Softball and
baseball’s favorite newspaper since 1987
By
Wally Shaver
It all started last
year. After hitting a monstrous home run at the Major Division Worlds at the
Disney Sports complex in
That got him thinking.
If that many people were watching that one hit, there must be plenty of
softball fans wanting to see more. Problem is, this isn’t major league baseball
where every game is televised, allowing for ample video highlights. So, why not
find a way to produce video of top softball games for all the
world to see?
In addition to a
plethora of softball info, the Kingdom produces live video productions of major
softball tournaments. Under a licensing deal with the USSSA,
Generally speaking, winners bracket games are televised and streamed live on the
“This is our first
year and the response has been great,” said co-owner Tim Kirby from his
headquarters in the
“Our main focus with
USSSA, is to help grow the game. The major division of
softball has had some declining numbers in recent years. We want to help
revitalize the game and make it more mainstream. Softball fans know the games
are action packed from start to finish and we just need to get more exposure.
We can go to a tournament and provide video feeds of from eight to 12 games,”
added Kirby.
This sounds like
softball paradise. What network or cable television can’t deliver, the internet
offers a platform for entrepreneurs to make it happen. “Revenues are driven by
membership but overall, it hasn’t been a key concern to this point as we work
out the details. We’re just getting started on the advertising possibilities and
have a variety of options available,” commented Kirby.
So, if you can’t
make it in person to the Dudley Classic, one of