It was only a matter of time before a 3-D network hit the airwaves, and to no one's surprise, it's coming from ESPN. Starting with the first game of this year's World Cup, ESPN 3D will air a total of 85 live games in 2010....

ESPN will launch ESPN 3D - the industry’s first 3D television network - it was announced today by George Bodenheimer, Co-chairman, Disney Media Networks, and President, ESPN and ABC Sports. ESPN 3D will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year, beginning with the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match on June 11 featuring South Africa vs. Mexico. Other events to be produced in 3D include up to 25 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, Summer X Games, college basketball, and college football, which will include the BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Ariz., January 10, 2011. Additional events will be announced at a later date.

”ESPN’s commitment to 3D is a win for fans and our business partners,” said Bodenheimer. “ESPN 3D marries great content with new technology to enhance the fan’s viewing experience and puts ESPN at the forefront of the next big advance for TV viewing.”

“This will be a meaningful step to drive adoption of 3D television sets and afford opportunities for our affiliates to create value through new product offerings, and our advertisers, who want fresh sponsorship opportunities,” said Sean Bratches, executive vice president, sales and marketing.

I have to admit that, while I thought this technology was years away, I'm kind of excited to see how ESPN does in 3-D. I guess the next move is for ESPN to come up with a way to look while wearing 3-D glasses. In fact, that might just be impossible.

I've always wanted to watch a game with John Madden (it would be my Make-A-Wish wish for sure), but I never envisioned it like this. Madden has developed a massive Football viewing experience, and has taken to watching every game on Sunday with dads of NFL QBs....

 

"Roast Beef Central" is perhaps the best name for an eatery that I've ever heard. In fact, John Madden should come out with a Subway/Pot Belly type deli called "RBC". I would be the first in line.

(Video via Real Clear Sports)

I think the most famous use of holograms to date, is the beaming up of Will.I.Am during the election on CNN, but I could be wrong. Well at ESPN's media gathering (which I unfortunately had to miss), it was announced that the network is going to begin using holograms. In fact, they've started to do so by hologramming one of their own....

Now that we've seen a virtual Bob Ley, I think it's safe to say that we've reached the 21st century. Looks like a ton of fun!

Having run this site for awhile now, I've learned quite a few things about implementing video into posts. Or at least I thought I knew a lot. Yesterday, Mike Francesa tried to explain how the Erin Andrews video made it to the Internet and here is the awesome result. Pay attention, because I think you'll learn something....

Ear marking....of course!!! How could I have been so foolish?!?! Everything will run much smoother now.

(Thanks to The Mike Francesa for the clip)

It's amazing to me that this is the case, but for some reason none of the homerun distances in past HR Derbys were reported as they happened. There was always a delay, and the Bermans of the world were left trying to juggle the footage of various bombs. Well ESPN will be adding new technology this year that utilizes Doppler Radar, and will have the distance as the shots land in outfield stands at Busch Stadium. Via USA Today....

ESPN, which will formally introduce its Ball Track coverage Wednesday, will use Doppler radar that's been used to track missile systems. Now, it will allow for superimposed ESPN onscreen comet tails behind balls that will turn green to projects flying balls as homers. Anthony Bailey, ESPN vice president for emerging technology, says Ball Track will also show live a running total of how many feet the still-flying balls have traveled. While ESPN used to take a tedious 30 seconds to figure out final home-run distances, viewers now will get them instantly — and calculations of how far homers would have gone if not inconveniently impeded by a stadium.

Bailey says the radar isn't complicated — setting up the necessary box behind home plate at press-box level takes 10 minutes — and ESPN is looking at using it in games. Tracking base-runners wouldn't work — players don't run fast enough for radar.

Bailey says ESPN will open an "Innovation Lab" at Disney World in September partly to let parkgoers become "instant focus groups" for its experiments. One idea in the works, he says, is having live postgame interviews with players who appear virtually in studios so they'd have "more intimate conversations" with anchors.

I still can't believe that ESPN hasn't utilized this technology before, but I guess its better late than never. Hopefully the graphic won't be too over-bearing, and that it will help the announcers stay on track during the broadcast.


