The Baseball Championship: A Season in Full Swing!
After three thrilling matchdays, the baseball championship is in full swing, and all clubs have enjoyed at least one home game. As per regulations, each team must broadcast their matches on a platform with storage, using at least two cameras, and communicate the link to the federal authorities. While some clubs are already well-versed in this exercise, others are still struggling to get up to speed.
Aline Héry, Ball-tracking Camera: La Rochelle
Baseball TV France commits to regularly publishing a ranking of the eight Division 1 clubs, evaluating their performance in terms of broadcasting. The Lions de Savigny, lacking a dedicated field, have requested an exemption, paving the way for other clubs like Toulouse to opt out of this federal obligation.
As of today, the situation remains unchanged from last year. The federal obligation has hardly moved the needle, but the winds of change are blowing. We are convinced that broadcasts will become a major asset for the communication of our sport.
In Division 2, clubs like Valenciennes, Meyzieu, or the PUC are already setting the example or announcing promising initiatives. To succeed, each club must designate a volunteer liaison dedicated to this task, responsible for recruiting help and investing in adequate equipment. A simple phone behind the backstop won’t cut it; you need cameras powered by mains electricity and a dedicated 5G or Wi-Fi network.
François Colombier, Commentator Huskies TV Rouen
Platforms like Swislive or Twitch don’t capture our community’s audience. YouTube remains a good compromise, despite its growing drawbacks in terms of costs and potential impact linked to American tensions. The solution adopted by La Rochelle, which has entrusted the broadcast to a French platform, seems the most stable so far. If you have only one camera, for optimal viewing quality, a high-angle shot overlooking the middle of the third-base line is recommended (as Metz has adopted).
Ten criteria will be evaluated and scored out of 10:
- Image quality
- Number of cameras
- Score display
- Channel identity
- Channel branding
- Commentary
- Options (radar, slow-motion)
- Broadcasting platform
- Streaming quality
- Replay quality
As last year, three clubs exceed federal requirements, two are doing their best to keep up, and three have yet to implement anything. The season promises to be rich in challenges and opportunities for our clubs!
