NBA Finals: Though On-Court Story Is Familiar, 2018 Is a Whole New Ballgame for ABC/ESPN Ops Team Full Court Press, NBA Surround streaming initiatives add new quirks to ESPN's operation By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Friday, June 8, 2018 - 1:36 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
This year's NBA Finals may be playing out much like last season's - with the Warriors way ahead of the Cavs going into Game 4 - ABC/ESPN's production operations are anything but status quo. In addition to confronting new challenges at the familiar venues - Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA, and Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland - this year, the operations team is also supporting ESPN's NBA Surround and Full Court Press streaming/second-screen initiatives for the first time at the Finals.
In many ways, we need to start from scratch, explains ESPN Operations Manager Patty Mattero, Regardless of being in the same arenas, TV-compound space allowances have changed this year, along with the many arena conflicts that factor into the load-in timelines. Also, because of the complexity of TV-compound builds - cable bridges and large logistical parking - this needs to be started days before actual TV trucks park.
Further complicating matters was the fact that both the Eastern and the Western Conference Finals went seven games this year, requiring the ESPN ops team to plan out compound builds in four cities. In addition, ESPN had to stage mobile units at halfway points between two cities until after both Game 7s to ensure that they could be in place the next day for Game 1 of the Finals.
New Initiatives Mean New Challenges
This year, ESPN is producing its second-screen studio-based coverage, Full Court Press, at the Finals, via ESPN3 on the ESPN App, for the first time. The second-screen experience features a variety of ESPN NBA commentators and special guests and an array of on-screen stats, data, and graphics in multi-box format, allowing fans to watch the action on the court while also watching the studio show.
Talent and studio locations have varied for each game, with host/reporter Cassidy Hubbarth joined by ESPN NAB personalities Alvin Gentry, Richard Jefferson, and Caron Butler for Game 1 and Tom Thibodeau, Jefferson, and Butler for Game 2. Dan Le Batard led Game 3's Full Court Press coverage from The Dan Le Batard Show Studio in Miami.
ESPN is also supplying its NBA Surround initiative, which includes pregame and in-game second-screen streaming offerings for every game and special postgame NBA at the Mic shows featuring press conferences on ESPN2 or ESPNEWS. In addition, as part of NBA Surround, ESPN3 on the ESPN App is carrying pregame warmups and layup lines for both NBA Finals teams (from the Above the Rim robotic camera), starting 45 minutes before each game. The ESPN App is also live-streaming an isolated camera feed displaying the game, with natural sound, throughout the series.
Our overall plan is very similar to last year for game coverage, and we continue to support new multiple platforms this year, says Mattero. We continue to support E3 Layup Lines - which [uses the] Above the Rim camera coverage 45 minutes prior to tip. Additionally, we are doing E3 Full Court Press that gives the fan a different viewing experience. Full Court Press is produced at different studio locations on every NBA Finals Game, [including ESPN's] Bristol studio and Washington, DC, studio. The show consists of one exclusive camera for iso coverage of several game-camera feeds to enhance a unique, alternative perspective on NBA Finals.
In addition, ESPN continues to work with the league's stats/data provider, Second Spectrum, on creating a workflow to provide additional analytic tools for talent and announcers.
40-Camera Complement Headlined by SkyCam, 4K Cams
ESPN's NBA Finals game productions feature 39 cameras (plus a blimp for aerial shots), including 17 slo-mo cameras operating at 3X, 4X, and 6X speeds. New cameras for this year's coverage include a SkyCam system on all games at both Golden State and Cleveland and an additional RF handheld camera for every game. ESPN's main game camera is also shooting 4K to allow ESPN and the NBA to archive footage in 4K for the first time.
Says Mattero, We have increased our super-slo-mos, replacing truck cameras at tight iso and both low slash positions to enhance the look of game coverage.
On the Set and in the Compound
Onsite studio coverage at the Finals is similar to last year's with NBA Countdown on hand at both arenas and First Take at selected offsite locations in both cities. SportsCenter also has a set location in each city for live pregame-show coverage.
