NY Giants to add fans’ live tweets to game broadcasts … what could possibly go wrong?
Aug 25, 2011, 1:16 PM EDT
The unholy alliance we all had feared is now a reality. Television and Twitter have now merged, bringing us for the first time tweets on the screen during an NFL game. This match made in hell comes courtesy of the New York Giants, who figure that we don’t have enough social media in our lives, so here’s what this random Twitter user thinks of that 14-yard punt.
The Giants today announced a bold plan to integrate Twitter within its TV game broadcasts, showing live tweets from fans on the bottom of the screen during Saturday’s preseason tussle with the Jets. I think the operative word here is “live.” If taken literally, that opens a whole Pandora’s Box of fun.
From the Giants’ official site:
The Giants will integrate live tweets from fans into the broadcast on NBC 4 in New York during Saturday’s preseason game and during the Sept. 1 game against the New England Patriots. The remarks from fans will appear on the lower third of the screen during big plays. The Twitter feeds will run just during those two final preseason games. But the Twitter integration will also be integrated into MetLife Stadium throughout the season. Game attendees will see the tweets on the stadium’s video boards and other channels.
Live? If the Giants’ twitter feed is anything like mine, this will be the first and last use of this technology on TV. But I assume the tweets will be filtered somehow — thus, technically, not live — using only those suitable for family consumption.
The Giants also plan to include a voting system in which viewers can choose a player of the game using twitter hashtags. (Tonight’s winner: #YousuckSageRosenfels). Also, the Giants will make a player available after every home game for a Twitter chat with fans. Eli Manning after a 33-3 loss to the Packers? That should be fun.
The team is partnering with Austin, Texas-based social media curator Mass Relevance on the project.
The NFL banned players from in-game tweeting in 2009, but the technology tide has always been against the league. The Buccaneers are using iPad playbooks this year, for instance (don’t click “send to all”!).
Nothing good can come of this, mark my words. Or, just tweet my words. That should do.
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NFL’s New York Giants bring Twitter to TV [Orlando Sentinel]
New York Giants go long on social technology [Mashable]
