RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

[RHamilton]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

I still say that if RPI drops America One and lets RPITV handle the streaming, you guys should charge a nominal fee (say $5 per game or $50 for the season, rather than completely free) with that money going toward upgrading/replacing cameras, encoding computers, etc. The end result is a better quality product which is less costly to the end user, and would probably net RPI more money than they are getting from B2 now. Could potentially decrease the dependence on the student activity fee to fund some of those items as well, which I would have to think would be seen as a benefit.

Yeah, what we've discussed before is a free/premium game model, where certain games are offered for free to advertise the product, certain games are pay games, and certain games may be free games sponsored by different organizations (the Alumni Association, for example). We estimate we can only support ~350 viewers before we'll have the buy bandwidth, and we were pushing 300 two years ago during the Brown playoff series.

We're also looking at other live distribution models as well.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

We're also looking at other live distribution models as well.

I suppose existing agreements preclude RPI-TV from piggy-backing onto a website that already has the capacity? (e.g. ESPN3)

 

[RHamilton]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

I suppose existing agreements preclude RPI-TV from piggy-backing onto a website that already has the capacity? (e.g. ESPN3)

I would love to explore that. I'm not sure what their policies are on picking up feeds from non-ESPN sources, or how they handle advertising, but it's definitely worth looking in to.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

I still say that if RPI drops America One and lets RPITV handle the streaming, you guys should charge a nominal fee (say $5 per game or $50 for the season, rather than completely free) with that money going toward upgrading/replacing cameras, encoding computers, etc. The end result is a better quality product which is less costly to the end user, and would probably net RPI more money than they are getting from B2 now. Could potentially decrease the dependence on the student activity fee to fund some of those items as well, which I would have to think would be seen as a benefit.

Wasn't there some talk way back when the pirated version was being shown about free for alumni, pay for the rest? Perhaps include it as a perk for making a financial donation to the Institute, especially if the money is going to the Student Union?

Now that RPI-TV has done a pilot broadcast through Time Warner, I think the 'tute should work with TWCS to try to expand that and see if they can get a contract for all home games involving NYS opponents and syndicate the broadcast to the other TW's around the state. Either that, or try to pick up a deal with either a cable or public access network to broadcast all of the home games.

 

[rpi82]

It's possible, but MBA curricula typically have minimal overlap with undergrad coursework. It's not like engineering, where you just keep taking more and more advanced classes, and you simply need to earn enough credits for the advanced degree. Typically.

True, but RPI also offers a one year MS in Mgmt so Bergin would presumably have options.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Raised platform in front of a parabolic dish painted with the RPI bullet, with the focus point of the sound right at the goal crease. We're engineers, we could make this happen. I guess it would need a silencing method for the 2nd period though....

If you could rotate the dish.....

 

[RHamilton]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Now that RPI-TV has done a pilot broadcast through Time Warner, I think the 'tute should work with TWCS to try to expand that and see if they can get a contract for all home games involving NYS opponents and syndicate the broadcast to the other TW's around the state. Either that, or try to pick up a deal with either a cable or public access network to broadcast all of the home games.

The problem here is that RPI's campus is not wired for distribution to Time Warner, and we'd have to buy satellite time for each game, which can get pricey without ads to offset those costs. We're definitely exploring further TWCS involvement, and we hope to be back on TWCS (preferably in HD) next year.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

The problem here is that RPI's campus is not wired for distribution to Time Warner, and we'd have to buy satellite time for each game, which can get pricey without ads to offset those costs. We're definitely exploring further TWCS involvement, and we hope to be back on TWCS (preferably in HD) next year.

That's true. Did you have any sponsors during the Freakout, aside from I think Bank of America and maybe also E Stewart Jones? I wonder if any local companies would be willing to put together a 15-second ad to show during stoppages (like they used to do back in the early 90's in the NHL), or something for the announcers to read during those stoppages?

Now that he doesn't ref our games anymore (I only saw him for the AIC one, but it was a weeknight and they probably tried to get people local for that), I wonder if there'd be any ad room for the Law Offices of Alex C. Dell.

 

[rvd5star69]

Don't bring me into your arguments.

How long does the MBA take given the 4 years worth of undergraduate management studies? Don't include the aforementioned 4 years in your answer.

Not an argument, just a statement

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

RHamilton,
Since you are a senior, are you going to be still associated with RPI-TV next season. If not, will someone else be keeping us informed?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

RHamilton,
Since you are a senior, are you going to be still associated with RPI-TV next season. If not, will someone else be keeping us informed?

I've seen mackek2 post on here (at least he used to), and as far as I know he's associated with the group. Perhaps more will join in?

 

[RHamilton]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

RHamilton,
Since you are a senior, are you going to be still associated with RPI-TV next season. If not, will someone else be keeping us informed?

RPI TV tends to cling to their alumni rather tightly (or vice versa), I'm sure I'll still be involved. To what extent depends where I end up in a couple months. I haven't been in charge since January, but I still generally know what's going on. Mackek2 is a senior (I think?) as well.

 

[johnk]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Heres a story from the Bangor Daily News today that talks about the possible change in the Hockey East playoff format and the addition of a 12th team.

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/...f-format-likely-to-change-in-2013-2014/print/

That leaves RPI & Quinnipiac. There is no doubt Hockey East wants 12 teams. There is also no doubt in my mind that if RPI wants to push to be the 12th team that they would have a very good chance of being asked to join HE.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

That leaves RPI & Quinnipiac. There is no doubt Hockey East wants 12 teams. There is also no doubt in my mind that if RPI wants to push to be the 12th team that they would have a very good chance of being asked to join HE.

We've already declined twice. Why should they try a third time?

 

[redhead18]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

We've already declined twice. Why should they try a third time?

ECAC was also in much better shape back then, RPI didnt really have a reason to leave. Who knows where the league will be in few years...

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

That leaves RPI & Quinnipiac. There is no doubt Hockey East wants 12 teams. There is also no doubt in my mind that if RPI wants to push to be the 12th team that they would have a very good chance of being asked to join HE.

Why are you ruling out UConn and HC? Either, especially UConn, could meet the requirements if they cared, and as reportd elsewhere UConn was invstigating the question of upgrading their program.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

We've already declined twice. Why should they try a third time?

Third time's the charm?

 

[johnk]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

We've already declined twice. Why should they try a third time?

Because the gap between the haves and the have nots is growing. When is the 2nd time we have declined? We have only been asked once. Enjoy the Liberty League hockey in a few years cause that where you will be stuck.

 

[johnk]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Why are you ruling out UConn and HC? Either, especially UConn, could meet the requirements if they cared, and as reportd elsewhere UConn was invstigating the question of upgrading their program.

They could? They don't meet any of the 3 criteria Bertagna is talking about. I guess if you think they could build a new building, go to 18 scholarships and address their Title IX issues in the next 18 months then you can include them.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

We've already declined twice. Why should they try a third time?