With the addition of a new state-of-the-art mobile production truck, SNY will look to showcase more Amazin’ telecasts for New York Mets fans during the 2014 season.
Custom-designed by Game Creek Video, LLC, the mobile production unit, sporting the Amazin moniker, is set to deliver more enhanced video and audio quality to SNY’s New Yokr Mets telecasts. The unit, which will help the production team create superior slow-motion shots and on-screen visual effects, will be in play for all of the team’s home telecasts from Citi Field, as well as a significant portion of its road games. SNY previously worked with a NEP truck.
Curt Gowdy Jr., senior vice president of production and executive producer at SNY, said the network has always aspired to presenting national-level quality production to the network overall and Mets games in particular.
“It was time for enhancements,” said Gowdy. “With the new vendor truck from Game Creek, we’re excited that we’ll be able to produce even better telecasts.”
The multimillion dollar unit made its debut on another of the RSN’s key properties: a UConn Huskies women’s basketball game against the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 20.
Gowdy said crew has been getting familiarized with the set-up during spring-training telecasts in Port Saint Lucie, Fla., but noted there aren’t as many cameras and microphones deployed during Grapefruit League action. The 53-foot, double expando truck Amazin’ is set for its regular-season bow at Citi Field on March 31, when the Mets meet the Washington Nationals.
He said “viewers are going to notice better picture quality overall and richer graphics packages,” adding that improved slow-motion cameras, systems and technology will come to bear on the TV screen.
Ten Sony HDC 2500 cameras are in the lineup and the truck will integrate Ikegami/NAC Hi Motion II ultra-slo-mo system for all games, as well as an Inertia Unlimited X-Mo ultra-slo-mo system for home contests.
“You’re going to see the grimace on the players’ faces and the bend of the bat when it meets the ball,” Gowdy said.
The telecasts and fans will also benefit from camera positions at low angles down near the dugouts and high along the foul lines, which will supply better views of trajectory of balls hit into the outfield.
Gowdy said that in traveling around the different MLB ballparks, there are “always great viewing experience wherever we go,” but Citi Field represents a techical home field of advantage. “The lighting at Citi Field is exceptional. We worked very closely with [Mets COO and Sterling Enterprises executive vice president] Jeff Wilpon when the ballpark was being built to get superior camera positions.”
Viewers of SNY, which is owned by Sterling Enterprises, Time Warner Cable and Comcast/NBC Sports Group, this season will also witness a new Ralph Kiner broadcast booth during this season’s telecasts from Citi Field. “We gutted the old set, and installed new LED lighting,” Gowdy explained. “There is a new 50-inch plasma TV screen and a collage of key moments from Mets history.”
Asked if that means there will be visual amelioration for the announce team of Gary Cohn, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez, Gowdy quipped: “They better look better.”
