Oh baby. It looks like Michael Barkann’s blue glasses are no longer the most innovative thing at NBCSN Philadelphia. After much anticipation, NBC Sports Philadelphia has finally unveiled some features of their brand-spanking-new studio. Let me say this: it’s gorgeous.

Let’s break this new jawn down:

NBCSN Philadelphia Set Long View

That’s  a big set. Here’s a side view of what would appear to be where we could expect a Philly Sports Talk esque show, or perhaps a small pre- or post-game show:

NBCSN Philadelphia Desk Shot

Here’s a hi-res, head-on look with the official Pre Game Live backdrop:

NBCSN Philadelphia Pre Game Live Set

Continuing down the way, we see the Sixers set, featuring an LED floor:


NBCSN Philadelphia 76ers Set

NBCSN Philadelphia LED Floor

There are some other tech goodies in the form of two massive video walls:

NBCSN Philadelphia 16 ft Monitor Wall

NBCSN Philadelphia 23 ft LED Wall

Perhaps the most intriguing feature is a “World Class Demo Area”:

NBCSN Philadelphia World Class Demo Area

I’m wondering if this is going to resemble the tech that Kenny “The Jet” Smith uses to get “into” the game as part of TNT’s Inside the NBA coverage. Perhaps it’ll let the host(s) demonstrate what something will look like from field level. Think: Ricky Bottalico stands on a mound/infield animation on the floor, while Bryce Harper film runs from the pitcher’s perspective on the back wall. Maybe this clip of Barkann standing on a virtual mound is a sign of things to come:

NBCSN Philadelphia Host Michael Barkann

NBCSN Philadelphia Pre Game Live Interactive

NBCSN Philadelphia Pre Game Live Interactive

In total, the set size is:

NBCSN Philadelphia 3,600 sq ft Studio

For comparison’s sake, back in 2014, ESPN remodeled two sets to serve as the home for SportsCenter on ESPN/ESPN 2 and ESPNNews. Those set sizes were 6,200-sq.-ft. and 3,500-sq.-ft. respectively.

Per NBCSN Philadelphia:

New Studio highlights include:

  • 23 foot-wide LED monitor behind main anchor desk
  • Demo area with a 16×9 monitor, 15×8’ LED floor, and four vertical monitors
  • 120 LED tiles integrated into the set, including 75 in the walls and 45 in the Demo Area floor.
  • Custom photography for the window views, offering identical day and night versions of the Philadelphia skyline.
  • The set walls trace the irregular shape of the studio, built off of the concourse of the studio’s home base – the Wells Fargo Center.

I’m happy for the folks over at NBCSN Philadelphia, who no longer have to host shows from the graveyard set of Breakfast on Broad. What are your thoughts?