ESPN's Men's College World Series Finals Coverage Combines Innovation, Legacy

ESPN's Men's College World Series Finals Coverage Combines Innovation, Legacy New studio presence, SupraCam, milestone for director Scott Johnson highlight 2025 broadcast By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Friday, June 20, 2025 - 2:21 pm

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The road to Omaha has reached its final stop, and ESPN is once again at the center of the action for the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS) Finals. The 2025 championship matchup features two powerhouses - Coastal Carolina, riding a 26-game win streak, and LSU, fresh off a dramatic walk-off win over SEC rival Arkansas.

The best-of-three competition begins Saturday, and ESPN is rolling out a production plan that matches the moment. It's a production with a few firsts - and one significant farewell.

Arsenal of Nearly 40 Cameras Includes SupraCam and UmpCam ESPN's game coverage will be driven by 38 cameras, including four 6X super-slow-motion hard cameras, three super-slo-mo robotic units, a Technocrane, and the ever-popular UmpCam, which will provide an alternative behind-the-plate view on ESPN+ and ESPNU.

For the NCAA Men's College World Series, ESPN has positioned a jib camera over the left-field wall. (Photo: Joshua R. Gateley/ESPN Images)

Aerial footage takes center stage this year with the addition of SupraCam, a two-point aerial system spanning from beyond the right-field wall past home plate. The setup offers dynamic overhead visuals and new angles tracking live play across the diamond.

It has been incredible to watch the growth of the Men's College World Series, says ESPN Coordinating Producer Scott Gustafson, not just in terms of its physical footprint within the TV compound but in the size and enthusiasm of its audience. With almost 40 cameras, five SSMO units, a two-point aerial system, UmpCam, a full onsite edit team, and now a dedicated studio presence, the production capabilities have expanded significantly. Rising ratings over the past few years only reinforce the increasing popularity of America's pastime at the collegiate level. For those of us fortunate enough to work this event, it truly feels like a bucket-list experience.

Drone Coverage Adds Dramatic Exterior Views Also contributing to the aerial arsenal is ESPN's internal drone team, which is onsite in Omaha. The drone will provide live footage of Charles Schwab Field, offering beauty shots from the river and sweeping shots of the stadium exterior.

Scott Johnson (center front) will direct his 35th - and last - Men's College World Series for ESPN. With him are (back row, from left) play-by-play caller Karl Ravetch and analysts Eduardo P rez and Kyle Peterson. In the front row are (from left) field reporter Kris Budden and Coordinating Producer Scott Gustafson. (Photo: Colin Brady, ESPN)

Our ESPN Drone team is onsite to capture dynamic live shots both inside and outside Charles Schwab Field, says Gustafson. We've secured safe, approved locations to fly - positioned along the river for wide, scenic views looking into the stadium, as well as just outside the stadium walls for dramatic exterior visuals.

We're also equipped to fly just beyond the outfield fence, he continues, allowing us to safely track a relief pitcher as they exit the bullpen and head toward the mound - without flying over fans or players. During stoppages in play or mound visits, we can hover above the outfield wall to provide unique overhead perspectives of the field and the outfielders as they gather.

Sony FX3 Provides Cinematic Storytelling In keeping with the visual aesthetic ESPN has developed around its postseason coverage, the broadcaster is once again deploying a shallow-depth-of-field cinema camera for dramatic, in-the-moment visuals throughout each game.

A wireless-camera rig has been deployed throughout the Men's College World Series, shooting in shallow depth of field for cinematic images. (Photo: Al Powers/ESPN Images)

We do use a shallow-depth-of-field Sony FX3 cinema camera with gimbal, says Chris Swihart, senior remote production operations producer, ESPN. We specifically chose the FX3 because of the cooling fan, which helps keep it up and running through long days in the heat. It spends most of the day capturing on-field moments from warm-ups to the celebrations and dogpiles, from star hitters to ace pitchers, and all that goes on in the dugouts and bullpens and on the diamond.

The FX3 camera has been operated by Shane Marshall and Jared Hess throughout the World Series.

Robust Audio Coverage With 100+ Microphones ESPN's sound design will capture every crack of the bat and roar of the crowd, with more than 100 mics deployed around the stadium. The audio team, led by mixers Steve Kaura and Andy Bartley, deploys radio-frequency mics embedded in the bases, buried mics at the plate and mound, warning-track mics across the outfield wall, and impact sensors on the foul poles.

ESPN has 38 cameras covering the action at Omaha's Charles Schwab Field for the Men's College World Series. (Photo: Al Powers/ESPN Images)

Additional mics on commentators, umpires, and in the booth round out the soundscape, delivering a fully immersive experience for fans at home.

Studio Coverage Steps Onsite, With REMCO Workflows For the first time, ESPN is delivering live onsite studio coverage for every game of the finals. The new pregame set, located at field level at Charles Schwab Field, will be hosted by Mike Monaco, Ben McDonald, and two-time Men's College World Series champion Jackie Bradley Jr.

The full studio show surrounding each broadcast adds a fresh layer to ESPN's coverage. The broadcaster has exclusively aired the MCWS since 2003 and televised the event for 45 years - dating back to 1980, less than a year after the original network's launch.

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LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/06/20/espns-mens-college-world-series...
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