How quickly things change...

The concept for The 12th End Sports Network (T.E.S.N. for short) has been coming for a little while now.  From our efforts on justin.tv last season and our previous work with the USCA on the Men's Eastern Regional Qualifier, it became clear to us that a venture like Curltv.com was ahead of its time.  At its beginning, I was one of CurlTV's biggest supporters.  In the end I was one of its greatest critics.  Unfortunately, CurlTV's loss to the curling community is our gain.  I know curling broadcasts can be done well and inexpensively in a way that is like a mix of CurlTV and Youtube.    Welcome to the 12th End Sports Network!

Why I think this will succeed where other efforts have not:

1)  T.E.S.N. will have very little overhead.  One of the inherent problems with any broadcasting effort is the travel costs associated with going to events and setting up and manning expensive equipment.  We're eliminating that cost by adding local affiliates who are responsible for their own programming.  Our network will do our best to provide a consistent look and feel to games, without excessive costs to the broadcasters.  

2)  Social media has changed the game!  The proliferation of curling related twitter and facebook accounts should give T.E.S.N. consistent marketing to those interested in the game.  Our broadcasts got 20,000 views last season through entirely "word of social media".   I expect this page to explode well beyond that this season.

3)  T.E.S.N. is not limited by having to feature only top level curling content.  Weekend spiels and league play can be as satisfying for the curling viewer as a National Championship competition and long as we make the broadcast compelling.  We will look to broadcast what events we can in order to provide new and interesting content.  That may involve cashspiels, funspiels, league games, or Regional Tours, or National Championships.  The more affiliates on T.E.S.N., the more curling we'll be able to offer.  

4) T.E.S.N has different revenue model.  We are not going to ask you the viewer to subscribe to view our games.  Our video will be free.  For this site to work, we're going to need your support in other ways.  Spread the word, buy from our sponsors, click on our links and make purchases to support the network.  When you do that, you not only help us, but you help the local Affiliates, who are curling clubs or teams looking for support of their own.

So, welcome to the new age of webcasted curling, T.E.S.N.!  Please give us ideas to help us make the site more enjoyable.  There isn't another community that we would count on more than the curling community as we get this thing in motion.    

We're excited for the season to get started.  We hope you are too.  Good curling!