ESPN Doubles Up Production Efforts for MLB in Omaha
15/06/2019
Friday, June 14, 2019 - 1:05 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
The world of sports gained two historic moments last night. As Toronto captured its (and Canada's) first NBA title, MLB placed its trademark on Omaha, NE's TD Ameritrade Park before the College World Series begins tomorrow. ESPN broadcast the first major-league game in the state of Nebraska with the same crew that is producing college baseball's crown-jewel event.
From a remote-operations perspective, it just made perfect sense. Early on in discussions with production and the College World Series management/ops team, as well as the timing and nature of the event, it was clear that the MLB game would mesh very nicely with the set schedule, says Paul Horrell, remote operations manager, MLB, ESPN. For that reason, we looked to adjust the truck and crew schedule to accommodate the MLB game needs while minimizing impact to the College World Series prep. Our College World Series remote-operations team members that were already assigned [to the tournament] took the lead throughout.
Two-in-One: Meshing a Pair of Productions
With two major events clashing, ESPN has deployed nearly 150 onsite staffers to facilitate game coverage and studio programming. The network needed to bolster their infrastructure in order to accommodate two productions in a short-time.
With the synergy between having a regular-season MLB game and the Men's College World Series in the same venue just days apart, we have been able to add a few extra facilities to the standard MLB broadcasts, says Dick Mullen, operations manager, ESPN. We'll be using NEP ND7 for both events at TD Ameritrade, with over 30 cameras utilized in the broadcasts.
Comprising more than two dozen cameras, the complement includes a Sony HDC-4800 with HFR and super-slow-motion at 960 fps. On the audio side, ESPN placed an on-field mic on Kansas City Royals lead-off hitter and right fielder Whit Merrifield. With the venue being only a 3 -hour drive from Kaufmann Stadium in Missouri, a wave of Royals fans behind the outfield wall had some fun with their fan favorite.
.@WhitMerrifield: man of the people.
(MLB x @GEICO) pic.twitter.com/EuqlExtobC
MLB (@MLB) June 14, 2019
The Bristol Connection: ESPN HQ Supplies File Transfer
With 1,423 miles between Bristol, CT, and the onsite compound, ESPN leveraged a file-transfer system that bridged the distance.
With [NEP's] ND7, we had a full REMNAS [remote near-access storage] file-transfer system, says Horrell. We also arranged for fiber connectivity this year for both the MLB game and the College World Series.
The studio was also a reliable source during the first couple of innings. During a brief truck outage, ESPN made a quick adjustment by displaying whip-around coverage of other MLB games in progress. With the help of the TD Ameritrade Park staff, ESPN used the feeds of the in-venue videoboard cameras and provided audio commentary via in-studio talent. After the truck regained power, the on-air broadcast continued as normal.
No one likes when mechanical failures happen, and we regret we went off the air, says NEP U.S. President Glen Levine. I'm really proud that our field- and engineering-support staff immediately jumped on the problem and worked together to bypass the failed regulator to recover and get us back on the air as quickly as we could.
For the broadcast, Horrell and his team tapped a graphics setup that has become customary for all MLB on ESPN productions.
Specifically for the MLB game, we implemented our GREMI workflow, he says. [In addition,] we had Viz Graphics and EVS operators in Bristol integrated with the truck.
The compound hosted a handful of onsite technicians and gear that handled the GREMI (graphics remote integration) aspect of the broadcast.
Lastly, a Bristol, CT, staple, Baseball Tonight, traveled to Nebraska to provide on-field studio programming during the pre/postgame.
Bringing MLB to New Frontiers
The hometown Royals' 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers isn't ESPN's only project with the MLB. As the league strengthens its relationships with entities like the NCAA, ESPN is the backbone of such operations.
With the first-ever MLB game in Nebraska, especially in concert with the College World Series, it generates a whole new experience. [It's] very similar to the MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport, PA, that MLB has introduced with Little League and ESPN in recent years, says Horrell. These efforts serve to capture the nature of the sport and [also] this particular event.
LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/06/14/espn-doubles-up-production-effo... |
See more stories from svg |
More from Sports Video Group
28/03/2024
TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio
TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio Marching bands, crowds make up for lack of court FX and wired players By Dan Daley, Audio Editor ...
28/03/2024
Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Shared Reality' Venues
Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Share...
28/03/2024
MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2024 Home Games
MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2...
28/03/2024
MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production
MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production The league's production arm marks 15th-anniversary season with packed schedule By ...
