Game Creek’s Edit 2 Makes Memorable Debut With MLB International

Game Creek’s new Edit 2 B unit debuted during Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night, and what a debut it was. When a power failure in the truck compound caused a disruption in Fox Sports’ broadcast, MLB International’s transmission from Game Creek’s Amazin’ — supported by Edit 2 — was routed to Fox’s air while recovery was in process.

Before its high-profile introduction, however, Game Creek’s Edit 2 was intended to follow the success of the company’s popular Edit 1 unit. Whereas Edit 1, which will support Fox’s World Series coverage out of Game Creek Dynasty in New York, boasts six workspaces plus storage and maintenance areas, Edit 2 was designed with eight larger workspaces (storage and maintenance areas were eliminated).

With Amazin’ producing the MLB International world feed, Edit 2 offers international rightsholders a workspace to cut their own shows for their home countries. In addition, Edit 2 handles transmission for MLB International.

“We have eight different pods — or sandboxes, as we call them — in Edit 2, which can be an edit suite for this type of application or just a flexible workspace,” says Mike Francis, director, technology, Game Creek Video. “It gives the international-rights holders their own little private production room. That, along with the demand for Edit 1, was our motivation to build Edit 2.”

Game Creek Video also improved on Edit 1’s infrastructure in Edit 2. On board are a 180×180 SDI baseband Evertz EQX router with 24 monitor and multiviewer outputs and an Evertz EMR audio router with 8×8 MADI and AES inputs and outputs. Game Creek also installed master clocks for timing to other trucks and a tally system.

“It’s really an audio board and switcher shy of an A unit,” notes Francis. “Granted, we put much bigger routers in our A units, but it was built to be flexible. With the addition of a little bit of equipment, it could potentially do a small production or a REMI [REMote-Integration] broadcast. We tried to just make it as flexible as possible for whatever needs may come up.”

To connect to Amazin’, or any A unit in the future, Edit 2 was outfitted with standard truck-to-truck optical interfaces and TAC-4 four-strand fiber for 32 paths of video in each direction, as well as a network connection to share data between trucks. The audio routers are also linked together.

Game Creek worked with Gerling & Associates to design the 53-ft. double-expando trailer and Icon Broadcast to wire and integrate the interior. Game Creek Engineering VP Paul Bonar spearheaded design of the truck’s footprint and interior.