but for whatever reason, these broadcasts stopped. The broadcasts were aired months after the competition, but it was really cool to see them if you were there. I suspect that maybe most of those who watched it were people who were there, which severely limits the audience size.

[MOE]

I think that the best station would be ABC. It is a free station available to all. If we had a choice, a PBS station would be another good choice too. But we do not, so I guess any station is good.



TEAM 88 MOE

[kmcclary]

I agree with Moe. *DEFINITELY* ABC, if not a PBS channel (which surprisingly was not offered as an option).

Curiously, ABC was the ONLY open broadcast channel given in the survey. The rest are cable channels.

Showing the competitions on a broadcast station would give FIRST by far the widest potential exposure.

People are commenting on which cable channel more of <this> demographic watches. It's easy to forget a LOT of people still do not HAVE cable or satellite TV due to lack of availability, housing or community zoning rules against dishes, or the outrageous cost many monopoly providers charge. Many can't receive anything BUT broadcast TV.

For instance, *I* don't have either cable or a dish here. I only receive broadcast TV, but would definitely watch a FIRST competition if offered "on the REAL air".

It doesn't matter to me which broadcast station airs it, but ABC was the only survey choice. I would think PBS would be a natural match if the Disney empire doesn't want dibs on it.

- Keith
--
Keith McClary, Advisor
Ann Arbor MI Huron High Team 830 "Rat Pack"

[Joe Matt]

The reason why all the channels that were listed were Disney woned because the Nat's happen AT Disney World! Duh! In no mind would anyother competeing station air something that is Disney, especially if you can get it on for little cost on ABC (their in a slump right now...). ESPN would be good, but ABC is more realistic and has a wider audience.

[kmcclary]

JosephM from Team 384 wrote:
> The reason why all the channels that were listed were Disney [owned is] because the Nat's happen AT Disney World! Duh!

<chuckle> Yea, I knew that! That's why I said "they'd have first FIRST dibs..." <grin>

However, if they DON'T want to broadcast it for SOME odd reason (gee, for the life of me I can't imagine why NOT after everything they spend putting us up in their facility), I still think PBS would be a natural.

IIRC, I thought PBS ran a mention of FIRST at least once before on something like Newton's Apple, Sci Am Frontiers, or the like, but I'm not sure. Anyone know about that?

BTW... Is FIRST media data contractually "wholly owned by Disney"? If not, has anyone in FIRST management talked to PBS lately about showing FIRST activities? Competing broadcast channels I can understand, but unless the Disney contract forbids it, I don't see why we shouldn't ALSO get at least SOME recognition on PBS from a show like Sci Am Frontiers.

- Keith
--
Keith McClary, Advisor
Ann Arbor MI Huron High Team 830 "Rat Pack"

[s_alaniz]

The contractual question you asked was a good one. Yes Disney Jealously guards ANYTHING that goes on on it's grounds. PBS followed three teams last year and had to get special permission from Disney to film on Disney grounds. Including their tented parking lot.
PBS plans to release the film sometime in March, right in the middle of this year's competition. SET YOUR VCRs!



Best Wishes

Steve Alaniz



"Hey Sal, here's a restuarant that features a comic strip motif." - Ted Forth
"Forget it, I already feel like my life is a comic strip." - Sally Forth

[AdamT]

So no one thinks that anyone gets NASA...

I DO....and I have cable TV....adelphia, we have two way cable modems at well...

But who cares when a regional competition is cut off half way for more pictures of the planet. We want ESPN or ABC!

[Ray2k4]

I Voted for ESPN because FIRST is the sport of engineering. But it would also be good on ABC so that more than the few people who know about it could learn about it. And it would be good on Disney because then the younger audience could grasp at the fun of FIRST.

[Jenni]

I think that having it on ABC might not be the best choice. Even though most people would be able to watch it then, ABC could make it look tacky. I think ESPN would do the best at bringing out the exiting sports side of FIRST.

[ECarlson]

I have a cable modem, but don't thinks it's worth the money (or the time) to have cable TV, so I chose ABC.

[wildcardinal]

I'd like it to be on an educational channel like PBS or Discovery or whatever. ABC is generally good but, as has already been mentioned, would probably make it seem tacky. ESPN would seem sporty but would probably do it up all macho (a' la BattleBots), and that's kind of tacky as well. The Disney Channel would be a ridiculous nightmare for FIRST coverage; the tackiness level of Disney far exceeds both ESPN and ABC combined (at least neither of these show cartoons). If we're trying to reach as wide an audience as possible, however, ABC is probably the best bet, but I'd be happy if anybody picks it up at all.

[ECarlson]

I agree that PBS would probably do the best show, and I also agree that more people would see it on ABC. Wouldn't it be great to be featured on both?

[emilywll]

I said Disney becausse it would be funny to watch and see those silly zoog cartoon characters talking about multipliers, zones, bully bots and engineering.