With Triple Crown in Play, NBC Sports Trots Out Massive Production for Belmont Stakes Bat Cam system will cover more ground than at any prior Triple Crown race By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Friday, June 8, 2018 - 12:00 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
With the second Triple Crown in just four years on the line, NBC Sports Group is pulling out all the stops for coverage of this weekend's 150th Belmont Stakes. With Justify poised to capture the final gem of the Triple Crown, NBC Sports Group has boosted its production complement, adding a second onsite studio set, live pointer graphics to identify Justify on the track, and five additional cameras, including the Bat Cam aerial system that drew rave reviews at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.
Once Justify won Preakness, we knew what we were in for, and we started putting everything in motion right away, says Tim Dekime, VP, operations, NBC Sports Group. The [equipment levels] were increased a good bit, and we added all the bells and whistles. It means a lot more work and preparation, but it's very exciting for us, and we are very well-prepared.
All Eyes on Justify: More Cameras and Virtual Tracking Graphics
NEP's ND1 (A, B, C, and D units) mobile unit will once again be on hand to run the show, with a total of 43 cameras deployed - up from 33 for last year's non-Triple-Crown race. Besides the Bat Cam aerial system covering the backstretch, the camera arsenal includes a Sony HDC-4800 4K camera (outfitted with a Canon UHD 86X lens) on the finish line, five HDC-4300's running at 6X slo-mo and five more running at 60 fps, 14 HDC-2500's (eight hard, six handheld), five HDC-1500's in a wireless RF configuration (provided by BSI), a bevy of robos (provided by Fletcher) and POVs, and an aerial helicopter (provided by AVS weather permitting).
Ready for a Triple Crown effort at Belmont: (from left) NEP's John Roch and NBC Sports Group's Keith Kice and Tim Dekime
Five other cameras have been added because of the Triple Crown possibility: a POV camera at Justify's gate and one in the PA booth with announcer Larry Collmus (which will be streamed live on the NBC Sports App), a robo to capture a 360 view of the paddock, an additional RF camera roaming the grounds, and, most notably, the Bat Cam system.
In addition to more cameras, NBC plans to use SMT's ISO Track system to identify Justify with a virtual pointer graphic live during the race. The system will incorporate real-time data - speed, current standing, and distance from finish line - into the on-air pointer graphic, helping viewers follow Justify and other key horses throughout the day's races.
We'll have a live pointer that tracks Justify during the race that our director [Drew Esocoff] will insert, if needed, [so] the horse will be tracked for the viewers watching at home, says Coordinating Producer Rob Hyland. It will have a little arrow pointing to where he is at certain points in the race.
Bat Cam Covers the Back Stretch
The Bat Cam was a hit at both Churchill Downs and Pimlico, providing a never-before-seen view of the backstretch and also coming in handy when rain and fog complicated matters for NBC at both the Derby and the Preakness. The two-point cable-cam system can travel 80 mph along the backstretch, running 15-18 ft. above the ground.
NBC had already used the Bat Cam on NASCAR, so we knew what to expect at the Derby, and it was just a matter of figuring out how to implement it into our show, says Keith Kice, senior technical manager, NBC Sports. It's turned out to be a great [tool for us], especially at [the Preakness]. Even if it wasn't for all the fog, the infield [at Pimlico] with all the tents and stages and infrastructure makes it very difficult; you really need the Bat Cam just to cover the backstretch because you can't see it otherwise.
Given the massive size of the Belmont track, the Bat Cam will cover more ground than at either of the two prior races but will not cover the entire backstretch. The system will run 2,750 ft. - more than 700 ft. longer than at the Kentucky Derby, 500 ft. longer than at the Preakness Stakes - of the 3,000-ft. backstretch.
The length of the backstretch was definitely a challenge in getting the Bat Cam unit [installed], says Dekime. But the benefit here as opposed to Preakness is that there's nothing in the infield the way that it's one big party at Pimlico. We are unencumbered, so that's a positive. The length of the backstretch was a challenge in getting the Bat Cam units to cover most of the backstretch.
