Wow. Take a look at this...

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by APG

Lights and imposed clocks from TV broadcast tend not to be in sync...just watch any NBA/NCAA game when there's a shot clock violation or end of period/half. Not unusual to see the TV clock off by .1-.2. seconds.

That is normally the case because in those games, the broadcast is using a computer generated clock controlled by their own technician. It isn't electronically tied to the official clock...they just try to mimic the real thing. So, they can easily be off a small amount. That is why when ever they go to replay over timing issues, they look at an official clock or indicator, not the TV clock.


The difference in this case is that the superimposed clock was actually just inset image of the actual game clock....same lights, same font, same color, etc.

The only explanation of this is that the broadcast equipment was maladjusted....or the image was of a different clock in the arena (perhaps on the other end) and the in arena clocks were not in sync with each other.

[Brad]

That was awesome! Looks like it was barely off in time —*before the clock and LEDs ... but it is CLOSE!!!

[fullor30]

What a pressure cooker, They did a great job, getting together and getting it right. I'd like to think I'd do the same.....but who knows??

Terrific

Can you imagine thinking it's over and the sudden steal and desparation heave....... could easily be deer in headlights.

Nicely done. I love the huddle!!!

[Bad Zebra]

Wow. Talk about razor thin margin of error. That's a pretty impressive piece of officiating.

This video is a great example why ALL crew members should be aware of the end of a quarter and have an opinion, regardless of who is responsible (opposite table) for the last call. I always try to cover this exact scenario as part of my pre game when I'm a crew chief...."Whoever is opposite will be responsible for the last shot, but let's ALL have an opinion in case it's close and we have to come together, we want to get it right".

[canuckrefguy]

The toughest of calls under the toughest of circumstances.

Yikes. Talk about earning your stripes!

[grunewar]

Video was on both the ABC and CBS news early this morning.

Only ABC talked about the officials......and NOT in a bad way!

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Video was on both the ABC and CBS news early this morning.

Only ABC talked about the officials......and NOT in a bad way!

Take it from the media guy it all depends on who wrote it. If it was someone like me, we'll mention the original call...in a nice way If it's someone who doesn't know sports, they'll never realize there was a reversal.

[SamG]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

That is normally the case because in those games, the broadcast is using a computer generated clock controlled by their own technician. It isn't electronically tied to the official clock...they just try to mimic the real thing. So, they can easily be off a small amount. That is why when ever they go to replay over timing issues, they look at an official clock or indicator, not the TV clock.


The difference in this case is that the superimposed clock was actually just inset image of the actual game clock....same lights, same font, same color, etc.

The only explanation of this is that the broadcast equipment was maladjusted....or the image was of a different clock in the arena (perhaps on the other end) and the in arena clocks were not in sync with each other.

Not accurate. Many basketball broadcasts will have a computer tied to the clock. The clock sends the computer the countdown for game & shot (when applicable). The computer will display what it gets. This is what is used during the game.

Regardless of whether the above system is used, a camera is dedicated to shooting the clock.

If the clock system doesn't support the setup (most major arenas should), or the technology won't work for whatever reason, the clock 'camera' is actually used on the broadcast. You can tell because it will look like a scoreboard clock.

During the last minute of a period, they will record the 'game' camera with the clock camera superimposed (not the computer generated clock). It is done exactly for this situation. So the replays with the clock in the white box should be in perfect sync (action camera & clock camera).

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

The only explanation of this is that the broadcast equipment was maladjusted....or the image was of a different clock in the arena (perhaps on the other end) and the in arena clocks were not in sync with each other.

The NBA found that long cable lengths could actually cause a delay in their systems which resulted in the clocks and LEDs being out of sync. They make adjustments to compensate for this problem.

It's definitely possible that the clock in the arena is out of sync with the LEDs by 0.1 seconds —*I think that is likely the case here.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Brad

The NBA found that long cable lengths could actually cause a delay in their systems which resulted in the clocks and LEDs being out of sync. They make adjustments to compensate for this problem.

