MB Productions (MBP) in association with NBA Entertainment, provided the video staging for the 2007 NBA Draft telecast, held June 28 at the WaMu Theatre, Madison Square Garden, New York City.
MBP supplied a pair of 9' X 12' FP projection screens that were powered by Digital Projection 5100gv DLP projectors, as well as several Pioneer 60" & 61" plasmas monitors. They were all set up to feed content via the Folsom Screen Pro Plus 1603. According to MBP's technical director Joseph Meyers, "The Folsom allowed us to control three separate program outputs all from the same control desk. With its ability to save a multitude of presets, I was able to access different show looks instantly with the push of one button. "The projection screens that flanked the stage displayed a mix of ESPN's on-air programming, prerecorded Beta SP clips, and NBA animated logos. A pair of Pioneer 60" plasmas incorporated within the set was utilized for sponsor logos and one Pioneer 61" was installed to display high resolution animations of all the participating NBA teams in the central of the stage.”
All animations were stored and played back from a pair of Grass Valley Turbo hard drives. "With its easy usage and ability to alter the predetermined play list so quickly, it was an ideal playback device," says MBP's engineer, Bob Woodcock. "For example, at any moment during the player selection process, a team could announce a trade that would result in our need to instantly access a different animation loop. Each Turbo hard drive had 2 Playback channels that we always had available as a back-up channel ready to go."
"It's essential for a live TV broadcast to be prepared with appropriate backup measures, adds MBP President Brian Brooks. "We are focused on delivering flawless results for all of our clients' productions. The key to success is finding the right combination of experienced technicians with the right selection of gear."