ESPN evaluating ButtCam feedback

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Failed camera activation

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2016/02/16/um-telecast-riles-fans-espn-will-review-feedback/80488178/

“The ‘floor seat’ camera angle during (Tuesday’s) ‘Super Tuesday’ Michigan-Ohio State game was a new and creative way to show the athleticism and speed of the talented players of the Big Ten Conference by giving viewers different access to the game,” Rachel Siegal, a spokesperson for ESPN, told The News in an e-mail. “We will review all feedback after the game and continue to learn and provide fans with the best possible viewing experience.

“ESPN was built on trying new things and taking risks, and tonight is just another example of that.”

"best possible viewing experience" 

Wolverine Devotee

February 17th, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^

Once again, I take back everything bad I've ever said about BTN.

They have better camera quality and they've never prevented us from concentrating on a game.

Do you know how nuts that thing last night drove people with OCD? I could not concentrate. 

Jon06

February 17th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^

My wife thinks I'm some kind of freak genius at predicting what announcers are going to say. She seems to think I could do it as a career. (Please nobody tell her it's just because they're completely predictable morons.)

Tate

February 17th, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^

With all the different ESPN channels and even the CFP NC game offering a bunch of different viewing types, why couldn't they just had a regular broadcast and then promoted this addiitional camera angle all week, and have it available on ESPN3?

EDIT: Someone else said it first.

Pepto Bismol

February 17th, 2016 at 1:39 PM ^

And to boot, why on earth would they blindly commit to a full 40 minutes of this?  I would have expiramented with one 4 minute block.  Let's try it until the under 16 break.  That would have been fine, and it would've given them all of the feedback they needed.  From what I saw on Twitter, it took viewers an average of about 5 seconds to realize this was the biggest disaster in televised sporting history.

It was such a bad decision, I'm still not convinced there wasn't a last-minute technical issue that forced this.

 

 

SWHarrison

February 17th, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^

At first, I too thought their main camera had some type of malfunction. That seems to be the only explanation for why this lasted for an entire game. The camera at OSU's arena does feel like it's on the moon. Perhaps they had issues and just couldn't haul another one up there into the rafters

Hemlock Philosopher

February 17th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^

Putting a Go Pro on Jake Butt's helmet and broadcasting the game from there on ESPN3 would be a great idea. 

In all seriousness, who ever considered this as an even plausably good idea has run out of just that. Innovation my ass. More like a hair-brained concept hatched in the Dave Brandon Family Laboratory of Horrible Marketing Ideation. 

On the good side, at least we didn't pay baller prices to sit courtside only to watch the ref's asses. It may have saved us a few dollars down the road...