Already makes the coverage better with tonight’s game. Calling from studios is cheap and nasty and you can instantly tell it lacks atmosphere.
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There are also new graphics for this season
Seeing these are different to those seen in the NBL Blitz, it seems likely that the Blitz graphics will be the updated look for the NBL1
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2nd consecutive year that the graphics for the NBL has changed. I much prefer this to last seasons one. Shows the time outs & fouls throughout the match while last season graphics had it missing at times
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Unlikely; the NBL1 graphics are more likely to be those you saw at the Blitz.
There’s no reason why they couldn’t make a look-alike (like Sky NZ does with a different system) - but NBL1 is still state-league basketball, they aren’t going to make that level of effort.
My wording in the post was a little unclear, sorry. I meant what you have stated: that the Blitz graphics could be an updated look for the NBL1 broadcast.
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Liking the new graphics and commentary live from RAC Arena in Perth too, good to see.
Go the JJ’s! #defendtheisland #march
The Brisbane game was from studio but good to see that Perth game is from the arena.
Tasmania wearing yellow but their score graphic is white, thought default would be green for them but maybe broadcast thought they would wear white and that’s why the graphic is white?
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I’m not surprised by Perth - you’d be missing a LOT with the atmosphere at the Arena there.
Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s also a little bit of back-scratching between Eddie McG (whose company produces the TV content for the NBL) and Hutchy (who owns the Wildcats these days) on that, probably the other reason I’m not entirely surprised 
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Todays game in Adelaide was called from studio while the Melbourne game was from the arena.
John Casey was at the arena and since he is play by play they could of sent 2 analysts and could of called the game from the arena
He did side-line reporting not pbp
Yeah but he does play by play too, so I was saying all they had to do was send 2 analysts and could of called the game from the arena since the main caller would of been at the arena.
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Just have the replay of the Toy Story football cast (of the London JAX-ATL game) from this morning on…
It looked okay enough, albeit (perhaps understandably when trying to track so much) a touch buggy handling the on-field action, and perhaps because of the all-VR stuff, it felt a tiny bit more lifeless than I expected?
It’s difficult to not compare it to the Nickelodeon “slimecast” games that Paramount have done in the last couple of years of playoffs [opposite CBS regular coverage of course], and I kinda preferred that idea - certainly both are valid ways of getting the NFL “gospel” (cough) to the kids over there, but treating this like “almost ‘MNF but alternate-reality’” didn’t quite seem as fun an idea to me once I saw a half of it.
(Fair declaration that I’m not a Toy Story super-fan though, and there are plenty out there for Disney to play to!)
YouTube link to the NFL’s account showing highlights:
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The courtside reporter at John Cain today has a terrible voice, pain to listen to (sounds like she’s losing it as well, no surprise given she’s yelling when her interviewee is just talking).
EDIT: Just heard her not interviewing just analysing and her voice sounds fine, it’s just the screaming when she interviews.
Only noticed today that the NZ commentators for the NBL uses the old fashioned handheld mics and not the headphone mics
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Better audio quality despite being ‘old fashioned’ and some broadcasters prefer them.
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For a quick moving game like basketball I just found it interesting as they would have to hold it constantly, it’s not like cricket where there are always breaks in play etc
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ESPN launches ‘Around the Wicket’ featuring former Australian captain Michael Clarke and other cricket legends
Former Australian Cricket captains Michael Clarke and Aaron Finch lead a stellar list of cricketing greats as part of ‘Around the Wicket’ – a brand new cricket program, coming to ESPN on Wednesday December 13.
The program is a multi-platform extension of ESPNCricinfo in the Australian and New Zealand markets and will super serve cricket fans with absorbing insights and analysis from some of the biggest names to have played the game.
Hosted by accomplished sports journalist Neroli Meadows, Around the Wicket will break down the big matches and hot topics of the Australian summer of cricket, with a rotating cast of cricketing legends including Michael Clarke, Aaron Finch, Mike Hussey, Callum Ferguson, David Hussey and ESPN CricInfo’s Alex Malcolm joining as ESPN Cricket Insider.
Clarke brings his experience as a former Australian cricket captain, in a career spanning 115 Test matches and 245 One Day Internationals.
The former captain enjoyed a highlight reel cricketing career, from his 151 on Test debut in India to 6/9 match-winning bowling performance and historic 329* career high innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Around The Wicket will preview and review the big international matches across the Australian summer, with episodes airing both on the eve and conclusion of each Test match against Pakistan and the West Indies, Women’s Test series against India and Twenty-20 Big Bash.
Episodes will also be available as an audio podcast and across ESPN’s digital platforms.
Around the Wicket confirms ESPNCricinfo’s position as the unrivalled destination for cricket fans and features news, articles, live scores, in-depth stats and a comprehensive database of historical matches and cricket history.
Around The Wicket premieres Wednesday December 13 at 5pm AEDT on ESPN
Around The Wicket on ESPN
Wednesday December 13
5pm AEDT, Around The Wicket, Episode One, ESPN (Premiere)
5.30pm AEDT, Around The Wicket, Episode One, ESPN2
7pm AEDT, Around The Wicket, Episode One, ESPN (Re-Air)
Tuesday December 19
4pm AEDT, Around The Wicket, Episode Two, ESPN2 (Premiere)
7pm AEDT, Around The Wicket, Episode Two, ESPN2
8.30pm AEDT, Around The Wicket, Episode Two, ESPN (Re-Air)
Saturday December 23
7pm AEDT, Around The Wicket, Episode Three, ESPN2 (Premiere)
9pm AEDT, Around The Wicket, Episode Three, ESPN2 (Re-Air)
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Wow, interesting they got currently contracted talent to be on the show in
Very much an ESPN production, with the title and Malcolm referred to as “Cricket Insider”.