QLD GPS Rugby 2018

[Garry Owens]

^ Shush.

Best not to bring this up

 

[Hound]

Hang about Hound ..

Let’s not write off either BBC or Churchie for something a bit better than 3rd given that they both still have to play the Nudge

Correct but from what I have seen so far NC have a belief in themselves that you don't usually see in a schoolboy team. They do not panic if they are behind, they trust their style of play and keep going. Whereas other teams may revert or try something different (panic) NC do not appear to do this. As much as I would like to see BBC or Churchie roll them I think is a bridge too far. Mind you if NC or TSS do falter in the run home it will add some spice to the last round.

 

[Wombat70]

The last round will be spicey no matter what happens next because by my reckoning there will have to be at least a couple of teams playing for either a share or an outright win. The next two rounds have the top four playing with everything to win.

 

[armatt]

Hi all, I'm Rob from DoubleTake. I thought it worth getting rid of some misconceptions and you're all very welcome to ask me any questions or pass on any requests.

Streamed games are determined in consultation with all schools. Permission is required, requested, and obtained from both schools each week for each stream. Often, taking those permissions into account we're only left with two games, so bingo - there's the two. If we're left with three (or - and this hasn't ever happened - four), we select two games admittedly subjectively, but things we will prefer in a rough order of significance are:

1. Have the schools involved been featured on a stream recently? I emphasise that we would prefer to feature all teams equally (again - subject to permission from the schools involved)
2. Is the match a significant match for either or both schools (rivalry, 'Old Boys Day' or similar)
   • We emphasise this because as a school comp, we want to champion the awesome cultures of the schools involved and not make it all about winning, premierships, 17 year old superstars (an endemic problem in Aus rugby imho - but that's another discussion) etc
3. Does either one of or both teams in the match have realistic Premiership aspirations?
4. Are the teams close to each other on the ladder/of similar standard (nobody wants to watch a blowout)

(In 2017 we actually drafted a proposed stream schedule that in nine rounds featured every team no less than three and no more than four times (absolute equality was impossible), with exactly one 'match of the round' stream at each school's home venue. It was as equal as possible. Obviously, this proposal required approval of all nine schools. That wasn't obtained. We've done our best to go as close as possible to it since, though.)

Just as importantly, some things we do not consider are:

1. Likely audience size/viewer numbers. We don't do these streams for commercial gain, and aren't trying to build an audience. We don't sell ads. Naturally, some of the factors above (especially 2 and 3) will generally drive larger numbers (Terrace v Nudgee the prime example) but it's not something that we take note of. A larger audience is certainly not something that benefits us in any meaningful way.
2. Facilities at each school's venue. We live stream plenty of events from weird places. We can get a stream going almost anywhere. We would prefer to spread the good word from every school than only set up at 'comfortable' venues.
   • Again, here I'd add is that we are hosted by and obviously work with the schools involved. We do request assistance with things like marquees, and camera platforms/risers but as their guest and supplier we rightly should do our work in the manner and location requested by them.
   • Re: the camera obstructions (students and hats... oh the hats...) at Southport - we have requested assistance from the school in addressing that issue. This has not been able to be worked out. We can't film from the east (would be annihilated by sun, and there's no power), and we are not able to install our own platform each week without incurring significant cost. This isn't just the cost of the riser, but to allow us to keep costs really low for the schools, means that we need to have flexibility at our end with our rostering etc (not all of our operators have a van and could just casually set up a platform on a Saturday morning...). As I said, we've requested assistance from the school; I'm optimistic that we'll have something worked out soon.

TLDR: we work with the schools to get permission, and to make the logistics work. We do the best we are able to do with the resources we have, and we're pretty proud of the GPS rugby product we put out. We're a small company of guys who care pretty significantly about this comp and are passionate about its success and what that means for Rugby in this country. As much as possible, we want every school to be an equal part of that, and will continue to advocate and act in the manner we believe best supports that - and will always do that in full consultation with the schools and their communities.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have anything you think we're missing or that we could improve. Always keen for feedback.

 

[armatt]

^ Ah no.

Today , I think is BSHS’s 3rd feature on DoubleTake in their match up v Churchie which is their 4th ( TSS, GT and IGS being the others)

GT are DoubleTake darlings as well with 4 games telecast from 6

Not much love for BGS , BBC , TGS or IGS - maybe only 2 featured games each

I mean ...High and Terrace are bottom of the table - as are BGS ( but at least they are playing a more enterprising brand of Rugby despite not having gushy name power in how DT call the games ) IGS also share the wooden spoon at the moment and with good reason. Between these 4 - 2 will end up with 1 x win and 2 will end up with 2 x wins in how the remainder of the matches figure to pan out , yet High and Terrace are dominantly featured ?

