Technology gets a boost in Tampa

February 2, 2009 By Philip Rossman-Reich, Sun Sentinel

NBC will have the field completely covered for the Super Bowl so viewers can get just about every angle on every play. The broadcast will use 36 cameras, up from the 22-23 used for a regular Sunday night game. This includes two cameras trained directly on the goal lines for any questionable scores_like Ben Roethlisberger's did-he-make-it-or-didn't-he quarterback sneak for the Steelers in Super Bowl XL.

The network also will be filming with its super slow-motion X-Mo Camera. NBC has used it a few times during past broadcasts this season. The camera plays back at 300 frames per second, providing a clear and slow replay.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Want to see the game from the stands but don't have a ticket? Easy, get a friend at the game to send you a live video.

It should be easier to text, call and video chat with those at the game thanks to expanded cell phone coverage in Tampa and at Raymond James Stadium on game day.

AT&T plans to increase its 2G network's voice and data capacity by 400 percent and its 3G network by 335 percent.

Also, Sprint built 18 new cell towers in Tampa and will fortify its network with three Cell Sites on Wheels around the stadium to increase call capacity at Raymond James Stadium on game day.

The beefed up wireless networks should make it easier for those at the stadium to share their memories with those who could not make it to the game.

NFL Network also streamed more than 40 hours of its pregame coverage from Tampa throughout the week to Sprint phones.

HISTORY ON DEMAND

In the long run up to the Super Bowl on game day, you can watch the NBC crew break down every matchup and plan out exactly what will happen on the field. Or you can watch highlights of some great Super Bowl performances of the past.

The NFL has posted highlights from past Super Bowls available for nostalgic viewers on SuperBowl.com. You can relive the last time the Steelers won the Super Bowl three years ago, or go further back with highlights of Terrell Davis' big day against the Packers or the Dolphins' completion of the perfect season in Super Bowl VII.

Plus all playoff and regular-season games from this season can be viewed on demand through NFL.com, in case you forgot exactly how the Steelers and Cardinals got to Tampa. Clips of the NFL's coverage of this year's Super Bowl should also be available on the league's Web site.

___

(c) 2009, Sun Sentinel.
Visit the Sun-Sentinel on the World Wide Web at http://www.SunSentinel.com
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.