As MLS Kicks Off Its 23rd Season, the League Remains a Breeding Ground For At-Home Production Innovation ESPN, Fox Sports, Univision will all utilize at-home model By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Friday, March 2, 2018 - 3:00 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
Entering its 23rd season, Major League Soccer stock is up as the league welcomes in another glitzy new franchise in Los Angeles and strides in off a 2017 campaign that delivered a 4% increase in broadcast television ratings at a time where many sports leagues in the U.S. are happy simply treading water.
In 2018, MLS's national broadcast partners ESPN, Fox Sports, and Univision will look to continue to innovate production as the beautiful game grows its root domestically. Most notably, MLS matches have become a hotbed for progress in at-home production: the idea of forgoing a full-fledged mobile production truck on-air and instead sending sending camera and audio feeds directly back to a centralized control room, thus minimizing the need for equipment and personnel at the stadium.
At three broadcasters have at home models in place and will use them aggressively this season. According to sources as each of the networks, ESPN will produce more than half, Fox will produce about 60%, and Univision will produce all of its matches using a form of this approach.
Here's a look at how all three U.S. domestic rightsholders plan to approach the 2018 MLS campaign:
Univision Deportes
Perhaps the most aggressively innovative of all of MLS's U.S. broadcast partners is its Spanish-language domestic partner, Univision. The network opens its season on Saturday evening when Houston Dynamo host Atlanta United (3:30 p.m. ET).
Univision has been a pioneer in the at-home production model in its work with MLS and this year, again, will produce 100% of its match coverage using this method. With a small mobile unit on site (provided by NEP), the network is able to shoot back camera and audio feeds to its sparkling new facilities in Miami when the final show is produced and distributed.
Of its average 12 cameras that it deploys on a MLS match, the highlight may be its Antelope Pico camera, a robotic that provides unique views in high-resolution and super slow motion.
New this season to Univision's coverage will be a fresh graphics package and further use of the network's teleport concept for in studio shows. The technology allows for players, coaches, and other personalities to essentially be teleported into the studio in the form of a hologram and interact with the host. The network plans to use the tech during their first match on Saturday during their pre-match show La Barra MLS.
We believe our production standards are among the highest in the industry for MLS games, says Miguel Angel Garcia, SVP, Live Event for Univision Deportes. We are proud of the technology and innovation in terms of coverage that we're able to deliver fans. It's easy to do when we work with a progressive league like MLS that is always willing to take risks and innovate with us.
ESPN
Having been with the league since the very beginning back in 1996, ESPN gets a sexy opening to its MLS schedule as Western Conference Champion Seattle Sounders FC play host to the new LAFC in its first professional soccer match (Sunday, 5 p.m. ET).
The worldwide leader plans on having a minimum of 14 cameras (seven manned and seven unmanned) on each of its game of the week matches. ESPN has also been aggressive over the years in bringing in specialty cameras like jibs, Steadicams, super slow-mos, and its unique Goal Post Cams that give their match productions a special look and feel.
In its at-home productions, ESPN will have key positions like the producer, director, technical director, graphics, and tape operators back at a control room in Bristol cutting and calling the show. Each game is dedicated four Evertz Dreamcathers and each camera at the venue is given a unique fiber path from the stadium to Bristol. To help minimize transmission time and create fewer inputs for tape operators back home, a small van is deployed outside the stadium with POV and robotic cameras are switched before delivery.
The workflow naturally saves money on travel and equipment rental but it also helps the network leverage its best soccer production and operations talent which they feel is in short supply in the United States.
In soccer, the number of highly skilled camera, tape, audio and video people, who are consistently available, and understand how to cover the sport is an extremely small number, says ESPN MLS producer Chris Alexopoulos. It is a priority for us to maintain that crew - so ESPN travels at least 10 technicians to every show, whether it is a [ at-home ] broadcast or not.
Most of these people have worked on soccer as a majority of their work, for over a decade. It manifests itself in subtle ways, but the viewer benefits - by getting a definitive angle on a controversial play, having the right framing on a goal which allows the color commentator to better explain why that play happened, or by being able to pinpoint and hear what one player is yelling on the field.. There are many small moments like those which we're able to capture, due to their work.
ESPN has on-air talent at all of its MLS matches and for those matches that do receive a traditional on-site production complement, the network uses F&F Productions to provide its mobile units.
Fox Sports
FS1 also gets a pretty attractive start to its season with a few marquee franchises on the opening weekend schedule. A doubleheader features Sporting Kansas City vs. New York City FC and LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
MLS broadcasts on Fox Sports and FS1 average around 10 cameras with the network noting that it would more aggressively deploying its MOVI S
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....
As MLS Kicks Off Its 23rd Season, the League Remains a Breeding Ground For At-Home Production Innovation ESPN, Fox Sports, Univision will all utilize at-home model By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
