Broadcasting Australian equestrian events both domestically and to a global audience is an important part of growing our sport. It helps to capture a wider viewership, which not only contributes to participation uptake – but also sponsorship opportunities. Here at Equestrian Life, we’ve been championing the live streaming of horse sports for more than a decade – and as you might expect, a few things have changed in that time.

“We were at Werribee Park for the Melbourne International Three-Day Event and we were relying on one Telstra internet dongle,” recalls Chairman Robert McKay of the very first EQ Life live stream in 2011. “We had this flash new technology and I was confident that I knew how to work it and the camera. And then when the event started, several hundred people arrived and used their mobile phones and we had no signal!” Despite a few tense minutes, Rob did get the technology working and the event was streamed successfully.

“I stood up and actually did the filming for about 10 hours, and everything went to plan. We were all out to dinner that night at the (Werribee) Mansion Hotel to celebrate, when all of a sudden both my legs cramped. I had to be helped up from the table to go and walk for 15 minutes to get rid of the cramps!” Needless to say, Rob retired from a career behind the camera, and dedicated camera people were hired for subsequent streams.

Streaming from the Australian Dressage Championships at Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) one year, Rob recalls the introduction of stream-saving technology mid-event. “The event ran Thursday to Sunday. On Friday, the internet signal dropped out; I said, ‘Right, that’s it, if we can’t get a signal and can’t get a reliable connection then there’s no future in live streaming’. And then someone said ‘Rob, I was watching some cricket the other day and I saw a fellow streaming live with a pack on his back’. I investigated this lead and found there was a technology park within 15 minutes of SIEC. I rang the guy and said, ‘This is what we’re trying to do’, and he said, ‘Come and see me, I can fix it for you’.”

Rob explains the equipment they ended up with on that occasion was Israeli technology that used eight different internet dongles covering all the different providers. “I was told it was designed because there could not be a technology failure for the Israeli defence missile system – which is what it had originally been created for. He said, ‘This will not fail’. He came out on Saturday morning, an hour and a half before the event, and we had to play with the connection to get the technology right – but it worked seamlessly.”

In the early days, it wasn’t just technology battles creating the odd hiccup – not everyone was on board with the concept of broadcasting events. “There were differing views from event organisers about the merits of live streaming,” explains Rob. “Early on, at one event they were so anti-streaming that they chose a filming position for us that ensured we filmed the back side of all the sponsors’ flags and every pillar around the arena,” he laughs. “Another time, we weren’t allowed to commentate from the arena itself. And so we had to commentate remotely from a tent outside.”

Times have certainly changed, with event organisers now recognising the merits of having their event reaching a broader audience. Technology, thankfully, has come a long way as well. Not only are there far more options available to ensure a reliable internet connection at any venue, but the actual streaming production technology has improved.

“Today, we now have very sophisticated technology that makes live streaming an integrated activity that involves the picture (often from multiple cameras), graphics, live scoring, in-stream advertisements and more – all of which can be handled via a cloud-based system in many instances thanks to our incredibly clever live stream partners. It’s now a highly sophisticated arrangement,” explains Rob. “We have a massive and growing international audience, streaming through the Equestrian Life website, Facebook and German-based platform Clip My Horse TV, as well as ad-hoc event websites.”

EQ Life live streams don’t stop with competition action. For many years, they have featured the expert voices of Heath Ryan, Kerry Mack, Brett Parbery, Paul Williams and many, many more, with viewers lauding the educational experience as much as the entertainment value. And of course, a very special mention has to go to commentator Roger Fitzhardinge, who you’ve no doubt seen and heard on countless occasions over the years! EQ Life’s Publisher, Sunday Batters, has long been a face of the live streaming and introduced the concept of behind-the-scenes interviews early on; these now form a part of just about every stream, allowing viewers to get up close and personal with the riders and others involved in the sport – while at the same time providing sponsors with invaluable marketing opportunities.

From humble beginnings in 2011, EQ Life now has around 80 live streams to its name – and counting. This year, we’ve already broadcast the Summer Dressage Championships, World Wetlands Day Jumping Championships and Australian Jumping Championships from Boneo Park, as well as Dressage by the Sea at Willinga Park and Dressage & Jumping with the Stars at Werribee. You can catch up on these streams here. EQ

DON’T MISS OUR UPCOMING LIVE STREAMS:

Sydney CDI (SIEC 27 April – 1 May)

World Championship Gold Buckle Campdraft (Willinga Park, 11-14 May)

Jumping@Willinga (Willinga Park, 15-18 September)

Willinga Park Rodeo (Willinga Park, 1 October)

Please note that exact event timetables are to be confirmed. Follow EQ Life via our website and Facebook or sign up to our e-newsletter for new live stream announcements as we add events throughout the year.

If you are interested in advertising opportunities with EQ Life live streaming, please email sunday.batters@eqlife.com.au.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ:

DJWTS: The Buzz is Back – Equestrian Life, April 2022.