Live From CFP National Championship Game: ESPN Production Raises the Bar 125-camera complement includes improved pylon cams, 1st-and-10-marker cams, hat cams, and expanded super-slo-mo By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Monday, January 8, 2018 - 11:39 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
Tonight's CFP National Championship Game on ESPN will feature the biggest production ever for a bowl game, thanks to the use of 125 cameras (between game, studio, and MegaCast coverage) and a game production coming out of nine Game Creek Video remote-production units. And viewers should expect some improvements in coverage, thanks to camera and audio developments that will bring the viewer closer to the action than ever.
The personal highlight is seeing it all come together, says John LaChance, director, remote production operations, ESPN, of a massive effort that caps off the 2017 college-football season. To see the new angles, perspectives, and gadgets we are introducing and watch those get integrated from paper to plan to [execution] gives a great sense of pride. And it's a partnership between those technicians, vendors, and production personnel.
RF cameras from 3G Wireless have been mounted into the 1st-and-10 markers for ESPN's coverage of tonight's big game.
A new element this year will be a small RF camera that 3G Wireless installed into each of the four 1st-and-10 markers on each side of the field. It was tested at the Celebration Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.
The cameras are on the top side of the 1st-and-10 markers and will offer viewers angles they have not seen in the past, LaChance explains. It's a perspective right from the sideline, and they can see whether a player made the first down.
Also new will be the use of two hat cams, cameras mounted in the caps of two of the folks who move the first-and-10 markers up and down the field. LaChance says the systems this year will not require bodypacks to be worn, making them lighter and less obtrusive for officials who are on the move.
The eight pylon cams are also getting a lift this year, with a microphone placed in each of the pylons at the corners of the end zones. The pylon cams will offer a total of 28 angles of video coverage.
We have a next-generation pylon cam with embedded audio for the first time, notes LaChance. It will be a great element for the fans watching at home. They will not only be able to see great shots from the pylon cam but also hear them.
The specialty cameras will complement the use of 51 other cameras for game coverage, primarily a mix of Sony HDC-4300, HDC-2500, and HDC-4800 cameras. Nine 4300 cameras will operate in super-slow-motion mode; five 4800's, in 4K mode (four on the goal line and one hard camera on the main-camera level). Five 2500 cameras will be dedicated to the MegaCast production. In addition, there will be two SkyCam units, one operating as a super-slo-mo and both available to viewers via dedicated channels on the MegaCast.
The second SkyCam gives analysts and folks at home an angle they have not seen often, especially when it is behind the defense and showing all 22 players on the field, says LaChance. It's still early in the process, but, when the directors and technicians get more reps, I think you will see [the use of dual SkyCam] evolve into more coverage options.
Prototype robotic mic mounts from DynaMount will give new flexibility to microphone positioning.
ESPN will also use four prototype robotic microphone systems from DynaMount that will allow the submixer in the Game Creek Maverick truck to remotely rotate a microphone. DynaMount's original system was designed for music-recording studios, but the company, in consultation with ESPN, built a water-proof housing and enabled a small camera to be mounted to the unit. That small camera gives the operator the ability to see where the mic is pointed and adjust its position manually. Presets are also available so that multiple mics at once can be quickly repositioned.
For tonight's game, the four units are located in the broadcast booth and face out toward the field. If all goes well, for future events, the systems could migrate out of the booth to other microphone positions around the stadium, allowing microphones to be repurposed for multiple uses more easily. For example, an operator located anywhere in the world but controlling the system via IP could rotate a microphone covering a band in the stands so that it covers the field.
The nine Game Creek mobile production units and support vehicles onsite comprise Peacock A and B at the core of the game production, Nitro A and B handling GameDay and SportsCenter needs, Maverick overseeing the MegaCast, Webby on hand for the SEC Network, and Edit 2 and 3 supporting the game and MegaCast. BSI is onsite for RF needs (13 cameras), and PSSI is providing satellite uplink facilities.
Peacock A and B and Nitro A and B probably give us the most robust combined fire power for an event like this, says LaChance. Part of our decision was to build resources that best match the needs of the game, MegaCast, and the studio shows. Nitro A and B have dual control rooms so both GameDay and SportsCenter can be on simultaneously and be more efficient as we don't need a separate truck for each.
He is proud of the work done by everyone involved in getting the production facilities up and running in five days. Planning required two plans for the truck compound to be crafted: until two weeks ago, there was the possibility of the Atlanta Falcons' hosting a playoff game the same weekend as the championship game. Tonight's production dodged that bullet and was able to follow the original plans put in place months ago.
This is one of the more challenging compounds that one could encounter, notes LaChance of a site that is located inside the st
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
16/10/2025
SVG Sit-Down: FUJIFILM Execs on GFX ETERNA 55 Camera, Importance of Shallow-Dept...
16/10/2025
Squash's Most Ambitious Broadcast Production To Be Deployed at Comcast Busin...
16/10/2025
Main Street Sports Group Inks Deal With Omaha Productions, Launches Original-Con...
16/10/2025
A Historic Precursor? FIFA, HBS, DAZN Offer an Inside Look at Production of FIFA...
16/10/2025
Prime Video Offers Sneak Peak at New NBA on Prime StudioThe massive 13,000-sq-ft, two-story studio features a LED regulation half court and hoopBy Jason Dachman...
16/10/2025
SVG Remote Production Forum Draws Record Crowd for Visit to PGA TOUR Studios, De...
