Update on the MLB Network and their new Studios:
SECAUCUS, N.J. – MLB Network today unveiled the designs and set details of the two studios at its Secaucus, NJ headquarters. Named to honor Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, “Studio 3” and “Studio 42” total 15,200 square feet, including 9,600 square feet for Studio 42 alone. Every video display in both studios will be fully native HD, as will all video produced at the studios. MLB Network will launch on January 1, 2009, in approximately 50 million homes as the largest network debut in cable history.
Studio 3 will be the primary home of the live nightly studio show, MLB Tonight. Measuring 5,600 square feet, Studio 3 features 62 video displays, including a 30x7-foot rear projection screen, 108” and 103” monitors, as well as a Perceptive Pixel touch screen display, which will allow MLB Network personalities to interact with and change graphics and images on-screen. The studio will feature a desk that can rotate to various stations and includes six distinct broadcast areas, including a balcony, stat center, and interview area. The ceiling is ringed by backlit logos of all 30 MLB teams and the entire studio features lighting that can be altered to give it the feel of day or night.
Studio 42 measures 9,600 square feet, and will be used as a demonstration center by MLB Network’s on-air talent, which includes former players Al Leiter, Joe Magrane and Harold Reynolds. Studio 42 is designed to be a replica baseball field, featuring a half-scale infield made of field turf, measuring 45 feet from base to base and a pitcher’s mound 30 feet from home plate that can be moved back for more realistic demonstrations. The studio also features a replica outfield wall, complete with padding, brick designs, three different seating areas that can hold up to 173 people, and a 25-foot out-of-town scoreboard loosely modeled after the scoreboard at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia that will be updated in real-time.
Sounds fancy right? Well it looks even more spectacular in these photos that they released with the descriptions of both....
Pretty, huh? The network is still looking launch on January 1st, and to about 50 million homes. They are also saying that the debut will be the largest in "cable television history and will be broadcast to more than 20 million homes than the previous high. The rumor is that they'll also be trying to acquire rights to Thursday night games, so they wouldn't be up against any other national broadcasts, and they would use studio analysts as announcers (the previous spot was said to be Saturdays).
