On the heels of unprecedented success in athletics, South Dade High School’s BucTVTelevision Production program was chosen as one of the first public schools in the county to launch a new live broadcasting service through the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and Play On Sports which will allow for live internet streaming of various sporting events throughout the year including all home and away football games.
For the athletes, the broadcast gives them more exposure and also allows family members and friends who can’t attend the game to watch. For the students putting on the broadcast, the chance to film, produce and call the game is tremendous experience that can’t be replicated in a classroom. So far this season, the team has produced three games and while there is a steep learning curve, each broadcast is improving.
Thankfully, one of the most difficult elements to master, the commentary, is one of the better elements of the broadcast. Calling the game are two former South Dade students, Luis Gonzalez who graduated last year and is studying broadcasting at FIU, anchors the broadcast with the play by play. He is joined in the booth by Tony Williams, a former Linebacker for the Buccaneers who brings a knowledge and analysis that can only come from somebody who was in the huddle. For Gonzalez, it’s an opportunity to practice what he wants to do professionally in a real setting.
“This means a lot for me,” said Gonzalez. “Since I want to do this professionally for the rest of my life, this gives me a chance to learn how to call play-by-play since this isn’t something that can be taught inside of a classroom. I really can’t thank BucTV enough.”
Aside from giving the students an opportunity to do something different and interesting, it is also a way for the television production program to raise funds necessary to hopefully expand the broadcasts as well as allow students in the class to have access to better equipment as well as helping with the cost of travel to district and state competitions.
There are two ways the broadcasts generate funds. In order to watch the games live on Sports.BucTV.org, a subscription is required. There are three packages available, $9.95 for a day pass if viewers are only interested in the occasional game, $14.95 for a monthly pass and the best value, $60 for a year pass that covers access to every game broadcast. As an added bonus, every non sporting event that is broadcast is available for free to subscribers. This can include Dance shows, talent shows or even town hall meetings.
Additionally, the other way the broadcast makes money is much in the same way that real sports broadcasts make money, through advertising. Commercial spots that air several times during the broadcast are available (and can be student produced as well) and various in game sponsorship ranging from full game title sponsorship to different aspects of the game like individual quarters and first downs. The News Leader proudly sponsors the Player of the Game, picked by the broadcast crew, the winner receives a certificate as well as a free haircut from another sponsor, Fade County Barber Shop. It is a great way for local business to support the school and at the same time get high quality services from students eager to learn and improve.
For Gonzalez, who spent his four years in high school as an integral part of the television production program, this is progress for the class he invested so much time into. “This is definitely a step in the right direction. This is something that can help students get comfortable with the equipment, camera technique, and becoming more comfortable on camera. This also provides a steady flow of income into the program which is often lacking since technology keeps changing and without necessarily being cheaper.”
