Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
We are thinking about transmitting live games from both sections of the Masters in Uxbridge. However, this is going to cost us about £200 in terms of expenses for Dave Clayton to travel down and set up etc.
We therefore need to cover this cost somehow - it seems unfair to expect the players to foot the bill as they get nothing from it.
I was thinking about putting a donation button onto the website so that people wathching the live games could contribute to the cost. I'm guessing a suggested rate of about £3, although people could donate more or less (or nothing) if they wish.
Any money over and above the expenses incurred would be donated to the ECF as I'm told they need to spend money upgrading the circuit boards on a number of the boards. This is presumably why they are often unreliable. If there is a shortfall then that would say that there isn't much interest and we simply wouldn't do it in future.
Anyone got any thoughts / suggestions?
We therefore need to cover this cost somehow - it seems unfair to expect the players to foot the bill as they get nothing from it.
I was thinking about putting a donation button onto the website so that people wathching the live games could contribute to the cost. I'm guessing a suggested rate of about £3, although people could donate more or less (or nothing) if they wish.
Any money over and above the expenses incurred would be donated to the ECF as I'm told they need to spend money upgrading the circuit boards on a number of the boards. This is presumably why they are often unreliable. If there is a shortfall then that would say that there isn't much interest and we simply wouldn't do it in future.
Anyone got any thoughts / suggestions?
-
- Posts: 6028
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:05 pm
- Location: Evesham
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Sorry Sean but this sort of paying model goes nowhere and will die as fast at the Staunton event...Sean Hewitt wrote:I was thinking about putting a donation button onto the website so that people wathching the live games could contribute to the cost. I'm guessing a suggested rate of about £3, although people could donate more or less (or nothing) if they wish.
I for one would not pay sorry
Cheers
Carl Hibbard
Carl Hibbard
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
That's certainly an opinion Carl, thanks. If that's the prevalent view then we won't transmit live games.Carl Hibbard wrote:Sorry Sean but this sort of paying model goes nowhere and will die as fast at the Staunton event...Sean Hewitt wrote:I was thinking about putting a donation button onto the website so that people wathching the live games could contribute to the cost. I'm guessing a suggested rate of about £3, although people could donate more or less (or nothing) if they wish.
I for one would not pay sorry
-
- Posts: 7232
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:29 am
- Location: Cove, Hampshire, England.
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Could you find a sponsor for the lives games Sean?
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
-
- Posts: 6028
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:05 pm
- Location: Evesham
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
As always I am willing to host the live games with all the bandwidth you can take for FREE if that helpsSean Hewitt wrote:That's certainly an opinion Carl, thanks. If that's the prevalent view then we won't transmit live games.
Cheers
Carl Hibbard
Carl Hibbard
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Carl - Many thanks for the offer but hosting and bandwith isn't the issue as we can do that in house. Dave Clayton has to travel from the North West and back and that's the major expense - even though we will run the boards ourselves after they have been successfully set up so he doesn't have to stay four nights. We also then have to repatriate the boards to Hinckley for the following weekends 4NCL.
John - I'm not convinced that we could get sponsorship. Some kind soul might gift the money (many people in chess seem to think this is sponsorship) but I can't envisage a commercial proposition where someone thinks an advert on the live games site is worth a few hundred quid.
John - I'm not convinced that we could get sponsorship. Some kind soul might gift the money (many people in chess seem to think this is sponsorship) but I can't envisage a commercial proposition where someone thinks an advert on the live games site is worth a few hundred quid.
-
- Posts: 6028
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:05 pm
- Location: Evesham
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
I do actually lay the blame at the feet of DGT as their software should be easier to setup, far more reliable and of course use a more simple .pgn viewer online so that you only need to upload the one file to get the broadcast going - that would be easier on site and far less load on the hosting
ChessBase showed the way to go with the viewer they used at the London Classic in my opinion
ChessBase showed the way to go with the viewer they used at the London Classic in my opinion
Cheers
Carl Hibbard
Carl Hibbard
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
There's also the capital cost of the equipment to consider. One board costs circa £400 and of course the ECF's boards are getting on a bit in terms of age and need updating / fixing.
The ECF very kindly lends the boards to events such as us free of charge but in my opinion that's not sustainable if they have ongoing repair costs. The ECF should charge £100-£200 per event to cover the cost of fixing the things when they go wrong and that's why we would donate any additional revenue to them for this purpose.