I don’t get it

Check out my post above, Garry. Should explain it all for you.

I understand and to a degree share your frustration, and can assure you that we have been in regular contact with all of those schools you list as not having much love - and specifically contact about streams. I don't believe it's appropriate for me to speak for each school or discuss the specifics of our discussions, however I can assure you that we would jump at the opportunity to stream more of these schools' matches if we were able.

 

[Neville Magee]

Hi all, I'm Rob from DoubleTake. I thought it worth getting rid of some misconceptions and you're all very welcome to ask me any questions or pass on any requests.

Excellent summary and statement of a wonderful service provided by very decent chaps. Thank you.

 

[Garry Owens]

Thanks for taking the time to reply Rob

Much appreciated

Congratulations on the services your business provides - I think you guys are committed in what you do and provide an entertaining and quality service

Keep up the good work

 

[Confucius Say]

Double Take is very good.

Rob, will you be doing Super Saturday on October 6?

 

[Confucius Say]

And Rob, if you could get sponsorship like naming rights, would you be interested?

 

[Garry Owens]

^ Yoplait ?

 

[Oracle83]

Yep cheers Rob gives us all a much better take on it all. Thanks, you guys do a great job full stop never mind the circumstances.

 

[armatt]

Double Take is very good.

Rob, will you be doing Super Saturday on October 6?

And Rob, if you could get sponsorship like naming rights, would you be interested?

Thanks CS. Re: October 6, we're definitely booked in for a lot of Rugby on that day so it's a Super Saturday for us. What match(es) did you have in mind though?

As to sponsorship - it's not something that is preferred by the schools at this stage. We enjoy putting up the product that we have but at this stage there is not a preference to commercialise it, which I understand. Ultimately as well, that is the schools' call.

Thanks also to Garry, Neville and Oracle for the support and kind words.

 

[Confucius Say]

Thanks Rob for your response and understand respecting the sponsorship.

This was on the QLD Rugby site.

On Saturday 6 October there will be a festival of Rugby at Ballymore with the Junior Gold Cup Final (U15s) to start the day, followed by the Junior Rugby Championship Final (U16s), leading into the Schools Fixtures. ​

Saturday October 6, Ballymore ​

Australian Schools Barbarians v Tonga, 3.30pm ​

Australian Schools v New Zealand Schools, 5pm​

 

[Garry Owens]

Thanks Rob for your response and understand respecting the sponsorship.

This was on the QLD Rugby site.

On Saturday 6 October there will be a festival of Rugby at Ballymore with the Junior Gold Cup Final (U15s) to start the day, followed by the Junior Rugby Championship Final (U16s), leading into the Schools Fixtures. ​

Saturday October 6, Ballymore ​

Australian Schools Barbarians v Tonga, 3.30pm ​

Australian Schools v New Zealand Schools, 5pm​

I’m sure Tashara could hook you up . You should give him a call

 

[Rugrat]

Thanks Rob at Doubletake. The live streaming has been awesome. I think the GPS school’s rugby is about the best rugby to watch. As a tragic rugby fan it is fantastic to be able to watch these games. Great for development of the game and for the whole community of rugby, players, students, old boys and parents.

 

[Blanco]

IMO - it needs quality sponsorship, i understand the schools concerns however its long term growth will be limited in its absence. It is such a suberb product that has enormous potential and scope. This is how you fix Australian rugby by spending money and promoting its quality grassroots products. Hats off Doubletake, for your work so far and I hope you get to take it to the next level for Australian rugby's sake.

 

[Wombat70]

Is it the schools that are resisting the sponsorship? If so ; it's a bit rich given the list of sponsors (car companies, private hospitals etc) that abound both on public address and physical installations at one school (at least) .

Am I correct in thinking that DoubleTake record every game and make them available to the schools for coaching purposes etc? If so they should be falling over themselves to provide good facilities for the camera crews.

 

[Wombat70]

Bye the way, I'd like to add my voice to the appreciation of your service. I think school rugby is by far the most entertaining rugby and I look forward to "the DoubleTake show" every weekend. I just wish we could get the other games as we did last year.

 

[Tbone]

I’m sure Tashara could hook you up . You should give him a call

Speaking of Tashara, where's the highlights reel from the BBC games on the weekend? Get your act together fella.

 

[RugbyReg]

Is it the schools that are resisting the sponsorship? If so ; it's a bit rich given the list of sponsors (car companies, private hospitals etc) that abound both on public address and physical installations at one school (at least) .
.

That would be the point. They want to protect their partners and not allow competing brands aligned to the broadcast.