NHL Puck Drop 2021: NHL on TNT Debuts With High-Speed Cameras, Tracking-Fueled Graphics With more than 20 cameras per game, Turner Sports brings ambitious' plan to hockey coverage By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 - 3:15 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
It's a new era for the National Hockey League in the U.S. Tonight, Turner Sports debuts as a national rightsholder for the league, with TNT carrying a doubleheader of the New York Rangers visiting the Washington Capitals at 7:30 p.m. ET and the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Chicago Blackhawks at 10:30 p.m.
Although Turner's agreement with the league is for the NHL's B package, the NHL on TNT schedule is loaded. It includes 25 Wednesday nights throughout the season and marquee tentpole events like the 2022 Winter Classic (Minneapolis) on Jan. 1, the 2022 Stadium Series (Nashville) on Feb. 26, and the 2022 Heritage Classic (Hamilton, ON) on March 13. Turner will also help carry the Stanley Cup Playoffs and host the Stanley Cup Final in three of the seven years covered by the rights agreement.
It's a sizable investment of time and resources, and the Turner Sports team is hitting the ground running. For game coverage, Turner Sports VP, Sports Production and Technical Operations, Chris Brown describes the team's plan as extremely ambitious.
Game production will, over the course of the season, lean aggressively into leveraging player- and puck-tracking data provided by the league and displaying unique graphic enhancements, including dynamic line changes (where tracking data can be used to monitor shift times and display lineup changes in real time) and a virtual power-play clock projected onto the ice (similar to the virtual shot clock used by NBA on TNT).
Our goal is to find ways to inform the diehard fan in ways that they haven't been informed before, says Brown, while also providing information for the casual fan that is trying to learn the sport.
In 2019, NBA on TNT debuted a virtual shot graphic projected onto the playing surface. Turner Sports is looking to add a similar execution on the ice for power plays on NHL on TNT.
Onsite, the camera complements rely on super-slow-motion cameras, with more deployed than for a typical show. Of the 25 camera feeds (20 are originated by Turner; five are blue-line cams and net-cam feeds provided by the league), from eight to 11 units on a given night will be high-frame-rate cameras. Brown says those acquisition devices offer a smoother look for a sport that moves extremely fast.
This has been the production request to answer the question, How do you portray the speed and fluidity that this game presents? says Brown.
Coordinating directly with the league on venues and standard game-broadcast operations has proved critical to helping Turner boot up this property in a relatively short time. To help out on the remote technical side, Turner added Eric Grossman, a veteran of hockey broadcasting, as lead tech manager.
One of the biggest things with the NHL is developing all of the new workflows that are going to have to surround it, says Brown. [That's] not just in the remote environment but in the studio as well because of the confluence of highlight operations. There's tons we have been trudging through to pull this all together. We're also doing this while maintaining the technical quality for all the productions that we do and giving each property its just attention.
NHL on TNT games are directed by Paul Hemming (who joins the Turner family after four years directing Carolina Hurricanes games for Bally Sports South/Fox Sports Carolinas). Kevin Brown and Joe Whelan will alternate in the producer's chair. The primary mobile production unit that will be used throughout the season is NEP ND5.
Graphics Package Designed To Stay Out of the Way' In addition to all the necessary technical infrastructure, one of the more substantial - and exciting - parts of beginning to broadcast an entirely new property is development of the on-screen look.
The Turner Sports Creative team was tasked with building an entire graphics package from scratch for the new NHL season, including insert graphics, full animations, studio graphics, and, of course, the in-game scorebug.
The NHL on TNT debuted a version of its scorebug during a preseason broadcast this month.
Hockey is such a fun sport to design for, says Jordan Shorthouse, VP/creative director, Turner Sports. There's so much energy, and the challenge is ensuring that fast-paced energy makes it onto the screen for the viewers. When it came to designing the insert package, we just wanted to make something that was unobtrusive, stayed out of the way, and was easy, simple, and clean. We wanted the viewers to stay focused on the action on the ice and not get confused about where they have to look to find stats.
