pervasive media studio

Street Sports TV

As part of an ideas pitch at the Media Sandbox 2008 final showcase event, Vicky Brophy of Wonky was selected to undertake a feasibility study into their SSTV idea.

Overview of idea:
12-18 year old girls and boys are increasingly turning to alcohol and gang behaviour at a street level.  Meanwhile obesity is on the up.  We want to inspire them to take up street sports that they can play and practise together in suitable local urban spaces instead.  These sports would include skate boarding, BMXing, hacky sack, break dancing, parkour and football i.e. sports that can be taken up for free or for very little cost.   

What does SSTV deliver?  SSTV will allow users to:
(i)    discover suitable local sites to carry out street sports
(ii)    learn more about them
(iii)    watch others playing the sports via their mobile phones.  

Each SSS sites will have content including tips and short films demonstrating inspirational tricks performed at the site.  Where possible, the content will be filmed using nearby surveillance cameras.  In the longer term, when users have mastered the tricks, they will be able to upload and share mobile films of themselves performing stunts at these locations via the SSS site.  Sending these on to their friends will also encourage others to join in.  

What technologies will you use?  Users will be able to visit a SSTV WAP site where they can view maps and search for local SSTV sites by texting in their postcode.  People with GPS-enabled phones will be able to request alerts for when they are near new SSTV sites.    Initially the sports will be filmed using CCTV by formally requesting and paying to retrieve the footage.  This type of footage will help to give the SSTV site the underground feel and edge required to motivate the target audience to take part.