USTREAM Coming Soon to an MSPT Event Near You
By 
Its so simple, no production, yet I can’t stop watching! The last couple of evenings I’ve been glued to Bay101Live.com or www.ustream.tv/channel/bay-101-shooting-stars watching Phil Hellmuth make a run at the Bay 101 WPT event.
Hellmuth just now busted out 6th. He was chip leader for the majority of the tournament so I know this is a big disappointment to him. Preflop, Andy Seth raised and Phil Hellmuth reraised, and then Seth moved all in. Hellmuth made the call and showed QsQd, while Seth showed AcJc. The flop was Kd6s5s, but the Th on the turn gave Seth a gutshot straight draw as well as an overcard. The crowd went wild when the Ah hit the river, and Hellmuth was sent to the rail early in 6th place.
For those who knew that you could watch this tournament live on the internet via USTREAM witnessed something we’re looking to do for the Minnesota State Poker Tour in 2011. Bay 101 simply hung a camera at an angle, above and slightly to the side of the table so you could see all the players. From this camera, you could still hear all the banter at the table between players even though they had no personal microphones.
The only downside when watching the Bay 101 stream was that they had no camera directly above the table zoomed in on the board to see the cards. What I want to do is this, I’d keep the 1st camera set up the same as Bay 101 has theirs but I’d add a 2nd camera directly above the board as I described. Then online, you’d see a picture-in-picture view of the board and the overhead cam. I’ve read up on this and its easy to do.
You won’t be able to see the hole cards but you’ll get to watch all the action live as if you were at the event. Also, if you make it to the final table, you’ll be able to call your family, friends, kids, girlfriends, mistresses, etc. and they’ll be able to watch you live from home over wherever there is internet access.
PMac and I could of course do a little play-by-play if necessary. Anyways, it was fun to see Bay 101 do what we’ve been talking about doing for a while. I can use this viewing experience to improve ours before we launch it. Hopefully it all works out, this would be a sweet!
Ski
March 12th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
I actually watched this as well and the last day they actually did have a flop cam with picture in picture view.
The way they were able to hear all of the players talk was because they had a mic that was taped down right in front of the dealer.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
I watched it up until the final 6, they had a table level cam in the picture-in-picture but it was really difficult to see the cards. Is that what they had going the last day as well or did they change it up?
I like the direct overhead cam zoomed in on the table.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Ya when I saw it they had overhead….. Looked like it was new to them and they were trying out different positions.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
I think its better to have it overhead as well…..
What are the rules going to be for sponsorship patches during the mspt…. any idea?
March 13th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Well it hasn’t been discussed yet as we are several months from going live but I don’t see there being an issue with wearing patches or promotional gear. Just my opinion but I’m not the lone decision maker. The casinos need to be involved as well. Unless there are issues I’m not currently aware of.
I know there are tours or tournaments that prohibit such things so they may know something I don’t.
March 13th, 2010 at 12:42 am
So you would suggest my best bet would be to call Running Aces for the upcoming MSPT tourney….. It’s just that I want to wear the patches for my sites and then I have some friends that are thinking of coming out for the tourney and one is sponsored by UB and the other PokerStars.
March 13th, 2010 at 7:13 am
Great idea it will bring a whole new dimension to the tour I love it!
March 13th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Wearing patches and sponsored gear is pefectly fine at MSPT events.
March 13th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I know this might be a little off topic but I was wondering if you are still trying to get Black Bear to be a part of the MSPT?
March 13th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Hey John, give me a call, I have a question for you.
612-743-9847