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MLB Likely To Prohibit Broadcasters From Traveling To Road Games

Broadcasters would call games from studios or their home ballparks when their teams play on the roadgetty images

MLB is preparing to "request that local television and radio broadcasters don't travel with their teams for road games" to open the '20 regular season as a "health precaution amid the coronavirus pandemic," according to Bruce Levine of WSCR-AM. Broadcasters "would call games from studios or the ballpark in their home cities when their teams play on the road." Sources said that local rightsholders have been "informed of the possibility," though "not all clubs have discussed the change of location with their broadcasters." The team hosting a game "would provide all the television and radio technical production for both sides." Normally, most clubs have "their own broadcast and production crews hired for away games" (670THESCORE.com, 6/4). 

SUBJECT TO CHANGE? An MLB official said that it is possible broadcasters will be "allowed to travel later in the season if health and safety protocols continue to trend positively." USA TODAY's Gabe Lacques notes it is "highly likely that announcers for nationally-televised games, such as Sunday Night Baseball, will call games remotely" (USA TODAY, 6/5). In Detroit, Tony Paul notes there has been "no word if MLB plans to limit other media for road games, such as print/internet" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/5). 

PRECAUTIONS ABOUND: In Philadelphia, Scott Lauber notes the decision to leave broadcasters at home "would be part of MLB’s plan to limit the size of each team’s traveling party even for road games that are within driving distance." By prohibiting radio and television announcers from traveling, MLB "would also enable better social distancing for home team broadcast crews, which could make use of both the home and visiting booths rather than cramming into a typically confined space." Lauber: "Calling games from off-site locations isn’t ideal. It can be done, though. ESPN has been doing almost daily remote telecasts of Korean Baseball Organization games since early May" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/5). Marquee Sports Cubs play-by-play announcer Len Kapser on MLB's plan said, "The best way to do the best telecast is to be there. I understand the health concerns, and ultimately it’s not going to be our decision. And I definitely don’t want to be a burden in terms of a traveling party, which will definitely be limited. In lieu of that, we’ll do everything we can to make it as comfortable and normal as we can" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/5). 

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