Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Behind the Scenes of ESPN's Graphics-Laden Marvel's Arena of Heroes' Alternative NBA Broadcast

04/05/2021

Behind the Scenes of ESPN's Graphics-Laden Marvel's Arena of Heroes' Alternative NBA Broadcast Unlike past ESPN efforts, this was a standalone production with dedicated truck and crew By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor

Tuesday, May 4, 2021 - 3:34 pm

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

Last night, in an effort to bring new audiences to its NBA broadcasts, ESPN debuted its first-ever Marvel-themed alternative presentation during the Golden State Warriors-New Orleans Pelicans game. The broadcast featured Marvel-themed 3D virtual characters, custom graphics and animation packages, and a custom-designed Avengers-esque studio set at its Bristol, CT, headquarters, where a dedicated team of announcers called the Marvel's Arena of Heroes presentation.

ESPN's Creative Studio group produced the Marvel Arena of Heroes graphics package.

The Marvel-centric broadcast - carried on ESPN2, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes alongside the traditional broadcast on ESPN - follows ESPN's MegaCast efforts and marks its latest attempt to appeal to demos outside the traditional sports fanbase. However, unlike most of the past efforts, the Marvel's Arena of Heroes NBA show was a full side-by-side production alongside the main broadcast production, with its own truck and crew onsite at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

ESPN transformed Studio Z into a Marvel-themed set for the broadcast.

This is a bit of a departure from [ESPN's MegaCast and other alternative presentations]: as big a show as the main telecast vs. what we normally would do with MegaCast and other [alternative presentations], which is to add to the existing resources and present it in a different way, ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Ed Placey said before last night's game. This is a true side-by-side production, so it's a very different undertaking and required a very different mindset.

The Narrative: Avengers Seek New Members Via Marvel Hero Points' System At the top of the broadcast, ESPN's pregame show set the scene from the Marvel-themed set in Bristol: the Avengers are looking to recruit a new member for their team from the NBA elite and are observing the battle between the Warriors and the Pelicans, focusing on three star players from each team (the Warriors' Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins and the Pelicans' Zion Williamson, Grandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball).

Each of these players gained Marvel Hero points during the game (based on points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, as well as missed field goals, free throws, or turnovers plus 10 points for the winning team), and the player with the most Marvel Hero points - which ended up being Draymond Green - was crowned Marvel's first Champion.

ESPN's Creative Studio group created the look and feel of the broadcast, working alongside the Marvel Creative Team and technology providers SMT, Second Spectrum, and Girraphic. Among the highlights were comic-book-style insert graphics and scorebug; player- and shot-tracking graphics; Marvel-themed animations overlaid on the basket at each made field goal; and other augmented-reality elements, including a viewing deck above the floor where the Avengers (as 3D virtual renderings) monitored the action on the court.

All insert graphics were given a new comic-book-style look for the alternative presentation.

Our amazing ESPN Creative Studio group built everything, says Placey, and the Marvel Creative Team worked side by side with us, providing the assets, giving feedback, and guiding us every step of the way. It has been a wonderful collaboration between ESPN and Marvel, and we couldn't be happier with it. It has taken our previous projects and stepped [them] up to a new level.

Marvel Broadcast Is a Full-Fledged Standalone Production ESPN rolled out NEP EN3 mobile production unit and a dedicated crew in New Orleans (graphics operators were located in Bristol) to produce the Marvel broadcast. The production controlled its own complement of nine cameras (including the Above the Rim robos), shared eight other camera feeds from main telecast and the six cameras provided to both shows by the arena.

The production team set up a low corner camera to serve this angle featuring 3D virtual animations of Marvel characters like Black Panther.

This is a true side-by-side, so we're down in New Orleans with our own truck separate from the game truck, says Placey. We're sharing a few of the main game cameras for a replays. But we control all the cameras that we're cutting for the Marvel telecast. The other cameras are just to make sure we have additional replay angles so nothing gets missed on either show.

AR elements were featured heavily in the Marvel-centric broadcast.

On Sunday, ESPN brought a local team into the Smoothie King Center to conduct a thorough rehearsal for the Arena of Heroes broadcast. After months of development, this was the first time hundreds of Marvel-centric elements were integrated into a live game. ESPN Monday Night Football director Phil Dean and Sunday Night Baseball director Doug Holmes were at the front bench.

A 3D virtual rendering of Iron Man looks on from the watch deck above the floor.

Placey notes that this was significantly different from ESPN's previous alternative-presentation productions - such as MegaCasts for the CFP National Championship Game and last season's NFL Wild Card Game or the recent NBA Daily Wager Special - which used primarily a clean feed from the main show.

On the other broadcasts, he says, including the NFL Wild Card and the National Championship MegaCast, we made it a point to make sure that nothing was taking away the primary focus on the main ESPN telecast; everything was supplementary. But this strikes more of that equal balance and gives us a great opportunity to s
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/05/04/behind-the-scenes-of-espns-grap...
See more stories from svg

More from Sports Video Group

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...

14/03/2024

Amy Rosenfeld Named 2024 Receipient of the Colin Jose Media Award by the National Soccer Hall of Fame

Amy Rosenfeld Named 2024 Receipient of the Colin Jose Media Award by the Nationa...

14/03/2024

March Madness Live' Adds Vertical Video Feed, Apple Vision Pro Compatibility to Live Streaming Experience

March Madness Live' Adds Vertical Video Feed, Apple Vision Pro Compatibility...

13/03/2024

Vegas Golden Knights' Andrew Abrams on Meeting High Expectations For In-Arena Entertainment

Vegas Golden Knights' Andrew Abrams on Meeting High Expectations For In-Aren...

13/03/2024

SVG Sit-Down: Stats Perform's Brian Orefice on How Player Tracking With AI, Remote-Based Technology Is Possible

SVG Sit-Down: Stats Perform's Brian Orefice on How Player Tracking With AI, ...

13/03/2024

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Gcore's Alexey Petrovskikh on Driving Down Costs and Driving Up Latency Reliability of Live Streaming

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Gcore's Alexey Petrovskikh on Driving Down Costs ...

13/03/2024

Six Nations 2024: Complex Graphics Workflow Simplifies Story of the Game

Six Nations 2024: Complex graphics workflow simplifies story of the game By Fergal Ringrose Monday, March 11, 2024 - 16:54 Print This Story Sage-sponsored...

13/03/2024

In Memoriam: Andrew Lorenz - Sportvision and SMT Vet, Emmy Award-Winning Innovator, Beloved SVG Community Member

In Memoriam: Andrew Lorenz - Sportvision and SMT Vet, Emmy Award-Winning Innovat...