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Between The Glass Reporters Part Of The Action
by Paul on 05/13/09 at 01:11 PM ET
Comments (10)
from Bruce Dowbiggin of the Globe and Mail,
His Capitals were barely staving off Pittsburgh in Monday’s Game Six overtime struggle. Washington coach Bruce Boudreau suddenly found a TSN microphone jabbed under his chin during a break in the play.
Why is Pittsburgh playing so hard? asked Pierre McGuire.
“They are simply playing their asses off, because they don’t want to go back to Washington,” said an agitated Boudreau, caught up in the emotion of the teams trading leads back and forth.
It was sideline reporting at its most immediate, a jolt of energy that no analyst embedded in a booth high above the ice could ever get. It was also vindication of the broadcasting practice of placing a reporter in between the player benches during the game. Pioneered by Leafs TV and readily adopted by TSN and NBC, ice-level reportage has become a staple of hockey broadcasting in many areas.
“It’s a great innovation,” former TSN president Keith Pelley, now director of broadcasting for the Vancouver Olympics…
Filed in: NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
I hate the ice-level analyst
I thank the hockey gods,
every game,
for the mute button.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 05/13/09 at 02:35 PM ET
HockeyTownTodd: For the games on NBC, if you have HD and a Dolby Digital 5.1 receiver (and if your NBC affiliate carries the DD5.1 signal, which most do), then you can simply unplug the center channel. You get to keep the on-ice audio, the crowd, and the public address announcer. Gone are the commentators, for better or for worse… This is an awesome “trick” that I “figured out” during NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Everyone should try it once. It’s like you’re actually there! 
Posted by GregAnnapolis on 05/13/09 at 03:06 PM ET
Thanks Greg, I expect to have those capabilities soon.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 05/13/09 at 03:14 PM ET
I find that the between the glass reporting is just about as useful as the sideline reporting at a football game- occasionally interesting but mostly annoying.
GregAnnapolis- Dude, if this actually works, you are a GOD. I think it was the NHL network that used to do this “sounds of the game” whereby the announcers would shut up for a few minutes during gameplay. It was glorious as you felt like you were at the game.
Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 05/13/09 at 03:20 PM ET
UMFan: I hang around on some audio/video forums, and the guy that does the audio for NBC Sports also hangs around said forums. His name is Wendel, and he does an awesome job of making sure that each speaker is doing exactly what it’s supposed to—and nothing more. So you have commentator audio in the center channel, on-ice audio in the front left and front right, and crowd/ambiance/PA in the rear left and rear right. Want more crowd audio or want to really hear the boards thump? Want to quiet or silence the commentating crew? Adjust the balance to your liking!
It’s a little weird during instant replays because there’s usually accompanying commentary, but other than that it’s a lot like being there. Note that this “trick” only works with a true DD5.1 feed that was done by a good audio engineer. Some other channels (like Versus and ESPN) do not do true DD5.1 last time I checked. I believe ESPN uses Circle Surround, which is a simulated 5.1 carried in a signal marked 5.1, and Versus uses regular old stereo carried in a signal marked 5.1. Most NBC affiliates (with one notable exception being WBAL in Baltimore MD). This may have changed, but that’s what I remember from the last time I checked. Glad this is useful to someone!
Posted by GregAnnapolis on 05/13/09 at 03:47 PM ET
That is fascinating information, Greg. I cannot make use of it, yet, but I really enjoyed reading a bit about how they engineer sound for the games. 
Posted by shanetx on 05/13/09 at 04:02 PM ET
The novelty was interesting at first, but it’s worn off already.
I wish they’d stop with the analysts between benches.
Posted by Primis on 05/13/09 at 04:04 PM ET
Great innovation??? It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. Do you really think any coach or player in the heat of the action is going to tell you ANYTHING??? No way. All you will ever get are the same old lines, “We need to keep up the pressure” “We need to get the puck in deep” “We need to get the puck on the net” blah blah blah.
I only hope one of these days, someone takes his mic and shoves it down his throat. Now THAT would be exciting.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 05/13/09 at 04:25 PM ET
it was a great idea after lockout but now its pointless and waste of air time. what are you going to get out of these interviews? nothing.
Posted by FlyersFan on 05/13/09 at 08:48 PM ET
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I wasn’t between the benches, and I could have told him that Pittsburgh was playing so hard because they wanted to win the game. Duh. I hate the ice-level analyst - I don’t doubt that they can see more at that level, but that doesn’t mean they are adept at communicating it to the listeners. Too often it’s just a lot more chatter over the action.
Although I am waiting for someone to have to go to the hospital because he asked a coach a question when he was trying to concentrate on his job, he snapped, and inserted the entire mic in one of the reporter’s orifices.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/13/09 at 01:54 PM ET