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USL Charleston Battery

Battery Partner with TSG for Live HD Webcasts in 2015

February 10, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON, SC -- Charleston Battery will webcast at least 17 nights of live soccer in HD video from Blackbaud Stadium this season, part of a league-wide upgrade aimed at improving the fan experience across the newly rebranded USL.

To meet the league's ambitious protocols for video quality, the club has partnered with Tourbeau Sports Group, a soccer-specific video-streaming and sports development company. TSG has been a pioneer in providing affordable, professional-quality video services to the Southeastern soccer market since 2009, and has offices in Charleston, Charlotte and West Virginia.

The Battery will stream its home matches via its YouTube channel for the second consecutive year. The global platform not only provides quality live-streaming, but offers soccer fans the opportunity to watch archived matches in their entirety.

That league-wide switch to YouTube in 2014 improved fan access to games, but clubs were not required to invest in HD quality. By partnering with Tourbeau, the Battery will now be able to offer all-HD technology, custom graphics packages and instant replay during matches.

The league HD requirement begins with the Battery's first home match on Saturday, March 21, against Toronto FC II. But the club will begin its TSG-produced HD programming this month with three doubleheader nights of soccer during the Carolina Challenge Cup. The Battery and TSG will produce 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. matches.on Saturday, Feb. 21, Wednesday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 28. The tournament, now in its 12th year, pits the Battery against three visiting teams from Major League Soccer.

With the investment in HD, the Battery will no longer broadcast its matches to radio listeners, said Battery Club President Andrew Bell. Bell, who joined the club as a play-by-play radio announcer, will continue his role as the on-air voice of the Battery -- but with the freedom to focus solely on the video medium. He said he was excited about the video upgrade -- and particularly pleased to be bringing all six CCC matches to a global audience that includes the New York, Houston and Orlando markets.

"We've worked with Tourbeau Sports a couple of times in the past, and Chase (Neidig, TSG president) has been very gracious with his advice and assistance," Bell said. "We're looking forward to the broadcasts that he will be producing for us, and we hope the fans will enjoy watching them."

Tourbeau Sports Group has produced live broadcasts for the U.S. national teams, USSDA Playoffs, North American Soccer League, National Premier League (NPSL), and now participates in multiple exclusive partnerships with clubs throughout the USL's soccer pyramid. They've also worked with soccer organizations such as the Boston Breakers of the NWS, the US Youth Soccer National Championships, MLS Preseason Friendlies and the National Team International Friendlies. The company prides itself on offering quality video packages at a fraction of the traditional cost.

"We are really excited to start producing matches for the Battery," said Neidig, himself a former college soccer player. "As one of the longest-lasting professional clubs in North America, not just in the USL, the Battery understand the importance of excellence on and off the pitch and we hope to enhance that experience through the new-media and live-streaming platform.

"As a soccer-specific production company, we value and understand how important our relationship is with the Battery. (They) have such a unique venue at Blackbaud Stadium, and we truly look forward to highlighting it throughout the broadcasts."

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