Category Archives: Live Sports Content

Windfall’s 2017 Test with “Coach Paint” an Overwhelming Success

December 8, 2017 (New York, NY)

Track and Field Analysis takes on a Brighter Future

“Taking a football coach’s digital training tool and adapting it for broadcast TV is truly a challenge”, says Executive Producer, Ralph J Mole’ of  Windfall Productions, “I am always searching for cost efficient ways to improve our Collegiate Track & Field telecasts and about a year ago I discovered Coach Paint by Chyron Hego at NAB in New York City.”

Deep analysis of any TV Sports action begins with specific pre-selected video clips. In Track and Field for example, demonstrating the launch out of the starting blocks, clearing the high hurdles, footsteps and release of a 16 pound shot put or the run up, approach and trajectory of a javelin throw. To the track and field fan these points are perhaps mundane but the average viewer can be captivated through the use of “Chyron Hego Coach Paint” and the viewer’s experience taken to a higher level regarding technical understanding of the sport of Athletics.

Take a look for yourself at the video attached. Analysis provided by Larry Rawson.

“As we enter our 10th season as exclusive TV packager of ESPN’s Collegiate Track & Field” Mole’ states, “I will continue to employ Coach Paint to enhance our nearly 40 Hours of live air and digital broadcasts in 2018”.

Ralph J. Mole´, Executive Producer of Windfall Productions, served as world director of live track during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for AOB. In 2003, Windfall Productions produced more than 12 hours of ESPN’s coverage of the “World Championships of Athletics” from Paris, France for ABC Sports and ESPN.

Windfall has contributed nearly a decade of production services to United States Track & Field 1999 through 2008, featuring the “Golden Spike Tour and USATF’s network TV broadcasts on ESPN, NBC and CBS.

Over in Europe Mole’ has produced FOR ESPN distinguished track meets like “Weltklasse”, “DN Galan”, “Bislett Games” and “ ISTAF “. These athletics meets previously part of The Golden League and Golden Four, have now been absorbed into the the IAAF’s Diamond League Series.

Domestically, RJ Mole’ can attribute first hand TV production experience with some of America’s legacy Track & Field events such as The Penn Relays, Millrose Games and the Drake Relays.

Future posts will outline the ESPN Collegiate Track & Field schedule for 2018.

For more info contact;

rjmole@windfalltv.com

 

Reminiscing about World Cup Skiing At Windfall Productions

November 27, 2016 (Killington, VT)

Windfall Productions, a TV broadcast program packager, felt and heard the emotion of a world class international event from our winter offices in Killington, Vermont this weekend. Our ownership in Killington dates back to 1982.  Windfall has been the TV packager for other events at Killington such as the 1994 Killington Stage Race, an international cycling tv special that was broadcast on the Prime Network.

So after 34 years Killington has finally made the big league of olympic winter sport. Nearly 16,000 spectators were in attendance for Saturday’s Giant Slalom event – that could be an American Record. What an outstanding achievement! Next stop for the Killington Resort would and should be a real  “ski village”. Wouldn’t that be cool?

Ralph J Mole´, President & Executive Producer of Windfall recalls his 15 years (1989-2003) directing World Cup Ski Racing with ESPN. “We had a great run with televised alpine, nordic, freestyle and snowboarding in this time period”. In 2004, the USSA series migrated to NBC  where it currently resides. Mole´was the international broadcasting live director for the Alpine Downhill and Combined Events at Snow Basin, Utah during the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

To complete my look-back here is a link to some of our alpine World Cup work of the past.

#worldcup #killington #skiing #alpineskiing #usskiteam

 

Windfall Productions Renews ESPN Collegiate Track & Field

October 20,2016 (New York, NY)

For the 9th Consecutive Year Windfall Productions Clinches ESPN TV packaging deal.

Executive Producer, Ralph J Mole’, who will be responsible for all TV creative production decisions and serve as live TV director for all national broadcasts on ESPN, states “Track and Field is a tough sport to cover and we are pleased to hold the cornerstone of ESPN’s confidence for 2017.”