ESPN adds new graphics for Home Run Derby coverage (USA Today)

ESPN's studios and on-site setups are obviously always in use year-round, so the "WWL" has decided to create a testing lab at their headquarters at Disney's Wide World of Sports. The "ESPN Innovation Lab" won't be a tourist attraction, but rather a full-time research facility. Via the Orlando Sentinel....

Dubbed the "ESPN Innovation Lab," the facility will allow the cable-sports giant to test new applications such as virtual graphics during events staged at Disney's sports venues. Think concepts such as the "EA Virtual Playbook" that ESPN has used as part of its pro football and basketball coverage or the strike-zone graphics used during baseball games.

The lab, which will be housed in a renovated building at Wide World of Sports, won't be a typical tourist attraction. ESPN intends it to be a working research facility, though it'll likely include big bay windows that allow people to look in and see the company's emerging-technology staff at work.

ESPN has already moved five employees to Orlando from its Bristol, Conn., headquarters to work at the lab, and more could follow. The Innovation Lab is expected to formally open this fall.

Seems like a good idea, given all of the new technology that keeps popping up on the network. Heck, maybe they could use the place for focus groups as well. You know, to test out the reaction to nonsense like "Who's Now" or "Mount Rushmore".

ESPN to open new research facility at Disney's Wide World of Sports (Orlando Sentinel)

Holograms have been around for years, but really hit the mainstream when CNN utilized them during election coverage. ESPN plans to expand on this technology by adding in "player cards" during studio coverage which will feature not only a 3D image of each NBAer, but also stats and bio information. Here's your first look with Matt Winer and Kobe Bryant....


Just to answer a few more of the questions I know you're asking....yes the player will be in motion, and you can expect to only see them during a stand up presentation. Looks pretty neat, but it takes up a ton of the screen. Hopefully it doesn't come across as too distracting to the audience.

Brett Favre's agent has certainly made it clear that the quarterback isn't planning on coming back, but we haven't heard from the man himself. Until now, and in a one-word text to an ESPN analyst. Trent Dilfer randomly texted Favre yesterday, to ask him if he had any desire to un-retire (for the 15th time). According to the Star Tribune, Favre simply responded with a "NO"....

A few hours ago, we wrote that retired quarterback Brett Favre hasn’t been contact with the usual suspects when it comes to communicating his desire to play, or not play, since he was granted his release last week from the reserve/retired list by the New York Jets.

Well, now there has been contact with Favre. Former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, who now works for ESPN, sent a text to Favre today asking if there was any chance he would consider playing in 2009. Favre responded in a return text with the word “NO.” And he put it in caps.

Does that mean Favre isn’t going to be playing for the Vikings this season? As ESPN’s Kevin Seifert points out, this one-word answer “won’t create so much as a ripple in speculation that [Favre] might play.”

Well that's interesting, isn't it? No??? Okay then. Seriously though, it is rather funny that the only way to reach Favre is by text messaging, and that Trent Dilfer of all people was the one that figured that out.

The word from Favre (Star Tribune)

I've give MLB TV a ton of praise over the years, but unfortunately some of their offseason changes haven't been panning out so well. The MLB video program moved from using Microsoft's Silverlight program, to an Adobe one, and hundreds of users have sent in complaints on the quality of video and audio. Via Paid Content....

Major League Baseball dropped Microsoft’s Silverlight for Adobe’s Flash this year, citing the media player’s higher reliability. But four days into the baseball season, hundreds of users are complaining about choppy video and audio on MLB.TV. The complaints are particularly embarrassing for MLB because MLB.TV’s debut last year was also dogged by problems.

