NFLN to air game without announcers

[sully]

NFL Network to air unique game broadcast

NEW YORK (Aug. 11, 2004) -- In one of its most ambitious projects to date, NFL Network will take a pro football telecast (Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills on Aug. 15) and turn it into an event featuring no announcers -- instead relying solely on the audio captured on the field, sidelines and locker room.

NFL Network will put wireless microphones on 16 players and coaches -- the most ever in one NFL game -- during the Broncos/Bills preseason game Aug. 15 and air an announcer-free, one-hour program titled Special Edition Game of the Week: Sounds of the Game at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 22 exclusively on NFL Network.

"NFL Network is committed to innovative programming that brings our game closer to the fans," NFL vice president of programming Charles Coplin said. "Some of these ideas may be extended to our other broadcast partners in the future."

Instead of letting announcers guide the flow of the game, the story and drama will emanates from the heart of the contest: the players and coaches who will be equipped with tiny microphones.

Twelve players, the two head coaches and two coordinators will be wired for the game.

"Wiring 12 players in one game and airing the contents a week later is a feat that has never been attempted in NFL history," said Bill Graff, executive in charge of studio and remote production at NFL Films. "We will use 10 cameras to shoot this game and believe this program will bring fans inside NFL action like never before and will forever change the way they view pro football."

Among the participants wearing wires will be quarterback Jake Plummer as well as Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan and Bills head coach Mike Mularkey in his coaching debut. Additional players wired will be decided as the game approaches.

There is a precedent for airing an NFL game without the use of broadcasters. On Dec. 20, 1980, NBC aired the New York Jets at the Miami Dolphins. The Jets were 3-12 entering the game and the Dolphins were 8-7. (Jets won 24-17). Since the game had no playoff implications, NBC decided to let the sounds from the stands and the PA announcer serve as the sole audio. No players were miked. Dick Enberg set the scene for viewers at the beginning of each quarter and then viewers were taken to the stadium.

Though the NBC game was first to air without announcers, NFL Network's version will be the first to air featuring sounds captured from the players and coaches only -- something that was not part of the 1980 Jets-Dolphins contest.

Special Edition Game of the Week: Sounds of the Game is an extension of one of NFL Network's most successful and critically acclaimed programs from last season.

NFL Network, through its Game of the Week series, began televising one-hour condensed versions of current NFL games last season. Taking one of the most memorable games from Sunday, NFL Network used enhanced audio and camera work and showed the condensed version on Wednesdays. This series did not use television broadcasters, but instead relied on radio calls, sideline sound, wired players and orchestral NFL Films music to re-tell the story of the game in a way not seen on Sunday.

The success of this series will lead to two Games of the Week this season -- on Wednesdays and Thursday nights at 9 ET/PT.

The August Broncos-Bills preseason matchup will be the first-ever game produced by NFL Network, and it will be shown live in a traditional broadcast format.

Kenny Albert, Dan Fouts, Terrell Davis and Solomon Wilcots will be on-site in Buffalo to call the action live at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 15 exclusively for NFL Network, in addition to an all-star production crew recently assembled.

[Purple Gorilla]

An interesting idea, but one that will only be embraced by diehard football fans...they're the only ones who will still be able to follow the action.

[sully]

Hey, it's worth a shot. I'm interested to see how this experiment turns out.

[STLCARDSFAN1]

that sounds like a kick ass idea. will be cool to see how it turns out.

[Gutter_Cat]

I remember the 1980 anouncerless game. I can also remember the field mics picking up a fair amount of obscenities from the players.

[Dayylin]

No announcers. Ahhh the quite and peace. No more off topics.

He is running for a touchdown and did you know that last week I had a bagel?

Would be such a relief.

[StevieBDunkNOnU]

One time, dont ask me how i did it, or what happend. But i turn on the game in the living room.

Cant hear the announcers, so im thinking they are just being quite right now. 15 minutes later i still dont hear anything. I go in my room, turn on the TV, and they were talking, but not on the living room TV.

It was great. i watched the entire game like that and loved it.

Then the TV just like went back to normal. it sucks, ive tried like 50 times to figure it out to do it again.

[Rip]

Originally Posted by StevieBDunkNOnU

One time, dont ask me how i did it, or what happend. But i turn on the game in the living room.

Cant hear the announcers, so im thinking they are just being quite right now. 15 minutes later i still dont hear anything. I go in my room, turn on the TV, and they were talking, but not on the living room TV.

It was great. i watched the entire game like that and loved it.

Then the TV just like went back to normal. it sucks, ive tried like 50 times to figure it out to do it again.

I've done that before too. It was called "Mute"

[SU Nittany Tide]

Originally Posted by AJmyboy

One time, dont ask me how i did it, or what happend. But i turn on the game in the living room.

Cant hear the announcers, so im thinking they are just being quite right now. 15 minutes later i still dont hear anything. I go in my room, turn on the TV, and they were talking, but not on the living room TV.

It was great. i watched the entire game like that and loved it.

Then the TV just like went back to normal. it sucks, ive tried like 50 times to figure it out to do it again.

Could you hear other sounds? If not, then for $50 I will teach you how to get rid of the volume during the game.