The scorebug is a simple design, featuring solid colors and clean presentation of team logos. When it comes to designing scorebugs, which receive the most significant amount of airtime of any element in a graphics package, Shorthouse says, the creative process can be lengthy when team elements to include are debated. Are there logos? Is it just team tri-codes? A great scorebug, he notes, manages to integrate both pleasingly.
These logos are so beautiful and, to the hardcore fans, don't need the tri-codes, says Shorthouse, who has worked on graphics for Turner Broadcasting for more than two decades. They know who is playing based on the logos. However, you want to build something that new viewers can understand. For that reason, tri-codes are necessary. In the perfect world, you find the way to do both without making the bug too big. That's the challenge.
For major animations, Turner Sports worked with Toronto-based design
NHL Puck Drop 2021: NHL on TNT Debuts With High-Speed Cameras, Tracking-Fueled Graphics
13/10/2021
| LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/10/13/nhl-puck-drop-2021-nhl-on-tnt-d... |
| See more stories from svg |
Most recent headlines
19/10/2021
JETS - The Film Initiative that takes you beyond Round 6
JETS - The Film Initiative that takes you beyond Round 6 Call for Entry 2021 Deadline: 10th December 2021 JETS stands for Junior Entertainment Talent Slate a...
19/10/2021
HarperCollins Publishers Commits to Becoming Carbon Neutral in Direct Emissions in 2022
HarperCollins Publishers Commits to Becoming Carbon Neutral in Direct Emissions ...
19/10/2021
Director Kyohei Ishiguro Takes You Behind the Scenes of 'Bright: Samurai Soul'
Back to All News Director Kyohei Ishiguro Takes You Behind the Scenes of Bright...
19/10/2021
A Beginner's Guide to 'Manifest': Everything You Need to Know About the Fan-Favorite Series
Back to All News A Beginner's Guide to Manifest: Everything You Need to Kno...
19/10/2021
AWARD-WINNING CURIOUSCAST ORIGINAL PODCAST CRIME BEAT LAUNCHES SEASON FOUR TODAY
AWARD-WINNING CURIOUSCAST ORIGINAL PODCAST CRIME BEAT LAUNCHES SEASON FOUR TODAY For Immediate Release TORONTO, OCTOBER 19, 2021 - Corus Entertainment's p...
19/10/2021
Responding to the Local Needs of U.S. Pay-TV Subscribers
We're all used to ads promoting the latest pay-TV offerings. In return for our hard-earned dollars, major operators will provide us with a seemingly endless...
19/10/2021
Aiven Achieves $2B Unicorn Valuation with its Series C Extension
Aiven's existing investors increase capital investment to double down the company's exponential growth and global open source innovation Helsinki, Finl...
19/10/2021
L3Harris Restores FAA Operations After Hurricane Ida
On August 26, a front in the Caribbean developed into a tropical depression, which organized further and ultimately became Tropical Storm Ida. Amid favorable co...
19/10/2021
Industry Leaders Meet Online at Mobile 360 Asia Pacific to Discuss Digital Transformation Strategies for the Benefit of Society
GSMA Intelligence research shows how collaborative efforts practiced by Asia Pac...
19/10/2021
Grass Valley Appoints Jan Lange as Chief Revenue Officer
MONTREAL, October 19, 2021 - Grass Valley today announces the appointment of Jan Lange as Chief Revenue Officer. In this new role, Lange will report to Tim Shou...
19/10/2021
TechnipFMC and Talos Energy Enter Strategic Alliance to Provide Carbon Capture and Storage
Press release | October 18 2021 TechnipFMC and Talos Energy Enter Strategic Al...
19/10/2021
AWARD WINNING IMMERSIVE CONTENT STUDIO SECRET LOCATION LAUNCHES SECOND SEASON OF #1 TECH PODCAST TODAY
BACKAWARD WINNING IMMERSIVE CONTENT STUDIO SECRET LOCATION LAUNCHES SECOND SEASO...
19/10/2021
Ten Years in Streaming Media's Top 50!
Wow! For the 10th straight year we've made Streaming Media's list of Top 50 companies in online video technology, and we couldn't be prouder. Develo...
19/10/2021
Cisco Launches Webex Go
News Summary: Cisco launches Webex Go - a new phone system that connects to any mobile device Advancements in Webex Customer Experience journey data services ...
