CBS Rolls Out Big Screen for Big Game

Generally the most useless number connected with the Super Bowl is how many cameras are going to be used to cover it.

Viewers don’t care. They only care if something is missed.

But for this Super Bowl, the number of cameras takes on a new meaning.

That’s because, besides the 30-some cameras CBS will use to cover the game, there will be 33 more robotic ones at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., that will provide revolutionary instant replays.

CBS will introduce EyeVision, a three-dimensional “matrix-style” replay system.

CBS worked with Princeton Video Image (PVI) of Lawrenceville, N.J., and Core Digital of Phoenix in the fall of 1999 and budgeted $2.5 million to develop EyeVision. Each robotic camera costs $20,000.

“It’s in very early stages of development,” said Sean McManus, CBS Sports president. “The replays basically will look like ‘The Matrix’ movie.”

The movie, starring Keanu Reeves, featured Academy Award-winning special effects.

“We think that in a fairly short amount of time it’s going to be a device that we and our partners will be able to market to other sports organizations,” said McManus, who held back somewhat in his enthusiasm.

“An exciting development, but we should stress that this is the first time it will ever be used in a telecast,” he said. “So people shouldn’t expect to be completely and totally knocked over on the first airing during the Super Bowl.

“I think if we use it a couple of times a quarter, that would be great. We’re certainly not going to overuse it and we’re only going to use it when it really adds to the coverage and gives a view that you don’t have with normal replay machines.”

“It will not overshadow the regular coverage of the game.”

Executive producer Terry Ewert said, “It’s a tool and we want to use the tool the right way for the right situation.”

The EyeVision cameras will be located on the west, south and east sides of the stadium, providing about a 270-degree view.

The new technology should help officials too. EyeVision might have been able to supply conclusive evidence of the Music City Miracle play, in which Tennessee beat Buffalo in the playoffs last season, and determined whether it was an acceptable play.

COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

What a difference a year makes. There were 17 dot-com commercials on last year’s Super Bowl. There will be three on Sunday’s telecast.

Of the 17 that advertised last year, two have folded and seven others are in trouble. All told, 130 Internet companies have shut down since last January.

But E*Trade is back in a big way. The company made a splash last year with its dancing monkey spot that concluded with, “Well, we just wasted $2 million bucks. Now what are you going to do with your money?” E*Trade is not only advertising again, the company is sponsoring the halftime show that features Aerosmith and ‘N Sync.

WHY PEOPLE WATCH

It’s estimated 130 million Americans will watch Sunday’s game. A poll sponsored by Jose Ole, a brand of frozen Mexican food, was conducted to determine why people watch. A majority (44%) voted for “being with friends and/or family.”

The other reasons for watching, in order: (2) the game itself, (3) party atmosphere, (4) the commercials, (5) something else.

The poll also determined the favorite food type for the Super Bowl was Mexican. The favorite foods: (1) buffalo wings, (2) taco chips and salsa, (3) pizza, (4) nachos, and (5) vegetables and dip.

SHORT WAVES

Roy Firestone gets into the swing of things with a special one-hour edition of “Up Close” on ESPN today at 4:30 p.m. The guest lineup includes Jim Fassel, Brian Billick, Kerry Collins, Michael Strahan, Art Modell and Shannon Sharpe. . . . CBS offers a Super Bowl special featuring Ricky Martin Saturday night at 9, with MTV’s Carson Daly serving as host, and at 10 there will be an MTV-produced Super Bowl special. . . . Sunday’s coverage on CBS starts at 9 a.m. with a Super Bowl edition of “TRL,” MTV’s most popular show. TRL stands for Total Request Live. . . . In case you didn’t know, CBS and MTV are owned by Viacom. . . . Recommended viewing: NFL Films’ much-anticipated “Road to the Super Bowl” will be on Channel 2 Saturday at 4 p.m.