To make matters worse, MLB appears to be making efforts to paper over the embarrassment: Earlier this week on its blog, the league acknowledged some of these problems, saying, “We have a lot more to do still to get the [media] player to perform in a more stable manner across the board,” according to PC World. But, strangely, all the entries on the blog, which explained that many of the issues had to do with a plug-in called NexDef, have since been deleted. There is now only one post, which states that the Opening Day issues were “predictable.” Visitors are encouraged to comment on the MLB.TV support forums. An MLB spokesman did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

All of this has not been lost on Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT). In a post Monday, the company said that while Adobe (NSDQ: ADBE) Flash had high penetration, NexDef did not. “Ubiquity here is a red herring—what customers really want are high-quality solutions,” Silverlight’s Steve Sklepowich wrote. And in another post today, Christian Thilmany, a member of Microsoft’s developer and platform evangelism group, refers to the problems and says “maybe they should have stayed with Silverlight.”

All of that considered, MLB also had a problem with connections at the beginning of last season, so I have all the faith in the world that they'll figure it out. Also, according to Sports Business Daily, the problems only affected 1% of MLB's 500K+ customers.

MLB Struggles With Switch Back From Microsoft Silverlight To Adobe Flash (Paid Content)

The MLB Network has come up with yet another interesting idea. During the debut of Thursday Night Baseball, they will begin show a series of vignettes that will attempt to recreate great moments in Baseball History. The plan is to take the existing clips and edit them to show how the event would look with the camera angles of today.

Here's a look at the first one, which is of Bob Gibson's seventeen strikeouts during the 1968 World Series....

While I don't entirely understand the point of them, the Gibson one sure looks cool. There's a total of six, and they will debut one a night on Thursday night, over the next six weeks.

I'll take questions that will never be asked on Jeopardy for $1000, Alex! Yes, that's right....NASCAR on FOX's Jeff Hammond and ESPN's Rebecca Lobo used the platform Twitter during live events this weekend. While both seemed to have fun, the differences in their tweeting styles was very noticeable. Via USA Today....

Jeff Hammond, a Fox NASCAR analyst, and Rebecca Lobo, an ESPN women's college basketball analyst and reporter, were trailblazing TV twitterers this weekend.

Twittering, via Twitter.com, lets you use laptops, cellphones or PDAs to instantly communicate an online message of no more than 140 characters. While already popular, Hammond and Lobo are the first announcers for their networks to Twitter from events.

Sunday, Hammond's tweets largely offered what you might hear on TV — "that car needs a lot of adjustments" — while Lobo had tidbits you'd probably never get without Twitter: "Had to wash 5-month-old's poop (vs. 5-month-old poop) off my hands. Back now. To clarify: I was changing a diaper during commercial."

Lobo, in an interview, says she's psyched but still has reservations: "The weirdest thing about it is the ridiculous lingo. 'Tweeting.' I just can't bring myself to say that."

Now I'm not one to judge, but I'd personally rather not hear about dirty diapers on a Twitter feed. Still pretty funny though.

Tweets (USA Today)
Rebecca Lobo (Twitter)
NASCAR on FOX (Twitter)

Sorry for the delay in posting (another travel day), and I wasn't going to put anything up, but this is too good to not post. The MMOD player has been added to the CBS March Madness site, and naturally the first thing I wanted to check out was how ridiculous the excel spreadsheet is when you click on the "boss button". To my dismay, CBS not only made every item on the sheet basketball related, but they now have advertising on the thing. Here's a screenshot (click for larger)....


Umm, CBS....doesn't that completely defeat the purpose of the button to begin with? Oh well. It's not like last year's "fruit inspired" one was that much better. Other than that, the player looks amazing. You can click through old games and the quality is beyond amazing. Good stuff, CBS.

MMOD Video (CBS)

CBS continues to just blow away the competition when it comes to access to the NCAA Tournament. Not only has the network improved on what was already an amazing "On Demand" product, but they've also developed an I-Phone app so you won't have to even worry about using the "Boss Button". Via CBS....

Developed by CBS Sports Mobile with partner MobiTV, the application uses MobiTV's streaming technology to deliver live video over a Wi-Fi connection. The NCAA March Madness on Demand iPhone and iPod touch application will provide live video of all 63 games from the first round of the tournament through the semifinal and final games of the Men's Final Four, as well as access to tournament brackets updated in real-time with up-to-the minute scores, and the ability to click directly from brackets into live video. It will also provide exclusive CBSSports.com Edge Matchup game previews, including team breakdowns and matchup comparisons to prepare fans for each step on the Road to the Final Four®.

