**Charlottetown Islanders Boost Fan Engagement with Expanded Livestream Production**
*Charlottetown, PEI – August 29, 2026* – The Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders have seen a marked increase in online viewership as the team’s livestreams of New Brunswick Senior Baseball League (NBSBL) games have become more sophisticated. The effort is being led by assistant coach Chuck Grady, who oversees the technical and statistical aspects of the broadcasts.
Grady, who joined the Islanders as a first‑base coach in 2021, now spends roughly 25 hours each week during the baseball season managing the team’s website, compiling statistics for league submission, and producing the livestreams from Memorial Field’s press box. “He’s a perfectionist,” said Islanders general manager and pitcher Jake Beck. “When there’s a blip on the stream, he treats it like a missed home run – he wants it to be right.”
**From a Single Phone to Multi‑Camera Production**
Grady’s livestreaming began during the 2021 NBSBL playoffs with a single smartphone. Over the past three seasons, the production has expanded to four camera angles—covering the pitcher‑catcher battery, the infield, first base, and a wide‑angle view of the field—and now includes live commentary and player statistics. “We’re trying to make it better every year,” Grady said. “Our fans want to know what we’re doing, whether we’re winning or losing. The better the output, the more likely the fan is to stay engaged.”
The broadcasts are available on the Islanders’ Facebook page and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@gaudetsislanderslive). Links to upcoming games are posted on Facebook shortly before the first pitch.
**Viewership Growth**
According to Beck, the Islanders’ livestreams attracted approximately 70,000 viewers three years ago. In each of the last two seasons, regular‑season and playoff games drew more than 100,000 viewers. The team’s title‑clinching win in Game 6 of the 2024 NBSBL championship in Moncton, N.B., recorded 10,000 views.
Beck credited the livestreams with raising the profile of senior baseball in the region. “The livestream really changed the impact of senior ball in the New Brunswick league, and I think it’s helping senior ball across the country by generating more fanfare and attention,” he said.
**Sponsorship Exposure and League Influence**
One of Grady’s stated goals is to increase visibility for the Islanders’ sponsors through the livestreams. He has also assisted other NBSBL clubs in establishing their own streaming setups, helping to ensure that all five league teams now offer live coverage of their games.
**Playoff Schedule**
The Islanders, defending NBSBL champions, will face the Fredericton Royals in a best‑of‑seven semifinal series beginning Aug. 30. The schedule is as follows:
| Game | Date | Location | Time |
|——|——|———-|——|
| 1 | Aug. 30 | Royals Field, Fredericton | 7:30 p.m. |
| 2 | Aug. 31 | Memorial Field, Charlottetown | 8:00 p.m. |
| 3 | Sept. 2 | Royals Field, Fredericton | 8:00 p.m. |
| 4 | Sept. 3 | Memorial Field, Charlottetown | 8:00 p.m. |
| 5 (if needed) | Sept. 5 | Royals Field, Fredericton | 4:00 p.m. |
| 6 (if needed) | Sept. 6 | Memorial Field, Charlottetown | 4:00 p.m. |
| 7 (if needed) | Sept. 8 | Royals Field, Fredericton | 8:00 p.m. |
Both teams finished the regular season with identical 18‑10 records; Fredericton earned the second seed based on a 4‑3 head‑to‑head advantage. The Islanders, who represented the league at the 2026 Baseball Canada Senior Men’s Championship in Miramichi, N.B.,
Article and image source: saltwire.com
