We just took off from Pittsburgh after a 2-city, 4-game road trip.
No more ground hog day from a game standpoint, but, being in the back end of a dual feed creates its own “groundhog day” effect.
The past four games were all different and all four telecasts had challenges. The first two games of the trip were in Milwaukee and the final two contests were in Pittsburgh. The dual feed crews in each town are a pleasure to work with. The Producer and the Director in each of these towns are very aware of the needs of the visiting TV crew and practically go out of their way to make our broadcast experience as painless as possible.
The four games of this trip were all different, yet, in the back end of the dual feed, each game telecast has the same feel. The limitations on the TV crew in the back end of a dual feed create an atmosphere of frustration because of these limitations.
Each game/telecast wore me out because I was very frustrated during the shows that our broadcast team, because of the dual feed, could not present the game to our viewers as crisply and succinctly, and with the quality that we expect. While I do understand the fiscal reasons for dual feeds, my pride is affected when I am part of a telecast that cannot be produced in the highest quality fashion.
The Cardinals split the four games of this road trip. Our presentation of these games could have and would have been more valuable to our viewers if our TV production crew did not have to rely on the “primary” feed for shots during the highest “impact” moments of each game.
The back end of a dual feed relies on the primary feed (home telecast) for coverage when the ball is in play. The home feed has a full complement of equipment and, therefore, is able to provide coverage of game action with better angles than the visiting dual feed which has three cameras. I was told that the reason for dual feeds is that all “ALL GAME ACTION IS CUT THE SAME BY EVERY DIRECTOR”. Obviously, this decision was made by a person who has never directed a baseball game. In fact, this mind set is a slap in the face to All TV baseball Directors.
Yes it is true that a baseball game can be presented in a dual feed situation where the visitors control three cameras and rely on the home telecast crew which controls 8, 9, or 10 cameras.
However, it is also true that in order for the highest quality TV baseball production, each broadcast entity MUST have complete control over their “product” or that product will suffer.
Quality or cost – take your pick.
No more ground hog day from a game standpoint, but, being in the back end of a dual feed creates its own “groundhog day” effect.
The past four games were all different and all four telecasts had challenges. The first two games of the trip were in Milwaukee and the final two contests were in Pittsburgh. The dual feed crews in each town are a pleasure to work with. The Producer and the Director in each of these towns are very aware of the needs of the visiting TV crew and practically go out of their way to make our broadcast experience as painless as possible.
The four games of this trip were all different, yet, in the back end of the dual feed, each game telecast has the same feel. The limitations on the TV crew in the back end of a dual feed create an atmosphere of frustration because of these limitations.
Each game/telecast wore me out because I was very frustrated during the shows that our broadcast team, because of the dual feed, could not present the game to our viewers as crisply and succinctly, and with the quality that we expect. While I do understand the fiscal reasons for dual feeds, my pride is affected when I am part of a telecast that cannot be produced in the highest quality fashion.
The Cardinals split the four games of this road trip. Our presentation of these games could have and would have been more valuable to our viewers if our TV production crew did not have to rely on the “primary” feed for shots during the highest “impact” moments of each game.
The back end of a dual feed relies on the primary feed (home telecast) for coverage when the ball is in play. The home feed has a full complement of equipment and, therefore, is able to provide coverage of game action with better angles than the visiting dual feed which has three cameras. I was told that the reason for dual feeds is that all “ALL GAME ACTION IS CUT THE SAME BY EVERY DIRECTOR”. Obviously, this decision was made by a person who has never directed a baseball game. In fact, this mind set is a slap in the face to All TV baseball Directors.
Yes it is true that a baseball game can be presented in a dual feed situation where the visitors control three cameras and rely on the home telecast crew which controls 8, 9, or 10 cameras.
However, it is also true that in order for the highest quality TV baseball production, each broadcast entity MUST have complete control over their “product” or that product will suffer.
Quality or cost – take your pick.
posted by Cutting The Game at 11:21 AM
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