Winnipeg Invitational Tournament (WIT) Guest of Honour for 2010 is Shaw Television

“Adrenaline Rush” is how Allan Sayegh, Program Manager for Shaw TV describes the WIT broadcast and we have to agree. Shooting a live sports event and broadcasting it to thousands of viewers can be a daunting task, but every year Tec-Voc’s Broadcasting Department with the help of Shaw Television pulls it off. This year it’s time to celebrate 30 years of High School sports broadcasting and WIT is doing it in style. New replay technology, state of the art graphics, on demand streaming are just some of the fun stuff that gives WIT the look and feel of the great tournament it is. WIT is excited to have Shaw Television as their Guest of Honour for 2010.

Shaw Television is a great partner with WIT. The relationship which began in the early eighties with high school sports broadcasts has bloomed into a corporate partnership that is a model for private and public relations. Now, Shaw supports the Tec-Voc Broadcast Department in the areas of mentorship, work experience and by hiring our graduates.

The Broadcasting Department is responsible for making the WIT tournament come alive. Over 40 students per night are involved in the production. Mr. Ken Plaetinck, broadcasting instructor and by the way the first WIT host in 1995, speaks to the commitment needed to pull together a great show, “our students are involved in every aspect of the production. Camera operators, production assistants, technical director, on-air talent along with every production job required for a professional broadcast are utilized. Our production has eight cameras covering on and off the court action.”

The raw feed is fed back to our control room where a director decides which camera angle to show the viewers at home; they also have at their disposal four instant replay machines that allow the director to go back and show an alternate angle on the action. Available to the director is a full graphics package designed by students in our Information Technology Department.

“This stuff is totally cool,” quips Mr. Marshall Mays, IT teacher and project leader for his band of off the wall programmers who have created a look to the broadcast like nothing seen before. A spinning basket ball circles the globe and reveals the WIT logo; a scoreboard at the bottom of the broadcast screen keeps the audience informed of the running score, new digital wipes transition between scenes. Every department works together as a team to ensure that the final product is as good as any professional broadcast.

“For our students an event like this provides a real industry experience,” states Mr. Ken Plaetinck. “It brings an excitement to the students and gives them the same opportunity the industry professional here in Winnipeg get to have. In between games videos created by the Broadcasting students are aired to highlight the school’s vocational and academic programs. The audience has a chance to see the student’s work and in turn the students realize the importance of preproduction going into an event of this magnitude. “In the past only a handful of students could be on air talent, but thanks to these projects roughly 15 of our 40 students can see their faces and hear their voices during the show,” comments Mr. Ken. Plaetinck, “now parents of these students who watch are extremely proud to see their sons or daughters during the broadcast. WIT builds excitement, tension and is this best team building experience we can offer.”

There is no greater service than giving and Shaw has given back. Shaw has worked in conjunction with Tec-Voc’s RTB program to improve students’ chances of being hired in the communication industry. Shaw provides mentorship opportunities for students to get a good look inside Shaw’s production studios. For more hands-on experience students are placed with Shaw on work experience. These placements often lead to the full time employment opportunities Tec-Voc’s students are working towards. Not only does Shaw provide in-house experience, but they also supply logistics and sponsorship support,   The live broadcasts of the final games of WIT can only take place because Shaw provides a microwave feed back to their studios. This partnership allows RTB students the opportunity to work with industry standard technology and situations that they would only confront in a professional situation. This kind of experience prepares RTB grads to work in highly stressful and time sensitive positions in broadcasting. . What comes across as exciting high school basketball action is in reality hundreds of people hours of hard work and preparation.   Further to their commitment to Tec Voc and WIT Shaw has worked on a corporate partnership model that sees sponsorship and financial support for programming and scholarship as a main goal. 2007 and 2008 saw the first scholarships for graduating students. This money helps recent grads further their education and gain experience in this growing sector of our economy. Another service that Shaw and its affiliates have provided for Manitobans is the community access that is often forgotten by others. Shaw’s Community News has done countless stories on Tec-Voc and other schools. This exposure has given a chance for students to have their voice heard and their actions celebrated.

 

“Every year we’re impressed by the brilliant and committed students who help put together the WIT broadcast”, states Allan Sayegh, “we at Shaw look forward to strengthening our relationship with the students at Tec-Voc. We want to expand on what we do, maybe televising other events such as school plays and musicals.” Allan sees Shaw and WIT as a natural fit because Shaw is dedicated to community access and exposure.

“Our mandate is to demystify television and give up the level and quality of community exposure.” Since the inception of the “game of the week” Shaw has stood beside high school athletics and WIT is one of the highlights of the production year. “In fact we get a lot of viewer feedback about WIT. Many call to compliment the production or find out broadcast times. Feedback is important to help us at Shaw keep a pulse on community activities and trends.” With that in mind if you would like to give some feedback on WIT call or email Shaw at shawtvwinnipeg@shaw.ca or call at 480-3500 and press 1 for viewer response.

For Shaw’s increasing support and presence in our lives WIT recognizes Shaw as its Guest of Honour for 2010. Good Luck Shaw!