It's definitely possible that the clock in the arena is out of sync with the LEDs by 0.1 seconds —*I think that is likely the case here.

It's physics. The signal dissipates the longer the cable run. That's why the clocks on the backboard will be slightly a head of a clock that's overhead or those on a balcony. I haven't been in Westchester Co. Arena - where this game was played - but my guess is the camera clock was on the overhead device. If it had been on one of the backboard clocks everything would have been in sync as far as the broadcast was concerned since those hit 0.0 as the LEDs came on.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Brad

The NBA found that long cable lengths could actually cause a delay in their systems which resulted in the clocks and LEDs being out of sync. They make adjustments to compensate for this problem.

It's definitely possible that the clock in the arena is out of sync with the LEDs by 0.1 seconds —*I think that is likely the case here.

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

It's physics. The signal dissipates the longer the cable run. That's why the clocks on the backboard will be slightly a head of a clock that's overhead or those on a balcony. I haven't been in Westchester Co. Arena - where this game was played - but my guess is the camera clock was on the overhead device. If it had been on one of the backboard clocks everything would have been in sync as far as the broadcast was concerned since those hit 0.0 as the LEDs came on.

I can tell you one thing for certain, it isn't the length of the cables. And you'd know that if you understood physics.

Cables are dramatically faster than that at any length possible in even the largest arena...unless they're using the worst cables ever made.

Let say the cables in an arena in New York were routed to Chicago and back before going to the a scoreboard. That is about 1600 miles round trip (about 3 millions meters). Typical networking cable propagation times are about 500 nanoseconds per 100 meters. If you do the math (just approximating here), it takes about 15/1000 of one second to go from New York to Chicago and back. You could even go back and forth between the two cities about 6-7 times before you get 0.1 second of delay.

Even if you don't want to to the math, just think of phone calls. If you could get 0.1 second of cable delay inside of a building (worst case of 1000m) and you were on the phone in New York, you'd have to wait over 5 minutes to hear what your friend in LA says. And then they'd have to wait 5 more minutes to hear your response. Do you recall any telephones that work that way?

For that matter, you can send a signal to the moon in under 1 second (sure it is radio, but the speeds are on the same order of magnitude).

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I can tell you one thing for certain, it isn't the length of the cables. And you'd know that if you understood physics.

Cables are dramatically faster than that at any length possible in even the largest arena...unless they're using the worst cables ever made.

Camron, trust me, I understand physics. I also work in television. The type of cables you're talking about aren't the same type of cables used to wire up the timing devices in an arena, especially an older building like Westchester County Arena.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Camron, trust me, I understand physics. I also work in television. The type of cables you're talking about aren't the same type of cables used to wire up the timing devices in an arena, especially an older building like Westchester County Arena.

I'm talking basic low-grade networking cable, costs pennies, nothing fancy. The cable just isn't going to make the difference when we're talking about a tenth of a second. There may be differences in the system that causes delays, but isn't the cables. And yes, I design high speed electronics for a living and it actually involves dealing with delays on wires.

[SamG]

If you can transmit and receive from a satellite in <.25 (1/4 second), and the distance is 45,000 miles to make that trip (22,500 one way), I highly doubt even 2000 feet of cable is going to "slow down" a picture.

Here's the other thing to think about... as long as the camera shooting the action and the camera shooting the clock are both "delayed" (right, that's what you're saying, that the cable distance affects speed), then they're still in sync.

They could both be delayed 10 seconds, but as long as they're in sync they're accurate.

And another thought... broadcasts (from college to pro) are used all the time to review last second shots. They use the same technology that was shown in the reply (game/shot clock superimposed over game camera). If the system is inaccurate, why use it?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I can tell you one thing for certain, it isn't the length of the cables. And you'd know that if you understood physics.

I was really just passing on what I had been told, right or wrong ... I did not do my own empirical testing!