I watched the Fri/Sun games on the MTN (really need to pony up for HD cameras)
Watching a TCU baseball game on the MTN is a painful and frustrating experience because it's such a horrible technical production. Granted, the production is run by FTDM students who are still learning their craft, but the cardinal rule they should be taught above all else is to allow the viewers to see the game. I mean, that's the whole point of the broadcast -- not to practice artsy tight shots and camera cuts that mask the action on the field and leave the viewer wondering what is happening.
On Sunday, I lost count of the number of times we saw the following:
- Random crowd or dugout shots that extended through game play. We could hear that something was happening on the field, but had no idea what because the production crew was so intent on showing us those fascinating crowd and dugout shots.
- Tight shot of of pitcher delivering the pitch but no camera cut to the plate or the field to show the results of the pitch. To figure out what was happening, we either had to interpret the pitcher's reaction as he watched the play unfold or wait for LaMendola to fill us in. Because we sure as heck didn't get to actually see the play.
- On a few occasions, as soon as the pitcher delivered the pitch, the production crew did cut from a tight shot of the pitcher to another shot -- but not a shot of the play, just another angle of the pitcher watching the play. Again, we have no idea what's happening. We just have to read the pitcher's reaction or wait for the word from LaMendola.
- Several times the camera guys just lost track of the ball and focused on some part of the field other than where the play was actually occurring. This happens on rare occasions even with experienced, professional crews, but not 4-5 times in a single broadcast.
When med students learn the Hippocratic Oath, the primal rule they are taught is, "First, do no harm." The equivalent for FTDM students should be, "First, don't obscure the game." The most important thing is to get the game on the viewer's screens. Once you've accomplished that, then you can have fun with all the fancy stuff. But if you can't even deliver the game, all the fancy stuff is pointless.