ESPN Mega-Cast

[AB in DC]

Splitting this out from the College Football thread.
 
Finally, ESPN figures out how to leverage their multitude of channels.  For those of you who missed it:
- ESPN1 has the typical broadcast
- ESPN2 has "Film Room", a bunch of other coaches analyzing the game film _live_.
- ESPNU has a random group of ESPN personalities chatting about whatever they feel like (like a typical Super Bowl party where people don't really pay attention to the game, just kind of hang out)
- ESPNNews has something in between the last two, with retired football players and other analysts giving their own take
- ESPN Classic has live sounds of the game without commentary
- Plus online the usual bevy of alternate camera feeds, local radio broadcast, stats/social media feeds, etc.
 
More explanation here
 
My personal opinion is that this is the future of live sports broadcasting.  Finally we get alternative besides the lowest-common denominator of Joe Buck, Phil Simms, and other "professional" broadcasters who have become absolutely painful to listen to.  I'm enjoying the "Film Room" right now, but I'm sure other folks will prefer one of the other broadcast.  When you think about it, once you have the rights to the game itself, producing a few extra varieties of live commentary should be very inexpensive.  Why don't the broadcasters do this more often?
 
 

 

[steveluck7]

ESPNU:
Wilbon
Schlereth
Bilas
Melrose (currently checking his phone)
Julie Fowdy
Some guy i kinda recognize but can't put my finger on it  (edit: It's Aaron F***ING Boone. You'll forgive me for blocking that out)
 
my favorite part is hearing the audible crunch of chips when one of them is stuffing their face
 
edit: strike that, Wilbon talking with his mouth full is gripping TV
 
edit2: Julie Fowdy

 

[LeoCarrillo]

I swear I had this exact idea like 20 years ago and periodically have been boring my friends with it since. (Usually after suffering through boring announcers). 1. Standard broadcasters; 2. Smart Insider commentary for knowledgeable fans; and 3. A jokefest with guys like Adam Carolla.
 
Now it's come to be. About time. 

 

[glennhoffmania]

In theory this is a great idea.  What I hate about it is that it suggests that I should give a shit and tune in to hear what people like Wilbon and Schlereth think, as if their opinions are superior.  And they're not.

 

[steveluck7]

In theory this is a great idea.  What I hate about it is that it suggests that I should give a shit and tune in to hear what people like Wilbon and Schlereth think, as if their opinions are superior.  And they're not.

It's really not that bad. It's not analysis or anything. It's really 6 people BS-ing about the game. Just noise, no worse than PBP.

 

[glennhoffmania]

It's really not that bad. It's not analysis or anything. It's really 6 people BS-ing about the game. Just noise, no worse than PBP.

 
No I get that.  I'd just prefer to listen to the BSing of 6 people whose thoughts might be interesting and actually worth broadcasting.

 

[serotonin]

The film room deal is pretty intriguing.  It's the sort of thing that might reel me into a game I'm otherwise not interested in watching.  

 

[Silverdude2167]

 
No I get that.  I'd just prefer to listen to the BSing of 6 people whose thoughts might be interesting and actually worth broadcasting.

You don't think Schlereth is worth broadcasting? After he just said concussions are more prevalent in soccer and that he believes the CTE is due to genetics. His reasoning is because Ditka is sharp as a tack and he used to run into lots of things with his head.

 

[gtg807y]

The film room deal is pretty intriguing.  It's the sort of thing that might reel me into a game I'm otherwise not interested in watching.  

 
Film Room is excellent, it was great during last year's title game and is great this year. The coaches are basically calling Ohio State's offensive plays at this point. I just wish they would keep it live during commercials because a number of times it seems like they're about to get into an interesting conversation during the break, and then it cuts off.  

 

[patinorange]

ESPNU:
Wilbon
Schlereth
Bilas
Melrose (currently checking his phone)
Julie Fowdy
Some guy i kinda recognize but can't put my finger on it  (edit: It's Aaron F***ING Boone. You'll forgive me for blocking that out)
 
my favorite part is hearing the audible crunch of chips when one of them is stuffing their face
 
edit: strike that, Wilbon talking with his mouth full is gripping TV
 
edit2: Julie Fowdy

I watched a chunk of this and it was kind of fun.

 

[Sox and Rocks]

And now First Take has a live postgame show.  Can't believe people actually watch this crap

 

[THE Stolen Base]

Another vote for the film room broadcast.  It was interesting to hear what the coaches are thinking as the game goes on.

 

[Remagellan]

I hate split screens so I stayed away from the broadcasts that didn't show a full screen version of the game.  They should show a fullscreen All-22 view and then insert the coaches heads in bubbles if they feel it necessary to show them as they are making comments, or better yet, just throw up a graphic identifying which coach is speaking and then show the group during breaks in the game.  There is no reason to show a shot of guys in a room watching the game while game action is going on.  

 

[soxfan121]

I hate split screens so I stayed away from the broadcasts that didn't show a full screen version of the game.  They should show a fullscreen All-22 view and then insert the coaches heads in bubbles if they feel it necessary to show them as they are making comments, or better yet, just throw up a graphic identifying which coach is speaking and then show the group during breaks in the game.  There is no reason to show a shot of guys in a room watching the game while game action is going on.  

 
The split screen was essential as game action (in the left upper corner) continued to roll while the analysts were using the coaches clicker on a breakdown of the prior play. It was a couple seconds of overlap and if the next play wasn't worth watching, the coaches didn't cover it. 
 
There was an All-22 view/channel. There was a channel with the TV feed and field-level microphones - no commentators. There was a channel with non-football people shooting the shit. There was a channel with a WR & CB / OL & DL breaking down those matchups. And the coaches with the coaching film. 

This isn't a question of satisfying one discerning consumer; this was a concerted effort to appeal to multiple niches of viewers. Remagellan could have watched the angle he wanted. Personally, that coaches film breakdown was the best three hours of live football I've ever seen. The detail was off the charts good. There was something for everyone, even people who hate splitscreens

 

[Bosoxen]

I can't believe I forgot about this. I would have loved to watch the coaches' breakdown. Instead, I was treated to Brent Musberger telling me Cardale Jones' measurements about 250 times.
 
Apparently, having kids rots your brain.

 

[Remagellan]

 
The split screen was essential as game action (in the left upper corner) continued to roll while the analysts were using the coaches clicker on a breakdown of the prior play. It was a couple seconds of overlap and if the next play wasn't worth watching, the coaches didn't cover it. 
 
There was an All-22 view/channel. There was a channel with the TV feed and field-level microphones - no commentators. There was a channel with non-football people shooting the shit. There was a channel with a WR & CB / OL & DL breaking down those matchups. And the coaches with the coaching film. 

This isn't a question of satisfying one discerning consumer; this was a concerted effort to appeal to multiple niches of viewers. Remagellan could have watched the angle he wanted. Personally, that coaches film breakdown was the best three hours of live football I've ever seen. The detail was off the charts good. There was something for everyone, even people who hate splitscreens

 
 
I went through a number of them, but I didn't see the All 22 one.  
 
Maybe the coaches broadcast would be better if they ran the game with a slight delay.  Then they could do the stuff they did on the coaches clicker screen on the full screen during the replay.   Or maybe offer a full screen version of the coaches working the coaches clicker online without the other screen showing the live game action for those seeking a two screen experience that would dedicate the ongoing game broadcast to the television, and the coaches commentary/play breakdown to the computer/tablet screen.   
 
I would have liked to hear the information offered by the coaches, but I think when something is happening on the field, the broadcast should be focused on the field.