Technical Problems Hinder Digital Broadcast of USHL Futures Draft
April 19, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Chicago, IL - The USHL is taking steps to address significant technical difficulties experienced by users who attempted to follow, online and in real time, the 2011 USHL Futures Draft conducted earlier today. The problems were also felt internally, and posed communications challenges within the League as it conducted the live draft.
Preliminary results suggest that the problems were due to an unprecedented online following for the event, which apparently overwhelmed the resources of the League's third-party provider and host. USHL office staff, working with the League's fifteen General Managers and their staffs, were able to respond by creating an alternative delivery system - and, in a nod to emerging digital technology, published its results in real or near-real time on the League's much-followed Twitter account. Video and commentary were also posted on the USHL Facebook page, as well as the League's website.
"While this morning's problems were beyond our initial control," said Commissioner Skip Prince, "we take very seriously our responsibility to provide our growing audience with a product that is as compelling as the players we celebrate and the League we're building. We didn't do that today - and we've heard from our fans that we need to do better. We will."
Complete round-by-round results of the 2011 USHL Futures Draft are available and posted at www.USHLDraft.com. Video interviews of select players, as well as a feature on the League's first overall pick, are available on www.USHL.com as well as on the League's Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/USHLHockey). The League will also continue to provide analysis and features concerning the Futures Draft and the 90 players selected today.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 19, 2011
- Stampede Start Building For The Future During USHL Futures Draft - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Technical Problems Hinder Digital Broadcast of USHL Futures Draft - USHL
- Saints Build for Continued Success Through Futures Draft - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- USHL Completes 2011 Futures Draft - USHL
- Lancers Tab Six Players in 2011 USHL Futures Draft - Omaha Lancers
- Futures Draft and Game One on Wednesday - Indiana Ice
- Gamblers Select Six in USHL Futures Draft - Green Bay Gamblers
- Phantoms Add Depth up Front in Future's Draft - Youngstown Phantoms
- Waterloo Selects Future Black Hawks - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Fargo Force Select Gabe Guertler Second Overall in 2011 USHL Futures Draft - Fargo Force
- Buccaneers Select Six in Futures Draft - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Moore Is Storm's Top Pick in Futures Draft - Tri-City Storm
- Lancers, Stampede Prepare for Western Conference Semifinals - Omaha Lancers
- Jacks Select Smith with Team's First Pick in 2011 USHL Futures Draft - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Cammarata the Top Pick - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Futures Draft Today - Green Bay Gamblers
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