Tri-Castor

The Trenton Thunder is doing something new this year, and that is streaming their games live on the Internet. In order to accomplish this task they need a Tri-Castor. A Tri-Castor is a device that acts like a switcher in the control room. It has multiple camera inputs, with graphics, and audio channels. The Tri-Castor is great because it is compact and portable. Trenton Thunder has five camera feeds that input into the Tri-Castor. However, an unfortunate quark to the Tri-Castor is that only one camera can be previewed at a time.

The use of a Tri-Castor has changed their whole operation. The Tri-Castor operator has a lot going on during the game. The operator controls everything. One-person switches between the cameras, captures the replay footage, controls the audio and displays the graphics. Before the game the operator has to update all of the graphics with the correct stats for the night. The graphics feature is a lot like Photoshop in that multiple layers go into making one graphic. These graphics are mainly for lower thirds when a batter comes to the plate.

Live streaming is something only a select few Double A teams have. The Tri-Castor is not new technology, but it is something that the Trenton Thunder value very much. Now that they can stream live new advertising spots have opened up. The radio broadcasters narrate the game. However, in between innings they get muted on the live stream. As of right now this is dead space in the stream. When advertisements get sold that gap will be filled. This is one of many options the Thunder can give to their sponsors looking to advertise with them.

MiLB.com is where these games can be found. MilB.com hosts all minor league live-streamed games. The set up is similar to MLB.com streamed games. A person needs to pay a subscription in order to watch the games. Live streaming has been a great advantage to Thunder fans giving them another option to watch the game. The use of a Tri-Caster is what made live streaming possible for the Thunder.