The Coyotes will forego the "traditional game [TV]
camera that provides a distant, but panoramic view," and
instead use three "robotic cameras mounted two feet above
the glass" for the TV production of their game Saturday
night against the Blackhawks on KASW-WB, according to Tim
Tyers of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The cameras will be mounted
at mid-ice and at each end of the ice. Team VP/Broadcasting
Mark Hulsey: "The complaints we often get about televised
hockey is that the game camera is so far way, it's difficult
to follow the puck. ... If all goes well, we might be able
to capture the speed and grace of the game that you can't
capture with a regular game camera. Viewers will see the
players coming right at them." While ice-level cameras have
been used before, Hulsey said Saturday's telecast will mark
the first time an entire game will be seen at ice level.
Fans will be able offer their opinion of the telecast by
voting on the team's Web site or by calling special phone
numbers. Results will be given each time the telecast
returns from a commercial (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/17).
ENHANCED EXPERIENCE: NEWSDAY's Rita Ciolli examined
"Enhanced TV," the "heavily promoted experiment in
interactive entertainment" by Disney, ABC/ESPN and Infoseek.
The feature is available during ESPN's Sunday night NFL
telecasts and on ABC's "MNF." The "early sense from very
positive user surveys is that [Enhanced TV] can work and
have wide appeal." The "plan is to expand and customize it
to all types of live ABC programming" (NEWSDAY, 11/17).
