I Love Webcasts!!!

[HoyaChris]

What a treat. The school should do this for every game except where we are contractually prohibited.

Obviously we live in technologically enthralling times, but I was thinking of all the different ways that I have been able to get coverage of games since I graduated in 1978. In rough chronological order:

1.) Calling up a friend in DC who put the phone next to the radio.

2.) Getting play-by-play from a friend watching a game on TV.

3.) Checking into a hotel by the Chicago Airport because Chicago wasn't wired for cable, but the hotel had a dish.

4.) Driving 150 miles to get a feed because the Hoya game wasn't being shown locally.

5.) In the early 1990's there was a service where you could call over a phone line and get a radio feed. Cost about $30 for a game.

6.) Calling from an airplane to get the play-by-play of the Providence Big East game where Wesley Wilson won it off of a pass from Drew Hall. That was ridiculously expensive.

7.) Picking up the radio feed over the net.

8.) And now an internet feed with Video and Rich. And you get the press conferences. And even when they charge it will be relatively inexpensive. I am in Hoya Heaven.

[GUHoya07]

Did anyone save this on their computer or is there any way to view it again? I would love to watch it on my computer now after seeing it in person.

[MEGAFAN]

Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the webcast, as the Rreal Player streaming media format used does not allow for this. However, if someone were creative, like I tried to be, they could have utilized one of many screen capture software programs that basically capture the live video and audio. However, I didn't have enough space on my hard-drive (I have like less than 100 MB available and am a digital pack rat, unable to clear enough space for this event on time), and therefore was unable to do so.

Also, when using this method, you're stuck with the actual video that you experienced, including any buffering, as well as the pixelization that often occurs when the bandwidth adjusts throughout the webcast. However, I was hoping that part of the $6.95 that you pay to subscribe (uneccessary tonight, but probably required in the future), would include not only access to highlights, but to full archives.

Obviously, if the game is covered by ESPN or other stations, there are rights involved (why they can't just strike a deal to pay a royalty or something, I don't know, 'cause I guess they're afraid of making easy extra money), and this may not be legally permissible. But, for a game such as tonight's, whereby there was no TV coverage, I don't know whether the right's still belong to ESPN (even though they chose not to televise the game), or whether it would be legal for them to show the archive.

Any way you slice it, here's to our first successful webcast - overall, I must say that it was a delightful experience, especially considering how well our boys performed.

LET'S GO HOYAS!!!