Dec. 13 Voice of the Illini chat
Thursday, December 13, 2012 - 11:00am
Ask Brian Barnhart about the Illini's No. 10 ranking, John Groce's sideline demeanor and the who's going to win the Braggin' Rights game? He's chatting at 11 a.m. Thursday but submit questions any time.
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Good morning. Sunny and chilly here in Champaign. Looking forward to the remaining non-conference games to see if the Illini can go into the Big Ten season undefeated.
Lets get started.
Brian,
The Big Ten Network has multiple channels available for non-conference football games that are played at the same time. Why can't they use them to televise non-conference basketball games? And if that's not possible, why not let local stations televise any games not carried by the BTN? I'm sure that would be better for local fans than no TV at all, or the obviously cheaper StudentU telecasts, which while it does give students some broadcasting experience, aren't very good at times. I think the Big Ten forced local stations, like WCIA, out of televising basketball games a little too soon.
Big Al,
Your questions are good ones and there are probably multiple layers of answers to them
I think as the Big Ten Network has evolved...it has gone from a network that was scrambling to fill programming hours with sporting events.... to one that has plenty of in-house and pre-produced programming to work with. ...That way the network can be a little more selective and cost-effective when it comes to its programming.
Dont know if a lot of people realize this...but the cost of having a full broadcast crew...complete with announcers...camera crew....producer, director, technical support, video and audio crews....plus the expense of having a fully equipped satellite truck at multiple Big Ten locations on the same night.... can be very, very high.
I cant speak for the network...but I am guessing that it is much more cost-effective to pick and choose the Big Ten games to cover that matter the most to the biggest and most interested audiences...and then invest the time and money into those matchups. While the Illini-Colgate or Illini-St.Francis game(s) might be interesting to us Illini fans....the cost of sending an entire broadcast crew to Champaign and buying expensive satellite time to fully produce that game may not be that cost-effective to BTN. That is where using the student broadcasters and offering the game on-line helps reduce those costs. Plus...it gives the broadcast students (and I was one of those at one point in my life-so I can relate to giving them a chance)...some experience as well.
As far as "farming" the games out to local stations....the Big Ten is spending big money to have the rights to the games. They are not going to just give those away.
It all really comes down to the bottom line on a lot of decisions like this. And the purpose of the Big Ten Network does not include losing money.
I really enjoy the programming they have on the air...and think they have really upgraded the overall product since when they first started.
Hi Brian,
I really enjoy listening to you and Jerry on the radio, enjoy your play by play calls and you for sure have a voice for radio. Now that Illinois is 11-0, what is your assessment up to this point and do you think the Illini are for real? Also, I know we have to play Sunday yet, but what are your thoughts on the upcoming Braggin Rights game? Are we going to end this 3 game losing streak? For what it's worth, it's probably my fault we have lost the last 3 years against Missouri, because I have gone that past 3 years to that game and this year I am unable to make it, so I thinking we will win!
Thank you,
Kenny
Kenny,
Thanks so much for the kind comments on the radio broadcasts! This year has been a lot of fun so far.
If things continue the way they are... we are likely to see the Illini-Mizzou game be a matchup of two Top 10 teams...which hasnt happened for awhile (I believe since 2003). Should be a great game. I am feeling confident in the Illini's chances of ending that much-too-long 3 game losing streak to the Tigers
Would love to hear you made it to the game...but do what you need to do I guess!
Whaddya know about Finke? Is he as good as his dad? Is he going to redshirt. I plan on seeing him play
Hey...welcome to the world of chats...!
I double-checked with Loren Tate on this...and confirmed that his father Jeff was recruited to play basketball from Casey, Illinois...but wound up switching to football and lettered with the football team as a tight end in the late 1980's .
His son is averaging about 17 points a game at Champaign Centennial. Dont know John Groce's philosophy yet on red-shirting guys. We will find out soon enough however.
I have listened to you broadcast both football and basketball games and you do a great job at both. If you had to chose between football or basketball game broadcasting which would you chose and why?
Konnie,
Good question. I like broadcasting both very much. I will say that of the two sports...basketball is much easier to do. Learning to do a football broadcast at a high-quality level takes a lot of practice!
thanks for all the questions! have to run to a meeting. Go Illini!