Live From X Games Minneapolis: Tech-Loaded Show Promises More Skating, Less Waiting' A mobile host studio, a Technocrane, and a halfpipe in a concert venue among ESPN's efforts By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Thursday, August 1, 2019 - 2:47 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
Slow. Small. Boring.
Words one would never associate with the spectacle that is the X Games.
And the teams at ESPN and Echo Entertainment aim to ensure that is true of each edition of the crown jewel of action sports events. Their goal: build a show that's faster, bigger, and more exciting than ever.
For years, X Games has pushed the envelope not just for what's possible with its athletes on the track or the halfpipe but also for sports-video production and technology. This year, Minneapolis's U.S. Bank Stadium will be packed with cutting-edge cameras, unique technology deployments powered by an ocean of RF, and a robust audio and comms plan that will power approximately 18 hours of live linear content over the event's four days.
New Jam Formats' Tighten Up Competition, Coverage
One might think it would be hard to find dead spots in live X Games programming, but leave it to ESPN VP, X Games, Tim Reed and his team to find and target them.
The teams from ESPN and Echo Entertainment developed a massive production plan for X Games: (from left) ESPN VP, X Games, Tim Reed; SVP, Programming and Acquisitions, Rob Temple; and Director, Content Strategy, X Games, Jason Krutzsch; Echo Entertainment President Hugh Arian and Technical Producer Pierce Williams.
According to Reed, one of the challenges the team wanted to combat in this year's event is the broadcast time spent waiting for judges' scores to be delivered. As a result, X Games is introducing what it is calling jam formats on selected clock-based events (like Vert and Park). In these, judges will wait to officially score at the end of a series of runs.
We like to call it more skating, less waiting, says Hugh Arian, president, Echo Entertainment, ESPN's longtime production partner on everything X Games. Judges need to do their jobs, but, sometimes, we're waiting 60 seconds for a score after a run. We can just get more competition in. It speaks to entertaining the viewing habits of the youth of today.
Adds Reed, We're trying to add even more action into our broadcasts. We've also seen the research that people really want to see the tricks and action and aren't concerned so much with the score. So we're trying to leverage what we've seen in the research to see if it creates more engagement on the broadcast side.
Mobile Host Set Leads Heavy RF Effort
A major alteration in this year's show plan - compared with the previous two times the event has been here in Minneapolis - is the lack of a physical host set in the venue. In one year, a set was built on a tower in the main bowl; in the other, on the main concourse at the stadium's north entrance. This year, instead of having a dedicated home for its host and talent, the hosts will move around the building, with segments taking place all around the stadium.
This year, we want to pull the curtain back a little bit, says Arian. The goal is to get places that we've never been before, like the athletes lounge and in the pits with the motorcycles. It'll really help keep the pace up. I think, when we have the host set, which we enjoy, there's maybe a mindset that we have to spend more time there because we went through the trouble of building it. We're going to try to make our host-set executions just a little bit shorter.
It will take a heavy load of RF to make that mobility possible. Two RF cameras will follow the roaming host set wherever it goes. BSI is here in force, with extra RF mics, IFBs, cameras, and more to support. Operations also needed to install many more receive sites around the building to enable the mobility of the RF technology powering the studio host.
Cameras: Nimble, Robotic, High-Speed, Plentiful
It also wouldn't be X Games without an impressive camera arsenal ranging from the beefiest of high-speeds to the tiniest of Antelope Picos.
According to Pierce Williams, technical producer, Echo Entertainment, a total of 55 cameras are deployed in the stadium. He estimates that, with the benefit of RF and the ability to reposition smaller robotics, the show will use more than 125 unique camera positions throughout the weekend.
ESPN and Echo have deployed a base of about 35 Sony HDC-2400's to handle the primary acquisition load. Meanwhile, a sea of specialties will add color to the proceedings: five Sony HDC-4300's will offer super-slow-motion imagery, Spidercam will deliver aerial coverage, and four robotic cameras will provide scenic shots.
There are five Marshall POV cameras, and four RF POVs feature proprietary technology built by BSI specifically for X Games. Williams says they give great views of events like Flat Track, Moto, and BMX.
The X Games crew has fallen in love over the years with Antelope Pico cameras from Polecam. Small and compact, they can be quickly dropped and mounted to various tracks around the stadium. Plus, they shoot at 350 fps.
A 50-ft. Technocrane is also here to cover its very first Summer X Games, as is the popular Pylon Cam, which ESPN uses on Monday Night Football and major college football games.
Deeper Blending of Music and Sports
A new wrinkle in this year's event is that selected halfpipe events will actually be taking place in the nearby Armory. The historic Downtown Minneapolis concert venue typically hosts numerous musical performances during X Games weekend, but ESPN and Echo decided to lean in even further on the aspect of X Games where sports and music collide, installing a Vert Ramp adjacent to the concert stage.
For the f
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...
23/04/2024
Psychology can play an important role in helping us understand what audiences respond to (Dr Jon Roozenbeek, Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab)
For newsroom...
23/04/2024
IN ADDITION TO FICTION AND DOCUMENTARY FEATURES, THE SELECTION INCLUDES:
PRO...
23/04/2024
Today, we announced our first quarter 2024 earnings. In a solid start to the year, Spotify reported
Monthly Active Users grew 19% Y/Y to 615 million.
Subscri...
23/04/2024
Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat f r f rsta kvartalet 2024. ret har inletts stabilt:
M natliga aktiva anv ndare kade med 19 % j mf rt med f...
23/04/2024
In the last decade, as K-Pop cemented its status as a global phenomenon, Spotify has helped fans around the world keep their fingers on the pulse at every step ...
23/04/2024
Social entrepreneur Hedayat Osyan wins Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition
23 April, 2024
Media releases
The prestigious award is now in its third yea...
