Interview

1. Tell us something about you and your company/work?

I am a volunteer for Davis County Youth Hockey Association. I am on the board of directors, coach multiple teams, and I'm also the webmaster. Up until a couple of years ago I had no experience in video streaming at all. We hold a small hockey tournament each year for some fun for our kids and as a small fundraiser. I thought it would be fun to live stream the games for free so family and friends who could not attend the games could watch them live or archived. In addition, I thought it might make it more appealing for teams to travel to our tournament from other cities as their families could also watch live.

After some fast learning, I was able to live stream the 2014 tournament. It was new but received great feedback. Although the live viewership was small, every person that was able to watch was grateful.
Having them on YouTube is also a great feature. We have seen kids actually watching replays of their own plays almost immediately after the games end.

2. How did you find Live Score and what was your first impression?

After learning how to stream the games for the 2014 tournament, I started thinking about possible enhancements for the 2015 tournament. As the cameraman for most of the games, I recognized that because there was no scoreboard, at every whistle I was pointing the camera at the scoreboard in the arena. I checked out other hockey videos like mine and found that other people also pointed at the scoreboard on the whistles.

For the 2015 tournament I set out to find a scoreboard for the broadcast. I started searching all over the Internet for the scoreboard. I mostly found a few different video production companies that didn't have pricing and it's clear it would have been very expensive. I found there weren't many turnkey solutions. Live-score was the first one I found, but I actually dismissed it at first because it was free and based on the others, that would be impossible. So I looked elsewhere. There really isn't anything inexpensive and one is only available for Mac and I use a PC.

So I came back to live-score and gave a closer look. I then realized it was exactly what I was looking for and even more amazed that all I needed was an iPad for a remote and for very little money I was set for 2015 with a scoreboard!

3. How do you use Live Score and how does it change the way you work?

My entire technical setup is made up by just your average home video camera, a Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle USB 3.0, a Samsung laptop with a i7 processor, 8gb of RAM and 1gb of onboard video (all stock).

When I added the scoreboard, I just use a diamond display link USB adapter to run a second monitor and put the live-score program on it. I then use the Wirecast Remote Desktop Presenter to capture the scoreboard and import the shot.
It's really simple.

For 2015, I no longer had to point the camera at the scoreboard anymore because it's already on the screen. As far as keeping the time and score, the iPad remote is so easy that I don't even have any full-time help at the games. Before the game starts, I just look around the audience and find a teenager...someone that might be interested in helping and having fun with some technology and ask them if they'll keep the time and score on the scoreboard for the video broadcast.
A lot of the time they'll come look at the setup and I'll teach them how the scoreboard integrates into the stream. Then they just watch the game with their family, like normal, but also keep the scoreboard as they can do it anywhere through the wifi.
It's really a great setup.

4. Which projects and shows have you been involved and what are you currently working on?

As an amateur, the only live streaming I do is each year with our tournament.
Currently I'm working on the 2016 tournament. In addition to recruiting teams and doing stuff for the board of directors and tournament committee, I'm always looking at ways to improve the live stream. As with most amateur projects, every advancement is a struggle, but I'm looking forward to adding other features this year and in the future.