19/10/2021
Avid Expands IP Content Sources to Include Sony and TVU Networks
Avid (Nasdaq: AVID) today announced the interoperability of Sony and TVU Networks IP-connected devices with MediaCentral | Stream to dramatically expand the p...
19/10/2021
7de Laan: What is happening Tuesday 19 October 2021 - E208 S22
7de Laan: What is happening Tuesday 19 October 2021 - E208 S22Don't miss out on what's happening on tonight's episode! by SA TV and Soapies 19-10...
19/10/2021
Skeem Saam: Tonight's episode, E337 S9 - Tuesday 19 October 2021
Skeem Saam: Tonight's episode, E337 S9 - Tuesday 19 October 2021Find out what's going on tonight on Skeem Saam! by SA TV and Soapies 19-10-2021 in ...
19/10/2021
TONIGHT'S EPISODE: Scandal - Tuesday 19 October 2021 (E3935 S13)
TONIGHT'S EPISODE: Scandal - Tuesday 19 October 2021 (E3935 S13)Get to know what's happening on tonight's episode! by SA TV and Soapies 19-10-202...
19/10/2021
Gomora: What's happening tonight Tuesday, 19 October 2021 - E128 S2
Gomora: What's happening tonight Tuesday, 19 October 2021 - E128 S2Don't miss out on what's happening on tonight's episode of Gomora! by SA TV...
19/10/2021
Tuesday's Episode: Generations - The Legacy, E237 S30 (19 October 2021)
Tuesday's Episode: Generations - The Legacy, E237 S30 (19 October 2021)Keen to know what's happening on the latest episode of Generations: The Legacy? ...
19/10/2021
Uyajola 9/9' defeats Gomora': The reality show is number one on DStv
Uyajola 9/9' defeats Gomora': The reality show is number one on DStvThe Moja Love' cheating reality show pulled impressive numbers with a total vi...
19/10/2021
The River: what is happening E182 S4 - Tuesday 19 October 2021
The River: what is happening E182 S4 - Tuesday 19 October 2021On tonight's episode of The River . by SA TV and Soapies 19-10-2021 in SA TV and Film Th...
19/10/2021
TONIGHT'S EPISODE: Diep City E142 S1 - Tuesday 19 October 2021
TONIGHT'S EPISODE: Diep City E142 S1 - Tuesday 19 October 2021We've got you covered on what's happening tonight. by SA TV and Soapies 19-10-2021 ...
19/10/2021
UZALO: Tonight's episode, Tuesday 19 October 2021 - E162 S7
UZALO: Tonight's episode, Tuesday 19 October 2021 - E162 S7Don't get left behind, catch up on Uzalo now! by SA TV and Soapies 19-10-2021 in SA TV a...
19/10/2021
MUVHANGO: Tuesday's Episode - 19 October 2021 E205 S22
MUVHANGO: Tuesday's Episode - 19 October 2021 E205 S22Don't miss out on the latest drama in Muvhango! by SA TV and Soapies 19-10-2021 in SA TV and ...
19/10/2021
Tonight on Imbewu: Tuesday, 19 October 2021 - E917 S4
Tonight on Imbewu: Tuesday, 19 October 2021 - E917 S4Catch up on what's going on tonight! by SA TV and Soapies 19-10-2021 in SA TV and Film Tuesday...
19/10/2021
ITV Studios Creates Three New Senior Directors of Production
The esteemed & highly regarded Sally Debonnaire prepares to retire from full-time production management after a forty year career Four Heads of Production also...
19/10/2021
Scopely to Acquire GSN Games from Sony
LOS ANGELES The mobile video game company Scopely has announced it will acquire GSN Games, a division of Game Show Network, which is owned by Sony Pictures Ente...
19/10/2021
Vizrt automates recorded content
Viz Mosart 5 includes a story recorder function that lets producers pause, revisit an element or rectify a mistake while recording a live-to-tape show By Jenny...
19/10/2021
Deltatre appoints new CEO
Co-founder Giampiero Rinaudo to retire and move to non-executive chairman role By Jenny Priestley Published: October 19, 2021 Co-founder Giampiero Rinaudo t...
