The control rooms in the studios of Comcast SportsNet may be one of the busiest places to be this Sunday. With the Redskins and Ravens both playing at 1 p.m., the network will be doing two postgame shows simultaneously. For the first time this year, CSN will split its coverage with “Redskins Postgame Live” being available for part of the mid-Atlantic region while “Ravens Postgame Live” will be on the network in the Baltimore area. Because of technical issues, CSN simply can’t use CSN Plus to offer both postgame shows to the entire region.
Executive of Ravens programming Bill Bell and his Redskins counterpart Frank Crisafulli will be the men in charge of organizing the madness back at the studio. I spoke to Bell about what kind of craziness will be going on come Sunday at 4 p.m.
So it is 4 p.m. on Sunday and the games are over. What happens then?
Bell » Well, this week it is good because I will have my team for “Ravens Postgame Live” on set while the “Redskins Postgame Live” gang will be on location at FedEx Field. Together for both shows we will have 50 crew members working. There will be a great deal of coordination going on, but I think Ravens fans and Redskins fans will both be happy and it will make for a packed Sunday SportsNite show.
How about the cooperation from both teams in making these shows work?
Bell » I have to say that working with the Ravens is a joy. They could not be more cooperative in making sure that players and coaches are available to us on time and in position after the games. We have a very good history with the Redskins and that show works well because we have been doing it and everyone is comfortable with our format. But the Ravens seem to understand how we do things and things couldn’t be better. Viewers don’t realize that it is the teams that help get players and coaches to Brent Harris for Baltimore and Kelli Johnson for Washington so our reporters and analysts can ask them questions. Win or lose, we need access to the players, and both teams really get that.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
