Since Feb 2006, RowTv clips have played on Google or YouTube 377,342
times. Users saved 4,927 downloads on their own PCs.
When RowTv video was first posted on Google in Feb 2006, users were
keen to
download copies. Two years later, with the growth of broadband,
the clips
are now played much more on line, according to the chart above.
Google clips are played via the Tube
button top. Also direct from Google,
where full screen, Mac, download
& email services are available.
With 52% of UK households now on broadband, RowTv narrowband usage
above seem to compare well.
But these figures are user sessions, not user modems. There are more
clips to choose from in 56kps format - 10,500 from 2001 to 2007. (And a
further 2,520 clips listed and available on request from 1999/2000)
Broadband clips from 2005 - 2007 number 1,750, with Henley finals and
semi-finals back to 1999.
Today's focus has shifted to Google/YouTube hosting (see below), and
figures get even harder to compare, as races are stored in sets of 8-10,
or groups of 20-30 boats at Head of the River events.
… but broadband users play more videos
One constant measure (below), RowTv 56kps modem clips stored in
Canada, shows usage doubling over three years
An interesting and unusual video resource is now available for rowing
clubs: 285 races from Henley Royal Regatta 2007.
Ideal for club events and dinners, behind the club bar, personal
mementoes for competitors and coaches, or promotion and archives, the clips require a recent PC, 80
gb of disk storage, and a projector or large screen.
Based on this year's trial CrewTV service in the HRR Boat Tents (see
below), the video was shot from the regatta
enclosure grandstand, and stored as individual race files of around 90 seconds each.
Named by day_race number (wed_12, thu_34, fri_22 etc), the files are captioned
and easy to
find and play continuously from lists provided.
Use Windows Notepad to make your own play-lists and captions.
Shot in Sony high-definition, the clips are stored in PAL (TV) standard for easy conversion
if required to DVD and Internet qualities.
This year's HRR races were screened in
a trial TV service in the boat tents, morning races from lunchtime,
afternoon from tea time, all day next morning. There was video on
demand for crews wanting to watch their own or their opponents' races.
The trial service was fronted by Ian Ahusa, who starts "A" level studies next term
at Sir William Borlase's Grammar
School, Marlow.
"Normally they (crews) wanted to see two races, and I found them.
Sometimes it took a bit long, but mostly quite quickly. They were
pleased to see their races and were looking at technique and
constructively criticising themselves.
"They were pleased at the quality of the video and the big screen,
and how easy it was to start the video again"
Finals, semis and prize giving are on DVD: Henley
Champions 2007
Club & university events, including qualifiers, will be published
on DVD in the Road to Henley series, starting with the Thames and
Temple
Piling Platform Passes Fawley Court, 2007
For a few days each summer, the peace and tranquility of Remenham Parish give way to piling
teams and groundsmen. Both have an early deadline: Henley Womens Regatta 22-24 June.
Piling contractors Freeboom start building the course at the Finish. They complete the main
structures in the Stewards' Enclosure ... the floating grandstand, finish box, press box
and spectator platform. Then they head towards the start, working with the stream,
driving the distinctive piles and booms.
At Fawley Court, Jeremy Fenn, Freeboom MD, aligns the piles.
At Remenham Farm, hosts to Henley Womens Regatta, mowers are out preparing
the annual transformation into an international rowing event.
RowTv clips cost
£4.00 on DVD. Extra labelled, boxed and shrink-wrapped discs cost £4.00 each, if included on the original order. VAT & delivery are both
included, and there is a minimum order charge of £20.00.
The DVD auto-starts with a titles/credits sequence containing short, 10-second
extracts from each race. Copyright-free music can be included.
The races then run in date/time order, ending with a menu enabling
individual sections to be replayed. The menu is accessible any time
through the title or menu key on the remote control.
Titles and race scenes are repeated on disc label and box.
Production is currently 21 days from receipt of payment. Payment by credit card through
Paypal, cheque or bank transfer.
...Or add heats to the Henley Champions DVD
Crews defeated in their heats can still
have their appearance on record by including their heats/qualifiers (or
pre-Henley races) in the Henley Champions DVD. Or in the new Road to Henley
series which covers all races and qualifiers in each of the main
Club/University events
How the costs work out:
Henley Champions 2006
£16.00
All finals, semi-finals and
prizegiving
Clips (2):
£ 8.00
hrr255_14, hrr256_31,
DVDs (4):
£12.00
Master DVD plus two extra copies
Total
£36.00
£9.00 each for a four-man crew
The DVD uses the same format as the Henley Champions DVD: titles; finals,
semi-finals and prizegiving in Sunday race order; then selection menu by
event. Your clips precede the semis and finals for your event, either from
auto-start or from the menu.
You can access the menu at any time with the title or menu key on your
remote control
The disc label and box are unchanged from the Henley Champions DVD.
Production is currently 21 days from receipt of payment. Payment by credit card through
Paypal, cheque or bank transfer.
Your selection of RowTv clips, around one minute each, is available on
DVD in PAL (Europe) or NTSC (USA) standard. Your choice of title is displayed over a preview sequence of fast cuts and dissolves from each race.
Following the titles, the races are captioned with event and results. Copyright-free music
over the titles (some prefer no music) from http://www.freeplaymusic.com
DVDs auto-start in the DVD player, play through all races, then close with a menu up to
5 race options ... each race (5 clips), each regatta (5 regattas), or each month if more than 5 regattas. The menu may
also be selected by remote control without playing through all races.
DVDs are delivered labelled, boxed and shrink-wrapped, overprinted with scenes from your races. To help maintain your collection next season, all clips may be "carried forward" free of charge, provided the original RowTv disc is returned.
Note: these excerpts highly compressed for slow modem streaming.