MSNBC.com to stream ‘The Razzies’ live
Cory Bergman February 24th, 2007
Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. PT, MSNBC.com will stream the annual, irreverent awards show, The Razzies, which celebrates the worst picture of the year. And there’s a twist: “In the spirit of the Razzies, the production team will forego traditional video cameras and instead use their cell phones to capture and transmit the action,” reads the press release. “The broadcast will aim to provide viewers with four unique perspectives of the award show: backstage, on-stage, around the stage and with key players in the action.” This should be interesting. (Thanks, Brian!)
Updates Safran: Watching it live now. Two surprises: how good the picture quality is (especially from the cam-phone down front) and how weak the audio is. I would have predicted the other way around. This actually bodes well, when you think about it. Live event coverage of ambient audio is always tough, even with pro-grade equipment - you usually need to tap into an audio board. So the fact that they can pump out such good video quality is the more difficult of the two tasks. A live reporter speaking into a headset would be heard clearly. A replacement for broadcast quality? No. An impressive proof of concept? Absolutely.
Adds Alan in comments: “Watched it, too, and had the same results: Okay video but awful audio. I assume the audio problem could be fixed without any major problem. But streaming live events isn’t as important as the ability of anyone to broadcast live video. This is truly a ** revolutionary ** application.”
Adds Scott: “I’m with ComVu Media, the company that arranged and provided the cell phone streaming technology, in conjunction with Nokia. We were using 6 Nokia N93’s for the broadcast. Yes, we did experience poor audio quality due to over modulation of the on-board mics in the phones. In other words, the audio was way too hot. Nothing we could do about it. We are really pushing the envelope here, and it looks like the handset manufacturers need to modify the auto gain control in the devices.”
5 Comments Add your own
1. Steve Safran | February 24th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
My goodness that’s wonderful. I hope it’s a big hit.
2. Alan A. Reiter | February 25th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I watched it, too, and had the same results: Okay video but awful audio. I assume the audio problem could be fixed without any major problem.
But streaming live events isn’t as important as the ability of anyone to broadcast live video. This is truly a ** revolutionary ** application.
We’re already seeing how camera phone photos and videos (archived) are changing news reporting, politics, social interaction, etc. But soon anyone (with a compatible phone and service plan) will be able to stream live video — whether it’s at a fire, a natural disaster, a military action or…..just a kid’s birthday party.
I’m sure we’ll see living streams channels being hosted on Web sites, webblogs, etc.
The ramifications of this are not to be underestimated.
3. invitedmedia | February 25th, 2007 at 10:48 am
in honor of it being sunday:
it’s like preaching to the choir.
who needs an expensive studio, transmitter, dma or dial position?
4. Scott Jamar | February 25th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Hey Guys,
Thanks for the write up. I’m with ComVu Media, the company that arranged and provided the cell phone streaming technology, in conjunction with Nokia.
We were using 6 Nokia N93’s for the broadcast BTW.
Yes, we did experience poor audio quality due to over modulation of the on-board mics in the phones. In other words, the audio was way too hot. Nothing we could do about it. We are really pushing the envelope here, and it looks like the handset manufacturers need to modify the auto gain control in the devices.
However, your overall view is right on the money. This was a groundbreaking event. 6 “Citizen Journalists” wandering around the show, and instant switching between camera feeds.
However Alan, this solution is available today. You can post to your blog, YouTube account, etc… Just go to comvu.com, check out if we support your phone, and sign up for a free account. we have not started charging for this just yet.
Thanks again for understanding, and the kind supportive conclusions!
Best,
Scott
5. Safran | February 25th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Scott:
Great to hear from you, and it’s especially interesting to hear your firsthand conclusions. Yep - you were way overmodulated. No two ways about it. But good for you for admitting it, and even better for you for trying the experiment. And your conclusion about an audio-gain switch is a good one - and something I often wonder about during conference calls. I have way too many options on my camera phone - but way too few when it comes to adjusting the picture and audio levels. Those will change.
Congrats on being a pioneer.
Steve
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