This article was supplied by Rowing NZ and is being published by the New Zealand Herald as advertorial.
There are moments.
Moments that are seared into the memory of Altitude HD’s Ged Campbell.
We’re looking back on the highlights of the partnership between Milford and Rowing NZ which enabled Altitude to livestream six regattas last season and what’s ahead for a recently secured and more ambitious second season culminating in Maadi Regatta 2025.
Campbell was on the Guardian launch for the Premier Men’s Eight at the NZ Rowing Championships at Lake Karāpiro last year. The dad of coxswain Sam Fisher was also aboard that afternoon as a guest of Milford.
Auckland Grammar student Fisher was a surprise pick for the Matt Macdonald stroked North Shore boat that held on by .07 seconds over Avon to claim the title. The delay to separate the boats up in the tower seemed like forever and when the announcement finally came Fisher’s father had experienced just about every emotion only a phenomenal sporting event can bring out.
Altitude’s camera team was maxed out that day covering as many angles as possible, having one on the Guardian wasn’t an option so the moment remains in Campbell’s memory, not on camera.
“We were operating off fifteen-hundred-dollar JVC cameras that we bought secondhand just to get it started,” says Ged.
In season two, with more support from Milford, that’s all about to change.
More moments from more cameras, replays, more relevant social media content, more live off-water coverage, more race graphics and explainers to make the sport more accessible to friends and family, the possibility of live coxswain audio, maybe even a monitor available in every tent along the Domain and definitely the giant HD screen.
“This partnership allows us to champion the values that matter to us: persistence, innovation, and the importance of pushing boundaries,” says Milford’s Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Norrie.
“Just as rowers trust their teammates, their equipment, and their preparation, we want our clients to feel confident that their financial goals are supported by a team dedicated to their success.”
The extra support from Milford will also give Altitude the same opportunity to innovate and push their boundaries, says Ged.
“We’ll have a guy running around like an SAS soldier with an antenna above his head trying to transmit live video down at the start, and then he’ll jump on the Umpire boat so that he can get that real tight shot from behind the race.”
“It’s pretty massive for us to be able to work with Milford and Altitude,” says Rowing NZ’s Marketing and Comms Manager Mandy Arnott. “They bring in awesome skill sets and connections, Altitude’s got a plan for the next four years for what we can do with livestream, so they’re not just going to come in here, do a job, and then forget about it. They’re rowers, and ex-rowers, and they live and breathe rowing.”
No moments missed.
This article was supplied by rowinghub.co.nz, the official content hub of Rowing New Zealand. Explore rowinghub.co.nz for more rowing-related content like this. Andy Hay wrote this article. Andy is a freelance producer, writer and rowing coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and ‘83. He is NZ Olympian No 446.