Broadcast Team: Honest Question

[Saul_T]

I believe it was during the NIT Classic that Fran was talking to his partner about being in Ames for the Cy-Hawk game. I remember he talked about taking his partner to Wallabies, etc. They must have decided to pull the plug on being on-site after that.

Clarification, broadcast partner. You made me do a real quick Google search on this one.

 

[theshadow]

It'd be nice if they had regional crews who worked the midwest. The production level of ESPN is atrocious compared to FoxSports, NBC, CBS. It's pretty clear to me ESPN has reached the point where they don't really care because they know they're the only place you can consume this entertainment. Don't like watching Iowa/ISU on ESPN, go watch it someplace else. Oh, you cant? Tough luck, bud.

Fox/FS1 are also in the remote broadcast business. The Creighton game, for example.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Having the production staff off-site, in a studio somewhere in Orlando, Charlotte, or Bristol, means the same people can do multiple games in one day, depending on the schedule. It also reduces overall staff need, plus not paying for travel/lodging for 25+ people per game. Same theory for the announcers -- if they're at home, they can do a game every night with no expenses.

The people who are on-site for these productions are almost entirely local, so there's no money spent for flights or hotels.

I totally get it for the ESPN+ stuff, that's how the Valley's agreement with ESPN has worked for years, but for the stuff on main networks, it's an absolute shame that they're relying on local folks and students. Not that they're not qualified, its just that shooting basketball games isn't their full time job so the quality just isn't going to be the same.

 

[BCClone]

Honestly if they are going to do that, they need to go Peyton and Eli on the broadcast and literally make it two guys just hanging and watching the broadcast.

I saw 3 minutes of that, that was awful. I thought that was the actual regular broadcast. Turned it as soon as I found out what it was.

 

[theshadow]

I totally get it for the ESPN+ stuff, that's how the Valley's agreement with ESPN has worked for years, but for the stuff on main networks, it's an absolute shame that they're relying on local folks and students. Not that they're not qualified, its just that shooting basketball games isn't their full time job so the quality just isn't going to be the same.

There are no students involved.

The camera operators I see have each been in the business for at least 25 years. They're almost always local hires -- it's the same people shooting at games in Ames, Des Moines, Cedar Falls, and Iowa City, no matter if it's ESPN, Fox, Mediacom, or even Iowa PBS.

 

[Saul_T]

Fox/FS1 are also in the remote broadcast business. The Creighton game, for example.

Right, but their production is so much better. Better cameras, better audio. It's just a better experience.

 

[Aduhbolu15]

Because people know Fran nation wide.

 

[JM4CY]

Right, but their production is so much better. Better cameras, better audio. It's just a better experience.

The crowd noise for the Creighton game sounded like the game was played in a sea shell.

 

[Three4Cy]

Disappointed they weren't in person, but it's great to be good enough to have Fran back on the beat! It shows how bad the end of the Prohm era was since he can't seem to pull THT or TH references out. Obviously, he hasn't had time to think about ISU bball the last few years.

Yet, the game on ESPN2 before us had three ESPN announcers at the game. ESPN obviously felt a women's game between UCONN and Georgia Tech was more worthy of in-person announcers.

 

[cytor]

ESPN can go **** themselves. The Hilton is truly a legendary special place. If they choose not to show up, lets go with a crew that will.

FWIW... I am guessing the 2 commentators probably wished they could have been there. They knew how electric it was going to be.

 

[AgronAlum]

Something must have happened recently where ESPN pulled them back. I’m pretty sure when he was calling the tournament Fran said they’d be in town for the game.

 

[Rural]

The pandemic probably put the remote stuff in for good.

 

[theshadow]

The pandemic probably put the remote stuff in for good.

It was in, to varying degrees, well before that.

 

[cyfan92]

The pandemic probably put the remote stuff in for good.

I bet that has something to do with it. May also be the winter storm coming. ESPN not wanting to risk talent getting stuck in Ames and not being able to call a game remotely.

Can we just get Fran an apartment in Ames from November to March so he can call all of our games??

 

[Morty52]

I would recommend Varsity app for audio. You get John and Heft for everything. Not sure how bad the delay is, but I've enjoyed it very much.

Use the Varsity App and your DVR. Last night, The varsity app was about 26 seconds behind the live broadcast. Step #2 is to DVR the game and play it back as it records. It is easy to sync the game to the radio. It works extremely well. We always listen to John and Eric. and watch the game. as close to live as possible.

 

[Saul_T]

Something must have happened recently where ESPN pulled them back. I’m pretty sure when he was calling the tournament Fran said they’d be in town for the game.

I'm $ure it'$ $omething

 

[NickTheGreat]

No disrespect to Blum or anybody else. But I love Fran F and would like him to do every one of our games.

 

[IcSyU]

Could be something as simple as Fran is in quarantine.

I could be wrong but I believe on some of this stuff the equipment is the same no matter who is broadcasting the game. I think ISU has the cameras and gives the feed to Fox/ESPN/etc.