Forum Archive Index - January 2000

[Chris Darby <darby@ak.planet.gen.nz>]

Jimi, 

I'm not sure which part you did not get.  I don't want to inflict a 
yachting conversation upon all and sundry so could you update me on what 
you want me to go slowly on?

Briefly,
1)  TV ONE's coverage of the Louis Vuitton Cup (a competition between 11 
-not 13 as Forbes item states- yachting syndicates to earn the right to 
challenge Team NZ for the America's Cup) and the AC Cup does not show 
animation by Virtual Spectator but by SGI.  According to Adam's post, SGI 
is linked to Jim Clark of Netscape.

2)  We are now down to the final of the LV Cup, a 'first to 5 wins' 
series between Prada and America One.  Prior to this some 250 round robin 
elimination races (not 500 as Forbes item states) have been sailed and 
covered by Virtual Spectator.

3)  Virtual Spectator has a license to cover the LV Cup only, not the AC 
Cup. 

4)  TV ONE shows only SGI animation, although VS may be used by some of 
its journalists offscreen.

It is difficult to compare SGI and VS as they are appealing to different 
markets.  In the LV Cup final you will see both an improved SGI on TV ONE 
and an improved VS on your laptop.  Both are using similar technology and 
I don't see a huge hurdle for SGI to cross over or vice versa.  

Now back to ITC.  They bought 18% of VS.  They paid about $445,000.  I'm 
assuming they paid the same per share as Fergusson did for his 50%.  Why 
didn't they buy more?  So now let's ask ourselves, is such a paltry sum 
worthy of all this fuss and excitement.   Maybe it is if the value of VS 
has doubled to $5m.  If it has maybe 78-80c is a full and fair price.  

If ITC were more forthcoming in their well managed press releases and 
gave us a bit more detail things would be so much easier.  But that would 
be so dull.  Nothing to speculate and dribble on about.


Going sailing,

Chris

       

 
    Chris, could you run that past me again,slowly?
>
>
>Thanks,Jimi.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Chris Darby <darby@ak.planet.gen.nz>
>To: sharechat <sharechat@sharechat.co.nz>
>Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 6:09 PM
>Subject: Re: [sharechat] America cup racing starts again tomorrow
>
>
>>
>> Les,
>>
>> The TVNZ animation used in the Louis Vuitton Cup coverage is NOT Virtual
>> Spectator.  TVNZ chose not to run with the Animation Research product,
>> prefering something similar from a company I think is called SGI.  This
>> decision was made some two years ago.  I beleive it is an offshore
>> company, possibly US.
>>
>> It appears a few people are of the belief that they are one and the same
>> but not so.
>>
>> Keep in mind too that Virtual Spectator is only licensed to cover the
>> Louis Vuitton Cup not the America's Cup.  So only 5 to 9 races to go.  I
>> cannot see the host TV broadcaster extending the license as it would
>> undermine their precious potential TV audience.
>>
>> I spoke to a friend in Germany who purchased VS in early November.  He
>> loves it as TV coverage is non-existant there but was frustrated that the
>> CD was not delivered until the 2nd round of racing.  He also noted that
>> the server had ongoing problems and logging on was often difficult.  VS
>> acknowledged these problems and are yet to debit his credit card.
>>
>> The big question is, how transferable is it to other sports.  Getting a
>> global positioning system(GPS) into a golf ball would be remarkable.  If
>> possible, I would definitely invest in the GPS company.
>>
>>
>> All the best,
>>
>> Chris
>>

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