In Oakland, Game Creek Video supplied its 79 (A and B units) and Spirit (A and B) trucks for the game production, and its Discovery is handling the studio show. In Cleveland, NEP's EN1 (A, B, C, and D) is serving as home to the game production, while EN3 (A and B) handles the studio show.
ESPN continues to rely completely on file transfer for all content exchange between both remote sites and its main production facility in Bristol, CT, as well as with facilities in Secaucus, NJ; Atlanta; New York City; Washington; and Los Angeles. For the third straight year, Creative Mobile Solutions (CMSI) is facilitating that entire workflow, managing the transfer of all highlights created during the game and giving ESPN editors instant access to the content, regardless of their location. Throughout the Finals, CMSI has two engineers onsite in both Cleveland and Oakland to ensure that the operation runs as expected.
International Flavor: ESPN International Onsite and Live USO Shot From Kuwait
ESPN International continues its coverage on remote at all NBA Finals games with ESPN Deportes and Brazil each deploying full commentary coverage, including pregame/halftime/postg
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...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
25/04/2024
Sundance Institute Founder Robert Redford during a press conference at the 1996 ...
25/04/2024
alt= class=wp-image-12361 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NAB-booth-2024-960x540-1.jpg/> Set against a vibrant backdrop of innovation and collaboratio...
25/04/2024
alt= class=wp-image-12356 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NAB-mod-win-960x540-1.jpg/>NAB's Eric Trabb (right) awards SNS with two NAB Show Product...
25/04/2024
PHILADELPHIA Comcast beat earnings estimates in its Q1 2024 financial report, as streaming losses continued to decline and Peacock's paid subscribers spiked...
25/04/2024
SEATTLE The Seattle Kraken have inked new multi-year agreements with Tegna and Prime Video that will expand access to their games over broadcast stations and st...
25/04/2024
M2A Medias Matt Hughes asks, is it time for news broadcasting to shift to the cloud?
By Contributor
Published: April 25, 2024
M2A Media's Matt Hughes ...
25/04/2024
Cintel Scanner G3 HDR Restores Egypt's Cinema Treasures to Their Former Glo...
25/04/2024
Sinclair Broadcast Group said it named Kevin Coskren chief meteorologist at KTUL, its ABC affiliate in Tulsa, Oklahoma....
25/04/2024
The Business of TV News, a new one-day event featuring Martha Raddatz, Shannon Bream, Glenn Kirschner and other major figures in television news, happens at Hot...
25/04/2024
Conditions put on the proposed sale of WADL Detroit, to Mission Broadcasting have created a potential drama in the Motor City....
25/04/2024
TelevisaUnivision reported a $52 million loss in the first quarter, up from $3 m...
25/04/2024
Comcast reported flat first-quarter earnings as it reduced the red ink at Peacock but continued to lose video and broadband customers....
25/04/2024
Music-video network Vevo said it launched its app on Telly, the company offering consumers free dual-screen TVs in return for data about what they're watchi...
25/04/2024
Future Today said it has introduced a redesigned user interface for about half of its 300 streaming apps, including Fawesome, HappyKids and iFood.TV....
25/04/2024
The writer and director of a hit Czech series tell Robert Shepherd about their approach to portraying real-life Pakistani kidnappings on the small screen, while...
25/04/2024
Notorious DIT will work with the Liverpool Film Office to increase opportunities for regional talent
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 25, 2024
Notorio...
25/04/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
25/04/2024
Lightware Visual Engineering, a leading manufacturer of connectivity solutions for the professional integrated systems market and a pioneer in signal management...
25/04/2024
Net Insight has entered into a collaboration with DMC Production that positions Net Insight at the forefront of sports broadcasting in the Nordics. Net Insight ...
25/04/2024
GlobalM has announced a strategic partnership with scoopa, the specialists in broadcast-quality content distribution, offering a complementary service for live ...
25/04/2024
PlayBox Neo announces the completion of a new multichannel playout system for the DDish direct-to-home satellite television network in Mongolia. Based in the na...
