Live Aviva Premiership Rugby

Coverage of Action

Being live rugby means that all footage is recorded at the same time, simultaneously. Cameras for filming rugby are dotted all over the stadium so you never really know how many cameras are used. There is normally one fixed camera that films all the Birds Eye View Long Shots/Wide Shots and four fixed corner cameras for the more intense footage, such as scoring a try. Around the outside of the pitch there are usually around 5/6 cameras that move around to get the Medium Close Ups and Close Ups that the fixed cameras cannot get. The most common shot used is the long shot as it shows all the action on the pitch so you don't miss out on any of the action watching it all home.

Communicating Meaning to the Viewer

Live Rugby Matches are constructed in a type sport programme way. The event will start with opening credits then to a presenter who will introduce the guests for the day, back to the presenter who will talk about other live events happening that day, presenter talks to guests about main game, Live VT of Team's dressing room, guest, presenter, first half of match, presenter, guest, VT, presenter, second half of match, presenter, guest, presenter who will reveal other match results before ending the show and closing credits.

Producers and Camera Operates produce meaning in an effective by giving the viewer what they want, to see all action from the pitch on screen.

Visual Style

When watching the Rugby live on Sky Sports, there are many visual styles that we can see. 
Firstly for the whole length of the match the Sky Sports channel logo is in the top corner, whether it be Sky Sports 1/2/3/4. This again is a firm constant reminder of the channel you are watching and if anything you see on the adverts catches your eye it, you will remember what channel you saw it on because of the logo.

Secondly when the producers plan an action replay the Sky Sports logo flashes across the screen to indicate the beginning and ending of the action reply. This again is advertising the channel and it gives the audience a way of understanding the difference between the live match and the action replay. 

Finally the scores for the match and what teams are playing are always in the top left hand corner. This is an easy way for the viewer to know what the score is and what team is winning if they have just tuned into the channel.

Maintaining Viewer Interest

No matter what shot types or shot angles that are used as long as you show as much action as possible there will always be a high level of interest from the viewer although shot types and angles are mainly important. The main job for the producer when producing a live match is to keep the levels of interest high by changing angles and shot types to get different views of the pitch will definitely keep the viewer interested.

Producers are successful in keeping high levels interest in live rugby match's because there is never nothing not going on. There will always be something to film with a rugby match.

Constraints of Location

As long as you have the main five fixed points for camera operators to film from then you will have no obstructions. However when moving around there are many more obstructions to face such as moving fans, mascots and stewards. 

Camera Operators and Producers overcome this by planning where to film before hand. Producers use the location to the best of their availability to film the shots they desire and would use for live television.