Golf Channel Integrating Twitter Within Broadcasts
by Adam Fonseca on Oct 26, 2011 10:32 PM EDT
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PrintWhile Twitter and other social media already have a solid presence in professional golf and other sports, television broadcasts have previously kept this area of communication in the background. This Saturday, however, the Nationwide Tour is about to take social media's integration into golf telecasts to an entirely different level.
According to a source from the Golf Channel, the network is bringing Twitter to life with a new interactive TV experience during the Nationwide Tour Championship in Charleston, SC. The tournament will mark the debut of Golf Channel's "Social Media Saturday," which will feature GolfChannel.com senior writers Rex Hoggard and Randall Mell joining the on-air team's tournament coverage by contributing live tweets from the course.
During select segments of the telecast, Golf Channel will replace traditional play-by-play commentary from the broadcast team with Twitter feeds over live pictures and sound, creating a totally new way for viewers to experience golf coverage. Rex and Randal will not be providing play-by-play with their posts, but offering their own take on what they see. This will mark the first time social media will be fully integrated into a live Golf Channel broadcast.
Rex will follow the final pairing with on-course reporter Kay Cockerill and Randall will join Michael Breed following the next-to-last group. Both will tweet their perspective on what transpires while injecting some humor into the broadcast through social media. During the two-and-a-half hour telecast, segments will sporadically alternate between traditional golf coverage with host Jerry Foltz and lead analyst Craig Perks, and social media segments with Rex/Randall's Twitter perspective. Extra parabolic microphones will be strategically positioned throughout the course picking up sounds from the players/caddies and paired with on screen tweets. Viewers will be able to follow all of the tweets by visiting GolfChannel.com during the telecast or searching for #SocialSat on Twitter.
Below is an example of what how this will all look (courtesy Golf Channel, used with permission):
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Too bad.
The term “social media” is an oxymoron, IMO.
by handicapismyswing on Oct 27, 2011 9:21 AM EDT reply actions
antisocial media in too many cases.
Some people use an entry blank on the Internet as a portal for their anger. I know that when I am in a really bad mood or really tired and p/o’d by work that I try to not comment to articles or post on Facebook. And by no means am I perfect so no stones cast here.
by Charles Boyer on Oct 27, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
The trick is....
for me, anyway, to be in the moment enough to not react completely from an emotional point of view. In those situations, I now try to be careful with my words. The real trick is to carry the same socialization that I take to my interpersonal encounters along for every “media” encounter in my life. I think we are more aware when looking at the person we are addressing, Taking that into the “asocial” media world is crucial, especially if you expect to look that person in the eye, eventually.
We should, as human beings, treat all communication with the thought in mind that we could be face to face with that person sometime in the undefined future.
by handicapismyswing on Oct 29, 2011 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Interesting. So the idea here is that Hoggard and Mell can type and post faster than announcers can talk – OR – xxx Golf Channel will be recording and waiting for Hoggard and Mell to type and post after watching shots or seeing situations…140 characters at a time…. This tells me that xxx Golf Channel thinks their people are more important than the players.
I hope this is a short lived experiment in media intrusion.
If at first you don't secede, try try again
It's seems as though
the smarter we get……the dumber things get. I don’t tweet and I don’t Facebook…..I guess I’m not very social…….:)
Nuke ’em
The Saints were the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS for a year...hope I don't have to wait another 44 years for #2....WHO DAT!......:)
I try not to even text.
If you need something from me in a hurry, there needs to be a voice on the other end! Otherwise, I check email three times a day.
by handicapismyswing on Oct 27, 2011 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I used to be the same way about texting, but it has been a time saver for me when I need to get or give a quick yes or no answer, or to pass along a quick piece of information, but don’t want to get into the usual phone pleasantries or an extended conversation.
If at first you don't secede, try try again
Yes, I text quickly but long-term convos over text messages are verboten with me. My friends know that if they send me more than four consecutive texts more than likely I will call them rather than sending a fifth reply.
I hear that Hyundai cars can now read and send texts to the driver. BAD IDEA.
by Charles Boyer on Oct 27, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
No kidding ? Is the Hyundai system like the NorthStar system where they make you buy a separate phone connection just for that car ?
If at first you don't secede, try try again
Not sure, but I have seen their ads on TV boasting about it.
If I am driving I don’t want to send or receive texts. Someone was getting ticked about that when I was rocketing off of Spaghetti Junction headed towards Sandy Springs last month and was taking it personally that I was choosing to focus on the 5pmn traffic there as opposed to telling them what to wear to dinner that night.
What am I anyway, Mr. Blackwell? A grown man should know how to pick their clothes.
And should understand that Atlanta’s traffic requires a little concentration to maneuver through.
by Charles Boyer on Oct 27, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Once i let someone start texting me...
it’s not long before they develop an attitude that they want an instant response, and if they don’t get it they are unhappy and start blowing up my phone with “What’s up?” and “you there?”. I try to be available for important stuff, but it is not convenient or profitable to stop and respond to every text or email in real time.
by handicapismyswing on Oct 27, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I actually prefer texting to talking on the phone. I also use Twitter rather regularly, especially to get updates on golf tournaments and other sports “happenings”. I use Facebook, but only to communicate/share things with family over the internet. Of course, this doesn’t replace my actual physical interactions with those I care about.
I actually appreciate the efforts to find new ways to integrate social media into professional sports. Then again, this might be a generational preference (as I assume I am one of the younger visitors/contributors to this site).
www.ChicagoDuffer.com
At the end of the day
you choose who has your private number. If its business, have 2 phones if you need it.
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