25/04/2024
Canadian music producer and engineer Garth Richardson also known as Gggarth due to his stutter - has embraced immersive audio by installing a PMC monitoring s...
25/04/2024
Leading video software provider Synamedia today announced that Televisa, the Mexican telecommunications and broadcasting company, has chosen Synamedia as its pa...
25/04/2024
OTTera, a leading provider of end-to-end OTT and FAST channel solutions, proudly announces its strategic partnership with ThinkAnalytics, a global leader in adv...
25/04/2024
The American Tobacco Campus will be hopping with activity tonight and this weekend with two fun events!
Durham Night Market
At last! The Durham Night Market i...
25/04/2024
WEST CHESTER, Pa. Video commerce provider Qurate Retail Group has launched The Big Dish, a new culinary-themed FAST channel on The Roku Channel....
25/04/2024
LOS ANGELES The Hollywood Professional Association has announced that submissions for the 2024 HPA Engineering Excellence Awards are now being accepted. This re...
25/04/2024
NEW YORK The digital media measurement and analytics firm DoubleVerify has announced that it has received Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for Video Vie...
25/04/2024
SAN FRANCISCO Fox Corp.'s ad-supported streaming service Tubi has announced a licensing agreement with the sports platform DAZN that will see DAZN Ringside ...
25/04/2024
NEW YORK In the runup to the 2024 IAB NewFronts, the IAB has announced three key appointments to its leadership team....
25/04/2024
Epic Games releases Unreal Engine 5.4 with new Motion Design Mode, Unreal VCam f...
25/04/2024
Content Creation, Production, Distribution Is In a State of Flux
Andy Marken April 24, 2024
0 Comments
My empathy is creeping towards what I would de...
25/04/2024
The Carolina Panthers and Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) announced they have...
25/04/2024
Berklee Student Riko Sasaski Named 2024 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The accomplished saxophonist secured a spot among the elite winners of this year's ...
25/04/2024
Stations everywhere take pride in having a main anchor who comes from the market they represent. That applies in St. Louis, too, but it also pertains to general...
25/04/2024
Edward Moody is joining the WBTW Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, anchor crew, and will anchor the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts alongside Trish Williford. He comes f...
25/04/2024
MTV said the 2024 Video Music Awards will return to New York and take place at the new UBS Arena....
25/04/2024
Season three of comedy The Outlaws premieres on Prime Video May 31. Stephen Merchant co-created the show, and stars. There are five episodes....
25/04/2024
The E.W. Scripps Co. is evaluating offers for Bounce, its multicast channel for African-American viewers, according to a report from CNBC....
25/04/2024
Paramount Plus has ordered a second season for Dora, the animated preschool show based on Dora the Explorer. The show, featuring Dora on a rainforest adventure ...
25/04/2024
Bayanat AI PLC (ADX: BAYANAT), a leading AI-powered geospatial solutions provider, and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (ADX: YAHSAT), the UAE&#...
25/04/2024
April 25th, 2024 Press Materials Available Here
TRIBECA FESTIVAL 2024 ANNOUNCES AUDIO STORYTELLING AND GAMES LINEUP
Audio Storytelling Program Features 10th ...
25/04/2024
NFL Draft 2024: Verizon Expands Broadband Capacity To Handle the Spike in Demand Mobile cells will help accommodate first responders, social media, sports betti...
25/04/2024
NFL Draft 2024: NFL Media Teams With The Fantasy Footballers on Hybrid, REMI Pro...
25/04/2024
NFL Draft 2024: ESPN Motors Into Detroit With Trio of Simultaneous Live Presenta...
25/04/2024
Published On: April 25th, 2024
data-orig-src=https://www.sgo.es/wp-content/upl...
NBA Finals: Though On-Court Story Is Familiar, 2018 Is a Whole New Ballgame for ABC/ESPN Ops Team Full Court Press, NBA Surround streaming initiatives add new quirks to ESPN's operation By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
