FOX Preps

It began with an idea hatched from the brain of Pete Waggoner. The simple concept of combining high school hockey and the internet was brought to KMSP FOX 9 General Manager Carol Rueppel, News Director Bill Dallman and Sales Manager Sheila Oliver.

“No local radio station was covering high school hockey,” said Waggoner. “There was a huge void and an even bigger opportunity.”

The idea turned into myFOXhockey.com, a website that provided scores, live streaming games and the My FOX Hockey weekly top ten. The team webcast over 30 games in 2007-2008 allowing Minnesota hockey fans from around the world to watch the top match-ups the state of hockey had to offer.

In addition, FOX 9 Sports Director Jim Rich joined Waggoner every Monday night to review the week in hockey in a first and only of its kind web show. Minnesota Hockey on Demand provided highlights, game analysis, the new top ten and hockey guests.

“The shows are so good,” said Waggoner. “Being able to review and reset on a Monday night allows everyone to get ready for the upcoming week.”

The FOX team broke new ground and forever changed the way high school sports was coved utilizing new technology to bring games to the world.

Year two brought an additional energy and excitement as FOX Preps was added to supplement the My FOX Hockey model.

“We wanted to add coverage of additional sports,” said Producer Doug Erlien. “There was no question the idea of webcasting live games was a huge success and recreating that for other sports just made sense.”

The number of live-streaming games jumped from 30 to nearly 100 in year number two. While hockey remained the “bread and butter”, football and basketball made their way into the mix as well. Not only did the team make a commitment in numbers of games, but also the quality of the production of the events. FOX 9 invested in a Tricaster or as Erlien puts it “a truck in a box”.

“In a word, amazing,” said Erlien about the toaster sized box. “A three camera shoot with graphics, and the ability to run commercials has taken an already in front of the pack model to yet another level.”

The team traveled to outstate Minnesota streaming hockey games from as far away as Roseau and Moorhead and a nine-man football game from Stephen-Argyle. In addition to the live games, a new (or slightly used) content platform was established to allow game stories and photos in addition to the top ten rankings, scores and live games.

Year three brought yet another big challenge for the FOX Preps crew. An aggressive live streaming schedule including volleyball and football in the fall and boys and girls hockey and basketball in the winter had the number of live games at 154.

“I look back at that now and think about how crazy that was,” said Erlien. “It was Emily Severson and Bob Koester (our interns), Pete and I. Emily was with us all year. We couldn’t have done it without her. I am convinced that no one will ever touch 154 live games, I know we won’t.”

Yet another corner has been turned as a new content management system has been built allowing for content to be more easily produced and archived and viewed.

The look of the site has changed, but the commitment to providing the best high school sports coverage has not. In addition to live streaming games, game recaps, scores and stats, the addition of the FOX Preps original weekly web series “The Season” will debut this fall. The Season will provide a behind the scenes look at the Osseo Orioles football team as they prepare and play in the Northwest Suburban conference in 2010.

“The commitment that FOX 9 has to high school sports and promoting the kids in our state is amazing,” said Erlien. “That is why we do what we do.”