Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

online.wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 106 posts

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#51

Post by jwallaceparker »

CamperBob wrote: post #24
josephcooney wrote: post #10

What's the reason for keeping the footage out of the public's hands? "Proprietary NFL coaching information" doesn't really explain it. Are the NFL making money off the teams by cutting them a special deal of All-22 footage of their own games, and opponents?

What's the reason for keeping the footage out of the public's hands? Couldn't it be as simple as wanting to preserve some value for the fans who actually buy tickets? In any case, if this footage is so valuable, why can't somebody with a good camera phone buy a seat in the nosebleed section, set up a tripod, and charge for the stream?

>> why can't somebody with a good camera phone buy a seat in the nosebleed section, set up a tripod, and charge for the stream?

They can but they'd get sued.

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#52

Post by jwallaceparker »

SamReidHughes wrote: post #23
matdwyer wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would work for about 20 minutes until they find out your location and throw the book at you for broadcasting a copyrighted event. You got an SLR in, but try "filming" a game with it - you'll be stopped in under 10 minutes, I promise you Also, that isn't like the streaming sites where you can be at a desk in Sweden and re-broadcasting games fairly anonymously... they'd just walk up to your seat and escort you out…

> That would work for about 20 minutes until they find out your location and throw the book at you for broadcasting a copyrighted event. Um, no? There is nothing copyrighted about the on-field action of a football game. All they can do is kick you out of the stadium.

>> Um, no? There is nothing copyrighted about the on-field action of a football game. All they can do is kick you out of the stadium.

The NFL leases exclusive rights to TV stations to broadcast the action.

Anyone else who broadcasts the action will get sued and shut down.

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#53

Post by jwallaceparker »

keeptrying wrote: post #5

You can figure out whats happening on the field just from what they show on TV. I wrote an answer on quora on how to do this: What I enjoy in a football game is understanding the strategy thats being carried out and the efficiency of execution on every play. I've broken down a list of positions/schemes/plays to look for below. The following applies when watching a regular play from scrimmage - ie one that will be eit…

>> You can figure out whats happening on the field just from what they show on TV. I wrote an answer on quora on how to do this:

You've posted some great information here, but actually viewing all 22 players from a birds-eye-view affords an exponentially superior quality of analysis.

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#54

Post by ja2ke »

If college or Canadian football started doing it and fans responded extremely positively and started asking for/expecting it elsewhere, that could force the NFL's hand a bit. The XFL's crazy wire camera rigs almost immediately made their way into the NFL, so there's at least a little precedent.

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#55

Post by KC8ZKF »

philwelch wrote: post #41
curiouskat wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The NFL's lawyers stated the NFL competes in the "entertainment marketplace" ( http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?renderfor... ) and operates as a single entity, not as 32 teams. The NFL makes a large portion of its revenue from television, and ratings are higher on close, competitive games. What prevents owners from keeping the games close or trading wins/losses now to help a storyline in exchange fo…

Problem is, a lot of memorable and important moments probably couldn't be faked if they tried, like the catch against the helmet when the Patriots lost to the Giants. It would most certainly be a scandal, likely illegal or jeopardizing the NFL's Congressionally granted monopoly if it were fixed. One precedent is the quiz show scandals of the 50's.

I don't think the NFL has a Congressionally granted monopoly.

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#56

Post by loso »

I have always been a football fan but when I was in college I lived in the Football dorm and it changed how I saw the game forever. (Back story, I lived in those dorms because I'm a big guy and the coach wanted me to play for the team. I told him yeah because I noticed that at registration all of the Football players were able to skip in line. I never did play because I loved Basketball more than Football at the time).

Anyway, when you live around Football players 24/7 you start to learn facets of the game that you never knew about. You learn what every position is doing on every play and why they are doing it.Now when I watch Football it is more like a game of chess than a brutal grudge match. The real excitement in the game comes from watching the linemen and not the skilled positions.

On another side note, you would think that all of this football knowledge would help actual players when playing Madden (That was all that was played in those dorms. Hours and hours of Madden). It does but only to a certain extent. Football players take Madden too literally and try to play it as a simulation. They forget the video game part. I would use that to my advantage all of the time.

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#57

Post by freshrap6 »

loso wrote: post #56

I have always been a football fan but when I was in college I lived in the Football dorm and it changed how I saw the game forever. (Back story, I lived in those dorms because I'm a big guy and the coach wanted me to play for the team. I told him yeah because I noticed that at registration all of the Football players were able to skip in line. I never did play because I loved Basketball more than Football at the time…

What kinds of strategies do you find that work out in real life but not in the game?

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#58

Post by geoka9 »

mechanical_fish wrote: post #34
keeptrying wrote: post #5

You can figure out whats happening on the field just from what they show on TV. I wrote an answer on quora on how to do this: What I enjoy in a football game is understanding the strategy thats being carried out and the efficiency of execution on every play. I've broken down a list of positions/schemes/plays to look for below. The following applies when watching a regular play from scrimmage - ie one that will be eit…

This is excellent. Here's a question: Where can I buy the equivalent of this post , but in video form with actual illustrative game footage? I've wanted to see that for some time. Want it for every sport on earth, really. I've thought about trying to watch a bunch of coaching videos for my sport of choice, but was never sure it would help. They aren't designed for me. I don't need to know how to think like an above-a…

> I've wanted to see that for some time. Want it for every sport on earth, really.

For tennis I recommend a book by Brad Gilbert called "Winning Ugly". A treasure trove of tennis tips and tricks; opens up a whole new perspective at the tennis game - both yours and the pros' you watch on TV.

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#59

Post by ars »

akmiller wrote: post #36
CamperBob wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the reason for keeping the footage out of the public's hands? Couldn't it be as simple as wanting to preserve some value for the fans who actually buy tickets? In any case, if this footage is so valuable, why can't somebody with a good camera phone buy a seat in the nosebleed section, set up a tripod, and charge for the stream?

I'm fairly certain the NFL has licensing rights and prohibits any video reproduction of any kind so you could try to get away with it for awhile, but it wouldn't last long!

What is the legal basis that gives them this ability?

Re: The sports footage you won't see on TV this Thanksgiving

#60

Post by ars »

jwallaceparker wrote: post #52
SamReidHughes wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That would work for about 20 minutes until they find out your location and throw the book at you for broadcasting a copyrighted event. Um, no? There is nothing copyrighted about the on-field action of a football game. All they can do is kick you out of the stadium.

>> Um, no? There is nothing copyrighted about the on-field action of a football game. All they can do is kick you out of the stadium. The NFL leases exclusive rights to TV stations to broadcast the action. Anyone else who broadcasts the action will get sued and shut down.

His question is what law gives the NFL this right. You can't just claim "I own" this.

As far as I know I am allowed to record anything I want. Perhaps not with audio, but I am not aware of any law that gives someone the right to prevent video recording.

They have the right to kick you out (if they catch you), but not to prevent recording.

If you know of such a law, please post it.

Post reply on HN