NBC has NBA doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday games are the last of the season for NBC. There will be only Sunday telecasts through the rest of the regular season. The Lakers play at New York Sunday at 11:30 a.m., and at halftime Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson, who plays in the first game against Indiana, will be featured. . . . There is also plenty of golf this weekend. ABC has the Senior Skins Game on Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m., featuring Gary Player, Hale Irwin, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. The USA network has today’s second round of the Phoenix Open, CBS has the third round Saturday, and because of the Super Bowl, USA has Sunday’s final round, beginning at 11 a.m. This is the first time in 20 years of covering golf that USA will have the final round of a tournament. . . . Brian Bosworth has been named commentator for the XFL telecasts on UPN. . . . On the radio side, Rich Marotta begins a new two-hour weekly boxing show tonight at 10 on KXTA (1150).

IN CLOSING

The good and bad of talk radio: One-on-One’s Jay Mariotti this week intelligently analyzed the Ray Lewis story, saying what was needed from Lewis was some sort of contrition. Lewis was asked if he had anything to say to the families of the victims of the double murder after last year’s Super Bowl and he said, “No. Football, football, football,” meaning only ask football questions. Mariotti: “Cold, cold, cold.”

Meanwhile, a caller to ESPN Radio (1110) disagreed with Joe McDonnell’s stance on Lewis, so McDonnell called him an idiot and a moron and hung up on him. “The Big Nasty has resurfaced,” chided partner Doug Krikorian. Unfortunately, that appears to be the case.

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What Los Angeles Is Watching

A sampling of L.A. Nielsen ratings for Jan. 20-21.

SATURDAY

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Over-the-air Channel Rating Share Figure skating: U.S. championships, women’s finals 7 7.1 12 Figure skating: U.S. championships, men’s finals 7 3.8 10 Pro basketball: Sacramento at Portland 4 3.5 8 Golf: Michael Jordan tournament (tape) 4 2.4 6 College basketball: UCLA at Arizona 2 2.1 6 Golf: Sony Open 2 1.8 4 College basketball: USC at Arizona State 7 1.7 4

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Cable Network Rating Share Boxing: Floyd Mayweather vs. Diego Corrales HBO 2.7 5 College basketball: New Mexico at Stanford FSN 0.6 1 College football: Senior Bowl ESPN 0.6 1 College football: Hula Bowl ESPN 0.6 1 Tennis: Australian Open ESPN 0.6 1 Horse racing: Santa Anita Live FSN2 0.3 1 Golf: Senior MasterCard Championship CNBC 0.1 0 Hockey: Kings at Carolina FSN 0.1 0 Hockey: Florida at Philadelphia ESPN2 0.1 0 College basketball: Loyola at Pepperdine FSN2 0.0 0

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SUNDAY

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Over-the-air Channel Rating Share Pro basketball: Miami at Lakers 4 7.4 16 Pro basketball: Toronto at Philadelphia 4 4.5 12 Pro basketball: Indiana at New York 4 4.5 12 Golf: Sony Open 2 2.1 5 Soccer: Mexican League, Guadalajara vs. Cruz-Azul 34 1.6 4 Soccer: CONCACAF Champions Cup final 34 1.4 3 College basketball: Syracuse at Seton Hall 7 0.8 2 College basketball: Ohio State at Michigan 2 0.4 1

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Cable Network Rating Share Bowling: PBA Silicon Valley Open ESPN 0.7 2 Hockey: Colorado at Mighty Ducks ESPN 0.4 1 Tennis: Australian Open ESPN2 0.4 1 Boxing: Justin Junko vs. Antonio Ramirez FSN 0.3 0 Horse racing: Santa Anita Live FSN2 0.3 1 Golf: Senior MasterCard Championship CNBC 0.2 1 Horse racing: Santa Catalina Stakes FSN 0.2 0

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WEEKDAY RATINGS: TUESDAY--Pro basketball, Lakers at Seattle. Ch. 9, 4.4/8.

Note: Each rating point represents 53,542 L.A. households. Cable ratings reflect the entire market, even though cable is in only 63% of L.A. households.