Live From MLB All-Star 2021: MLB Network Brings MLB Draft to Denver With Onsite Operations, Remote Support in Secaucus BitFire Networks is providing feeds of at-home draftees, team executives By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor
Sunday, July 11, 2021 - 10:54 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Since its debut in 2009, MLB Network's broadcast center in Secaucus, NJ has served as the home of the MLB Draft. After a trying year that saw the league's inaugural virtual Draft, MLB Network is celebrating the first-ever production of this event during All-Star festivities within a packed onsite production truck, remote workflows from multiple control rooms back at headquarters, and remote video feeds from individuals that are enjoying this noteworthy achievement away from Denver's Bellco Theatre.
We've been going on surveys every year for the past six-to-seven years in anticipation of one day doing this onsite, so we're really thrilled that we can finally see the fruits of everybody's labor, says Susan Stone, SVP, operations and engineering, MLB Network. We think it's a great opportunity to further showcase this event.
Away From Secaucus: Shift in Venue Calls for Thorough Planning, Game Creek Video Mobile Unit (From left): SVP, Production Marc Caiafa; Tom Guidice; Coordinating Producer Marc Weiner; Director, Remote Operations Brooke Berger; Remote Technical Manager Zaac Christopher; Susan Stone.
From the onset, this event was originally slated to be held in Atlanta, but when the league decided to move away from Atlanta in favor of Colorado's biggest city, the team began finalizing plans for the move. Onsite surveys were conducted in Denver as recent as May and June of this year to understand the current layout. Nestled about a mile away from Coors Field inside of the Colorado Convention Center, the Bellco Theatre will introduce the next great wave of professional baseball talent to fans around the nation.
Outside of the Colorado Convention Center, MLB Network's onsite crew will be working out of the A and B units of Game Creek Video's Glory production truck. This team will have control of the 10-camera show (two hard cameras, two jibs, two RF handhelds, and a quartet of Marshall POVs). For Day 2 and 3, when the Draft is moved over to the nearby Rally Hotel, Game Creek Video's Nitro will play a vital part for those rounds.
Back on the East Coast: Headquarters Handles Replay, Graphics, and Remote Feeds Although a lot of the headlines will focus on the efforts of Stone and Company in Denver, the crews working back in New Jersey will be more than busy by facilitating a handful of resources for the linear broadcast. From a logistical standpoint, some of these video assets would be an extremely heavy lift to reconstruct onsite in Colorado.
We'll be going back to New Jersey for remote player cams, graphics packages, player rollouts, and other elements like that, says Jason Hedgcock, senior director, remote technical operations, MLB Network. All of those things is a firepower that's hard to replicate [onsite], so it'll help our show quite a bit.
The main stage of the 2021 MLB Draft.
The most familiar aspect coming from New Jersey will be those remote feeds that was also used during the completely remote show last year. BitFire Networks will once again provide 45 total camera feeds, including 15 prospects residing from their respective locations and general managers and other executives sitting in war rooms of all 30 clubs. These remote feeds and video from six of MLB Network's cameras will also be given to ESPN's onsite production of the Draft.
We worked with them last year for the virtual draft and had a really good experience, adds Stone. It was great because it led into the season during the pandemic where we had to partner more closely with all of the other broadcasters.
In addition to the role of Game Creek Video's Nitro truck, the crew back in Secaucus will be the main cog of the machine for Days 2 and 3.
Day 2 and 3 will be a direct REMI, so we'll send back cameras with individual mic sources, adds Hedgcock. [The offsite team] will use one of the overdrive rooms in New Jersey to composite that show.
Physical Elements: Bellco Theatre Features Impressive Stage, Full Studio Setup MLB Network will have a studio set inside the Bellco Theatre.
With a bigger footprint inside of Bellco Theatre, MLB Network and the league constructed an attractive physical stage for those draftees in attendance to experience this unforgettable moment with Commissioner Rob Manfred. Similar to last year, this interactive screen will update the most recent draft selection and bring in reactions of the remote prospects watching from home.
One of the other crown jewels inside of the space includes a complete studio desk that will host a number of voices that will react and analyze each pick. Located at the set, Greg Amsinger, Dan O'Dowd, Harold Reynolds, and Vanderbilt head baseball coach Tim Corbin will be located just off of the stage's exit on an elevated platform. They will host live interviews with these newly minted pro athletes right after their selection. Lauren Gardner, Baseball America's Carlos Collazo, and MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo will also break down the night's action from other locations in the Colorado Convention Center.
A Tentpole Event: MLB Network Showcases Technical Expertise With First Onsite Draft One of the biggest lessons learned from last year's MLB Draft was the fact that MLB Network was able to produce a stellar show remotely from Secaucus. The team is now gravitating towards a more traditional setup in the sense of having individuals back in the compound, but this is one of their first shows that will embrace a true hybrid model. Like
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Live From MLB All-Star 2021: MLB Network Brings MLB Draft to Denver With Onsite Operations, Remote Support in Secaucus BitFire Networks is providing feeds of at-home draftees, team executives By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor 
