BROADCASTING & CABLE's Ben Grossman wrote Fox Soccer Channel “did exactly what a network should do" with the Chelsea-Barcelona UEFA Champions League semifinal match, it "stayed the hell out of its way.” Grossman: "There were no bells and whistles in the Fox telecast. No fancy experimental technologies. No kitschy taped packages with celebs that demeaned the importance of the event.” The studio shows surrounding the game featured four people “who know what they are talking about,” and the in-game commentary “worked, perfectly.” Grossman noted Fox should remember this strategy for when it “finally gets its hands on the World Cup down the road” (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 4/24).
REAL GOOD SITUATION: In Salt Lake City, Scott Pierce notes when MLS Real Salt Lake’s TV deal moved to sister stations KTVX-ABC and KUCW-CW, “the decision was made” to have announcers Bill Riley and Brian Dunseth also do the radio broadcasts. Whether fans are watching or listening, Riley and Dunseth “do a fine job of conveying what’s going on on the field." Pierce notes when he was unable to watch Saturday’s RSL-Earthquakes game live, he was able to listen to the radio broadcast and “at no point did it feel like what was happening was a mystery.” The New England Revolution, FC Dallas and Sporting K.C. also use a TV-radio simulcast (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 4/25).
GAME CHANGER: USA TODAY's Mike Snider reports the upcoming XBox 360 release of the "NBA Baller Beats" video game “adds a real basketball to the action.” The game, due this fall from Majesco, is the first announced title to “use the Kinect motion-sensing controller to follow an object beyond the player’s own body.” The game features all 30 NBA teams; their logos and color schemes “adorn the game setting” (USA TODAY, 4/25).
