MLB Returns: ESPN Operations Solves Logistical Puzzle on Rain-Shortened Opening Day
28/07/2020
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 - 10:18 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Thursday, July 23 was a day that has been circled on ESPN employees' calendars for quite some time. With Opening Day of this peculiar, 60-game Major League Baseball regular season in the rearview mirror, the operations team can recollect their thoughts, assess any pitfalls, and regroup before the rest of the 2020 schedule unfolds.
As part of the new world that we're in now, MLB did a great job at getting everybody on the same page early on, says Paul Horrell, remote operations manager, ESPN. They came up with a scenario that would satisfy all broadcasters while minimizing the logistics and the travel and onsite needs. There are a lot of moving targets, and [ESPN] tried to create something that would best protect us across the board.
Producing From Afar: A World Feed' for Domestic Distribution While COVID-19 still has the country in a fierce stranglehold, the league is giving ballpark and television-compound access only to the home-team regional sports network. Taking a page out of the playbook of international competitions like the World Cup and the Olympics, these RSNs will supply a clean and more-neutral feed for use on national broadcasts by ESPN, Fox Sports, and TBS.
Inside the control room during the Opening Day game between the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees
For non-exclusive games, we're taking the world feed from the truck of the home RSN truck and augmenting it with one or two onsite cameras that are dedicated to ESPN, says Horrell. Those cameras are taken on iso fiber paths to Bristol through our REMI model. The director in Bristol has control over those two cameras, and they use those two camera angles to cut in and out of the world feed.
In addition to these exclusive cameras on weekday telecasts, extra technical enhancements, including additional replay operators and a total of 20 cameras (compared with the six or seven on weekday contests), are in play for the Sunday Night Baseball property. Nonetheless, the MLB department of ESPN is not familiar with the world-feed approach. As the production side continues to deal with and overcome the challenges of this truncated season. The operations side has also become more battle-hardened and resilient.
There are nine or 10 hard cameras, an RF handheld, POVs in the bullpen, and various robos, Horrell adds. There are a lot of different factors and little technical gotchas' along the way. [For example], depending on how things are on a week-to-week basis and the size of the ballpark that we're in, [our camera complement] will be one of the unknowns.
Shipping to Bristol: Onsite Uplink Truck Alleviates Strain on Transmission A welcome sign to the industry, the broadcaster's schedule is getting busier by the day with the postseason section of the MLS Is Back Tournament under way, the commencement of the 22-game WNBA season this past weekend, and the upcoming return of the NBA on July 30. Though a blessing, the busy schedule poses a large logistical challenge. On the technological front, the operations team is condensing its onsite video sources into singular paths to decongest transmission paths used for coverage of the two other professional leagues.
We have some limitations with the amount of throughput and hardware that is available in Bristol since there are sports that are returning and a lot of them taking either REMI or GREMI [remote graphics] approaches, says Horrell. In order to alleviate some of the congestion, we're taking those 20 sources [for exclusive Sunday games] and putting them through a small uplink truck, which has LUX hardware on it. Basically, 10 camera paths can be condensed down to a single fiber, so we're taking the first 10 camera sources through LUX 1 and the second 10 camera sources through LUX 2.
Matt Vasgersian (left) and Alex Rodriguez (right) call the action from a studio at ESPN's facility in Bristol, CT.
For extra redundancy, a third fiber is being used as a backup as well as a private path for key camera angles to free space on the inbound line to Bristol. After receiving these feeds, the Bristol-based team can unpack them into their original 20 sources. Although a viable solution, this strategy came with a small hurdle that needed to be accounted for on Opening Day.
This new model comes with the associated delays in everything, says Horrell. When you're shipping 20 iso sources back to Bristol, there is a delay factor, so you have to reset your timeline. It also gets complex when you're having to feed some of those sources to your home[-based] talent and figuring out the round-trip delay and the different delays between your talent.
Along with figuring out how to ship video, audio, and other ancillary feeds to the mothership and to talent working from their respective homes, strategizing where to locate on-air personalities and behind-the-scenes staff while adhering to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines is another piece to the enormous puzzle that ESPN is slowly putting together.
The team in Bristol is very much aware of [social distancing] by spreading employees out in different control rooms and media rooms, Horrell says. There are restrictions on the number of people coming into the building. [On Opening Day], we did have back-to-back games, so there were multiple PCRs in play for that.
Thunderstruck: Communication With MASN Helps Team Navigate Nasty Weather Headsets, including this one belonging to Matt Vasgersian, are labeled to prevent cross-contamination and follow stringent COVID-19 safety guidelines.
LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/07/28/mlb-returns-espn-operations-sol... |
See more stories from svg |
More from Sports Video Group
28/03/2024
TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio
TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio Marching bands, crowds make up for lack of court FX and wired players By Dan Daley, Audio Editor ...