23/04/2024
LONDON IBC is now accepting nominations for its IBC2024 Innovation Awards, which honor achievements in technological innovation and social impact media & entert...
23/04/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. In response to the introduction of the Broadcast VOICES Act that seeks to encourage more diversity in the ownership of TV and radio stations, t...
23/04/2024
MIAMI, Fla. As part of a push to expand its FAST channel and streaming operations, Hemisphere Media Group has launched its free ad supported television (FAST) c...
23/04/2024
LOS ANGELES DirecTV is adding seven new channels to its rapidly expanding streaming lineup through new licensing agreements with Cineverse Corp. and Scripps Net...
23/04/2024
Entitled Our Creative Future, the manifesto calls for radical new action' t...
23/04/2024
The company has secured investment from private equity firm PAI Partners, which also holds a stake in outside broadcasting company EMG
By Jenny Priestley
Pub...
23/04/2024
Cameron also said he recognised Marlow as a potential UK and European base for his new company, LIGHTSTORM 3D
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 23, 2024 ...
23/04/2024
The five categories cover Content Creation, Content Distribution, Content Everywhere, Social Impact and Environment & Sustainability
By Matthew Corrigan
Publ...
23/04/2024
He played a central role in securing key broadcast rights, including the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 23, 2024
He pla...
23/04/2024
IBC is preparing to honour the highest achievements in technological innovation and social impact with the launch of its prestigious IBC2024 Innovation Awards, ...
23/04/2024
BREA, Calif. Bolin Technology is integrating Network Device Interface (NDI) across its product line, bringing support for the latest NDI technologies to its PTZ...
23/04/2024
WYOMISSING, Pa. PENN Entertainment has announced that longtime Disney and ESPN executive Aaron LaBerge has been named chief technology officer effective July 1,...
23/04/2024
In response to an FCC ruling in March proposing a $1.2 million fine against Nexstar and a ruling that Mission Broadcasting sell WPIX, Nexstar has filled a respo...
23/04/2024
Sony has announced new details about how the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is using Sony's Ci Media Cloud platform to streamline its workflows and spe...
23/04/2024
Esports' rapid rise to popularity can be attributed to many factors, from technological advancements that have enhanced the quality of modern gaming experie...
23/04/2024
OpenDrives, Inc., the global provider of software-defined media workflow solutions and data management capabilities, has been selected as a winner in the 2024 N...
23/04/2024
BCNEXXT is pleased to announce that Vpe has won the 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year Award in the Asset Management, Automation and Playout category. The offici...
23/04/2024
Gravity Media, a world leading global provider of complex live creative production and media services, today outlined the broadcast technology and television pr...
23/04/2024
Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage for the AI era, today announced the appointment of Peter Brennan as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Scality...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K and ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K switchers, two new Ultra HD models of the ATEM Constellation famil...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Videohub 120x120 12G, the newest model in the Videohub 12G router family. The massive Blackmagic Videohub 120x120 1...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced new lower prices for Blackmagic Video Assist 3G and 12G models. Customers can save US$200 on all models. These lower prices ma...
23/04/2024
Adder Technology continues to shine brightly, with its groundbreaking product, the ADDERLink INFINITY 3000 (ALIF3000), once again taking center stage. Hot on t...
23/04/2024
Pliant Technologies' CRP-C12 Compact Radio Pack is an Audio Production, Processing and Networking category winner in the 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year A...
23/04/2024
SipRadius, the specialists in live media transport and transcoding, will showcase their world-leading implementation of AV1 and JPEG-XS over transport streams a...
23/04/2024
Composer Rafael Krux has added a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 modular conversion system to his production studio where he creates music for commercials, trailers, ...
23/04/2024
PMC proudly provides the ultimate large-scale Dolby Atmos audio system for the legendary musician Steven Wilson at the High End, Munich. He will share his exten...
23/04/2024
Particles emitting from a 3D rotating shape's edge
Graham Quince April 22, 2024
0 Comments
In Fixin' FX, people send me their problematic proj...
23/04/2024
Hollyland Technology Announces a New Line of Video Transmitters: Introducing the...
23/04/2024
Charlotte Deleste, anchor at WISC Madison, Wisconsin, is leaving the station. Her final day on the air is April 24. Deleste has spent 18 years there....
23/04/2024
Top WNBA draft choice Caitlin Clark will appear on local broadcast for 17 games next season in a deal between Tegna and the Indiana Fever....
23/04/2024
The merger will provide vertical integration potential and enhanced product offerings to capture regional and international opportunities for revenue growth and...
23/04/2024
Abu Dhabi, 23 April, 2024 : Partnership delivers greater cybersecurity to Thura...
23/04/2024
Soccer's Appeal to Younger Audiences: Inside the Gamification of European Fo...
23/04/2024
With NBA and NHL Playoffs in Full Swing, Never a Dull Moment for TNT Sports Prod...
23/04/2024
NAB 2024: AT&T Business's Scott Beckett Details Transmission Firepower With ...
23/04/2024
NAB 2024: Manufacturers focus on cinematic look for live productions By George Bevir
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 - 10:40
Print This Story
With live sports pro...
23/04/2024
Save the Date: SVG Sports Content Management Forum Returns to NYC on July 24 By SVG Staff
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 - 4:05 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
...
23/04/2024
Published On: April 23rd, 2024
data-orig-src=https://www.sgo.es/wp-content/upl...
23/04/2024
Rohde & Schwarz introduces new R&S SMB100B microwave signal generator for analog...
Live From X Games Minneapolis: Tech-Loaded Show Promises More Skating, Less Waiting' A mobile host studio, a Technocrane, and a halfpipe in a concert venue among ESPN's efforts By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
