After guiding Rave-TV to an Emmy award for its preseason coverage of the Ravens last season, Don DiRaddo is confident his broadcasting team will be even better this fall.
RAVE-TV ? the in-house branch of Ravens television ? will unveil a series of features on FOX45 and MASN?s Kickoff Shows aimed at giving fans a unique look at players? lives on and off the field. The first installment is tonight at 6:30, a half-hour before the stations air the preseason game between the Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles live.
DiRaddo, who is the game producer for RAVE-TV, said the show will be geared to interviewing coaches as close to kickoff as possible before airing features that gives viewers a glimpse into the life of a professional football player.
“[Offensive lineman] Mike Flynn allowed us to visit him in the off season to spend a day with he and his newborn son Jake,” DiRaddo said. “[It?s] an interesting contrast to see a guy who has to handle being big burly defensive lineman, trying to tackle the perils of changing diapers or trying to get food in Jake?s mouth and not all over his face. His wife Mary offers some interesting commentary as well.”
DiRaddo also said viewers will experience Ravens? training camp in a segment called “Sounds of Camp,” as microphones placed on coaches and players gives viewers a chance to see how they interact during practices at McDaniel College in Westminster.
DiRaddo, who returns with Emmy-winning teammates Director Chris Glass and Associate Producer Lauryn Lukin, said tonight?s Kickoff show will open with FOX 45 Sports Director Bruce Cunningham providing on-field interviews with Coach Brian Billick and Offensive Coordinator Rick Neuheisel.
FOX 45 and MASN ? MASN2 tonight ? are the preseason homes of the Ravens. Cunningham will anchor a half-hour pregame show before each of the Ravens? four preseason games. The announcing team of Dick Stockton and Daryl Johnston, along with reporter and former Raven, Tony Siragusa, cover the game live for both channels.
The Ravens-Eagles game will also be replayed on MASN at 11:30 p.m.
On radio, WBAL will begin its coverage three hours before kickoff, as anchor Steve Davis will be joined by former University of Maryland quarterback Boomer Esiason, USA Today?s Jarrett Bell and Siragusa throughout the broadcast. But during the game, Gerry Sandusky, in his second year as the voice of the Ravens, will be joined by Stan White and Rob Burnett. Keith Mills of WBAL will report from the sideline.
