FIRST Championship: Made for TV?

[ClaudiaL]

Aside from having the Championship televised live, I think it would be cool to have a type of documentary that could be televised on cable TV (e.g. on Discovery Channel). They could go to teams' schools and interview the kids and maybe even visit during build season to check up on the students' progress as well as maybe give behind-the-scenes looks about what it takes to make these competitions happen. They could do a few teams, like a rookie team and some more well established teams. I don't know, to me it seems that that would be the easiest way to affect more people. Before I participated in FIRST my parents and relatives had no big interest in watching the competitions, it was only after they saw how much of an effect FIRST has on students that they became really interested. I think it would be cool for America to see the entire build process as well as the Competitions. This would give people a better understanding of FIRST as well as a better understanding of the game before they watch any competitions. I know this thread was created to discuss live broadcasts, but here are my two cents anyway .

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by ClaudiaL

Aside from having the Championship televised live, I think it would be cool to have a type of documentary that could be televised on cable TV (e.g. on Discovery Channel). They could go to teams' schools and interview the kids and maybe even visit during build season to check up on the students' progress as well as maybe give behind-the-scenes looks about what it takes to make these competitions happen. They could do a few teams, like a rookie team and some more well established teams. I don't know, to me it seems that that would be the easiest way to affect more people. Before I participated in FIRST my parents and relatives had no big interest in watching the competitions, it was only after they saw how much of an effect FIRST has on students that they became really interested. I think it would be cool for America to see the entire build process as well as the Competitions. This would give people a better understanding of FIRST as well as a better understanding of the game before they watch any competitions. I know this thread was created to discuss live broadcasts, but here are my two cents anyway .

The thread Discovery Channel Canada profiles Team 188 is about a series of short segments (5 min) on Team 188 (Blizzard, Woburn) last year. Post #15 in that thread has a video link to one of these segments with some very nice background on FIRST as well as their performance in the GTR. These kinds of segments would be perfect to insert between live match coverage to introduce the public to the "behind-the-scenes" world of FIRST and the benefit of FIRST.

[dangerousdave]

Originally Posted by ClaudiaL

Aside from having the Championship televised live, I think it would be cool to have a type of documentary that could be televised on cable TV (e.g. on Discovery Channel). They could go to teams' schools and interview the kids and maybe even visit during build season to check up on the students' progress as well as maybe give behind-the-scenes looks about what it takes to make these competitions happen. They could do a few teams, like a rookie team and some more well established teams. I don't know, to me it seems that that would be the easiest way to affect more people.

Good idea ClaudiaL. In fact, exactly what you described actually happened in the spring of 2004. Discovery Science Channel followed 3 FRC teams around during their robot build and at the GA Dome in April, 2004. I believe the one hour show (with commercials) was broadcast in the fall of 2004.

These teams were rookies 1396, second year 1002 (home town hero) and well established team 56. The show gave a good idea of what each team went through during the build and during the Championship's. A very nice story on team 1396 was that their robot never arrived at the GA Dome from NY and other teams pitched in to help build them a new robot in less than 1 day. They were able to compete by herding balls and blocking other teams during competition. It also showed team 1396 winning the judges award and also featured interviews with Dean K.

The show also showed First Scholarship winners. This was a very good promotional video for First that some current students may not know about.

Team 56 members Anthony Ramnauth, 1002 Ryan Stewart and 1396 Anna Theodoropoulos were featured. Anna's expressions and reaction when her team received the judges award was priceless.

Hopefully something like this video can be produced in the future.

Dave