During live game action, NCAA March Madness on Demand application users can access in-game box scores and player stats - even as an overlay on top of the video. Following each game, they can also view a full tournament scoreboard, including game recaps, player and team stats and video highlights of every tournament game. All games from the Final Four will also be available for $1.99 each on Apple's iTunes Store the day after they are completed.

The NCAA March Madness on Demand application is now available for $4.99 from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://www.cbspressexpress.com/siteadmin/actions/www.itunes.com/appstore/

That is just flat out amazing. I love the fact that you can click around using the bracket and an overlay of stats over the video is ingenious. CBS knows exactly what they're doing. Bravo.

When CBS' March Madness On Demand first came out, there were a ton of issues but the simple fact that you could watch games while at work, seemed to outweigh all of the bugs. That changed after people got used to watching the games online each year, and as waiting lines grew, people got uppity and CBS had to scramble to make changes. The last few years though, the service has been almost flawless (minus some holes in commentary), and millions flock to the site each March.

Well this year, CBS is making even more changes to MMOD, and this year should easily surpass last year's record breaking totals. In fact, CBS is even taking a run at bloggers with some interesting features for websites....

Available starting March 10, the suite will allow developers to choose from an array of professional content from CBS Sports and add it to their site or blog. Options include applications dedicated solely to brackets, live scores, news or each of the Division I Men’s Basketball programs, all offering links that give direct access to the NCAA March Madness on Demand video player.

“NCAA March Madness on Demand has become much more than a CBSSports.com and NCAA production, it’s now an event that the whole Internet is embracing,” said Jason Kint, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CBSSports.com. “With increased distribution across the CBS Interactive network of sites, now a top-10 Web property globally, NCAA March Madness on Demand will again have extremely positive growth in 2009 as we take the games to the fans, wherever they want to watch.”

Just a great idea. CBS has always seemed to "get it", when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. MMOD will also be switching over to "Silverlight" (MLB TV) this year, so video quality and audio should be through the roof.

CBS To Pull Out All The Stops Again For March Madness (SMJ)

So not only was TNT hip enough to throw H-O-R-S-E into the mix for the ASG, they are now getting into the IPhone App business. TNT has teamed up with Apple to provide a $.99 application so those on the go can watch the game. Via TNT....

As the NBA All-Stars align and prepare to rise up in Phoenix, Turner Sports announced today that for the first time ever unique camera angles providing specialized coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented on TNT by State Farm and the 2009 NBA All-Star Game will be available via a new application on the Apple App Store, as well as on TNT OverTime Extra on NBA.com, which will integrate a real-time feed of Facebook® status updates.

Fans can log on to NBA.com to view TNT OverTime Extra, an online mosaic player that will feature four live streaming camera angles for both the Saturday (Feb. 14) and Sunday (Feb. 15) night events . By logging in through Facebook® Connect on the mosaic, Facebook® users can update their status directly as they watch live camera angles (see attached photo). Additionally, the wireless NBA.com All-Star Live application, will be available for $0.99 cents from Apple’s App Store (http://www.apple.com/iphone/appstore/) for fans to watch all four live angles on their mobile device (see attached photo).

I'm all for technology, but a lot of the recent ideas from networks and leagues have been rather pointless. This however is an excellent idea, especially with the number of IPhone users out there. If I had one, I'd definitely pay $.99 so I could watch the festivities.

Sports Rubbish points us toward a neat new invention from a company called Yoostar, that has created a program that leads you add your own commentary to NBA games. The company announced a partnership with the NBA at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and for just $149.95 (plus purchase of each team's videos), you can be the next Marv Albert!

For each NBA team, game footage of the final minutes from a memorable game will be available for fans to access and deliver their personal commentary. Select NBA Draft clips will also be available for fans to insert commentary. The NBA video highlights and NBA Draft clips will be available for purchase and download at NBA.com and www.yoostar.com.

