Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 24, 1991 TAG: 9102240027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Raycom coordinating basketball producer Johnny Tyous, after a lighting survey last month, decided the candlepower at the civic center isn't sufficient. Metro assistant commissioner Jamie Kimbrough agreed.
That isn't unusual.
Many arenas that aren't NBA or regular Division I telecast sites are shy of candlepower. Last year, CBS Sports paid for extra lighting at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum for the Metro. This year, CBS isn't airing the final.
Raycom's tests, by Tyous, showed the civic center lighting at 35 foot-candles (a measure of light). That was without the basketball floor down. The glare provided by the hardwood would add to that number somewhat.
The minimum for television is 30 foot-candles. CBS seeks a measurement of 125-150 foot-candles for its telecasts. Raycom plans to improve the Roanoke Civic Center lights to 120-125 foot-candles - more than tripling the brightness.
Kimbrough said the broadcast networks for the event are supposed to pay for the added lighting, and that the league or either of the tournament hosts - Virginia Tech and the city of Roanoke - won't be billed.
The five-year Metro-Raycom telecast contract does not include any provisions for additional lighting in arenas. A Raycom spokesman said the question of who should pay for the Roanoke lights "is unsolved right now."
Civic center assistant manager Mark Collins said Tyous, during his building tour last month, said the civic center wouldn't be paying for the additional lights. The extra lights will be installed by Mix Lighting of Jeffersonville, Ind., two days before the March 7-9 tournament, Kimbrough said.
Raycom will televise the Metro semifinals and championship game, while Prime Network, with ties to a potential 25 million cable homes including Home Team Sports, will air the first-round games.
by CNB