28/03/2024
MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volumetric Replays, Win Probability' in Scorebug
MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volume...
28/03/2024
MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans
MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans More player and field sound will be on tap By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Thursday, March 28, 202...
27/03/2024
Program Productions Partners With Investment Firm Integrum, Eyes Expansion Into New Markets
Program Productions Partners With Investment Firm Integrum, Eyes Expansion Into ...
26/03/2024
Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on Creating a Content Strategy That Makes a Difference
Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on C...
26/03/2024
WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group
WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group Managing content teams with New York Jets Jessica Ciccone, Washington Commanders Rae...
26/03/2024
Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer
Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - 1:01 pm Print This Story |...
26/03/2024
NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 So Paulo Game, Prime Video Adds NFL Wild Card Game
NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 S o Paulo Game, Prime Vid...
25/03/2024
The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Breaks Down the Complexities
The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Break...
25/03/2024
Rising Star: Checking Out Strategic Sports Goals With TikTok's Global Head of Sports Partnerships Rollo Goldstaub
Rising star: Checking out strategic sports goals with TikTok's global head o...
25/03/2024
TV Skyline Completes Record Winter Sports Season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalbach
TV Skyline completes record winter sports season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalb...
25/03/2024
Sports Innovation 2024: New Viewing Experiences and Tracking Systems Provide a Glimpse Into the Future
Sports Innovation 2024: New viewing experiences and tracking systems provide a g...
25/03/2024
Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and Warnings in Equal Measure as AI Dominates Dsseldorf Event
Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and warnings in equal measure as AI dominates...
25/03/2024
NAB 2024: EVS Sets Out Plans for NAB and Highlights Industry Tech Trends
EVS sets out plans for NAB and highlights industry tech trends By George Bevir Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 16:34 Print This Story Left to right: Lisa Coll...
25/03/2024
ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Live Sports Broadcast
ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Liv...
25/03/2024
NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Broadcast
NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time...
22/03/2024
Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Production
Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Producti...
22/03/2024
SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Landscape
SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Lan...
22/03/2024
Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consumer, OTT Platforms
Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consum...
22/03/2024
With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women's March Madness From All Angles
With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women'...
21/03/2024
Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics
Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics Tech leaders from FIFA, Sky Sports, and Genius Sports discussed the opportunities at SVG Euro...
21/03/2024
March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center for 20-Camera Productions
March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center ...
21/03/2024
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Activating Content Via AI Tools
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Act...
21/03/2024
Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A National-Network Feel at DC's New RSN
Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A Nation...
21/03/2024
SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27
SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27 By SVG Staff Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 1:47 pm Print This Story | Subscribe Story...
20/03/2024
Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Production
Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Produ...
20/03/2024
The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimpse Into the Past and the Future
The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimps...
20/03/2024
MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate in South Korea
MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate i...
20/03/2024
Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX
Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX 52FLEX seats over 20 on-site crew members and features a first-of-its-kind Visitor Mobile Un...
20/03/2024
Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65
Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65 He led regional broadcasts for both the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals duri...
19/03/2024
Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want
Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want Sky Sports Sarah Cheadle, Telenet Play Sports Serge Bellens spoke at SVG Europes Football Summit l...
19/03/2024
Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With iPhones
Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With...
19/03/2024
Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level
Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 10:40 am Print ...
19/03/2024
Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broadcast Studios
Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broa...
19/03/2024
NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emBET Integration
NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emB...
19/03/2024
ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Through 2031-32 Season
ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Throug...
18/03/2024
Major League Soccer: IMG on Capturing Fan Rituals and Delivering Consistent Coverage
Major League Soccer: IMG on capturing fan rituals and delivering consistent cove...
18/03/2024
Smashing Padel: Inside Aurora's Innovative Production of the Inaugural Hexagon Cup
Smashing padel: Inside Aurora's innovative production of the inaugural Hexag...
18/03/2024
Airspeeder Teams Up With EMG for World's First Live Broadcast of Flying Car Series
Airspeeder teams up with EMG for world's first live broadcast of flying car ...
15/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mix for NBC Sports; Coverage Goes HDR
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mi...
15/03/2024
SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video Systems Dissect the FAST Boom
SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video...
15/03/2024
Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming JV
Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming ...
15/03/2024
Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Drones for Second Year in a Row
Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Dro...
15/03/2024
After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partners, Free DTC Platform
After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partn...
14/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facility
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facil...
14/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, Coverage
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, C...