(Author’s note: Due to the Memorial Day holiday and upcoming District XI baseball championships, I am repeating an earlier blog from November, 2012)
As the RCN sports crew travels around from venue to venue, we, happily, hear from so many viewers. The compliments far outweigh the criticism and, most of the time, the criticism centers around not doing a particular team or a particular game. To me, that is really a backhanded compliment because it just means those fans want to see us televise their team. Every so often, an over-exuberant fan will come up and say, “You guys are just like ESPN!” Well, I am here to tell you we are not even close!!
In an article (“More Show Than Game” – Sept. 27) written for “Rolling Stone” magazine by David Amsden, he talks about observing an ESPN Monday Night Football broadcast of a New England-Philadelphia pre-season football game. The insights offered were astounding to me and, I anticipate will be for you, too. This preseason game had:
- 11 trucks transport the gear
- A crew of 200 (graphics, producers, assistants, statisticians, a sideline reporter, sound editors, mixers; the list goes on and on)
- 50 microphones
- 20 cameramen (31 cameras are used during the regular season)
- 216 monitors
That’s the staff – how about the cost:
- $15.2 billion for the rights through 2021
- That’s $111 million in rights fees per game
- Broken down even further, it costs $600,000 per minute
- Constantly introducing new and very expensive technology (ex: digital yard markers, Skycam)
In addition, staff (announcers, directors, the tech crew, etc) arrives Saturday. They spend one day with one team and one day with the other. Highlight packages are produced (about 20% used). Various storylines are discussed. Production meetings abound. On Saturday night, there is a production team-bonding activity. This particular week, all attended a Bruce Springsteen concert.
In comparison, when the RCN TV team does a Saturday afternoon college game, we have:
- 2 trucks
- A crew of 18
- 15 microphones
- 5 cameramen
- 30 monitors
The cost:
- Around $3000 per game, not counting equipment costs (but ESPN didn’t count that either)
- Rights fees in the hundreds of dollars
- Broken down even further, it costs @ $22 per minute
In addition, the announcers attend a press luncheon during the week to talk to one coach on the phone for around 10 minutes and talk to the other coach for about 15 minutes. The crew arrives the morning of the game to set up for the telecast. There is not much time (maybe lunch) for a team-bonding activity.
What do I conclude from this information?
- ESPN spends an astronomical amount of money to do the NFL games (no wonder the NFL will make $9.5 billion in profits this year).
- NBC, CBS and FOX all have similar NFL expenses and the competition to be the best produces terrific broadcasts.
- Despite this “apples to oranges “comparison, the RCN TV sports crew also aims every game to be the best they can be. From the director to holding the Big Ears and everything in between, we always strive for a quality broadcast – to be the best. From the many comments we receive, I do not think we disappoint. There is no question our mindset is “just like ESPN’s.”
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- The Nazareth curse hit Indianapolis again over the weekend. Sage Karam of Nazareth, who was in the spotlight all week prior to the race, did not even complete a lap. Takuma Sato took him out before the race began. And Marco Andretti, also of Nazareth, finished sixth, but never looked like he had a chance to win the race. I watch every year hoping a “local” will win the race. Mario Andretti won the race in 1969. No “local” since.
- Speaking of Sage Karam, he tweeted after the crash, “@TakumaSatoRacer thinking he can win the indy 500 in the first turn. Thanks man. I have some of your front wing when should I return it?”
- My football color analyst, Mike Joseph, told me on Friday that he read the entire 243-page Ted Wells report on “Deflategate”. He said there is no doubt in his mind that Brady is guilty. Perhaps Bill Belichick feels the same way. He has yet to come out in support of his quarterback.
- American Pharoah, the horse who won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, was sold for breeding rights to Ahmed Zayat this past week. There is speculation that the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, will be the career finale for the horse.
- Did you see LeBron James’ numbers for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals: 37 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists? It was his sixth 30-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist game in playoff history.
