Not all NFL teams have an in-house broadcast and production department. Not all broadcast and production entities – NFL or not – win an award like an EMMY. The Ravens can boast both, as RaveTV was recently nominated for a whopping six National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
RaveTV was nominated in the categories of:
- Outstanding Regularly-Scheduled Sports Program for Ravens Wired featuring the family of former head coach Brian Billick and an episode of Ravens Report with Haloti Ngata after last season's game against the Patriots
- Outstanding Live Sports Production for RaveTV's telecast of a preseason contest against the Philadelphia Eagles
- Outstanding Achievement in Sports Features for two pieces – one with Mike Flynn and his family and another of Ray Lewis working out with his personal trainer
- Outstanding Achievement nomination for editing on a piece that appeared on Willis McGahee's episode of *Wired *based a Monday Night Football contest with the New England Patriots
"This is a great testimony to the work ethic of our broadcast department and the organization as a whole," said Ravens vice president of broadcasting Larry Rosen. "Earning these honors is a reflection of the access and support this organization gives us. Through that 'inside the rope' access, we are thrilled to be able to provide high-quality Ravens content."
The RaveTV team of 2007 was made up of Rosen, director of broadcasting administration Don DiRaddo, broadcasting manager Lauryn Lukin, multimedia coordinator Jay O'Brien and broadcasting coordinator Matt Brevet. Lukin, however, recently accepted a position with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the vice president of broadcasting.
"Lauryn was a key piece in setting the standard for RaveTV," Rosen explained. "Following six highly-successful seasons, she deserves this move and will surely continue that success out west."
Each Emmy-nominated entry was special for different reasons.
Billick's Wired *episode had a unique segment that followed the coach's wife, Kim, as she prepared for a typical game day. For Ngata's edition of *Report, the soft-spoken defensive tackle opened up to Ravens director of player personnel O.J. Brigance about losing both parents to tragic deaths in college.
Flynn offered a personal look into the family life of a football player, as the former Ravens center spent time with his son, Jake, and wife, Mary.
Lewis, who is known for demanding and original workout techniques, brought fans behind the scenes of a regular session with personal trainer Monte Sanders.
Because the Patriots matchup fell on Monday night and Wired aired on Tuesdays, the work on McGahee's Wired had to be turned around in under 24 hours, an impressive feat for the RaveTV crew.
In addition, the Ravens also produced their own preseason games with the broadcasting team of Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston and former Baltimore defensive tackle Tony Siragusa on Fox45.
This year, Baltimore's preseason will be called by the same team that broadcasts all games on WBAL radio, Gerry Sandusky, Stan White and former Raven defensive end Rob Burnett.
Rave-TV now owns 12 Emmys over the team's 12-year history. The NATAS Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards will take place at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington D.C. Saturday, June 14, 2008.
