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North Battleford does streaming deal with LiveBarn

North Battleford has now joined Battleford in doing a deal with LiveBarn Inc. for live streaming of hockey games.
Civic Centre pic

North Battleford has now joined Battleford in doing a deal with LiveBarn Inc. for live streaming of hockey games.

Council voted in favor of entering into an agreement with LiveBarn for providing online and on-demand broadcasting of sporting events for a term of six years commencing as of September 2020. There is, however, a 90-day termination clause.

The plan is for LiveBarn to set up at their two arenas — the Civic Centre and Don Ross Arena — with LiveBarn installing and maintaining all hardware and software.

They would set up static cameras in the two arenas and those would film practice or mini-leagues which can be watched for a small fee.

Also included is a revenue sharing arrangement where LiveBarn provides a promotional code to the city that, when used by subscribers, will entitle the municipality to 30 per cent of revenues generated once 60 codes per arena are activated.

Battleford had agreed to a similar deal with LiveBarn to stream from Battleford Arena. According to North Battleford director of leisure services Cheryl DeNeire, the idea is to allow families to be able to watch their kids play during the pandemic, with concerns that the 60-person gathering restrictions would prevent them from being able to see their family members games live.

“Hockey is in a new world with COVID-19 and its restrictions,” said DeNeire. This company has been in operation since 2015, but COVID-19 has “brought it to the forefront.”

The agreement carried at council unanimously.