Although NBC and the Bat Cam team were forced to bring in larger cranes at Belmont in order to install the longer system, says NEP Technical Director John Roch , setup and operation of the Bat Cam has improved significantly since the Derby.
It's no longer a science experiment like it was before, he says. We're able to get [Bat Cam owner/operator] Kevin Chase all the gear that they need, and they are able to give us what we need pretty easily in terms of terminal gear, intercoms, and everything. It's pretty much plug-and-play now.
Hyland adds that the Bat Cam will not only cover the backstretch of the race but will also provide dramatic reset shots of this vast facility. When the Triple Crown is on the line at Belmont, the energy in this venue is electric, and we want to capture the sense of place.
Triple Crown Chance Warrants Double the Sets
Besides additional cameras because of the Triple Crown potential, NBC Sports has also added a second studio set. Host Mike Tirico and analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey will man the 18- x 18-ft. set at the finish line, and a secondary 24- x 24-ft. stage located near Turn 2 will feature host Bob Costas and other on-air talent.
If it was not going to be
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
25/04/2024
Sundance Institute Founder Robert Redford during a press conference at the 1996 ...
25/04/2024
alt= class=wp-image-12361 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NAB-booth-2024-960x540-1.jpg/> Set against a vibrant backdrop of innovation and collaboratio...
25/04/2024
alt= class=wp-image-12356 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NAB-mod-win-960x540-1.jpg/>NAB's Eric Trabb (right) awards SNS with two NAB Show Product...
25/04/2024
PHILADELPHIA Comcast beat earnings estimates in its Q1 2024 financial report, as streaming losses continued to decline and Peacock's paid subscribers spiked...
25/04/2024
SEATTLE The Seattle Kraken have inked new multi-year agreements with Tegna and Prime Video that will expand access to their games over broadcast stations and st...
25/04/2024
M2A Medias Matt Hughes asks, is it time for news broadcasting to shift to the cloud?
By Contributor
Published: April 25, 2024
M2A Media's Matt Hughes ...
25/04/2024
Cintel Scanner G3 HDR Restores Egypt's Cinema Treasures to Their Former Glo...
25/04/2024
Sinclair Broadcast Group said it named Kevin Coskren chief meteorologist at KTUL, its ABC affiliate in Tulsa, Oklahoma....
25/04/2024
The Business of TV News, a new one-day event featuring Martha Raddatz, Shannon Bream, Glenn Kirschner and other major figures in television news, happens at Hot...
25/04/2024
Conditions put on the proposed sale of WADL Detroit, to Mission Broadcasting have created a potential drama in the Motor City....
25/04/2024
TelevisaUnivision reported a $52 million loss in the first quarter, up from $3 m...
25/04/2024
Comcast reported flat first-quarter earnings as it reduced the red ink at Peacock but continued to lose video and broadband customers....
25/04/2024
Music-video network Vevo said it launched its app on Telly, the company offering consumers free dual-screen TVs in return for data about what they're watchi...
25/04/2024
Future Today said it has introduced a redesigned user interface for about half of its 300 streaming apps, including Fawesome, HappyKids and iFood.TV....
25/04/2024
The writer and director of a hit Czech series tell Robert Shepherd about their approach to portraying real-life Pakistani kidnappings on the small screen, while...
25/04/2024
Notorious DIT will work with the Liverpool Film Office to increase opportunities for regional talent
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 25, 2024
Notorio...
25/04/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
25/04/2024
Lightware Visual Engineering, a leading manufacturer of connectivity solutions for the professional integrated systems market and a pioneer in signal management...
25/04/2024
Net Insight has entered into a collaboration with DMC Production that positions Net Insight at the forefront of sports broadcasting in the Nordics. Net Insight ...
25/04/2024
GlobalM has announced a strategic partnership with scoopa, the specialists in broadcast-quality content distribution, offering a complementary service for live ...