The NBA joins a stellar group of Yoostar content providers including Paramount Pictures Corporation, Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. and Lions Gate Films, Inc.

The Yoostar system ($149.95 suggested retail price) includes all the tools to turn a home or office into a broadcast studio: a sophisticated camera with built-in microphone, green screen, remote control and Yoostar software that runs on both PCs and Macs. The system comes with an assortment of clips, with hundreds of additional film scenes and television moments available for purchase and download at www.yoostar.com.

I have no idea why anyone would be willing to pay $149.95 for something that they could technically do for free with a cheap microphone and Youtube (and in this economy), but more power to Yoostar and the NBA.

Do Your Own Commentary On NBA Highlights and Videos With Yoostar (Sports Rubbish)

Uniwatch via Sports by Brooks came across a really weird feature on the New York Jets website yesterday. Well the feature is a look inside their new stadium, which isn't weird per se, but rather a jersey worn by a woman on one of the virtual concourses. Take a look....


Your eyes are not deceiving you. That is a woman wearing a green Strahan jersey out amongst the other Jets fans. Maybe the Jets know something that we don't know.

Uni Watch DIY Project: Building a Better Bucco Beanie (Uni Watch)
Do The New York Jets Know Something We Don’t? (Sports by Brooks)

ESPN's technology department hasn't exactly been lining up winners lately. They've tried the mobile game and failed, but now they're trying to get into your television remote. According to Ad Age, beginning this summer ESPN will offer three new "iTV" products that will allow you to join in the network's reindeer games....

Beginning in summer 2009, the Walt Disney Co. sports-entertainment network will offer three new iTV products, tentatively titled ESPN My Vote, ESPN In Game Extra and My Bottom Line. Specific cable-distribution partners have yet to be determined, but ESPN My Vote and ESPN In Game Extra will each employ EBIF middleware technology, already available in millions of set-top boxes nationwide, while My Bottom Line will use Tru2way technology, the cross-cable software that powers cable operators' interactive programming guides, games and other programs.

ESPN My Vote is an interactive feature that will enable viewers to participate in voting and polling during live broadcasts of "SportsCenter," "College Football Live," College Football telecast, Major League Baseball telecasts and "Baseball Tonight."

ESPN In Game Extra will give viewers the option to access additional game stats during live telecasts, including player tracking, scores, standings and schedules.

My Bottom Line refers to the bottom line, or news scroll across the bottom of the TV screen, which fans will be able to customize to their favorite teams or cities, regardless of geography. So a Cleveland sports fan in New York could customize scores for the Cavs and the Browns, with live access to stats, standings, research and even information about fantasy players.

I can't stand polls personally, but the other two actually sound pretty awesome. I've always loved the DirecTV feature where you can plug your fantasy football team in and get stats across the board. Plus, having to wait through WNBA and MLS scores for real Sports is a pain in the ass. I wish I had "My Bottom Line" right now actually.

ESPN Rolls Out Interactive Features (Ad Age)

Fox announced yesterday their deal with 3-D theater company, Cinedigm, the theaters that will be airing the January 8th, BCS National Championship Game. I don't know why anyone would want to leave the comfort of their home, and pay $20 to wear silly glasses, but if you do....hopefully your town is on the list.

ALABAMA

HOOVER
Rave Patton Creek 15
(205) 982-4778
HUNTSVILLE
Rave Valley Bend Stadium 18
(256) 882-1202
MOBILE
Carmike Wynnsong 16
(251) 639-1748
MONTGOMERY
Rave Festival Plaza 16
(334) 244-1300

ARIZONA

SURPRISE
UltraStar Surprise Pointe 14
(623) 584-3880

ARKANSAS

LITTLE ROCK
Rave Colonel Glenn 18
(501) 687-0499

CALIFORNIA

APPLE VALLEY
UltraStar Apple Valley 14
(760) 240-9661
LIVERMORE
Cinema West 13 - Livermore
(925) 443-7403
MARTINEZ
Cinema West Contra Costa 8
click here for tickets
PETALUMA
Cinema West Boulevard Cinemas 12
(707) 762-0800
RIVERBANK
Galaxy 12 - Riverbank
(209) 863-9012
SAN DIEGO
UltraStar Del Mar Highlands 8
(858) 259-6619
TULARE
Galaxy 10 - Tulare
(559) 688-9006

