ACUtv plans to produce live streaming online for ESPN3 of ACU Football when they compete against University of the Incarnate Word on Sept. 29 and Nicholls State on Oct. 13.
Hutton Harris, video production manager for ACUtv, was proud to announce ACUtv’s newest projects: covering, at least, two games this fall on ESPN3. For the first time, ACUtv will be viewed on a globally-recognized platform. Nathan Gibbs, director of operations for ACUtv, said he had originally contacted ESPN a couple of years ago, after learning of the partnership ESPN offers with universities. The partnership entails that if a university has a broadcasting facility and the equipment available, they can exchange the content for the platform. ESPN allows universities to broadcast their games as if it were television on their website.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” Gibbs said. “This will be an experiment, our first time trying. We will see if it works well and if athletics likes it. We are hoping that next year more of the games would be streamed for ESPN, and, perhaps, we’d get to basketball.”
ACUtv has already hit the ground running, covering important events across campus, such as Wildcat Week, Opening Chapel Ceremony and ACU Volleyball vs. Texas Tech. Both Gibbs and Harris share the same vision to expand the program to correspond with all departments of ACU, instead of specifically athletics.
“I’d like to partner with other people across campus,” Gibbs said. “If they’ve got conversations, discussions, presentations or educational things they want to do, we’ve got a great space for them.”
New assets for ACUtv include more remote-controlled cameras, teleprompters and the recently renovated broadcast studio set. For the first time, classes will be taking place inside the studio, which means students will have the benefit of training in the broadcast environment. Last year, the ACUtv staff consisted of about 30 students. This year, the team has grown by nearly 25 members. ACUtv attempts to train all students to the position of their choice and give them experience in those positions.
“There is a lot of jobs that we have to get filled,” Gibbs said. “Every project requires about ten people, at minimum. There is a lot of work to be done.”
The demand for ACUtv’s technological assistance in further marketing the various programs offered here at ACU are at an all-time high. The program brought in about $75,000 of revenue within the past school year and continues to grow. With the new projects for the coming year, the projected estimate of revenue is $90,000.
“In the end, I just want to make ACU look good,” Gibbs said. “If we make ACU look good, then the department looks good, and that helps market the university.”
