Our second regular season telecast of 2007 featured one of the worst games we will televise all season.
The Cardinals lost the game 10-0 and were out-hit by the margin of 12-2. To make matters worse, they were swept in the first series of the year.
All baseball fans appreciate talented plays that warrant a “highlight”, but most fans welcome these highlights if a member of their favorite club is the recipient of the video accolade. Last night’s telecast featured many highlights from the visiting NY Mets ball club while the play of the Cardinals did not include many memorable results.
All baseball TV production teams like to showcase the team they represent and it is very gratifying when a “memory” happens and the TV team nails it.
When the game features more “lowlights” than “highlights”, there are other methods that can be used to keep the viewer (and even the production team in the truck) enthused or at least entertained.
We receive our most positive feedback from non-game related coverage when we air flashbacks. Seeing footage from years past, the older the better, seems to invigorate our audience. There have been many instances where family, friends, and neighbors have told me how much they enjoyed that old footage.
“Where did you find that Musial footage?”
“I loved that Babe Ruth video.”
“There was never a greater competitor than Gibson.”
These flashbacks provide some excellent quality programming. I believe that one of the reasons that our particular TV production crew works so well as a team is that we are all fans. Flashbacks are a blast for our crew in the truck to produce because we all enjoy that footage as much as any baseball fan.
The roving handheld camera that we are incorporating into our telecasts this season is another invaluable tool to use when the game is not the quality type of game that we all hope for when we go to air.
Last night, we integrated the roving handheld more than we would have if the game was closely contested or there were more Cardinals’ highlights. This camera, as stated in the previous blog, can provide a balance between game action and ballpark “flavor”. Sometimes this balance is weighed more heavily in game action – what the TV production team and viewers desire – because then there is more exciting and compelling video in the telecast. There is no doubt that in a well played, tightly contested ballgame, the chance for a memorable “moment” is much greater than that of a “stinker” game. When there is a game of “moments”, the roving handheld will not be utilized as much. There will be shots capturing the “flavor” of the park during these contests and, in fact, proper usage of this camera during “memory” games can even enhance these memorable moments.
Using the roving handheld during a game that is not compelling is still so valuable to the telecast because shots of the ballpark, fans, concession areas, concourses, and families can still capture the essence of the ballpark experience.
The game can be exciting. The game can be a stinker.
It is still great to be at the ballpark!
We can see the ballpark.
We can hear the ballpark.
Oh, if we could only smell the ballpark!