How the Proliferation of Official Video Replay Has Affected RSN Productions As MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS institute replay systems, RSN responsibilities have increased By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 1:56 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
For regional sports networks, maintaining a quality relationship with the leagues and teams for which they hold the rights is essential. Besides serving its primary local TV audience and fans on digital platforms, RSNs are called on by their league partners to serve a variety of needs. As Major League Baseball, NBA, NHL, and now MLS, have adopted official-video-review systems, RSNs have taken on the added load of delivering camera angles from their productions for replays.
[Official review] has had a significant impact on what the RSNs do - in a good way, said Jon Slobotkin, SVP, content and live programming, NBC Sports Regional Networks, at SVG's RSN Summit in June. All the leagues have done a really good job from a technology standpoint by introducing methods to make it easier from a production standpoint to turn their decisions around quickly.
NBA Replay Comes of Age With a Helping Hand From RSNs
The NBA launched its state-of-the-art NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, NJ, for the 2014-15 season and has continued to cultivate its official-review workflow.
We think [official review] is going great, said David Denenberg, SVP, global media distribution and business affairs, NBA Entertainment. It's a work in progress, but we reduced the time from headset on to headset off to 30 seconds this past season. That is [partially thanks] to the RSNs, who have been great.
MLS's Larry Tiscornia (right) speaks at the RSN Summit as NBC Sports Regional Networks' Jon Slobotkin looks on.
We built a system where we have seven camera feeds coming into [the Replay Center in] Secaucus, NJ, he continued. But sometimes that's not enough, and we need a different angle, and the RSN has it. The cooperation between the leagues and the RSN has allowed that to happen. There have been times when a play has been decided from one angle that [the RSN] has captured with one of their own cameras.
Denenberg added that the NBA makes, SVP, Replay and Referee Operations, Joe Borgia available for live pre/postgame interviews at the Replay Center to NBA TV and other outlets. He believes this could be valuable content for RSNs to use in the future.
The NBA has also allowed RSNs to take a live feed of officials reviewing a replay and integrate it into the telecast, creating a new level of transparency for fans.
Credit to the NBA for being completely transparent with the way their replay process works. They allow viewers at home to see exactly what the referees are looking at, so there is no confusion as to how the decisions are being determined, says Slobotkin. And to the credit of NBA, NHL, and MLB, they have been excellent in taking feedback regarding how the process works in reality. There has never been a shortage of attention to try to make that better. I think it's moved light-years ahead in the last few years.
MLS Hops Aboard the Video-Review Bandwagon
At long last, video review has arrived in soccer. An official-video-review system was used at the FIFA Confederations Cup earlier this summer (although some controversy brought into question FIFA's stated plans to institute it for the 2018 World Cup). The MLS became the first domestic league to use video review on every game when it launched its Hawk-Eye-based Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following the MLS All-Star Game on Aug. 5.
It's been a long haul, but finally the governing bodies agreed to pursue , said MLS VP, Broadcasting, Larry Tiscornia at the RSN Summit prior to the launch of the VAR system. From the [national and regional] networks, the No. 1 concern is how will it affect the length of the game? One thing about MLS is, there is a clock and it doesn't stop, so we fit nice into a two-hour window. Will Video Assistant Referee extend us past that programming window?
From left: NBA Entertainment's David Denenberg, MLB's Bernadette McDonald, NBC Sports Regional Networks' Jon Slobotkin
The MLS is focused on not slowing the pace of the game -and thereby extending beyond the two-hour programming window - as a result of VAR. The system, which serves as the fifth referee, alerts the head referee to potential clear and obvious errors in four match-changing events: goals, penalty kicks, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. Only the head referee can initiate a video review, making the video-review signal (TV-box sign). If video evidence is inconclusive, the original on-field decision stands. The final decision always rests with the head referee.
There is so much we are doing behind the scenes, and it doesn't work without the cooperation of the local and national productions, said Tiscornia. So, over the last few months, we have been working with the local and national broadcasters [regarding] what the expectations are onsite. We are going into each venue and patching in their cameras. Hawk-Eye does all the replays with another official there. It's going to be a game-changer for us.
MLB Replay Continues To Evolve
Since MLB launched the manager-challenge system for its video-review process in 2014, it has become a key element in not only how the game is managed but how fans watch. New rules this season include a 30-second window for managers to challenge and a two-minute guideline for replay officials to make a call on a review.
For replay, there are a lot of different pieces. It's a phenomenal setup in New York, and it's an elaborate process, said Bernadette McDonald, SVP, broadcast operations, MLB. I think pace of game is always a concern. This year, the managers have to indicate quicker when t
Most recent headlines
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...
14/02/2025
Stay Tuned to SVG for Live Coverage From NBA All-Star 2025 in San Francisco This...
14/02/2025
ESPN's College GameDay Pulls Double Duty With Back-to-Back Shows at Auburn o...
14/02/2025
At ICG, we love helping brands tell their stories in meaningful and impactful ways.
Towards the end of 2024 we worked with long-standing client Sunbelt Rental...
How the Proliferation of Official Video Replay Has Affected RSN Productions As MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS institute replay systems, RSN responsibilities have increased By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
