Note: I've finally decided to start writing a semi-regular blog. A "real" blog with comments, concerns, and answers to questions I receive. I've been quiet too long! --Kory
ChaseCams and Tours
I was doing a Google search recently and ran across this blog from Brian Barnes:
http://www.stormchase.com/blog/My-thoughts-on-live-tornado-streaming-vid...
Brian runs StormTours.com and says:
If I as a tour operator started streaming my video over the Internet then why would people pay me to take them to severe weather? After all they could just stay home or watch the event as it happens from their offices over the Internet.
My question to our visitors is, if you had the choice to either watch a small video feed on a computer, or actually BE THERE watching a storm in person, which would you choose?
I think most weather nuts who actually have a passion for severe weather would rather be on the tour or doing their own storm chase. I'm not sure how running a dash cam during a chase would cut down on the number of butts in the seats of a tour van.
In fact, our buddy Roger Hill at http://www.silverliningtours.com runs a camera in at least two of his vans while he chases across this great country. If anything, I would think of it as a promotion for a tour business! If people keep seeing ropes and wedges time after time on your ChaseCam, chances are they'll want to sign up to ride with you!
Local Weather Coverage
Brian also makes some other good points in his blog, such as listening to your Local TV Station during severe weather outbreaks. Make darn sure that the channel you are on covers the county in which you live. Out here in South Dakota, most channels are fed from the "home office" in Sioux Falls.
KELO-TV for example has 3 different broadcast towers in the eastern half of the state (KELO-Sioux Falls, KPLO-Pierre, KDLO-Aberdeen/Watertown). Each tower runs a different "crawl" on the bottom of the screen with a different county coverage map based on the coverage area of THAT TOWER'S signal. However, if you watch on DirecTV or Dish Network, you are going to see the Sioux Falls area warning map because that's the feed that gets sent to DirecTV.
As a backup, and for overnights while your family sleeps, a NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio (with S.A.M.E.) is an absolute necessity. The S.A.M.E. allows you to program in ONLY the county for which you WANT to receive warnings. I recommend adding the adjacent county or counties to your immediate west or southwest (especially if you live near the county line) so you have ample warning of storms moving your direction.
Streaming Services
SevereStudios is proud to offer FREE streaming services to storm chasers and spotters. The National Weather Service will ALWAYS be able to watch our feeds unrestricted, for free.
If you are a storm chaser and want find out how to stream with SevereStudios, please visit our sister site SevereStreaming.com
Just to be clear, as always, independent streamer's feeds are never re-sold by us to media without permission and all video content remains property of THE CHASER... SevereStudios only represents the official members of our Chase Team for video sales. We can also help "independent" chasers who are looking to sell footage on a day-to-day basis. Contact us for details.
I think it helps, not hurts.
Think of it this way.... a live stream is for those who don't have the time or money to be there at the given moment. But nothing replaces actually being there in person for the "living experience". If you had the desire, time and money to go attend the Super Bowl in person, would you go? Remember, it too, is free of you watch it on tv, but I don't see any reduction in the number of fans each year who attend. ;-)
Have to agree
Just have to say Ditto MommaOkie. Very good points all around
Not hurting but helping!
Ok so I get his point too, if he is in it for profit. But not all people can afford to go on a chase tour, me being one of them. While I would go on a chase for free in a heartbeat its not likely to happen. That is why I love Severe Studios. I can get a little bit of the action safely from home.
I think Severe Studios is providing a very valuable service to the community. First and foremost they help get the info out there to get citizens to safety. They also show the weather fan what is out there, and give them the option of seeing it at home, instead of said weather fan being unqualified and going out there to chase a dangerous storm themselves carelessly.
That said, it does get people excited, and hopefully with the options out there they will take a tour. Severe studios chasers are awesome, but not perfect themselves and their mistakes, or natures unpredictablity have shown many of us that nature isn't to be messed with and even the "professionals" can get in trouble. If anything its showing us that tour chases are good.
Severe stuidos, has become the leading site for storm info and live cams in my opinion. Not to say there are not many other "great" sites out there, but Severe Studios is the gold standard. Today's chase info blew the other sites out of the water. YOU GO SS!
Tours streaming video
I guess I see his point that he is in it for the profit. But honestly isn't the basis for anyone out there chasing or spotting first and foremost to help protect the public. I think he should think about who could benefit from his streaming as well as all the other people out there streaming. I believe that soon, if not now, that many emergency officals will utilize Severe Studios streams to help protect the public. I would want to help in protecting the public long before I'd want to make money chasing storms. Why can't he make money and be a public service at the same time.
I've done both. Id much
I've done both. Id much rather be out there chasing then watching it online. But I am so thankful for the service you provide here.
ChaseCam hurting Storm Tours
I watch the chase video "in lieu of" not "instead of". I still want to go on a storm tour . . . and how fun would it be to tell friends and family to monitor my trip by watching live feeds from the tour van!
Storm Tour / Watching Streaming Video
Since finding Severe Studios early last year my interest in weather has increased 10 fold. This site has given me a view of the chaser world and has enticed me to consider signing up for a real chase tour in 2010. Without watching the feeds I would not have had the urge to see in real life the awesome power of these super storms.
In my opinion these feeds can only improve the tour business.
Good luck and be safe out there!
Thanks for the information Kory!
This is a very professional organization. I do not know why anyone would want to associate with anyone but you. You have led the way for years now.
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