16/10/2025
BitFire's Ben Grafchik on How Growing Cloud Workflows Are Impacting the Live...
16/10/2025
AI technology is advancing quickly, bringing both new creative possibilities and...
16/10/2025
In 2017, Imani Ellis launched CultureCon, a conference that's become a must-attend event for more than 10,000 diverse creatives and Black professionals to c...
16/10/2025
It might still be a little early to break out the tinsel and mistletoe, but Spotify's already queuing up some holiday magic. This year's Spotify Singles...
16/10/2025
Earlier this year, our in-house publishing imprint, Spotify Audiobooks, put out ...
16/10/2025
VAMPIRE has been integrated onto GM Defenses Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), providing a mobile solution to effectively and affordably counter small drone threat...
16/10/2025
The AgilePod mounted on the host aircraft....
16/10/2025
60% say infotainment systems are a critical purchasing or leasing consideration,...
16/10/2025
NEW YORK The Broadcasters Foundation of America has launched its 2025 Year-End Giving Campaign, which seeks to raise donations from tax-deductible personal and ...
16/10/2025
Roku has added several new features to its user interface and operating system meant to make it easier to discover and personalize content, the company said....
16/10/2025
NEW YORK CNN has announced that its All Access subscription tier will launch in the U.S. on Oct. 28, providing audiences with a centralized destination for CNN&...
16/10/2025
Student Spotlight: Alan Villanueva The graduate student and saxophonist, who performed on Natalia Lafourcades Latin Grammy-nominated Live at Carnegie Hall alb...
16/10/2025
The XR Sports Alliance (XRSA) has announced the third cohort of members. The new members include Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), the Vegas Golden Kni...
16/10/2025
NEW YORK The Broadcasters Foundation of America has launched its 2025 Year-End Giving Campaign which seeks to raise donations from tax-deductible personal and c...
16/10/2025
NEW YORK Australia's Nine Network and the NHL today announced a media partnership that will bring the world's premier professional ice hockey league to ...
16/10/2025
Parks Associates has released new data showing that nearly half (45%) of U.S. internet homes watch free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) services and 89% of U.S...
16/10/2025
TROY, Mich. -New data from J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Study shows that residential wireless internet providers are growing...
16/10/2025
TV's most charming detective drama * Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investi...
16/10/2025
Back to All News
Thailand's Legendary Outlaw Returns: Tee Yai: Born to be ...
16/10/2025
Back to All News
Christmas Is Just Around The Corner: Home For Christmas Season...
16/10/2025
Back to All News
Trist n Ulloa Stars in El crimen de Pazos, the New Netflix Ser...
16/10/2025
ABS Completes Redomiciliation to Dubai Development Authority as Part of Strategi...
16/10/2025
This Saturday October 18 Katja Mia will burst onto the radio airwaves for the first time as she joins 2FM. Katja will be standing in for Bl thnaid Treacy on Sat...
16/10/2025
This October, RT is delighted to support Wexford Festival Opera, Babor International Arts Festival for Children, Open House Dublin and 36 other arts and cultu...
16/10/2025
GeForce NOW is more than just a platform to stream fresh games every week - it offers celebrations for the gamers who make it epic, with member rewards to sweet...
15/10/2025
Across the world, early-career reporters are interrogating systems that shape daily life, from mortuaries and classrooms to the corridors of legal education and...
15/10/2025
St. Louis Blues Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in New Pregame Open VideoThe NHL franchise worked with production firms 2WEI and 4th Floor CreativeBy Mark J Burns,...
15/10/2025
Cobalt Digital, G3DVu, Proxima Vision, and Telos Alliance Renew Premier Sponsors...
15/10/2025
By Paige Bethmann
Before my grandmother passed away in 2019, I went to visit her in the hospital where she'd been for a few weeks. When I arrived, the nurs...
15/10/2025
Two years ago, Spotify set out to grow the entire publishing industry by making ...
15/10/2025
People turn to DJ for a listening experience that feels personal, dynamic, and j...
15/10/2025
Las personas recurren a DJ para vivir una experiencia de escucha personal, din m...
15/10/2025
Rock legend Bruce Springsteen and luminary actor Jeremy Allen White came togethe...
15/10/2025
At Spotify, we're all about supporting rising talent and helping them connec...
15/10/2025
New SBS Documentary Series THE CANCER KILLERS Premieres 4 November on SBS & SBS ...
15/10/2025
SBS celebrates the Festivals of Lights with bold, illuminating stories across th...
15/10/2025
One of humanity's most profound questions continues: Is there any place in our galaxy suitable for life beyond Earth? NASA intends to find out, with the hel...
15/10/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
15/10/2025
Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage software for the AI era, today announced the advancement of its comprehensive AI ecosystem certification pro...
15/10/2025
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today unveiled key highlights of the 2026 HPA Tech Retreat, scheduled for Feb. 15 19 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Go...
15/10/2025
At NAB Show New York 2025 (Stand 244), Interra Systems will showcase the future of media QC, monitoring, and captioning, highlighting its award-winning, AI- and...
15/10/2025
Grass Valley today announced that RMC BFM, part of the CMA-CGM Group and France's third-largest private media group, has chosen Grass Valley's productio...
Live From CFP National Championship Game: ESPN Production Raises the Bar 125-camera complement includes improved pylon cams, 1st-and-10-marker cams, hat cams, and expanded super-slo-mo By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director 