COLORADO

COLORADO SPRINGS
Carmike Chapel Hills 15
(719) 531-5142
FORT COLLINS
Carmike 10
(970) 204-9654

FLORIDA

BRADENTON
Carmike Royal Palm 20
(941) 752-3796
FERNANDINA BEACH
Carmike Amelia Island 7
(904) 261-9867
MELBOURNE
Rave Avenue 16
(321) 775-1210
PENSACOLA
Rave Pensacola 18
(850) 475-2240
PORT ST LUCIE
Rave Port St Lucie 14
(772) 344-3580

GEORGIA

COLUMBUS
Carmike 15
(706) 571-0858
CONYERS
Carmike Conyers Crossroads 16
(770) 929-0612
SAVANNAH
Carmike Wynnsong 11
(912) 920-3994

ILLINOIS

CHAMPAIGN
Carmike Beverly Cinemas 18
(217) 359-4995 x4
DEKALB
Carmike Market Square 10
(815) 748-7887 x4
PEORIA
Rave Grand Prairie 18
(309) 282-7308

INDIANA

EVANSVILLE
Showplace East 18
(812) 479-9732
PLAINFIELD
Rave Metropolis 18
(317) 839-0525

IOWA

JOHNSTON
Carmike Wynnsong 16
(515) 331-3256

KANSAS

MANHATTAN
Carmike Seth Childs 12
(785) 776-9811

LOUISANA

BATON ROUGE
Rave Mall of Louisiana 15
(225) 769-5176

MICHIGAN

BRIGHTON
MJR Brighton Town Square 20
(810) 227-6327
GRAND RAPIDS
Celebration Cinema North
LANSING
NCG Eastwood Cinemas
(517) 272-9289
NOVI
Emagine Novi 18
(248) 468-2990 x1
SOUTHGATE
Southgate Cinema 20
(734) 284-8083
STERLING HEIGHTS
Marketplace Sterling Heights Cinemas 20
(586) 264-1533

MINNESOTA

OAKDALE
Carmike Oakdale 20
(651) 501-8411

MISSOURI

WARRENSBURG
Carmike University 8
(660) 429-4442

MONTANA

BILLINGS
Carmike Wynnsong 10
(406) 656-9717
MISSOULA
Carmike 10
(406) 541-7467

NEVADA

CARSON CITY
Galaxy Fandango 10
(775) 885-9500
LAS VEGAS
Rave Town Square 18
(702) 362-7283
NORTH LAS VEGAS
Galaxy Cannery 16
(702) 639-0363

NEW JERSEY

TOMS RIVER
Marquee Orchard 10
(732) 341-4966

NEW MEXICO

LAS CRUCES
Allen Telshor 12
(575) 522-4992

NEW YORK

BROOKLYN
Park Slope Pavilion 9
(718) 369-0836
NEW HARTFORD
Marquee Cinemas Orchard 14
(315) 768-3180
OLEAN
Carmike 8
(716) 373-6690

NORTH CAROLINA

ASHVILLE
Carmike 10
(828) 298-4885
FAYETTEVILLE
Carmike Market Fair 15
(910) 868-9791
HICKORY
Carmike 14
(828) 304-0089
JACKSONVILLE
Carmike 16
(910) 577-1382
RALEIGH
Marquee Wakefield 12
(919) 453-1003
WINSTON-SALEM
Carmike Wynnsong 12
(336) 765-1555

OHIO

COLUMBUS
Rave Polaris 18
(614) 781-8228
MENTOR
Great Lakes Stadium 16
(440) 352-8846
WEST CHESTER
Rave West Chester 18
(513) 463-2324

