Women's College World Series: ESPN Celebrates 20th Year in OKC With 80-Ft. Rail Cam, Cable Cam, Drone Although most of the crew is onsite, on-air packages are being produced offsite By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor
Tuesday, June 8, 2021 - 10:19 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
After being canceled by the pandemic last year, the NCAA Women's College World Series is certainly making up for lost time, logging multiple upsets by the unseeded James Madison Dukes and the fifth perfect game in history by Alabama's Montana Fouts. Celebrating two decades covering the full tournament in Oklahoma City, ESPN has deployed some flashy tech in its return to the diamond, with an 80-ft. Rail Cam along the left-field and centerfield walls, a two-point cable camera system running down the third-base side, an aerial drone for breathtaking images, Ump Cam, and much more.
From the time UCLA won the [2019] national championship and the time we threw the first pitch during the first game, there have been 730 days, says Meg Aronowitz, senior coordinating producer, ESPN. We were really excited to gather together in that catering tent at 8:30 on that first morning.
Up in the Air: Cable Cam, Drone Give Large-Scale Looks at the Action The two-point camera system is catching viewings down the third-base line.
Two of the more noticeable tech implementations used throughout the eight-day tournament are above the heads of the spectators. High in the air, a drone has been capturing the surrounding areas as well as the packed crowds that are a welcome sight after a year without fans in stands. Closer to the ground, a two-point cable camera system is covering the area from the backstop down the left-field line.
The reason to deploy these two devices is two-fold. On the production end, each camera offers a different view of the action on the field. For example, the cable cam can show a ball hit into the outfield and a runner rounding third and heading home to score in one attempt. Also, during stoppages in play, it's able to show the crowd and head up the protective netting to show the broadcast team in the booth behind home plate. On the other hand, the two cameras showcase the last step of a four-phase renovation of OGE Energy Field, including upper-deck seating that pushes the venue's capacity to 13,000.
Our directors and I spent a lot of time thinking through what would add value [to the broadcast], says Aronowitz. We've always wanted to do some form of cable-camera system, but, before the upper deck was put in, the stadium was wide open, and the wind in Oklahoma is not your friend. Now the upper deck has helped us fight off that wind.
An aerial drone is highlighting the new renovations to OGE Energy Field.
In the bigger picture, the pandemic ripped the excitement of OKC away from fans last year, but, on the technological side, it forced ESPN to postpone the debut of this new cable system. The multimillion-dollar renovation reached its completion in time for the 2020 tournament, but the one-year-old upper deck has been retrofitted with the Supracam system. The drone, though, was something of a last-minute decision when the NCAA allowed more attendees.
We didn't know what the crowd was going to look like, Aronowitz notes, but we wanted to bring the drone and show off the size and the scale of the stadium. The lensing on the drone doesn't allow you to necessarily follow the ball, but we'll have a fixed-wing airplane for that during the finals.
At Ground Level: Rail Cam, Ump Cam, Ross PIERO Highlight Each Play An 80-ft. Rail Cam is positioned just behind the outfield wall.
Along with the two-point cable system and an aerial drone, there are other tech highlights that make up the 42 cameras in OKC. Rail Cam has attracted the attention of viewers watching the action from their homes. Constructed on an 80-ft. track that spans from left field to centerfield, a mounted Fletcher robo camera provides engaging replays of diving catches, balls hit into the gap, and other plays in the outfield. After internal discussions and collaboration with USA Softball to get the right amount of physical space, the network was able to find the perfect iteration of this technological innovation.
Doug Holmes, who directs the Little League World Series, had a robotic camera on a smaller Rail Cam system in the outfield at one point, notes Aronowitz. [Women's College World Series Director] Anthony DeMarco and I started talking about the vision for what the camera can do. If it's moving and we're able to move/tilt/zoom as the ball is coming into frame, it could be a really cool perspective.
Even before the Championship Series, the Rail Cam had become a resounding success. The current system features only one rail, one camera, and one portion of the wall, but Aronowitz and her team are already thinking of ways to incorporate multiple systems to cover the entire length of the warning track.
Returning to Oklahoma City is Ump Cam, a small POV camera attached to the helmet of each game's home-plate umpire. Also seen during the 2019 College World Series, the production crew has found the perfect iteration of this activation, which combines 3G Wireless's newest HD camera and a sturdy camera feed.
3G Wireless is providing this year's edition of Ump Cam.
We've had Ump Cam for a couple of years, Aronowitz explains, but the RF frequencies and the distance have always been a challenge for us. 3G has upgraded their system, and we've been able to give them line of sight between the umpire and the system, so we've had a lot of great replay angles of strikeouts.
Lastly, the network has been relying heavily on telestration for breaking down crucial plays and web gems throughout the telecast. Used during live coverage and instant rep
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...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
Women's College World Series: ESPN Celebrates 20th Year in OKC With 80-Ft. Rail Cam, Cable Cam, Drone Although most of the crew is onsite, on-air packages are being produced offsite By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor 
