MSG Networks Entertains New York Sports Fans With Studio Programming, Live Coverage of Islanders, Knicks Postseason The broadcaster is winding down a hectic year full of simultaneous productions By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - 11:30 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Since fall 2019, MSG Networks has kept steady pressure on the gas pedal, with constant action in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. With two of its five teams - the NHL's Islanders and the NBA's Knicks - in postseason play, MSG Network aims to cover the franchises' runs with multiple hours of studio programming and live coverage in a workflow linking its Midtown Manhattan facility to the teams' home venues or to other RSNs across the country.
It has been really intense for everybody since we've all basically been going since September 2019, says Jeff Filippi, SVP, programming and production/executive producer, MSG Networks. We've reinvented and accomplished a lot with other regional sports networks, and we're all going to look back years from now at this time and realize how much we pulled off.
Isles-Pens Series Brings Talent, Game Creek Video Mobile Unit to Nassau Coliseum AJ Mleczko (left) and Shannon Hogan take part in the Islanders postgame show after Game 5.
Perennial contender Islanders were expected to make it to the postseason after a stellar showing in last year's NHL bubble. The Eastern Conference runner-up has fans throughout the city and the tri-state area, and, because of that, MSG is offering ample studio and live coverage during its attempt to lift Lord Stanley's Cup.
During Game 1 of the Opening Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Isles played game-on in Western Pennsylvania and forced the network to rely on remote workflows through its RSN counterpart, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh. The production calls for a clean feed of cameras controlled by the crew in Pittsburgh, one camera dedicated to MSG's telecast, and sponsored material and other graphics implemented from MSG's control room in New York. The Islanders' on-air team takes over the studio to call the game remotely.
[Play-by-play announcer] Brendan Burke and [analyst] Butch Goring call the game over a monitor while [host] Shannon Hogan comes from our studio and [studio analyst] AJ Mleczko reports from the studio or, through vMix, from her home in Massachusetts, says Filippi. The production unit that handles the game is doing our half-hour pregame, then transitions to live game coverage, and then to an extended postgame show.
On-screen telestration helps talent break down key plays during the game.
With the positive trajectory of the pandemic, productions are returning to traditional ways for games that take place at the Barn on Long Island. During the playoffs, the entire crew is onsite except for the team that handles the shows airing before, during, and after the contest. At Nassau Coliseum, the crew runs with its normal complement of cameras; elsewhere, the production staff works in its customary onsite truck provided by Game Creek Video. With social distancing still in effect, crew members are occupying additional space in a separate B unit.
The home games are reasonably straightforward, notes Filippi. [Having] fans back in the building [has] really transformed [our broadcasts] compared to the way the season started with dark, quiet arenas with artificial noise.
Knicks' Playoffs Return Gets Courtside Reporter at Home, World Feed for Away Games The Knicks' first home playoff game since 2013 was attended by 15,000 screaming fans - one of the largest indoor events to take place since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. To capture the atmosphere and energy from every angle, MSG Network is deploying its onsite reporter at a lower vantage point than during the regular season.
Rebecca Haarlow conducts courtside interviews (socially distanced) during home games.
[Play-by-play announcer] Mike Breen and [analyst] Walt Frazier are there, but they're back near the first level to follow NBA protocols, says Filippi. [Reporter] Rebecca Haarlow has been in the building all year as well, but now she's allowed to be much closer to the floor. It looks a lot like the bubble days in Orlando: the reporter is socially distant from the player or the coach and has a mask on and can do an interview on the court.
The away-game setup is very similar to NHL productions of the Islanders. The major difference is the NBA's HSAN (high-speed arena network) workflow, which taps facilities in the heart of each team's venue for quick retrieval of camera feeds. Whereas Islanders game get a single dedicated camera, coverage of the Knicks has two dedicated cameras.
Back on 32nd Street and 7th Avenue, the on-air team of studio host Bill Pidto and studio analysts Wally Szczerbiak, Monica McNutt, and Alan Hahn produce surrounding coverage for both home and away games back in the studio.
Home Doubleheader on Wednesday, Road Trip on Friday Pose Unique Challenges Despite the daunting task of balancing live coverage of two playoff teams, this process has become customary for the folks at MSG Networks. Earlier this year, Filippi and company juggled concurrent home games not only for the Knicks and Islanders but also for the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. With three NHL road games going on at the same time, the staff took over as much real estate at their facility as possible and housed the rest of the production crew in an onsite mobile unit at one of the nearby venues.
On any given night, there could be away games for the Rangers, Knicks, and Devils, says Filippi. [On those nights], we had productions for the Knicks and Rangers out of our 11 Penn Studio and production for the Devils from the Prudential Center
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
15/10/2025
Across the world, early-career reporters are interrogating systems that shape daily life, from mortuaries and classrooms to the corridors of legal education and...
15/10/2025
St. Louis Blues Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in New Pregame Open VideoThe NHL franchise worked with production firms 2WEI and 4th Floor CreativeBy Mark J Burns,...
15/10/2025
Cobalt Digital, G3DVu, Proxima Vision, and Telos Alliance Renew Premier Sponsors...
15/10/2025
By Paige Bethmann
Before my grandmother passed away in 2019, I went to visit her in the hospital where she'd been for a few weeks. When I arrived, the nurs...
15/10/2025
Two years ago, Spotify set out to grow the entire publishing industry by making ...
15/10/2025
People turn to DJ for a listening experience that feels personal, dynamic, and j...
15/10/2025
Las personas recurren a DJ para vivir una experiencia de escucha personal, din m...
