LiveAirShowTV launches with two successful shows!

 

June 6, 2009 – Pflugerville TX --  LiveAirShowTV debuted with flying colors at its premier live broadcast originating from show center at theBarksdale Air Force Base – Defenders of Liberty Air Show on May 9^th and 10th in Shreveport, LA.  
 
The production was a team effort between LiveAirShowTV’s President, Jeff Lee, the Military Affairs Council (MAC), which helps organize the event, and the base Public Affairs squadron.  The MAC charged Shreveport advertising agency Kalmbach, Smith, and Meadows with all marketing efforts including the live Internet broadcast.  “The KSM team pulled together a great HD production package that met all of our requirements,” said Lee.  “We had two HD cameras shooting the planes in the sky and one remote on air show announcer, Larry Strain.  We used Pro Presenter as a video server to roll in commercials, graphics, and other video to support the individual air show acts.” The signal was fed to a microwave truck from Shreveport’s ABC affiliate KTBS-TV that shot it back to the station where it was compressed and fed out to the Synapse Multi-Media player allowing viewers world-wide to watch. 
 
Over the two-day period, 6,302 unique streams were fed to viewers from 28 different countries.  When multiplied by the amount of time the viewers were on, it totals 199 days 6 hours and 15 minutes of viewing for the event.  
 
Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino stepped up as the presenting sponsor for the broadcast, and as a new sponsor for the air show.  “I had worked with Sam’s Town and Boyd Gaming in Las Vegas for many years while working on the Nellis AFB air show, and they were very excited to become involved with this Barksdale,” said Lee.  
 
Joining the headliners U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds were the E-Team Skydivers, the F-16 Viper West Demo Team, Randy Ball and
 his MiG 17 and aerobatic performers Greg Poe and Ed Hamill.  
 
“This was a great step up for us,” said MAC Executive Director Suzy Lehr. “Jeff and I had been talking about how we could work together on this show, and he brought some key players to the table to make it happen.  I hope we can do it bigger and better next year!”
 
Andrews Air Force Base
 
Just one week later, LiveAirShowTV teamed up with production partner Impact Video to produce coverage for the Jumbotrons on the ramp at the Andrews Air Force Base – Joint Service Open House just outside of Washington D.C.  This was the third year for Jeff Lee and the Impact team to provide this service for the base, and even though budgets continue to be squeezed, a first class production indeed enhanced the air show fan’s experience.  
 
Again, two primary cameras captured the action in the air and on the ground, while a remote camera was trained on air show announcer Rob Reider.  “We had weather delays on both days of the air show,” said Reider.  “Jeff and I always seem to have this connection and even if nothing can fly, we still give the fans a great show.  He picks up on what I’m talking about and will often add supporting video or pictures to show what we’re talking about.”  
 
The show included the USAF Thunderbirds, The U.S. Army Golden Knights, F-22 Raptor, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet demos.  Aerobatic acts featured Sean D. Tucker and the Collaborators, Greg Poe and Chuck Aaron and the Red Bull Helicopter.  A special celebration of the 65^th anniversary of D-Day highlighted the opening ceremonies on Saturday, and on Sunday paratroopers from the 82^ndAirborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC dropped in on the field.  Also on Sunday, Air Force One made a special appearance as the President departed for South Bend, Indiana for the graduation at Notre Dame.  
 
Air Show Director, Rob Yarbrough said, "Jeff Lee and his team of producers did an outstanding during the 2009 DoD Joint Service Open House.  Their arrival, set-up and overall operation was flawless; they are the absolute best in the business!"
 
“What sets us apart is we understand that this is entertainment,” said Lee. It’s more than pointing a couple of cameras in the sky to see what flies by.  We’re taking lessons from auto racing and other major sports and incorporating them in our coverage of air shows.  Viewers get more and more sophisticated every day.  They expect more no matter what they’re watching.  I treat everything like a TV show.  That’s what I know.  If I’m keeping things interesting on the screen, then we’re going to satisfy the audience whether they’re on the ramp with us, or at home watching on their computer or TV.”
 
LiveAirShowTV is negotiating with several air show organizing committees for this season.  This is a perfect time for companies who haven’t been associated with air shows in the past to tap into these exciting, family-friendly events.  Several levels of sponsorship and spot buys are still available.   Announcements will be made as soon as future shows are confirmed.
 
LiveAirShowTV, LLC
 
LiveAirShowTV is a media production company specializing in aviation and air show production.  It was developed over years of work with various air shows around the country including the Aviation Nation – the Nellis AFB/Las Vegas Air Show, the Little Rock AFB 50^th anniversary air show, and the Andrews AFB Joint Service Open House, as well as work with Rolls-Royce North America at the Reno Air Races, and theCavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas.  LiveAirShowTV president Jeff Lee and VP for Sales and Marketing Ken Perich have worked together on the Roll-Royce projects since 2001.  They have come together to further the entertainment experience for air show fans around the world.  More information and complete bios can be found at www.LiveAirShowTV.com