Find MASN on your cable or satellite provider.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - In order to further enhance its television broadcasts of Nationals and Orioles games for 2009, MASN has made a host of new state-of-the-art advancements to allow fans to get more information and enjoy the game experience more closely. The local leader in live sports entertainment, MASN has made cutting-edge enhancements across programming, production, graphics, control rooms and technology. The first network in the region to produce live telecasts for every game of its featured teams, MASN also launched a dedicated high-definition channel on April 1st, as the network televises more HD baseball games, 210, than any network in the country.

The enhancements to MASN's broadcasts are noticeable from the opening segment of the pregame show, as the network built new state-of-the art sets for Nats Xtra and O's Xtra at Nationals Park and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

The first network in the region to provide dedicated pre and post game shows covering every game of its teams, MASN has provided since its inception three seasons ago fully-integrated pregame and postgame shows before and after each Nationals game and Orioles game.

This season, MASN has added live 'game day' pre- and postgame coverage at the ballpark for both of its teams. While leading national sports networks host 'game day' shows on-location only for select major national sporting events, MASN is hosting live pregame and postgame shows on location for every home game of both clubs all season long.

MASN has also redesigned and upgraded the studio sets at its permanent Nationals and Orioles studios and has debuted a new look and graphics package for game broadcasts and for O's Xtra and Nats Xtra in 2009.

In the second season at Nationals Park, MASN invested in relocating, rewiring, and re-installing the ballpark's original high home camera position, from the 7th to the 3rd level, overcoming an in-stadium challenge to bring fans closer to the field and to facilitate a better television production.

MASN has introduced other production advancements for the 2009 season, including new cameras that will bring fans closer to the action. The network is utilizing an X-Mo camera, a new high-speed HD camera that shoots more than 300 frames per second for crystal clear replays of the biggest moments on the field. The same camera was used during NBC's Super Bowl telecast, which captured Santonio Holmes' winning TD catch.

A new relationship with STATS, Inc. provides in-game situational statistics for player vs. pitcher matchups, while the network continues to offer "Pitch Track" to show the speed, trajectory and placement of pitches.

MASN's BROADCAST ADVANCEMENTS FOR 2009 INCLUDE:

Production Enhancements:

• Added X-Mo camera (a high-speed HD camera, 300+ frames per second)


• Added jib cameras for pregame and postgame to provide panoramic views of the on-location set and the stadium


• Created "game day" remote sets for pregame and postgame shows at Nats Park and O's Park


• Redesigned and upgraded permanent studio sets for Nats Xtra and O's Xtra


• Relocated the "high-home" camera position down from the 7th level to the 3rd level at Nationals Park, a MASN investment that improved camera placement to be closer to the action and enabled an even better television production for Nationals fans

In-Game Enhancements:

• Redesigned in-game graphics and scorebug


• Enhanced the broadcast look and graphics for in-game and pre/postgame


• Added a new STATS package to show situational statistics, (e.g. a hitter's batting average facing a 3-2 count)


• Continuing to offer "Pitch Track" to demonstrate the location, speed and trajectory of pitches.

Features:

• "Wired Wednesdays" - Returned the popular feature that enables fans to hear directly from the manager, as well as the sounds on the field and in the dugout


• "Covering the Bases" - Returned the Thursday feature that takes an inside look at a particular player or coach throughout the game, with behind the scenes interviews with family, friends, coaches and former teammates.


• MASN Magnify - Added a new feature to examine a play that needs more definition

"At a time when many in the industry are cutting costs by reducing pre and post game coverage, eliminating live shows from venues and reducing cameras, MASN has increased its investments in the network, our production and our coverage. The result is an even better, clearer, and more informative viewing experience for Nationals and Orioles fans," said network spokesman Todd Webster. "MASN is proud to bring national-caliber production values to regional sports broadcasts as we demonstrate what is possible."

The network is televising 105 high definition game broadcasts for the Nationals and 105 HD games for the Orioles, showing an HD game every day of the season. MASN produces, transmits, and records every game in HD for archival purposes and in case one game is delayed by rain, the other game can be switched over onto MASN's new dedicated HD channel.

In addition to its many programming and production improvements, the network undertook an innovative marketing campaign for the 2009 season to promote the Nationals and Orioles games on MASN. The significant effort invested in prime-time network advertising buys, as well as print, online, outdoor, and social media marketing efforts.

"MASN is setting the standard for coverage of the national pastime this coming season. In only three years as a two-team regional sports network, MASN has earned it reputation as a world-class operation," Webster continued.