15/10/2025
Rock legend Bruce Springsteen and luminary actor Jeremy Allen White came togethe...
15/10/2025
At Spotify, we're all about supporting rising talent and helping them connec...
15/10/2025
New SBS Documentary Series THE CANCER KILLERS Premieres 4 November on SBS & SBS ...
15/10/2025
SBS celebrates the Festivals of Lights with bold, illuminating stories across th...
15/10/2025
One of humanity's most profound questions continues: Is there any place in our galaxy suitable for life beyond Earth? NASA intends to find out, with the hel...
15/10/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
15/10/2025
Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage software for the AI era, today announced the advancement of its comprehensive AI ecosystem certification pro...
15/10/2025
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today unveiled key highlights of the 2026 HPA Tech Retreat, scheduled for Feb. 15 19 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Go...
15/10/2025
At NAB Show New York 2025 (Stand 244), Interra Systems will showcase the future of media QC, monitoring, and captioning, highlighting its award-winning, AI- and...
15/10/2025
Grass Valley today announced that RMC BFM, part of the CMA-CGM Group and France's third-largest private media group, has chosen Grass Valley's productio...
15/10/2025
Appear, the global leader in live production technology, will demonstrate how its powerful hardware and software innovations are shaping the future of hybrid, s...
15/10/2025
Rakim to Join Berklee's Hip-Hop Hall of Fame at Signature Series Concert The rap icon becomes the latest inductee, following luminaries such as Roxanne Sh...
15/10/2025
Berklee Brings Live Music to the Head of the Charles Student artists will perform on multiple riverfront stages during the 60th anniversary of the world's...
15/10/2025
CobbTV, the government access television channel for Cobb County, Ga. recently acquired an automated playout system from Pebble, a global provider of automation...
15/10/2025
OSLO, Norway Appear, the global leader in live production technology, will demonstrate how its powerful hardware and software innovations are shaping the future...
15/10/2025
NEW YORK The NBA is making major changes to the NBA App and NBA TV as it takes control of them from TNT Sports, which has long managed the league's digital ...
15/10/2025
SAN MATEO, Calif. In what promises to be a major expansion of interactive features and personalized content on the DirecTV platform, the operator and Glance hav...
15/10/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. Roku has launched changes to its user interface (UI) that the streaming platform says will better showcase original programming on the platform...
15/10/2025
LOS ANGELES Software-defined data storage and data services provider OpenDrives has elevated Alex Dunfey to chief technology officer, responsible for driving th...
15/10/2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE October 15, 2025: Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powe...
15/10/2025
Sheldon Nichols and Will Trickett to find and prepare more classic cars for budget conscious would-be owners from Wiser Films
UKTV have recommissioned the clas...
15/10/2025
Wednesday 15 October 2025
Nick Cave
JPEG (275 KB)
Explore the creative univer...
15/10/2025
Wednesday 15 October 2025
From breaking up with your partner to quitting your job - new polling shows some messages are just too scary to send
Over a fifth (...
15/10/2025
Rohde & Schwarz unveils compact MXO 3 oscilloscopes with 4 and 8 channels: Advan...
15/10/2025
Back to All News
Revenge Series The Resurrected' Captivates Audiences Across Asia
Entertainment
15 October 2025
GlobalTaiwan
Link copied to clipboard
...
15/10/2025
Back to All News
Bringing the Best in VFX and Virtual Production Together as Eyeline
Jeffrey Shapiro
CEO, Eyeline
Business
15 October 2025
GlobalCanadaInd...
15/10/2025
Deployed by Astound Business Solutions, Harmonic's Primary Distribution Solution Ensures Outstanding Video Quality and Seamless Ad Insertion at the Edge
SA...
15/10/2025
Collaboration extends a trusted relationship as RMC BFM invests in scalable, fut...
15/10/2025
Series coming in 2026 stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Justine Mitchell and Jason O'Mara released today
RT today released first look images of new comedy-drama ...
14/10/2025
SVG Europe Summit 2025: All Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAYNetworking event that preceded IBC2025 shone a light on elite live sports innovation acro...
14/10/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Author Rich Podolsky on Writing Madden & Summerall: How They Revo...
14/10/2025
SVG All-Stars: Michael Reiners, Coordinating Producer, FloRacingThe Illinois State grad steers a vast schedule of motorsports events at tracks across the countr...
14/10/2025
Content protection: Getting the right management for your DRM By Neal Romanek
Friday, October 10, 2025 - 10:11
Print This Story
Eluvio power the EPCR'...
14/10/2025
As League Takes Over Ops, NBA TV and NBA App Add 60 Games, Weekday Studio Show, ...
14/10/2025
Time and effort: World's largest student-led broadcast prepares to go On Air...
14/10/2025
(L-R) Guest, Kimberly Robinson Jones, Geeta Gandbhir, Pamela Dias, and Takema Ro...
14/10/2025
Lossless ist jetzt mit Spotify Premium verf gbar.
Verlustfreies Audio war eine...
14/10/2025
La qualit Lossless est disponible sur Spotify Premium.
Le format sans perte de...
14/10/2025
For the seventh edition of Spotify and FC Barcelona's artist jersey series, ...
14/10/2025
Spotify is committed to bringing the best listening experience to all our users, and that includes parents and families. That's why we're expanding mana...
14/10/2025
Since its debut, the Spotify Original podcast Caso 63 has been more than just a story; it's been a cultural sensation. The science fiction thriller captivat...
MSG Networks Entertains New York Sports Fans With Studio Programming, Live Coverage of Islanders, Knicks Postseason The broadcaster is winding down a hectic year full of simultaneous productions By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor 
