Sting earns first CCAA Innovation Award
Seneca Sting’s Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming application has earned Seneca College the 2019 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Innovation Award, which recognizes a member institution that has developed an initiative demonstrating unique marketing, communication or technological advances in its athletic program.
Ryan Phipps, Sports Information & Promotions Coordinator at Seneca College, accepted the award at the 2019 CCAA Hall of Fame Banquet in Calgary.
“Seneca is a leader in applying the most recent technology to enhancing the student-athlete experience and allowing a wider audience to see the quality of play that happens within the CCAA,” said Michelle Ball, CCAA VP Sport Development.
In coordination with new streaming host, Stretch Internet, the OTT app is available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android boxes and Roku devices. The app can be viewed on television without additional cabling.
This initiative has helped Seneca further grow its brand and make its product more accessible for parents, family and supporters of the Sting program this season.
“With streaming such an important tool for both recruitment and brand awareness, the app brought our product that previously was consumed on a laptop or computer to a new platform,” said Phipps. “Now, our product can be consumed the same traditional way sporting events are consumed at home, from the comfort of your couch on a big screen TV.”
Online viewers also commented on the improved quality of the streaming, which was a credit to Seneca’s new partnership with Stretch.
“The students were most excited as they felt that their friends and family were more likely to watch on a TV than on a laptop or tablet,” said Phipps.
Seneca recognizes the importance of internal and external marketing for its programs and the Sting continues to be a leader in varsity marketing initiatives.
With the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) moving to Stretch Internet next season, more institutions in Ontario may follow suit in 2019-20.
“Creating the connection between our student-athletes, our general student population and the community enhances the overall student experience and creates a sense of pride and empowerment in our institution,” said John Sharpe, Manager, Athletics & Recreation at Seneca College.
