Live Mic broadcasting and its effects

Coaches and players will be required to wear live mics during certain games this seasons. The Eskimos were already fined for not doing so. Is it good or bad?

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Pros and Cons of Live Microphones

In order to improve the viewers’ experience the CFL decided to introduce live microphones. Quarterbacks, defensive player and head coaches are now supposed to wear wired microphones throughout the game and what they say might be broadcasted live on TV.

The debate is ongoing and there are many arguments for and against live microphones.

• It is definitely better for the fans who are watching at home, everyone agrees on that.
• Players and coaches had complained that it gives future opponents an insight into the team’s tactics which can be used against them.
• The games are broadcasted live and there are a lot of children watching, so there’s a worry that they might be exposed to inappropriate language if some of the players or coaches uses curse words.
• Proponents claim that it contributes towards a better understanding of the game, whereas opponents claim that it kills the magic.

For or against it, the decision has already been made and viewers already had the chance to see few games that featured live mics.

An Old Idea

The idea isn’t new though. Initially live microphones were used in the NBA and the former coach of the Canadian Toronto Raptors was fined $100,000 for refusing to wear a mic back in 2000. The American Football League (NFL) also introduced live mics long ago.

Jeff Giles, the former president of the CFL wanted to introduce live mics, but his original plan was to use the recorded material for the highlight packages instead of the live broadcast. That way, any piece containing curse words could’ve been deleted, censored and they could simple choose another part of the recording.

The worry about use of inappropriate language is one of the biggest and that’s what the Eskimos quarterback hinted at back in August. However, Giles’s idea was rejected by the coaches and the clubs claimed that their players’ privacy would be compromised. Fast forward 16 years later, we have live mics.

The Eskimos Refused to Wear Live Mics

However, the introduction of live mics didn’t go without controversies, as you have probably already heard. Eskimos’ quarterback Reilly and their coach Jason Maas decided against wearing the microphones for their match against the Montreal Alouettes which was supposed to be one of the games featuring wired coaches and players this season.

After the game, Reilly said that he and his coach simply weren’t comfortable with wearing microphones and decided not to wear them. He also stated that wearing a mic would’ve been a big distraction for him and that it would interfere with his game.

The Alouettes, i.e. their coach Jacques Chapdelaine and quarterback Cato were wired. The Eskimos eventually managed to win the game 42 to 40, but they knew that they would be sanctioned.

Maas and the Club Were Fined

After the game, the CFL spoke out against the Eskimos, stating that they failed to comply in accordance with the directive of the Board of Governors, adding that the decision was, in principle supported by all clubs. Orridge, a CFL commissioner said that ‘it was unfair to the fans’, as well as the broadcaster.

The Eskimos were fined $20,000 and their coach Maas was personally fined with $15,000. The CFL commissioner said that the fine was issued in order to ensure that something like that will not happen again.

The club issued an apology to the league, the fans and the TSN who broadcast CFL games. In the apology it was stated that the interests of the league are and should always be above the interests of clubs and individuals.

CFL Threaten with Heavier Fines

The CFL didn’t stop there. Orridge noted that the club has apologized, but he added that it is their responsibility to make sure that something like that won’t happen again. He also treated Maas, saying that if he is once again supposed to wear a mic and he refuses to comply he will be penalized severely, with an even higher fine and that he would be suspended for a game, even if the game is a playoff game.

It appears that CFL is adopting a strict approach in an effort to implement its new measure. This is a clear indication that the CFL central office is a lot more powerful than it used to be. Throughout history the CFL had little influence over the clubs. That was untypical, especially if we look at the other professional leagues in North America.

However, with this decision the CFL shows a clear tendency and determination to be in charge of all organizational operations. Furthermore, it should be noted that the Eskimos initially accepted to wear microphones. Therefore, it can be said that the fine was quite fair. They had it coming. The regulation that they violated was one reached by the Board not the League Office and their representative agreed to it as well.

We’ll Have to Wait and See

As long as the commissioner is being fair and balanced, it is not a problem. After all, if all clubs agreed to the live mic policy, it should be enforced and clubs shouldn’t be allowed to disobey it whenever they feel like it, especially if it was their decision too. If the clubs decide that they are no longer in favor of live mics, it would be a different matter. For the time being, the mics stay on.

Perhaps we’d have to wait for at least one season to end before we can evaluate the positive and the negative aspects of the live mic policy.