Live Game Doesn't Mean Live Skyline

Photographs by Jared Max/WCBS 880

WCBS 880's Sports Director Jared Max noticed that ESPN's NYC skyline shot--during the Mets-Yankees game last night--was not live but actually stock footage from the holiday season. The telltale clue was the Empire State Building: In ESPN's shot, the building was green and red, but in actuality, the building was lit in both blue and orange AND blue and white, in honor of the subway series. What gives--ESPN can't spring for a live shot of NYC any more?

Since the Mets won the series, all four sides of the ESB will be light in Mets blue and orange tonight.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 19, 2008 9:24 AM

Comments [rss]

Tower18

The "Dodge: In the City" spots TNT runs during basketball games are examples of this too. When games are in Detroit, it's clearly snowing in the video they show of the Dodge whatever driving around Detroit.

abcohen

hahaaha.... thats awesome!

MurphGuide

I bet the moon landing wasn't "live" either.

BongoBoy

Yeah, like WCBS-880 doesn't use pre-recorded music.

Steven

They could at least use stock footage from this month or even last month.

sonyactivision

There's no music on MTV and there's no sports on ESPN. Anyone from the Eighties would grumble...

And can't wait to see the Entire Mets Building!

fishermb

Somewhere upwards of 75% of 'live shots' of _____ (downtown, aerials, whatever it may be) are actually stock footage, and not live. Having a dedicated camera set up is way more expensive than recycling footage. This is not exactly 'news'...

JenChungsBaby

The diminishing of ESPN has been astonishing in its thoroughness. All blather and no soul.

Brainwash

Cheap bastards. But if you think that's bad, look at all the news shows using the White House as if they're in a building across the street from it.