At the end of the day the sole beneficiaries of tournaments transmitting live games are the people sat at home / work watching. If people don't value that, and don't think it's worth a couple of quid, then why should organisers transmit games at all?
Of course, it's all relative. Someone may thing Uxbridge is worth 50p, and the London Chess Classic £5. That's fair enough - then it's just a question of volume. But if viewers think it's worth nothing then I can't see the point of doing it at all ; and therefore we wouldn't do it again!
The ECF very kindly lends the boards to events such as us free of charge but in my opinion that's not sustainable if they have ongoing repair costs. The ECF should charge £100-£200 per event to cover the cost of fixing the things when they go wrong and that's why we would donate any additional revenue to them for this purpose.
At the end of the day the sole beneficiaries of tournaments transmitting live games are the people sat at home / work watching. If people don't value that, and don't think it's worth a couple of quid, then why should organisers transmit games at all?
Of course, it's all relative. Someone may thing Uxbridge is worth 50p, and the London Chess Classic £5. That's fair enough - then it's just a question of volume. But if viewers think it's worth nothing then I can't see the point of doing it at all ; and therefore we wouldn't do it again!
-
- Posts: 1631
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:53 am
- Location: Berks
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
regarding sponsorship. You could try a server like ICC to broadcast and in return ask for the sponsorship to be mentioned every 20-30 minutes under the games...
This would insure considerably more viewers worldwide and ICC if they dont have a major even on might go for the top 2-3 boards at least.
Ben
This would insure considerably more viewers worldwide and ICC if they dont have a major even on might go for the top 2-3 boards at least.
Ben
I love sleep, I need 8 hours a day and about 10 at night - Bill Hicks
I would die happy if I beat Wood Green in the Eastman Cup final - Richmond LL captain.
Hating the Yankees since 2002. Hating the Jets since 2001.
I would die happy if I beat Wood Green in the Eastman Cup final - Richmond LL captain.
Hating the Yankees since 2002. Hating the Jets since 2001.
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Live Games from Uxbridge International Masters can be viewed at
www.e2e4.org.uk/live
You will also be able to make a donation to send Keith Arkell to the European Individual in Croatia. Give enough, and he might even be able to afford to come back!
www.e2e4.org.uk/live
You will also be able to make a donation to send Keith Arkell to the European Individual in Croatia. Give enough, and he might even be able to afford to come back!
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Live coverage seems to have worked without problem all afternoon. Plenty of entertainment provided by Danny GormallySean Hewitt wrote:Live Games from Uxbridge International Masters can be viewed at
http://www.e2e4.org.uk/live
You will also be able to make a donation to send Keith Arkell to the European Individual in Croatia. Give enough, and he might even be able to afford to come back!
-
- Posts: 1861
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:21 am
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Poor Yang-Fan got demolished by Slavin with the King's Indian bad bishop in a style which reminded me a little of Petrosian's famous win against Schweber.
-
- Posts: 2393
- Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:44 pm
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Sean, I sympathise! The 4NCL approach as you know is to treat live game transmission costs as an operating cost like any other to be recovered through entry fees, bedroom commission etc. So effectively the chessplayers are indeed footing the bill for the "bonum commune communitatis" as it were, but spread across so many participants it tends to get lost in the wash I suppose.
Yes, the ECF also very kindly lends the 4NCL the boards free of charge (so when the ECF have their meetings at 4NCL venues it's only fair that we don't charge them). As you say, it's not really a sustainable model though, and the 4NCL suffers from numerous downtimes, breakages etc as a result. I suspect the 4NCL wouldn't have a problem with contributing towards board hire if that meant a more reliable and comprehensive service overall. For example, the German league transmits 64 games each weekend (admittedly spread over four sites), and it would be nice if we could aspire to something similar in this country.
Yes, the ECF also very kindly lends the 4NCL the boards free of charge (so when the ECF have their meetings at 4NCL venues it's only fair that we don't charge them). As you say, it's not really a sustainable model though, and the 4NCL suffers from numerous downtimes, breakages etc as a result. I suspect the 4NCL wouldn't have a problem with contributing towards board hire if that meant a more reliable and comprehensive service overall. For example, the German league transmits 64 games each weekend (admittedly spread over four sites), and it would be nice if we could aspire to something similar in this country.
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
Nice queen sac by Samy Shoker in Round 2
-
- Posts: 2393
- Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:44 pm
Re: Uxbridge International : 13 - 17 February 2010
What's Mr Gormally up to then with these quick draws?!