Sports broadcasting goes deeper than just recording a game for viewers at home; It can be difficult work and it requires dedication and passion. Nixa Live first started as a club run by Nixa High School teacher Jordan Burns, and ultimately into a class. The group prepares for every sports game throughout the week, collecting information and preparing graphics to give the best live experience to viewers.
Burns said the main goal of the live-stream is to not only provide viewers with a live broadcast of the games when they can’t be there in person, but also to tell stories beyond the sport.
“The main thing I think [about] is ‘What can we do to tell the story of the game to our viewers?’ We’re trying to give them the atmosphere,” Burns said. “[We want to] give inside stories of things that even people in the crowd don’t know.”
Preparing for a live-stream is a week-long project, with every role gathering information before game day.
“Our announcers are working all week on a pregame show, gathering information, calling the away coach to gather information about the away team so we can talk about them as well on air,” Burns said. “It’s not just showing up at 7:00, hitting ‘record,’ hitting ‘stream’ and going for it.”
Over time, the popularity of the stream has increased.
“[During the football game] against Republic we had over 5,000 viewers,” Burns said. “Now we’re up to 5,800 viewers, which is a huge number; Last year throughout all of our streams we had 175,000 viewers [in total].”
Senior and four-year member Ryne Swanson of Nixa Live anchors for both varsity football and basketball. With a big role in the streams, Swanson works to make it the best it can be.
“There’s a bunch of positions you can do during the broadcast,” Swanson said. “If I’m broadcasting [as an anchor], the most important thing is making sure not to stutter on air, try to get your words out clearly [and] don’t say something that you shouldn’t. If you’re running a camera, make sure your shots are good [and] make sure you don’t shake all of a sudden.”
The success of the streams depends on the work of all people involved.
“Production-wise, we all have to rely on each other,” Swanson said. “When I’m announcing, I can’t see what’s going on in the broadcast part, I’m just talking. I just hope that whatever I say gets on air correctly and that it looks good on the broadcast.”
Swanson credits Burns for the accomplishments of Nixa Live.
“Burns is [the backbone] – without him, half the production wouldn’t even work,” Swanson said. “He does a ton of stuff outside of school to get stuff set up, he did all of the wire set up in the truck and set up everything technically.”
Senior sideline reporter Taelor Dorr-Tillia’s arrival in the class became a happy accident.
“I got in this class by accident – I didn’t really know I signed up for it … but Mr. Burns has taught me a lot and I enjoy it,” Dorr-Tillia said. “We’re kind of like a little family in here. I’ve been in this class with the same people for about three years now.”
Dorr-Tillia indulges in her love for football by being on the sidelines for every game.
“I like being on the field, I would never go back to the student section,” Dorr-Tillia said. “You get the action right up close, you get to talk to the coach and hear things that other people don’t.”