With the Men’s Final Four set to tip off tomorrow at 6p, Turner Sports and CBS Sports will launch its Teamcasts during the semifinal matchups on TNT and truTV for the quartet of schools. Pregame coverage before TBS’ national telecasts begin at 3p, and Ernie Johnson hosts studio coverage with analysts Charles Barkley,Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith – joined by Greg Gumbel and analysts Reggie Miller, Seth Davis, Grant Hill, Doug Gottlieb and college coaches. Jim Nantz will then call the action with analysts Greg Anthony and Steve Kerr, along with reporter Tracy Wolfson.
Meanwhile, the 6p Florida Teamcast on TNT will see David Steele call the action with Mark Wise and reporter James Bates. Conversely, the Connecticut Teamcast on truTV features Eric Frede on the microphone with Conny Marshall and Swin Cash. Following that game, the Kentucky Teamcast on TNT will see Rob Bromley on play-by-play with Rex Chapman as analyst and Dave Baker. The Wisconsin-themed telecast has Wayne Larrivee calling the game with Mike Kelley.
Craig Barry, Senior Vice President, Production and Executive Creative Director at Turner Sports told Cynopsis Sports about what to expect tomorrow.
Barry on the ‘ Teamcast’ concept for the Final Four: The [Final Four] telecast on TBS is the national broadcast that we are all used to seeing each year. Teamcast is a concept where we will approach each broadcast with a particular team in mind to create a more energetic, team focused approach to the Final Four; the same high national quality with points of view slanted towards each individual team. That goes from announcers, graphics and replays to feature sets for halftime. We’re looking to create a really dynamic broadcast that will be interesting for people to watch.
On how the Final Four Teamcast will compare to the national broadcast: The A and B side of the Teamcast are not to mirror the national broadcast, nor are they to mirror each other. They are there to be a creative and innovative take on a unique and new way of producing an individual telecast of the Final Four.
On what will define the Teamcast broadcasts: There are three separate broadcast operations — Teamcast A and B, as well as the traditional broadcast. [Each broadcast has] their own talent, producers, directors, camera and tape. The product is going to be a product of the collective. It’s going to be defined by all the pieces of the broadcast and the overall execution for that team in that kind of innovative approach.
On the genesis of the Teamcast concept: In the partnership [with CBS] we are always looking to be more innovative, to collaborate and to create a better fan experience. There are so many different ways to extend coverage, whether it is on mobile or digitally. The germ of the idea came from Turner Sports COO Lenny Daniels. After he threw it out there, we all got in a room together and figured out a way to innovate on the linear side of the telecast. How could we create a better fan experience? That’s really where it stemmed from.