25/04/2024
PlayBox Neo announces the completion of a new multichannel playout system for the DDish direct-to-home satellite television network in Mongolia. Based in the na...
25/04/2024
Canadian music producer and engineer Garth Richardson also known as Gggarth due to his stutter - has embraced immersive audio by installing a PMC monitoring s...
25/04/2024
Leading video software provider Synamedia today announced that Televisa, the Mexican telecommunications and broadcasting company, has chosen Synamedia as its pa...
25/04/2024
OTTera, a leading provider of end-to-end OTT and FAST channel solutions, proudly announces its strategic partnership with ThinkAnalytics, a global leader in adv...
25/04/2024
The American Tobacco Campus will be hopping with activity tonight and this weekend with two fun events!
Durham Night Market
At last! The Durham Night Market i...
25/04/2024
WEST CHESTER, Pa. Video commerce provider Qurate Retail Group has launched The Big Dish, a new culinary-themed FAST channel on The Roku Channel....
25/04/2024
LOS ANGELES The Hollywood Professional Association has announced that submissions for the 2024 HPA Engineering Excellence Awards are now being accepted. This re...
25/04/2024
NEW YORK The digital media measurement and analytics firm DoubleVerify has announced that it has received Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for Video Vie...
25/04/2024
SAN FRANCISCO Fox Corp.'s ad-supported streaming service Tubi has announced a licensing agreement with the sports platform DAZN that will see DAZN Ringside ...
25/04/2024
NEW YORK In the runup to the 2024 IAB NewFronts, the IAB has announced three key appointments to its leadership team....
25/04/2024
Epic Games releases Unreal Engine 5.4 with new Motion Design Mode, Unreal VCam f...
25/04/2024
Content Creation, Production, Distribution Is In a State of Flux
Andy Marken April 24, 2024
0 Comments
My empathy is creeping towards what I would de...
25/04/2024
The Carolina Panthers and Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) announced they have...
25/04/2024
Berklee Student Riko Sasaski Named 2024 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The accomplished saxophonist secured a spot among the elite winners of this year's ...
25/04/2024
Stations everywhere take pride in having a main anchor who comes from the market they represent. That applies in St. Louis, too, but it also pertains to general...
25/04/2024
Edward Moody is joining the WBTW Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, anchor crew, and will anchor the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts alongside Trish Williford. He comes f...
25/04/2024
MTV said the 2024 Video Music Awards will return to New York and take place at the new UBS Arena....
25/04/2024
Season three of comedy The Outlaws premieres on Prime Video May 31. Stephen Merchant co-created the show, and stars. There are five episodes....
25/04/2024
The E.W. Scripps Co. is evaluating offers for Bounce, its multicast channel for African-American viewers, according to a report from CNBC....
25/04/2024
Paramount Plus has ordered a second season for Dora, the animated preschool show based on Dora the Explorer. The show, featuring Dora on a rainforest adventure ...
25/04/2024
Bayanat AI PLC (ADX: BAYANAT), a leading AI-powered geospatial solutions provider, and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (ADX: YAHSAT), the UAE&#...
25/04/2024
April 25th, 2024 Press Materials Available Here
TRIBECA FESTIVAL 2024 ANNOUNCES AUDIO STORYTELLING AND GAMES LINEUP
Audio Storytelling Program Features 10th ...
25/04/2024
NFL Draft 2024: Verizon Expands Broadband Capacity To Handle the Spike in Demand Mobile cells will help accommodate first responders, social media, sports betti...
25/04/2024
NFL Draft 2024: NFL Media Teams With The Fantasy Footballers on Hybrid, REMI Pro...
25/04/2024
NFL Draft 2024: ESPN Motors Into Detroit With Trio of Simultaneous Live Presenta...
25/04/2024
Published On: April 25th, 2024
data-orig-src=https://www.sgo.es/wp-content/upl...
With Triple Crown in Play, NBC Sports Trots Out Massive Production for Belmont Stakes Bat Cam system will cover more ground than at any prior Triple Crown race By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
