3D takes the mound: Early baseball coverage bodes well for new format

The first 3D production of the Major League Baseball took place in four days from July 10 to 13 and the early verdict from network executives is that baseball in 3D is nothing short of a home run.  Fox produced the regular-season games between the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees, sponsored by DirecTV and Panasonic, on July 10 and 11 in Seattle.  The Fox team then went down to Angels Stadium in California to to produce the All-Star Game on July 13, which was broadcast exclusively on the new "n3D" channel.  The Seattle 3D productions used six 3D cameras on the field and a Panasonic 3D camcorder in the booth to capture shots of the announcers.  The All-Star coverage used 13 3D cameras, including Panasonic camcorders that shot B-roll footage around the stadium and the players inside the clubhouse.  ESPN used 12 3D cameras to cover the Home Run Derby on July 12.