28/03/2024
Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Shared Reality' Venues
Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Share...
28/03/2024
MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2024 Home Games
MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2...
28/03/2024
MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production
MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production The league's production arm marks 15th-anniversary season with packed schedule By ...
28/03/2024
MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volumetric Replays, Win Probability' in Scorebug
MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volume...
28/03/2024
MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans
MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans More player and field sound will be on tap By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Thursday, March 28, 202...
27/03/2024
Program Productions Partners With Investment Firm Integrum, Eyes Expansion Into New Markets
Program Productions Partners With Investment Firm Integrum, Eyes Expansion Into ...
26/03/2024
Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on Creating a Content Strategy That Makes a Difference
Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on C...
26/03/2024
WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group
WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group Managing content teams with New York Jets Jessica Ciccone, Washington Commanders Rae...
26/03/2024
Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer
Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - 1:01 pm Print This Story |...
26/03/2024
NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 So Paulo Game, Prime Video Adds NFL Wild Card Game
NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 S o Paulo Game, Prime Vid...
25/03/2024
The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Breaks Down the Complexities
The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Break...
25/03/2024
Rising Star: Checking Out Strategic Sports Goals With TikTok's Global Head of Sports Partnerships Rollo Goldstaub
Rising star: Checking out strategic sports goals with TikTok's global head o...
25/03/2024
TV Skyline Completes Record Winter Sports Season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalbach
TV Skyline completes record winter sports season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalb...
25/03/2024
Sports Innovation 2024: New Viewing Experiences and Tracking Systems Provide a Glimpse Into the Future
Sports Innovation 2024: New viewing experiences and tracking systems provide a g...
25/03/2024
Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and Warnings in Equal Measure as AI Dominates Dsseldorf Event
Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and warnings in equal measure as AI dominates...
25/03/2024
NAB 2024: EVS Sets Out Plans for NAB and Highlights Industry Tech Trends
EVS sets out plans for NAB and highlights industry tech trends By George Bevir Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 16:34 Print This Story Left to right: Lisa Coll...
25/03/2024
ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Live Sports Broadcast
ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Liv...
25/03/2024
NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Broadcast
NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time...
22/03/2024
Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Production
Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Producti...
22/03/2024
SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Landscape
SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Lan...
22/03/2024
Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consumer, OTT Platforms
Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consum...
22/03/2024
With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women's March Madness From All Angles
With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women'...
21/03/2024
Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics
Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics Tech leaders from FIFA, Sky Sports, and Genius Sports discussed the opportunities at SVG Euro...
21/03/2024
March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center for 20-Camera Productions
March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center ...
21/03/2024
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Activating Content Via AI Tools
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Act...
21/03/2024
Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A National-Network Feel at DC's New RSN
Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A Nation...
21/03/2024
SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27
SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27 By SVG Staff Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 1:47 pm Print This Story | Subscribe Story...
20/03/2024
Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Production
Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Produ...
20/03/2024
The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimpse Into the Past and the Future
The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimps...
20/03/2024
MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate in South Korea
MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate i...
20/03/2024
Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX
Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX 52FLEX seats over 20 on-site crew members and features a first-of-its-kind Visitor Mobile Un...
20/03/2024
Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65
Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65 He led regional broadcasts for both the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals duri...
19/03/2024
Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want
Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want Sky Sports Sarah Cheadle, Telenet Play Sports Serge Bellens spoke at SVG Europes Football Summit l...
19/03/2024
Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With iPhones
Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With...
19/03/2024
Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level
Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 10:40 am Print ...
19/03/2024
Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broadcast Studios
Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broa...
19/03/2024
NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emBET Integration
NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emB...
19/03/2024
ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Through 2031-32 Season
ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Throug...
18/03/2024
Major League Soccer: IMG on Capturing Fan Rituals and Delivering Consistent Coverage
Major League Soccer: IMG on capturing fan rituals and delivering consistent cove...
18/03/2024
Smashing Padel: Inside Aurora's Innovative Production of the Inaugural Hexagon Cup
Smashing padel: Inside Aurora's innovative production of the inaugural Hexag...
18/03/2024
Airspeeder Teams Up With EMG for World's First Live Broadcast of Flying Car Series
Airspeeder teams up with EMG for world's first live broadcast of flying car ...
15/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mix for NBC Sports; Coverage Goes HDR
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mi...
15/03/2024
SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video Systems Dissect the FAST Boom
SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video...
15/03/2024
Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming JV
Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming ...
15/03/2024
Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Drones for Second Year in a Row
Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Dro...
15/03/2024
After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partners, Free DTC Platform
After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partn...
14/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facility
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facil...
14/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, Coverage
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, C...