First 4 EBERSPÄCHER World Cups in 96 countries over 22 hours in Livestream and TV
 

Berchtesgaden (FIL) The first four EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cups of the 2020/21 season are already history. Great challenges have marked the organisers so far this winter. However, the FIL protection and hygiene concept proved to be particularly successful and thus all four events could be held successfully.

The first four EBERSPÄCHER World Cups in Austria and Germany were broadcast as usual on the FIL live streaming platform via the official website fil-luge.org and on TV channels around the world. 

The cumulative total broadcast time for World Cups one to four was 1,341,662 minutes or 22,361 hours. This is an increase of 29 per cent compared to the same period (World Cups 1-4 of the 2019/20 season). 

Viewers have come from 96 different countries so far this season. Last year, it was 89 countries. The spectator numbers in the main markets have changed as follows compared to last season (World Cups 1-4):

Germany +66% 
Italy +74%. 
Russia +18% 
Austria -19 
Romania +38% 
USA -60% (the US team did not participate in the first races)
Canada -75% (the Canadian team did not participate in the first races)
China +473% 
 
One of the biggest challenges presented by the Pandemic was that the FIL live streaming commentators were not going to be on site. JFM Sports Inc of Lake Placid, NY, who have had the FIL contract for live streaming since the 2015/16 season, proposed a remote commentary platform. "This was a challenge for us because we initially we were doubtful that this would work with the commentators based in North America," said John F. Morgan, president of JFM Sports Inc, who also commentated on some races. "We were pleasantly surprised in our early tests that it does work and it just amazes me that the technology has come so far so quickly and in general it has worked very well." Live commentary came from long-time Play by Play Sliding Sports expert Tim Singer of Burlington, Vermont.
 
Acting with expert analysis were members of the U.S. Luge Team who were at USA Luge Headquarters in Lake Placid. The US athletes had not travelled to Europe for the first four World Cups due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With their expert analysis from afar, Chris Mazder, Emily Sweeney, Jason Terdiman, Tucker West and Summer Britcher were convincing. “Every one of the 5 US Athletes we used are excellent commentators in their own right and but could tell they would rather be competing” said Morgan. The US team will be back at the start of the 5th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup in Berchtesgaden-Königssee on 2 and 3 January 2021.

Watch the FIL Livestreaming and repeats here: Live Streaming | FIL Luge - Int. Rennrodelverband (fil-luge.org)