by Dogwatcher » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:20 am
Live RFL Broadcasts off to a great start!
The first game of the season is always a big event, but especially so for the Riverland Life FM broadcast team as the time approached to begin. Interviews were organised in advance with team officials and those "in the know", and then it was 2:30 - "You're on-air!".
Thanks to the experienced leadership of Tim Jackson, the broadcast flowed well with all of the essential ingredients in place. Co-commentators Bruce Gehling and Mick Beech were on a steep learning curve as they met the challenge of naming every player on the field instantly when describing the play.
The build-up to this season has been excellent with the combined impetus of the League's centenary year and the return to live radio coverage after an absence of 15 years.
General Manager of Riverland Life FM, Gary Wheatcroft, said "We're very pleased with our first broadcast. A lot of work has gone into it and it felt so good to see it all come together on the day. You could see the question in the faces of some before the coverage started, wondering whether it would actually come off. Such a contrast with after the game - when the same faces were so pleased that it had gone so well.
The live broadcasts of our local football represent a huge investment by Riverland Life FM. Our commitment this year alone will cost us $18,000 - mostly in the purchase of the required equipment.
We are hoping that this season will be a huge step forward for Riverland Life FM in so many ways. One of our key desires is to create a new full-time job at the Station for a Breakfast Announcer. We can't grow unless the people of the Riverland support us - but as they do support us, we are putting it into our community.
We are very grateful to Wayne Burgan at Cashflow Manager for sponsoring Naming Rights of our broadcasts, to three Riverland families who have donated $2,500 between them, and to another 4 families who have provided interest-free loans, to make this coverage possible. These people have all been willing to support a positive development for the Riverland and Northern Mallee.
We would especially like to thank Mick Beech at the RFL for his enthusiastic support of the project. Mick knew immediately that live broadcasts would be a great thing for local football and has been a driver all along.
The whole team is looking forward to this week's game live from Waikerie."
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