ESPN will directly contract Mole’ and Windfall’s services to deliver all TV coverage of the
NCAA Indoor and Outdoor T&F Championships plus the SEC Indoor and Outdoor T&F Championships for 2017.  The collegiate sports events will be telecast on multiple ESPN linear and digital platforms.  Check your local listings for specific airtimes.

SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships 2/24/17 & 2/25/17
Venue: Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility, Nashville, TN

NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships 3/10/17 & 3/11/17
Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium, College Station, TX – Texas A&M

SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships 5/12/17-5/13/17
Weems Baskin Track, Columbia, SC – University South Carolina

NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships 6/7/17-6/10/17
Hayward Field, Eugene, OR – University of Oregon

Windfall Production’s Executive Producer, Mole’ states that ” Our tenure with Collegiate T&F has paralleled the success of ESPN’s digital platforms like espn.com and SECN+ and our coverage has exponentially grown to more than 40 hours of live and delayed Track and Field television each season across ESPN’s multiple platforms.” In 2017 Windfall will showcase Gamecreek Video as our vendor for broadcast remote facilities. Windfall is planning coverage with 7 TV mobile unit cameras plus mounted POV cameras for specialized field events coverage. VizRT live motion graphics will accompany the EVS XT3 servers for slo-motion replays and truly solidify a “tapeless workflow”.

Ralph J. Mole´ served as world director of live track during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for AOB. In 2003, Windfall Productions produced more than 12 hours of ESPN’s coverage of the “World Championships of Athletics” from Paris, France for ABC Sports and ESPN.

Windfall has contributed nearly a decade of production services to United States Track & Field 1999 through 2008, featuring the “Golden Spike Tour and USATF’s network TV broadcasts.

Over in Europe RJM has produced distinguished track meets like “Weltklasse”, “DN Galan”, “Bislett Games” and “ ISTAF “. These athletics meets previously part of The Golden League and Golden Four, have now been absorbed into the the IAAF’s Diamond League Series.

Domestically, RJ Mole’ can attribute first hand TV production experience with some of America’s legacy Track & Field events in existence for more than 100 years, such as The Penn Relays, Millrose Games and Drake Relays.

This unprecedented ninth year renewal of Collegiate Athletics between ESPN and Windfall Productions is testimony to Ralph J. Mole’s reputation as the independent leader in Track & Field TV production.

Windfall Productions respects the privilege of being able to cover the performances of America’s finest student athletes. These young men and women are truly “out of this world”. Enjoy our tribute video to these “Shootin Stars”.

For more info contact;

rjmole@windfalltv.com

#sectrack #ncaatrack #ustfcca #secnetwork #usatf #tracktownusa #GatorsTF #Razorbacks #GoDucks

The World Cycling League

Recently, David Chauner, contacted me with a project he urgently needed to complete for a brand new “sports governing agency” called the World Cycling League. To paraphrase Dave; “we need a promo video piece that runs under 3 minutes right away, we are starting a new track cycling league with real home teams in America and International cities.

” My answer was a resounding “Yes”. Dave needed a video to present his concept to investors and he was very serious.

David Chauner and I do have some history. I know him from his days as CEO of the U.S. Professional Road Championship in Philadelphia, PA. In fact I produced and directed the very first Philly event back in the mid-80’s, David served as our TV Analyst on the program. It aired on ESPN. With a respect for David’s credentials in the sport of cycling Windfall took on the assignment.

I am pleased to say that the production was more of a collaboration than an assignment. The script was written and revised by Dave personally and he pointed me to some contemporary track cycling footage that was perfect. I dug out some old “Six Day Bike Racing” footage and the production was underway. The final edited piece was applauded by David and his associates the World Cycling League “promo video” a totally new format in team sport was born.

What thrilled crowds in the early 20th century is repackaged for the 21st by the World Cycling League. In 2016 WCL will introduce Teamtrak™ Cycling, an exciting, made for television format that will redefine indoor velodrome racing with venue-identified teams, standardized events, easy to follow scoring, state-of-the-art technology and season long rankings.