Sony, Game Creek Video Come Up Big for Fox at All-Star Game

A massive production like Fox Sports’ MLB All-Star Game show is always chalked full of the most cutting-edge technology and high-end production facilities available – and this year at Citi Field in Queens, NY was no different. Sony and Game Creek Video once again helped lead the charge for Fox this earlier this week, combining to supply an army of mobile units, cameras, and other gear for the highly-rated All-Star telecast.

“We had a great show,” says Jerry Steinberg, SVP, Field Operations and Engineering. “Our signature elements – audio and high-speed photography – were awesome. We have continued to push the envelope for high-speed photography and that technology allows you televise dramatic moments in a way that would not be possible otherwise…and I’m really proud of it. When you have a play like [Prince Fielder’s sliding triple at third base] at high-speed and with the [enhanced] audio, those are the moments you remember about the All-Star Game.”

Sony Cameras Ubiquitous at Citi
Sony was once again all over the All-Star festivities, supplying nearly every camera in site at Citi Field. The substantial Sony camera complement on-site, including more than two dozen Sony HDC-1500 cameras for mobile-unit provider Game Creek Video and Fox Sports.

“Our entire fleet is Sony cameras, including the Fox truck,” says Jason Taubman, VP, design/new technology, Game Creek Video. “We purchased our first round of [Sony HDC-1500 cameras] in 2003-2004 and they have been a total workhorse for us. We own over 200 of them now. We are continuing to buy the follow-on, which is the Sony HDC-2500, and we don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t continue to purchase those cameras in the future.”

Steinberg adds: “We use all Sony [cameras] and it’s been that way for a long time. The only thing out there that are not Sony cameras are the specialty cameras.  We’re very happy with [the Sony cameras].”

In addition to Fox’s coverage of the Game itself, Sony cameras from NEP’s SS-25 mobile unit provided the primary coverage for ESPN’s Home Run Derby telecast on Monday.

“Sony is used to being on the big stage – everything from the Academy Awards to the Grammys to the Super Bowl to the All-Star Game,” says John Studdert, VP, end-user sales, Sony Electronics Professional Solutions Division. “I can’t think of a major event that was produced over the last few years that didn’t have Sony HDC cameras. I think the big story would actually be if Sony was not there. And we were everywhere once again [at All-Star] – basically every single HD camera was a Sony camera.”

Game Creek Fox Trucks Back in the All-Star Saddle
Game Creek’s robust quartet of Fox trucks were once again on-hand to serve as the home of Fox’s All-Star production. These A, B, C, and D units have been the network’s home base for every major Fox Sports production in recent memory, including All-Star Games, Daytona 500’s, and Super Bowls, among others.

“The Fox trucks just take a show like this in stride; big shows are just what they do,” says Taubman. “The All-Star Game is an enormous show, for sure, but they are well equipped for it and it doesn’t really phase them. The fox truck is prepared to handle a show like this without a whole lot of modification.”

The A truck is the hardware truck with all of the audio, replay, video, and core engineering going on inside. The B unit has graphics, production, and the ChyronHego AKI Paint system. The D unit, meanwhile, is equipped with two pre-game Final Cut edit systems and a fifth video position for operators shading robo cameras.

“They are as modern and current as anything that is one the road today,” says Steinberg. “And that is true even after them being on the road for a few years.”