Changes @ CF

CF is constantly re-evaluating these days, and Eric announced to the church this week four major changes. For media purposes, 3 and 4 are biggies... I'm quoting Eric below:

3) Theater Seating

Reality: Our 10:30 service feels full at 800 adults in the worship center. We have never been able to bust through this lid. The 10:30 service is the “optimal inviting time,” and we need to create more space during that worship hour.

Response: By moving to theater seating in January 2008, we will increase capacity by 25%. This will raise the lid of our adult worship services to seat 1000 adults comfortably (70% of the new capacity). The Stewardship Team has confirmed the recommendation from our pastoral leadership team to move to theater seating. Some of the finances will be utilized from overages in this budget year. The balance will be budgeted in 2008. Installation is set to occur in January. We will be able to meet in the worship center throughout the install.

Jeff's Take: No word yet on cupholders. Personally, I think we should do a fundraiser deal by selling off the pews and donate profits to the stadium seating. Not really sure why I would want a pew, but I'm sure I can come up with a reason. As difficult as it is to build anything in Miami, let's squeeze every inch we can out of that worship center to pack more in!

4)High Definition Quality in our Worship Center

Reality: As media equipment has “died” over the last two years, we have slowly replaced the old equipment with new equipment that is capable of providing High Definition quality. We are very close to moving to full HD. However, the distance from the worship center to the studio and back to the studio impedes the quality of the image.

Response: We are relocating the control room of the studio to the rear of the balcony (unused space and storage). By moving to HD, we will be able to provide higher quality video teaching in the Classic Service, Homestead 10 a.m. service, and future video teaching venues.

Jeff's Take: That noise you are hearing is a collective sigh of relief from the CF Media's Production Crew. As technology expanded and Media's involvement became more "involved" in the worship service, the 500+ feet between the worship center and the studio became further and further. Coupled with CF's "Safe and Secure" area for the kids (which the studio is smack in the middle of), it was difficult to function over at our current location.

The HD Upgrade is huge. We've already acquired much of the equipment, and it will be a very exciting time to assemble the pieces of the puzzle together.

I had someone ask me why it was important to upgrade to HD, since we're not broadcasting on TV (Adelphia Cable). Image Quality increase, obviously. There will be an immediate, noticable quality difference on the worship center screens as well as on the video teaching venues. Secondly, (and more important) cost. A broadcast quality HD camera today runs approximately $10,000. A broadcast quality SD (standard definition, non HD) camera will run approximately $30,000. By 2009 the FCC will no longer permit TV stations to broadcast in non-HD formats, meaning non-HD equipment will become sparce (and expensive, since it's rare). With that, parts are also extremely hard to find (and expensive) on SD cameras. We literally have had a part on backorder for one of our broken cameras for over 15 months now, and there's no chance it will be coming in soon!

If you're going to jump to HD, now's the time. For what it's worth, when we started looking at HD camera upgrades, the cost (per camera) was between $75,000 and $100,000. As demand grew, price dropped. We're doing this at the perfect time!

I love the fact that I'm involved with a church that is not happy with the status quo, and is driven to grow. I love the fact that I'm involved with a church were the people have caught that vision and run with it, too!