NESN Adds In-Dugout Robotic Cameras to Red Sox Coverage, Revamps Production Package

Heading into the 2011 regular season with spring training ratings on NESN up 108%, NESN will launch its 28th season of Red Sox coverage on April 1, from Arlington, TX, when the team faces off against the Rangers.

Don Orsillo, Jerry Remy and Heidi Watney will lead NESN’s broadcast of 150 exclusive HD Red Sox games. Game telecasts will introduce new robotic cameras in both dugouts at Fenway Park as well as a revamped production package with new show openings, music, and graphics. The network’s 2011 Red Sox programming will also offer increased team access, including micing of players, in-game interviews and postgame appearances by Red Sox players.

NESN’s opening day coverage will begin at 3:00 p.m. with the premiere of the network’s new half-hour pregame show Red Sox First Pitch driven by Your New England Acura Dealers. Beginning at 3:30 p.m. is Red Sox GameDay LIVE presented by Uno, with live game coverage following at 4 p.m.

NESN’s pre- and postgame studio programming will be led by host Tom Caron. Caron will be joined by NESN’s lineup of analysts Dennis Eckersley, Peter Gammons and Jim Rice. The network will again originate its home pregame coverage from Yawkey Way outside Fenway Park. This year many postgame shows will also be produced from NESN’s Yawkey Way stage and feature live appearances by Red Sox players, questions from fans, in-depth game analysis and clubhouse interviews.

“While the Red Sox were making plenty of exciting news this offseason, our NESN team has been creating new and enhanced production elements which will bring the ballpark experience directly to our fans,” says Joel Feld, NESN’s EVP of programming and executive producer. “We will have a lot of fun this year micing the players, using innovative camera angles and telling more in-depth stories about the players.”