OKLAHOMA

STILLWATER
Carmike 10
(405) 372-0349

PENNSYLVANIA

CENTER VALLEY
Rave Promenade 16
(610) 709-8635
PITTSBURGH
Carmike 10
(412) 835-7074

SOUTH CAROLINA

CHARLESTON
Carmike James Island 8
(843) 762-4904

TENNESSEE

CHATTANOOGA
Rave East Ridge 18
(423) 855-9652
FRANKLIN
Carmike Thoroughbred 20
(615) 778-0775
JOHNSON CITY
Carmike Johnson City 14
(423) 929-7155
DYERSBURG
Carmike 9 - Dyersburg
(731) 285-8116
KNOXVILLE
Carmike Wynnsong 16
(865) 769-8115

TEXAS

AUSTIN
Galaxy Highland 10
(512) 467-6165
EDINBURG
Carmike 20
(956) 380-2032
EL PASO
Carmike 16
(915) 751-5613
FORT WORTH
Rave Ridgmar 13
(817) 566-0021
HOUSTON
Rave Yorktown 15
(832) 427-1540
HURST
Rave North East Mall 18
(817) 591-8540
TYLER
Carmike 14
(903) 939-8149

UTAH

PROVO
Carmike Wynnsong 12
(801) 764-9345

VIRGINIA

CHARLOTTESVILLE
Carmike 6
(434) 973-5972
FREDERICKSBURG
Southpoint 9
(540) 710-1069
ROANOKE
Carmike 10
(540) 725-5341

WASHINGTON

GIG HARBOR
Galaxy Uptown 10
(253) 851-8300

WEST VIRGINIA

CHARLESTON
Marquee Southridge 12
(304) 746-9900

I'm still enjoying what the MLB Network is trying to put together, at every turn, and today is no different as they released the details and photos of their New Jersey studios. The network will have two separate spaces and will dedicate one to Babe Ruth, by naming it Studio 3, and one have one called Studio 42 after Jackie Robinson. On top of that

SECAUCUS, N.J. – MLB Network today unveiled the designs and set details of the two studios at its Secaucus, NJ headquarters. Named to honor Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, “Studio 3” and “Studio 42” total 15,200 square feet, including 9,600 square feet for Studio 42 alone. Every video display in both studios will be fully native HD, as will all video produced at the studios. MLB Network will launch on January 1, 2009, in approximately 50 million homes as the largest network debut in cable history.

Studio 3 will be the primary home of the live nightly studio show, MLB Tonight. Measuring 5,600 square feet, Studio 3 features 62 video displays, including a 30x7-foot rear projection screen, 108” and 103” monitors, as well as a Perceptive Pixel touch screen display, which will allow MLB Network personalities to interact with and change graphics and images on-screen. The studio will feature a desk that can rotate to various stations and includes six distinct broadcast areas, including a balcony, stat center, and interview area. The ceiling is ringed by backlit logos of all 30 MLB teams and the entire studio features lighting that can be altered to give it the feel of day or night.

Studio 42 measures 9,600 square feet, and will be used as a demonstration center by MLB Network’s on-air talent, which includes former players Al Leiter, Joe Magrane and Harold Reynolds. Studio 42 is designed to be a replica baseball field, featuring a half-scale infield made of field turf, measuring 45 feet from base to base and a pitcher’s mound 30 feet from home plate that can be moved back for more realistic demonstrations. The studio also features a replica outfield wall, complete with padding, brick designs, three different seating areas that can hold up to 173 people, and a 25-foot out-of-town scoreboard loosely modeled after the scoreboard at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia that will be updated in real-time.

Sounds fancy right? Well it looks even more spectacular in these photos that they released with the descriptions of both....


Pretty, huh? The network is still looking launch on January 1st, and to about 50 million homes. They are also saying that the debut will be the largest in "cable television history and will be broadcast to more than 20 million homes than the previous high. The rumor is that they'll also be trying to acquire rights to Thursday night games, so they wouldn't be up against any other national broadcasts, and they would use studio analysts as announcers (the previous spot was said to be Saturdays).