Links to free audio broadcasts by Cornell's opponents

jason · November 01, 2002, 11:30:59 PM

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/letsgored/audiolinks.html

Ok, hopefully the info contained in the above is correct, but I can't make any promises. Amazingly, all but 2 (or 3, depending on how the Everblades Tourney unfolds) games could be available free.

Feel free to let me know of any errors you discover.

(EDIT: John Whelan, sorry to steal your idea, but being on paternity leave means what little time is not occupied by the baby is nonetheless spent in the house, so this little sit-at-my-computer project fit the bill when I needed a mental distraction.)

Greg Berge · November 02, 2002, 02:12:06 AM

Good job. Hmmm... 99.9% of the fans who listen to hockey games on the internet now have access through this to a free alternative to Cornell's lame pay service.

Sure turned out great for the athletic department, didn't it? :-D

jtwcornell91 · November 02, 2002, 03:48:22 AM

Jason N '95 wrote:

Quote(EDIT: John Whalen, sorry to steal your idea, but being on paternity leave means what little time is not occupied by the baby is nonetheless spent in the house, so this little sit-at-my-computer project fit the bill when I needed a mental distraction.)

Hey, you'll get no complaints from me. One less thing on my "to do" list.

I would prefer if you spelled my name correctly, though. ;-)

Al DeFlorio · November 02, 2002, 07:23:20 AM

As far as I'm concerned: Screw the bahstids.:-(

jason · November 02, 2002, 11:13:12 AM

D'oh! fixed it.

Al DeFlorio · November 02, 2002, 11:19:47 AM

Now it's spelled wrong only in John's post.;-)

dodger916 · November 03, 2002, 09:01:23 AM

Does anyone know WHY there's a charge for the audio? Before I condemn Cornell or Athletics, I'd like to know the background. Does anyone actually KNOW the background? With all these strong judgements being thrown around, I'd hope the facts are understood....

redice · November 03, 2002, 09:16:52 AM

Here's a note that Laura Stange sent to me:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding our internet broadcasting. We regret that we cannot continue to offer Big Red internet broadcasts free of charge.

Due to the recent upheaval in the Internet broadcasting industry, we had to look at new options for providing netcasts of hockey, football, basketball and lacrosse. In the past, we were fortunate to have a system that cost us nothing to use, but that option is no longer available. Several alternatives were explored for us to continue offering this service, but all came with a substantial price tag. Facing budgetary constraints that wouldn't allow us to do this on our own, but not wanting to cut off our online audience, we opted for a subscription package.

I would also like to mention that the move to a subscription service was not looked to as a strategic way to increase department revenue. Our agreement is simply a way to continue to make games accessible to fans outside of the normal radio-listening area.

On a related front: I am willing to pay the $6.95 per month. But, am unwilling to give RealOne open access to my credit card account. Has anyone found a way around that problem? RealOne doesn't reply to my notes on the subject (making me feel good about my decision to NOT give them my credit card number).

Al DeFlorio · November 03, 2002, 09:17:49 AM

The facts are clear: $7/month to listen via CornellPass. Or you can listen free from every other school except Princeton...and, I guess, UMass.

What else do you need to know? Cornell Athletics screws over its Faithful fans. Dumb.

Al DeFlorio · November 03, 2002, 09:20:18 AM

Interesting that fourteen of our sixteen opponents found a way to offer their fans free broadcasts. Sorry, Laura, that's the usual BS.

kaelistus · November 03, 2002, 10:15:57 AM

Agreeing with Al here,

What makes the internet structure so different today than last year that they can't afford it? Why is that system no longer available? Its total bullshit. It costs more to keep the Hockey Cam going than just Audio, but that's happening (Thanks, Age!).

And their choice or RealPlayer makes it worse - that system has always been junk. (Not to mention incompatible with almost every OS that isn't called Windows)

jy3 · November 03, 2002, 11:33:06 AM

actually...
from what i was told the new tax or charges or something on internet broadcasting is hitting a lot of stations hard. many of the smaller radio stations around the country who need internet broadcast b/c of web ads for money cant do it b/c of the taxes. dont know how true this is, but this is what i was told. if anyone wants to do some research go right ahead ::help::

littleredfan · November 03, 2002, 12:15:32 PM

isn't the music royalty issue that internet broadcasters have to pay? or is that something completely different...

dodger916 · November 03, 2002, 01:03:13 PM

I think I found out why, and it's not BS. I'm not exceptionally well-versed in internet lingo, but here goes. Athletics changed its web site provider (last year?) when its former provider (Total Sports?) went belly-up. The agreement with the new provider (OCSN) gave them the rights to the internet broadcasts, and hence the ability to charge. It also suggests that Athletics does not benefit directly from these charges as Laura mentions.

So, it might not be BS as Al suggests. It may also answer Felix's questions about the change from last year and the choice of RealPlayer. Any older web agreements may not provide for the network charges, but newer ones (like Cornell's) might. And, the network might be OCSN's choice.

But, a larger question is begged here: might the Hockey Cam fall under the OCSN agreement? If OCSN has the rights to video as well as audio, it would, and Athletics would not have a say in the matter. Hey, maybe OCSN could combine the audio and (upgraded?) video in one package. Now THAT might make the $7/month more attractive. And if the Faithful paid the stinkin' $7, maybe OCSN would have an incentive to provide this service. Let's not cut off our nose to spite our face here. $1.75/game during four home-game months seems like a pretty good deal for audio and video. Just my $.02......

Lowell '99 · November 03, 2002, 01:44:40 PM

I've been as big a critic of the Athletic Department as anyone reading this, but I'm no longer angry at the charge for internet broadcasts. From talking to a friend who works in the department, I'm confident that they're not making a cent off this. A third party lays out the costs and reaps the rewards (as it were). It's a break even proposition for Cornell, and we as fans at least have the option of listening. Now, if you want to criticize them for not taking a loss (ie. paying for the costs of the broadcast and not charging us), that's your right, but I don't blame them.

As for how other schools are still doing it for free... I don't know. Perhaps there's a way it still could be free, but that way was missed. If so, Athletics should be criticized for being stupid, not money-grubbing.

Now, about that f' ing logo.....