CCE Sports Network - LIVE web streaming of Gay Sports

INSPIRING CONFIDENCE AND PRIDE - 1 BROADCAST AT A TIME

2013 is an exciting year for us.  Last May, we made history by broadcasting LIVE for the first time 4 gay and lesbian tennis tournaments from around the country.  OUR GOAL - to showcase the skill, talent and dedication of these LGBT athletes. If you want to reduce homophobia in sports and instill pride and confidence in LGBT athletes, we think its important that viewers (like you) get to see LGBT athletes doing what they like most, PLAYING SPORTS. 

Being a gay athlete can be hard.  Coming out to your teammates, fans and supporters even harder.  But it doesn't have to be.  You are joined by thousands upon thousands of brothers and sisters who, like you, just want to compete, win and have fun.  HENCE THE CREATION OF THE CCE SPORTS NETWORK "WHERE DIVERSITY LIVES."

OUR PROJECT GOAL

• To create the nation's first LIVE web streaming website that will use the power of LIVE video and social media to showcase the skill, athleticism and dedication of the LGBT athlete;
• To broadcast in a professional television style manner by using multiple cameras, play by play commentary, news, stories, player interviews and other videos of interest to the LGBT sports community;
• To film live at least 2 major LGBT sporting events every month of the year to showcase the gay and lesbian sports experience;
• To be a role model for all athletes (pro or amateur, young or old), showing that you can be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished in your chosen sport.

Why do we need a gay sports video website?  Isn't ESPN enough?  Homophobia, bigotry and mis-perceptions still exist within the sports community at large. Everyday gay and lesbian athletes find that they still have to hide who they are just to play sports.  Some people think that gay athletes don't exist.  Others think gay athletes are not as good, as fast or as strong.  By showing a professionally produced live broadcast (whether it be tennis tournament or a basketball championship) - we begin to break down the stereotypes and inspire confidence in LGBT athletes - 1 game at a time.

I can't tell you how proud we are of what we accomplished last year.  NO OTHER ORGANIZATION or GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS CREATED A PROJECT LIKE THIS.  We are passionate about this project and are dedicated to its long term success.

WHY REACHING OUR GOAL IS IMPORTANT!

What is needed to cover the cost of filming:

• A mobile production staff that can travel around the country to film each tournament LIVE.
• A travel budget that will allow us to cover the cost of a van rental, gas, hotel lodging and food.  This is 40% of our budget and our #1 priority.
• A production staff budget that will allow us to have 1 Director, 1 Play by Play Commentator and 2 camera operators to bring you the type of sports coverage you are use to watching on TV.  This is 30% of our budget and our #2 priority.
• A permit budget that will allow funds to address filming fees that some cities require prior to broadcasting.  This is 15% of our budget and our #3 priority. 
• Small equipment upgrades to insure an top-notch production:  a)  bonded cellular platform, a graphics package workstation, instant replay and a point to point broadcast solution.  This is 15% of our budget and our #4 priority.

SO WHAT WILL YOU BE FILMING IN 2013:Our goal is four (5) sports this year: Tennis (our flagship sport), volleyball, soccer, flag football & basketball.  We have an ambitious goal of filming ONE LIVE EVENT EVERY MONTH:  

• January - Art Deco Tennis Open (Miami) - 1/18 - 1/21
• February - Clay Court Tennis Classic (Ft. Lauderdale) - 2/15 - 2/15
• March - Orange Blossom Tennis Championship (Orlando) - 3/29 - 3/31
• April - Volleyball Tournament in Atlanta
• April - Soccer Tournament in New York City (4/6 in talks now)
• May - Bluegrass Tennis Open (Louisville-Pending) - 5/11 - 5/13
• June - Boston Indoor Tennis Classic (Boston-Pending) - 6/14 - 6/16
• July - Liberty Tennis Open (NYC-Pending) - 7/4 - 7/7
• August - Peach Intl Tennis Championship (Atlanta) - 8/30 - 9/2
• Sept - Indy Tennis Classic X (Indianapolis) - Date to be announced
• Oct - Flag Football Tournament in Phoenix (in talks now)
• Oct - Fleur de Lis Tennis Classic (New Orleans-Pending) - 10/18 - 10/20
• Nov - Palm Springs Tennis Open (Palm Springs-Pending) - 11/29 - 12/1
• Dec - We catch our breath, produce an end of year sports show and start all over again in 2014

WOW YOU SAY...Wow, you are right.  It's ambitious - It's a lot of work - It's a lot of driving - but we think it is a fantastic way to show out and proud gay athletes at their best.  I wouldn't dream of doing anything else.

WHY EXCEEDING OUR GOAL WOULD BE FANTASTIC?

In 2012, I self-funded this project (with the help of 1 major donor) because I truly believed that this project was important for our community.  After a young lady in Germany sent us an email telling us how proud she was of her son, and a young man in England begging us to show a European match, we knew we struck a chord in sports fans WORLDWIDE.  This is why we do it and this is why we ask for your help.  EXCEEDING OUR GOAL MEANS:

• Upgrading our hardware to produce a more stable internet signal by using a bonded cellular platform;
• Creation of a 2nd mobil production station with instant replay that we can use at major sporting tournaments and also used to bring more events a month;
• Upgrading two of our cameras from consumer HD to Prosumer HD - allowing us the ability to use up to 6 cameras at an event - just like the network TV.

LOOK HOW SIMPLE IT IS TO REACH OUR GOAL

IF 600 PEOPLE GIVE JUST $10 - we can hit our goal and be able to film HALF of the year. If another 600 people give $10, we can plan an entire year's worth of filming, with the proper equipment and staff to insure a world class broadcast effort.  That's it, that's all we need.  DID YOU KNOW, there are more than 100,000 active LGBT athletes out there.  WE ARE ASKING JUST 1% TO DONATE.

Other Ways You Can Help

Some people just can’t contribute and we understand that, but that doesn’t mean you can't help:

• Please tell all of your friends, family, neighbors and sports fans that you know to support this project;
• Please share our campaign link on your Facebook and Twitter page;
• Please let area businesses and companies know of this worthwhile project.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT, we can make a major mark in the LGBT community and help those athletes reach their fullest potential within their chosen sport and within themselves.

Thanks for taking the time to read and support us - Thomas M. Garnet (Executive Producer), Adrian Uribazo (Creative Director), Charles Humes & Dan Merrithew (GLTA Supporter), Tyler (USGSN Supporter) and the CCE Sports Network Team!!!