Anytime I sit down to enjoy my beloved Houston Astros on television, I always get caught up in how modern technology has made the viewing experience exponentially better every year. High definition, an army of cameras, the ungodly number of obscure statistics that are flashed on the screen - all of these things help make a game shown 164 times seem original every night.
One aspect of the televised game that I particularly enjoy are the crowd cutaways. As a sports broadcaster I learned that those cutaways are necessary in producing a smooth flowing report to break up the highlights and tell the story. But thanks to my Samsung HD LCD, crowd shots give me an opportunity to really take a look at the cross section of people who make it out to see the Astros. Who knows, maybe I'll see someone I know. Perhaps something humorous will happen in that split second when the fans are seen. Or maybe I'll catch someone in an act of trying to be inconspicuous as he ogles the woman next to him - which is what happened here... http://twitpic.com/9ym5f. Thank you, DVR.
We'll get back to that 'eye in the sky' in just a minute, but the reason I wanted to sit down and write this note was to express my approval of a new promotions segment that Fox Sports Net has rolled out in its Major League Baseball coverage.
Most of you probably first saw him in an ESPN vignette when the season first started, but the Batting Stance Guy now dons your local team's jersey and mimics the team's players' stances in a tease for the post game show. It's finally made it's way down to Texas.
To me, that graphic is more entertaining than any absurd question that Geico Trivia can churn out. Sad to say, but history lessons aren't really the candy that today's baseball-watching youngun will go for. It's all about what's now, who's playing this year. And there's a guy out there on the internet that just happens to have the ability to imitate their batting stances to near-perfection. Fox Sports did a very good job in introducing something that is both innovative, original, and attention-grabbing. Not bad for a guy who cleverly states that his work is "the least marketable skill in America." The only shame in all of it is that the stance is used to tease the postgame show. I don't know about you, but I am a huge Astros fan, but I can't remember any time that I have actually stuck around to watch a postgame show.
But let me take this time to propose another promotion to use in the game. More often than not there is an attractive female perched in the seats right behind home plate, which means there's a lot of face time involved. Now, whether it be the case that the girl knows that she'll be seen, or perhaps her date recommends it, but it's very common that said-female will dress to impress. These days, the viewer can spot the trend that cameras shooting at the game will gravitate toward these women. This is where I believe a marketing opportunity lies.
To most it would be the "random hot girl at the game", but if I was involved in the marketing decisions with FSN, I'd bring in a client like Hooters (or if all else fails, a local gentlemen's club), and call it their "Top Prospect of the Game." Back that up with a Twitter-based conversation during the game and maybe a 15-second in-game spot with the company logo. Wouldn't it be great to have Bill Brown and Jim DeShaies bring in a little commentary on that plug 160 times a year? Throw in a gift certificate for the woman while you're at it. She gets a little exposure and some monetary value, the client gets its name out there, and we all enjoy a little eye candy. Everbody wins.
Call it sexist, but we've seen it done before - just without a sponsor. Remember how many times Colt McCoy's girlfriend was plastered all over the Longhorn game broadcasts on ESPN and FOX?
I rest my case. And, I think it would work.
Until next time,
AX
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