19/10/2021
The Estate': Drama unfolds at Sindi and Ayanda's traditional wedding
The Estate': Drama unfolds at Sindi and Ayanda's traditional weddingFrom the traditional wedding to the white wedding, a look at Ayanda and Sindi's ...
19/10/2021
Skeem Saam' Review: John Maputla wants Meikie to serve time
Skeem Saam' Review: John Maputla wants Meikie to serve timeJohn secretly wants to move on with someone else and only cares about his newfound son, Kwaito Ma...
19/10/2021
Delisile Malinga rises from playing Khapela and Brutus's wife to a lead role
Delisile Malinga rises from playing Khapela and Brutus's wife to a lead roleMalinga has finally scored a lead role, MaMzobe, in Mzansi Magic's series, U...
19/10/2021
Shure Rolls Out Third-Party Integration And Control With Aaton Digital And Sound Devices For Axient Digital Dual-Channel Portable Wireless Receiver
Shure Rolls Out Third-Party Integration And Control With Aaton Digital And Sound...
19/10/2021
UPDATED: Dish Files Bad Faith Complaint with FCC Against Tegna
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Dish has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against Tegna accusing the station group of bad faith during failed...
19/10/2021
KASA-TV Debuts Locally Produced Spanish-Language Newscasts
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Telemundo Nuevo M xico/KASA-TV is launching local Spanish language newscasts at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. (local time) on weekdays on October 18, mak...
19/10/2021
Exclusive: Gordon Smith on His NAB Legacy
WASHINGTON, D.C. Earlier this year NAB president and CEO Gordon Smith announced he would be stepping down at the end of 2021. TVBEurope caught up with Smith to ...
19/10/2021
ViacomCBS and Altice USA Renew Carriage Deal
NEW YORK ViacomCBS Inc. and Altice USA have announced a comprehensive agreement for the continued carriage of ViacomCBS' broadcast, entertainment, news and ...
19/10/2021
Darcy Antonellis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award From HPA
BURBANK, Calif. The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) Awards Committee has announced that veteran media technology executive Darcy Antonellis will receiv...
19/10/2021
Redbox Adds 10 Local News Channels From Cox Media Stations
CHICAGO, Ill. In a move that Redbox is describing as the largest addition of new free streaming channels in its history, the streaming service has announced it ...
19/10/2021
An Engineer Recalls How AI Broke the Exascale Barrier
Thorsten Kurth still remembers the night he discovered his team broke the exascale barrier. On the couch at home at 9 p.m., he was pouring over the latest resu...
19/10/2021
Introducing M1 Pro and M1 Max: the most powerful chips Apple has ever built
Introducing M1 Pro and M1 Max: the most powerful chips Apple has ever built posted: 18/10/2021 Powering the all-new MacBook Pro, new chips feature up to a...
19/10/2021
Finalists announced, voting open for the WRAL Voters' Choice Awards!
Finalists have been announced in the WRAL Voters Choice Awards presented by M&F Bank in over 130 categories. See who made the list and vote now for the Triangle...
19/10/2021
ViacomCBS Carriage Deal With Altice Covers Streaming Services
ViacomCBS and Altice USA said they reached a new carriage deal that includes the media company's streaming services as well as its broadcast stations and ca...
19/10/2021
Sinclair Stations Disrupted By Ransomware Attack
Sinclair Broadcast Group said its operations were disrupted by a cyberattack over the weekend....
19/10/2021
Luke Bryan Named as Host of CMA Awards on ABC
The Country Music Association and ABC announced that Luke Bryan will host the 55th annual CMA Awards....
19/10/2021
Dish Files Bad Faith Complaint as Blackout With Tegna Continues
Dish Network said it filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission charging that Tegna is not negotiating a new retransmission deal in good faith...
19/10/2021
Adele Special on CBS Nov. 14
CBS airs Adele One Night Only, hosted by the English singer, Sunday, Nov. 14. The two-hour special will film in Los Angeles and feature Adele's hits and nev...
19/10/2021
Sony's Game Show Network Sells GSN Games Division for $1 Billion
Sony Pictures Entertainment said it agreed to sell GSN Games, a division of Game Show Network, for $1 billion....
