MLB Network

Project: 140,000 Sq Ft
Digital Production Facility

Location: Seacaucus, NJ

On-Air: January 2009

Major League Baseball (MLB) delivered the first pitch of its new MLB Network channel on Jan. 1 from a renovated facility once used by MSNBC in Secaucus, NJ. The MLB Network is available in 50 million homes. The 24/7 sports channel will broadcast 26 games live in the 720p HD format during the 2009 season. It will also feature a variety of original programming, produced in-house by the MLB Network staff and by MLB Productions, which develops original programming aside from actual games.

After considering several other options for its new home, the MLB Network set up shop in Secaucus with a multilayered, file-based infrastructure that builds on the facility's circa 1996 state-of-the-art digital production environment. The large 140,000sq-ft space is also securely tied into all 30 MLB ballparks around the country and will conduct two-way file transfers, some in real time, on a daily basis during the season.

Systems integrator The Systems Group was tapped to design, integrate and manage the massive facility rebuild under the guidance of broadcast operations consultant CBT Systems. They were careful to ensure that the facility meets the needs of the new MLB Network as well as its sister MLB Productions.