This is the reply I received from Rob McNichol back in October when I queried the video/audio issue:
It is not a case of us 'separating' the commentary from the footage on iFollow. The commentary that we receive comes from Radio Devon, essentially patched into iFollow, and is broadcast via the audio channel to subscribers both domestic and international, as is ever has been.
This year has seen the addition of streaming video, which is essentially a live stream of the one-camera feed used by ITN to film for what is referred to as the 'Goals Exchange' - that is, the service that provides the footage to Channel 5 for their EFL show, to Sky Sports for their highlights clips, and indeed to iFollow and YouTube for the match specific highlights.
Should a commentary be added, it would most likely not be via the very complicated manner of trying to sync them - the delays are different, they are controlled at different places, etc - but instead for us to add our own commentary. Indeed, there is potential for us to take over the whole shoot and provide the complete video provision, with a multi-camera shoot. This is something we are investigating, but a) are short of the manpower and quality right now, and b) want to get absolutely right before rolling out.
Also for us to consider is the option of whether or not we can make the commentary an in-play option. That is to say, that the viewer would be able to switch it off. We have actually had several correspondents report to us that they enjoy the ambient sound of the game, and of the Green Army.
We were given extremely short notice by EFL digital that streaming video was going to be a feature for this season. Indeed, the fixed, inflexible price point that overseas subscribers have to pay has been something we have raised, and would have raised prior to the season had we been informed of it.
Value for money is of course in the eye of the beholder, but having access to watch all our games anywhere in the world is a huge boon to our supporters, and we are very pleased to be able to share as much action as we can with the Green Army, whether in Bermuda or Bristol, Egypt or Ernesettle.
We will always strive to make any offering to our supporters as good as it can be, but we can only so much with our small amount of man power and resource.
It is not a case of us 'separating' the commentary from the footage on iFollow. The commentary that we receive comes from Radio Devon, essentially patched into iFollow, and is broadcast via the audio channel to subscribers both domestic and international, as is ever has been.
This year has seen the addition of streaming video, which is essentially a live stream of the one-camera feed used by ITN to film for what is referred to as the 'Goals Exchange' - that is, the service that provides the footage to Channel 5 for their EFL show, to Sky Sports for their highlights clips, and indeed to iFollow and YouTube for the match specific highlights.
Should a commentary be added, it would most likely not be via the very complicated manner of trying to sync them - the delays are different, they are controlled at different places, etc - but instead for us to add our own commentary. Indeed, there is potential for us to take over the whole shoot and provide the complete video provision, with a multi-camera shoot. This is something we are investigating, but a) are short of the manpower and quality right now, and b) want to get absolutely right before rolling out.
Also for us to consider is the option of whether or not we can make the commentary an in-play option. That is to say, that the viewer would be able to switch it off. We have actually had several correspondents report to us that they enjoy the ambient sound of the game, and of the Green Army.
We were given extremely short notice by EFL digital that streaming video was going to be a feature for this season. Indeed, the fixed, inflexible price point that overseas subscribers have to pay has been something we have raised, and would have raised prior to the season had we been informed of it.
Value for money is of course in the eye of the beholder, but having access to watch all our games anywhere in the world is a huge boon to our supporters, and we are very pleased to be able to share as much action as we can with the Green Army, whether in Bermuda or Bristol, Egypt or Ernesettle.
We will always strive to make any offering to our supporters as good as it can be, but we can only so much with our small amount of man power and resource.