MLB Little League Classic 2023: ESPN Taps Into Bowman Field's Intimate Setting, Increased Team Access A new edition of KidsCast will air with young broadcasters, special guests on ESPN2 By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor
Thursday, August 17, 2023 - 1:55 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Kicking off with yesterday's four-game slate of international and domestic matchups, the 2023 Little League World Series is officially in full swing in Williamsport, PA. When two professional franchises, the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals, square off in the 2023 MLB Little League Classic on Sunday, Aug. 20, ESPN will attack this annual event with a REMI production from Bristol, CT and technology that highlights the nostalgic spirit of the Little League World Series (LLWS).
It's always special to get a chance to see Major League players in a more youth-oriented environment and see that side of their personalities, says Phil Orlins, VP, production, ESPN. MLB has bought into that access, and it's the best we get for a regular season game.
Broadcasting From Bristol: REMI Production Includes NEP Mobile Units, 13 Game Cameras During each summer, ESPN becomes the home of all levels of baseball. Whether it's the College World Series in June, the weekly Sunday Night Baseball slate, or the MLB Home Run Derby in July, the fun continues with the nearly two-week-long Little League World Series in August. With that onslaught of productions on their plate, ESPN is opting for a REMI production from Bristol of this Sunday's regular season clash of National League East opponents. Leveraging this production method since 2021, which featured the then-Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Angels, this approach not only allows ESPN's MLB personnel to focus on the swath of other broadcasts but also has other benefits.
It allows us to keep our traditional model consistent and is definitely more cost efficient, says Orlins. The ESPN broadcast is similar to how we produce Sunday Night Baseball, but for the KidsCast on ESPN2, we'll have a producer in Williamsport to be in direct contact with [on-air talent] and another producer in Bristol to collaborate on the execution of elements.
ESPN has constructed an independent compound at Bowman Field.
Prior to the first REMI in 2021, the operations team at ESPN made a concerted effort and investment into bolstering the infrastructure at the venue. This strengthened connectivity is bringing together NEP's NCPII mobile unit with the two control rooms being used in Bristol. This onsite compound is separate than the extensive LLWS complex located six miles away, and despite the idea of utilizing the LLWS compound for the Little League Classic being an option, it wasn't a time-sensitive one.
We've had those discussions, but trying to route fiber across town after doing four games the day before would be difficult, adds Orlins. For instance, we've done a REMI for the MLB Draft at MLB All-Star this way, but it wasn't really a viable approach without jeopardizing what we have in place for the Little League World Series.
From an equipment perspective, the game will feature 13 cameras (10 hard and two handheld) as well as the popular UmpCam that has been seen during Sunday Night Baseball.
New Faces on KidsCast: Alternate Feed Spotlights Skills of the Broadcasters of Tomorrow Since making its debut in 2019, KidsCast has grown into another example of ESPN's excellent work with alternative broadcasts. On the commentary side, second-time participant and reporter Pepper Persley will be joined by a pair of two new talent: Zach Brody and Owen Heffron. Emanating from the Bruce Beck Sports Broadcasting Camp, the network has seen success with these up-and-coming announcers. And although these future stars are still working to perfect their craft, this alternative broadcast is still shaped around presenting their talent in a professional-level environment.
Pepper Persley (right) interviews President George W. Bush during last year's KidsCast.
Their skill level is good, and my confidence in them is very high, continues Orlins. What I always say is that we don't just do the game with kids, but also create a broadcast scenario that's roughly the same as what we'd ask Michael Kay to do on KayRod Cast.
This includes numerous interviews with celebrities, players, and dignitaries. In the past, previous editions have included special guests like LLWS legends Mo'ne Davis and Todd Frazier, MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani, President George W. Bush, and more. This year's edition will see MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and another slate of new guests.
Operationally, this edition of the game will also be conducted as a REMI in a similar way that KayRod Cast is done. For the main broadcast on ESPN, this version will include the SNB team of Karl Ravech, Eduardo Perez, David Cone, and Buster Olney. Roxy Bernstein and Doug Glanville will have the call on ESPN Radio, and on ESPN Deportes, the trio of Ernesto Jerez, Luis Alfredo Alvarez, and Guillermo Celis will provide commentary.
Inside the Clubhouse: Fans Gain Access to Players With In-Game Interviews, Talent on Team Buses ESPN is always trying to bring fans closer to the players they're watching on television, and an event like the Little League Classic is one of the best places to do it. With the idea of putting Little Leaguers and the amateur game at the forefront, the league is allowing the network to have more time and access with both clubs. After limitations last year due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, those restrictions are now being loosened and are allowing activations like reporters on team buses after landing at the airport. Another production wrinkle that will allow players in the dugout to speak wit
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
30/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/09/2026
Mavis has launched Mavis Camera 8.2, the latest release of its professional camera app for the iPhone and iPad. This update brings support for iPhone 18 Pro and...
