It may not change the sporting world, but it certainly gives us food for thought. The fledgling United Football League has announced it will stream its Championship Game live around the world with no restrictions on YouTube. It means people in the United States can watch it live at the same time as those in the UK, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Brazil, you get the idea. Not only that, the announcing crew will interact with viewers through social media.
We have the press release from the UFL.
UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CREATES HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTUBE TO BROADCAST 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME LIVEGround-breaking UFL will be the first sports league to establish a multiple camera live feed on YouTube when Las Vegas Locos and Florida Tuskers clash in OmahaFans can interact during broadcast through Facebook and TwitterFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – OMAHA, NE – Wednesday, November 24 – The United Football League will create broadcast history this weekend when the 2010 Championship Game is broadcast live on YouTube in high definition.Football fans across the world will be able to watch the live game feed from Rosenblatt Stadium at the www.YouTube.com/theUFL platform when the defending UFL champion Las Vegas Locos take on the Florida Tuskers at 11am Central (12pm Eastern) on Saturday, November 27.The groundbreaking broadcast features four alternative camera angles in addition to the main live VERSUS telecast as CRAIG MINERVINI and former NFL quarterback DOUG FLUTIE call all the UFL Championship Game action. During commercial breaks, HDNet sideline reporter HDNet sideline reporter RON KRUCK will respond to fans who can submit questions and comments through the UFL Facebook and Twitter social media platforms.“We regularly promise our fans that they will have an opportunity to engage with the UFL and play an active part in our league and this is another example of that interaction,” said UFL Commissioner MICHAEL HUYGHUE. “Broadcasting through YouTube also allows us to take our Championship Game and our product to an international audience.”Other sports leagues such as the Indian Premier (cricket) League have streamed live events through YouTube, but the United Football League is the first to make multiple camera angles available. Fans have the option of watching from a sideline hand-held camera, the line of scrimmage roving sideline angle, a high end zone angle and a second end zone camera that will follow the feed that is used for official replays.Previous sporting events streamed live have also been blocked in some countries, but the 2010 United Football League Championship Game will be available worldwide, taking the game to an international audience. The IPL cricket games were blocked in the United States, but the international American Football community, which spans some 59 countries where the game is played and watched by millions of enthusiasts, will be able to tune in to catch all the UFL action.Football fans will be able to connect in person to the game by submitting questions and comments to analyst Ron Kruck through UFL Facebook and Twitter interaction. Comments posted to #UFLCG on Twitter and at www.Facebook.com/UnitedFootballLeague will also post on the YouTube broadcast and selected questions will be answered during commercial breaks.“At the UFL we embrace every opportunity for new technology to change the way sports fans experience our product,” said UFL VP of Information Technology TOMAS LLIBRE. “This is where the future of television is going and we are excited to be at the forefront as we present our showpiece game.”The www.YouTube.com/theUFL live feed will be the only platform available for UFL Championship Game viewing and can be accessed through the option of high, medium and low quality streams to accommodate every internet provider’s bandwidth and speed.Watch Ron Kruck’s UFL YouTube video promo at www.YouTube.com/theUFL.
Perhaps other sports leagues can follow suit. Actually knowing the NFL and MLB Advanced Media, they won’t but it let’s us imagine the potential of a Super Bowl or Olympics on YouTube.
