SportsNet N.Y.'s first "limited commercial interruption telecast" will occur this week with the Brewers-Mets' game Thursday. Verizon bought the presenting sponsorship around Thursday's game, which SNY is calling "Mets+," for an undisclosed amount. Instead of commercial breaks, SNY plans to fill time with highlights, interviews, taped segments and analysis. The only commercials will be three 30-second Verizon spots, plus a number of local ads that distributors sell into each telecast. "We're always trying to be creative and do something fresh and different," SNY Senior VP/Production & Exec Producer Curt Gowdy Jr. "We found a partner that allowed us to expand our in-game content." SNY has plans for at least one more limited commercial game this season for which Citi bought the presenting sponsorship for the July 10 Braves-Mets game. The RSN's execs said they hope this is the beginning of a trend because limiting the commercial breaks allows producers to tell stories more easily and helps keep viewers from channel surfing away from the game. SNY Coordinating Producer Gregg Picker said, "Because of the length of games, we know many viewers are in-and-out of telecasts. This affords us a chance to keep viewers engaged." On Thursday, SNY will use reporter Kevin Burkhardt during much of the time when commercials normally would run. Burkhardt plans to conduct in-game interviews with coaches and players from the clubhouse, dugout and bullpen. Burkhardt also will wear a wireless microphone as he rakes the infield dirt with the Citi Field grounds crew. At other times during the time when the channel normally would be showing commercials, SNY will use its broadcast booth of Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen to analyze the game. It also will run taped segments like "Mets Memories" and player profiles. SNY also will show more highlights from around the league.
QUANTUM LEAP: Verizon will be pitching FiOS Quantum TV during the game and will have three traditional television spots run during the telecast. It also will highlight the "Quantum Ultimate Viewing Chair" inside the ballpark, where fans at the game can watch a 19-inch HD TV and surf the web.