29/09/2026
Oak View Group (OVG) has announced Cisco as an Official Technology Partner, with plans to standardize infrastructure across its venue network on Cisco solutions...
29/09/2026
SportsNet Pittsburgh (SNP) won three honors at the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
Program awards went to Bucs BP in the Sports Program Live category (produced ...
29/09/2026
The Professional Women's Hockey League has announced home openers for all 12 teams for the 2026-27 season, along with a broadcast partnership with CBC under...
29/09/2026
Manifold technologies has been recognized as a contributor to the Media eXchange...
29/09/2026
FuboTV has announced My Local Sports, allowing subscribers in select markets to add their local regional sports network (RSN) as an add-on to a Fubo Sports subs...
29/09/2026
Asian News International (ANI), a wire agency and video news provider based in India, has deployed Grass Valley's AMPP Media Operating System and Framelight...
29/09/2026
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has deployed Ikegami UHK-X600 cameras as part of an upgrade to IP-based production infrastructure. The deployment ...
29/09/2026
REMI, REMCO models will drive the bulk of the broadcaster's NHL productions ...
29/09/2026
Three years in, the facility is supporting more centralized race production, com...
29/09/2026
NBC, Peacock, and NBSN are carrying all four Wild Card series with a production ...
29/09/2026
19 Nonfiction Projects Across All Stages of Production to Receive More Than $1 million in Support as Documentary Film Program Approaches 25th Anniversary
LOS ...
29/09/2026
Two new plug-ins launch alongside updated bundles
Zynaptiq have just announced the launch of two new plug-ins, alongside new and improved versions of two of...
29/09/2026
All-in-one bus processor revealed
Wes Audio's ng product range has come a long way since it was first introduced, and now includes a tasty selection of ...
29/09/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Ikegami announces that the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, has chosen Ikegami UHK-X600 camera systems as part of an advance to IP-based operation ...
29/09/2026
Blendkit Offers 20% Discount to Celebrate Crossing 150K Asset Milestone
Brie Clayton September 29, 2026
0 Comments
Blendkit, the largest 3D asset libr...
29/09/2026
Interactive streaming specialist Ease Live supported more than 76.5 million fan sessions across three major European media operators during this summers FIFA Wo...
29/09/2026
Ease Live has added support for VAST (Video Ad Serving Template) to its graphical overlay technology, opening up new ways for broadcasters, streamers and rights...
29/09/2026
Rise AV has announced the launch of the inaugural Rise AV Awards, a new global awards programme celebrating the women, advocates and organisations across the AV...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Clear-Com announced that First Baptist Nashville has upgraded its production communications with a Clear-Com intercom solution as part of a comprehensive sanct...
29/09/2026
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Captured Action Shots for Sketch
Brie Clayton September 28, 2026
0 Comments
Camera's portable design and dynamic range...
29/09/2026
Kean Production Services Deploys AJA ColorBox to Deliver Consistent, Accurate Co...
29/09/2026
Berklee Alumni and Faculty Nominated for the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards A total of 28 Berklee alumni and faculty earned nominations across 20 categories this ye...
29/09/2026
Berklee's K-Pop & Beyond Explores Connections Between K-Pop and Hip-Hop Now in its fifth year, the series brings together artists, industry leaders, and s...
29/09/2026
We tend to think we live in a digital world, with hopes and fears around artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, data centres and the next big technolo...
29/09/2026
Today, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Apple relea...
29/09/2026
Final Cut Camera, the professional filming app for iPhone, receives a major upda...
29/09/2026
RT lyric fm is proud to announce the annual Choirs for Christmas competition callout. Warm up those vocal chords and join us on RT lyric fm for a celebration ...
28/09/2026
The NHL has announced Adobe as an Official Creative, Marketing and AI Partner beginning with the 2026-27 season. The partnership will provide the league and its...
28/09/2026
MultiDyne will exhibit at CABSAT 2026 (October 5-7, Dubai Exhibition Centre), showcasing an expanded technology portfolio following its June 2026 acquisition of...
28/09/2026
ARRI and HONOR have announced the HONOR Magic9 Pro Max, a flagship smartphone carrying ARRI branding on the device and packaging as the first product-level expr...
MLB Little League Classic 2023: ESPN Taps Into Bowman Field's Intimate Setting, Increased Team Access A new edition of KidsCast will air with young broadcasters, special guests on ESPN2 By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor 
