Campus Clips: Idaho Deploys Hitachi Cameras for Football Webcasts; Big East Tourney Staying at MSG

Compiled by Brandon Costa, Senior Editor, Sports Video Group

The Video Production Center (VPC) at the University of Idaho uses six Hitachi Z-HD5000 HDTV studio/field production cameras to produce high-definition video during Idaho Vandals football games.

At the ASUI-Kibbie Dome, the VPC produces game-day entertainment including highlights and replays that display on the stadium’s  20×10 foot Daktronics display, as well as the Dome’s HD Cable TV system, and the VandalXtra live game webcast.

As U-Idaho’s in-house video production service, the VPC also produces and webcasts HD video of convocations and commencements held at Kibbie, as well as the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, a prestigious, annual jazz music event that draws thousands of visitors to the University.

Equipped with Fujinon XA20sX8.5 HD lenses, the six Hitachi Z-HD5000 cameras are workhorses that are constantly on the go. They are part of a fly pack that includes a NewTek TriCaster 855 integrated production switcher, NewTek 3Play 820 HD replay system, and Sony HVR1500A HDV/DVCAM VTR, along with six Hitachi CU-HD500 camera control units and six Hitachi RU-1000VR remote control units.

The gear is packed into four road cases and transported by van wherever events are taking place on campus, including the Kibbie Dome,  the University Auditorium, the Idaho Commons as well as the VPC’s own  studio within the Student Union Building (SUB)…

…Big East commissioner Mike Aresco announced that a 10-year extension has been reached for the conference’s men’s basketball tournament to remain at Madison Square Garden. Aresco, speaking at the conference’s media day at the New York Athletic Club Wednesday, also said he is optimistic about hammering out an extension with ESPN on broadcasting rights. MSG confirmed the extension to continue hosting the tournament. The current deal between MSG and the Big East ran through 2016…

…As for the conference’s television rights deal, ESPN’s exclusive negotiating window with the Big East ends Oct. 31, but Burke Magnus, ESPN’s senior vice president for college sports programming, said to Newsday that time period is just “a procedural thing. We have 34 years together. In a lot of ways the Big East and ESPN grew up together. With that long partnership, we’re hopeful it continues. We’re encouraged by Mike’s presence and his leadership. We’ll see where it goes.” Aresco, the former CBS sports executive vice president, would not rule out looking elsewhere. Asked about forming a Big East network as an adjunct to a new rights deal, Aresco said, “We never rule out anything. Is that a possibility down the road? It is, but again we are talking to ESPN now.” Magnus said the loss of Pitt and Syracuse did not devalue the Big East. Chicago-based Navigate, which analyzes sponsorship in sports and entertainment, projected a 10-year rights deal between ESPN and the Big East at $1.6 billion…

…Western Michigan launched a new version of its iPhone application. The app allows users to view highlights, full game replays, interviews and features. iPad users can also download the iPhone version of the app. To see premium content, fans must pay a one-time fee of $3.99…

…The Patriot League has added to its coverage on Twitter with accounts for men’s basketball and multimedia. The Patriot League Men’s Basketball Twitter page, or @PL_MBB, will include all of the latest scores, updates and news heading into and during the 2012-13 season. The Patriot League Video Twitter page, @Patriot_League, provides an outlet to get the latest clips on the League’s YouTube and All-Access pages. Multimedia coverage throughout the season includes video recaps, previews, and features,as well as weekly top plays.

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