ESPN Expands Home Run Derby Coverage With Platforms, Camera Angles
By | July 10, 2013
ESPN will televise the 2013 Chevrolet Home Run Derby at New York’s Citi Field on Monday, July 15. It’s the 21st consecutive year that the net has aired the Derby, which will also be available on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and multiple platforms with access to WatchESPN, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, Xbox and Apple TV.
This year the Derby can be viewed from three different camera angles for the first time, as opposed to one camera used in previous years. Viewers will be able to see where the home runs land in real time, and virtual home run icons will be used on screen to track the hits’ distances.
Other production elements include ball tracking of home runs after they’re hit, and some live home run tracking as well. Prior to the 8pm Derby, an opening segment will feature iconic home run moments of the past, such as the “Shot Heard Round the World,” Roger Maris’ 61st and Mike Piazza’s post-September 11 home run. During the show, recording artist Pitbull will perform “Feel This Moment” from his album “Global Warming.”
And the favored to win it? On a conference call with reporters Wednesday, ESPN MLB analysts John Kruk and Nomar Garciaparra agreed that Baltimore Orioles’ Chris Davis is one of the favorites. However, Garciaparra said for him it’s a toss up between Davis and defending Derby champion Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers.
