Live From MLB All-Star 2021: MLB Network Covers Pregame Festivities, Player Personalities on Purple Carpet at McGregor Square

Live From MLB All-Star 2021: MLB Network Covers Pregame Festivities, Player Personalities on Purple Carpet at McGregor Square The network will also present the 2021 Futures Game from Coors Field By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor

Sunday, July 11, 2021 - 1:43 pm

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When the Midsummer Classic hits the streets of Denver, it's only appropriate to dive headfirst into the fanbase's connection with the professional game. While Coors Field has become synonymous with the city's sports scene, MLB Network's expansive coverage of the five-day-long festivities will occur within it, outside of it, and near it on a lavender rug that is fitting for Colorado Rockies country.

In terms of remote workflows to multiple onsite venues, this will be one of the largest remote [efforts] that we've collectively ever done, says Tom Guidice, VP, remote operations, MLB Network. Being able to see everyone and do this right out of the gate [after the initial start of the pandemic] is great.

Live Game Coverage: 2021 Futures Game Features IFB Communication, Mic'ed Up Players Game Creek Video's Madison will handle onsite production of the 2021 MLB All-Star Futures Game.

Major League Baseball's stars of tomorrow will once again be at the center of the party during the 2021 All-Star Futures Game. One of the annual productions where the network experiments with next-level technology, this year's contest will test the audio waters. Shown during select Spring Training and regular season games, MLB Network will outfit 10 players and coaches with microphones and IFB devices for in-game, live conversations with play-by-play commentator Scott Braun, analysts Yonder Alonso and Jonathan Mayo, and sideline reporter Heidi Watney.

Game Creek Video's Madison mobile unit will steer the 7-inning bout in Denver, but graphics will derive from MLB Network's studio in Secaucus, NJ.

Getting to Know the Players: Media Day Returns With In-Person Reporting Monday's All-Star Media Day is a chance for both fans and media alike to ask more light-hearted questions that showcase a player's personality. Over the last year, interviews done over Zoom or other video conferencing sites were the go-to outlets to get soundbites and quotes from players. With a positive turn in the COVID-19 pandemic, these interviews will be done in person within 10 player pods covered by iso cameras at McGregor Square. The 659,000-sq. ft. development right outside of the stadium officially opened its doors to the public last month, and it make for an ample location that is packed with beauty and convenience for the production team.

Senior Director, Remote Technical Operations Jason Hedgcock inside of Game Creek Video's Nitro mobile unit.

We'll be doing Media Day from the same location, so we have a couple more days to set up, adds Guidice. It makes [operations] a lot easier.

Starting at 2 p.m. ET, this physical set will leverage two jibs and a handful of RF handhelds and host a seven consecutive hours of programming, including High Heat (3:30 p.m. ET), Intentional Talk (5 p.m. ET) and MLB Tonight (6 p.m. ET). These shows will lead into the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby on ESPN. On-air talent at McGregor Square will include Pedro Martinez, Yonder Alonso, Cliff Floyd, Kevin Millar, Dan Plesac, Harold Reynolds, Greg Amsinger, Scott Braun, Fran Charles, Lauren Gardner, Brian Kenny, Stephen Nelson, Alanna Rizzo, Christopher Russo, Alonso, and Watney.

As the players exercise during the Gatorade All-Star Workout day, these hosts and analysts will also be dispersed inside of Coors Field on two separate sets: one located on the concourse in Section 112 and another on the field's third base side in foul territory. Both setups will have three cameras each.

Stars on the Carpet: Facility in Secaucus To Remotely Produce Shortened Parade For fans that make the pilgrimage to the All-Star game, one of the biggest treats is to see some of baseball's biggest stars take to the carpet dressed in their best. In years past, these players have boarded convertible cars and waved at the crowds as they strolled by, but this year's route to the stadium will be a shorter distance than usual. Although the start of Tuesday's lead-up to the crown jewel event will be scaled back, MLB Network will still pack a heavy tech punch in this singular location.

Sunday's Futures Game is one small part of MLB Network's All-Star plans.

We would normally have some hard cameras or a jib along the parade route to capture action along the parade route, but we mostly compressed all [of our technology], says Jason Hedgcock, senior director, remote technical operations, MLB Network. It's not as spread out as a parade, but we're not covering it any less than usual.

Similar to Monday's workout before the Home Run Derby, coverage prior to the All-Star Game will also see hits coming from the network's two studios inside of the venue. Over the course of two days, a total of 27 cameras will be used to highlight the festivities. In an effort to remain committed to content on social media, Floyd and Alonso will be the driving force of these digital channels with real-time player interviews on the purple carpet.

Back in the compound outside of Coors Field, Game Creek Video's Pride (A and B units) will handle these onsite studio shows from Sunday to Tuesday. As for the main telecast of the Red Carpet show, the studio in New Jersey will be producing a purely remote cut of the show. This strong reliance on these remote paths will be tested over the next couple of days, especially on Sunday as the league wraps up its first half of the regular season.

Everything's a little more grandiose at an All-Star game, continues Hedgcock. We're still going to be s

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/07/11/live-from-mlb-all-star-2021-mlb...
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