ESPN Live* Broadcasts

[Mr. Red]

I think Nebraska has gotten two or three of these ESPN telecasts this year where the team is actually in the Bristol studio, not live at the game- and it really bugged me.  I haven't seen a topic on it so I wanted to get everyone's thoughts.

To me, it greatly reduces the feel and "atmosphere" that the at-home viewer experiences.  I normally listen to the TV commentary, but when ESPN does this to our game, I automatically mute the TV and listen to Kent and Matt instead.

 

Maybe ESPN just needs to tweak it a little bit.  I totally understand the cost savings.  The below articles mention that broadcasters have used remote announcers for years for international sports such as soccer and the Olympics, and I have never noticed during those broadcasts

 

Here is a good point that I hadn't thought of from one of the articles:

One of basketball’s routines is the day-of-the-game shootaround, where TV guys usually chat with the coaches to do research and get a feel for story lines, injuries and gossip. They talk to players, watch the teams run through a light practice and that time is crucial to giving the viewer insight and examples of what is team is about.

For remote games, it is replaced with a conference call. If you’ve watched announcers such as Adams and Hollenberg enjoy those conversations in person, you know it isn’t the same.

 

There are some good articles and opinions out there on this:

http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/yes-espn-experimenting-studio-announcers-college-basketball-games.html

http://www.espnfrontrow.com/2014/11/espn-to-test-bristol-integration-on-college-basketball-productions/

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/shockwaves/article49204670.html

 

And I found this especially amusing- there is an entire Wikipedia page devoted to criticisms of ESPN! (I personally prefer Yahoo Sports for my online sports news)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_ESPN

 

Thoughts??

[HuskerFever]

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[PimpMario]

$$$

It has to cost less than $1000 to send someone to the game

[AuroranHusker]

 

$$$

It has to cost less than $1000 to send someone to the game

 

 

ESPN is hemorrhaging. They've cut a lot of talent from their arsenal in the past year.

[PimpMario]

$$$

It has to cost less than $1000 to send someone to the game

ESPN is hemorrhaging. They've cut a lot of talent from their arsenal in the past year.

They could probably swing it so it's free.

[AuroranHusker]

 

 

 

$$$

It has to cost less than $1000 to send someone to the game

ESPN is hemorrhaging. They've cut a lot of talent from their arsenal in the past year.

They could probably swing it so it's free.

 

 

They want to save coin, not make it even Steven.

[PimpMario]

$$$

It has to cost less than $1000 to send someone to the game

ESPN is hemorrhaging. They've cut a lot of talent from their arsenal in the past year.

They could probably swing it so it's free.

They want to save coin, not make it even Steven.

[Nighthawk]

They could have the game on ESPN3 and just have the event people provide the commentary.  I know of at least one event where that's been done...that all ESPN provided was the ability to stream the event on ESPN3.

[HuskerFever]

They could have the game on ESPN3 and just have the event people provide the commentary.  I know of at least one event where that's been done...that all ESPN provided was the ability to stream the event on ESPN3.

 

Remember when ESPN3 didn't even have commentary and it was just a straight live stream with no interruptions? It's amazing how much commentators add to the experience, whether perceived positively or negatively.

[Nighthawk]

 

They could have the game on ESPN3 and just have the event people provide the commentary.  I know of at least one event where that's been done...that all ESPN provided was the ability to stream the event on ESPN3.

 

Remember when ESPN3 didn't even have commentary and it was just a straight live stream with no interruptions? It's amazing how much commentators add to the experience, whether perceived positively or negatively.

 

yup....last year ESPN3 aired the WFTDA World Championship and used the WFTDA announcers.

[Red Don]

Seems to me the expense would be in the Camera & Crew necessary to broadcast in HD (or do they just use the local/university resources?)   If they don't send announcers on site, I'd just as soon have them patch in the audio from the radio announcers.    

[royalfan]

As long as the announcing is talented enough to overcome not being there, I am okay with it.  I just want a well announced broadcast.  Doesn't really matter to me very much where the announcers are located when accomplishing that.