By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A camera smaller than a softball may offer the best view as tons of concrete and steel beams crash around it.

The camera, a shared effort by Cincinnati TV stations, will be mounted near the roof of Cinergy's right-center field, which is expected to be the last part of the stadium to fall when it is imploded Dec. 29.

Cincinnati TV stations are sharing the $2,000 expense for the security-type camera and electrical equipment, knowing it will be destroyed.

Why?

BOOM

• Cinergy: A gentle explosion • Police working to keep public out of danger • Info, maps • Implosion wheres, whens, and don'ts • Camera to give its life capturing inside look

"It's an historical moment that we can get on tape," says Tom Talley, the WKRC-TV (Channel 12) engineer in charge of the camera that will provide pictures to all four TV stations.

It should be high enough to be clear of the smoke and dust and once it is smashed beyond its ability to send a signal, the stations will instantly switch to another camera. All told, there will be nearly three dozen other cameras positioned to capture the 37-second demolition.

Mr. Talley purchased a new $500 Sony Rugged Minidome for the job. It's a softball-size domed security camera used in jails and apartment lobbies. It should capture most of the section-by-section demolition, which starts in at the left field foul pole, he says.

Viewers should not expect perfect pictures, he says, but it should be good enough to see the demolition from inside the park.

"It will give us a decent shot. It's not a $30,000 news camera. But we're buying the best we can, for a decent amount of money, and we'll watch it until it gets destroyed," he says.

About 100 people - reporters, anchors, camera operators, engineers and others - will be working to fill the combined 6‡ hours of live broadcasts planned for a month.

"You just can't drive out there 20 minutes before the explosion," says Elbert Tucker, Channel 12 news director. Stations must make sure cameras operate; that signals can be received simultaneously from various remote locations; that microphones and tape machines work properly; and that feature stories are ready to roll before the blast, he says.

WLWT-TV (Channel 5), which telecast Cincinnati Reds games for 50 years, will devote the most time to the event, three hours (6-9 a.m.). Channel 5 will have the most cameras - 15, including those in two helicopters. The station also plans features on Reds and Bengals highlights, and an interview with former Reds CEO Marge Schott.

WCPO-TV (Channel 9)'s two-hour telecast (7-9 a.m.) will include "a great deal of stadium history" from the city's two veterans sports anchors, Dennis Janson and John Popovich. The ABC affiliate refused to discuss most details, citing confidentiality.

"It'd be a pretty crazy coach that put out the game plan before the game is played," says Bob Morford, Channel 9 news director.

Channel 19 (FOX) plans a one-hour special (7:30-8:30 a.m.), while Channel 12 airs just a half-hour (7:45-8:15 a.m.). Channel 12's Mr. Tucker says he's not convinced Tristate viewers need hours of coverage next Sunday.

"I think people want to wake up, see the event on TV, then watch the replays," he says.

At the other stations, people expect a lot of VCRs to be running Sunday morning.

"We are strongly encouraging folks to set their VCRs... so they can show this tape for years to come. It is definitely Cincinnati history," says Pat Casey, Channel 19 news director.

Those coordinating implosion media coverage also encourage Tristate residents to stay home by their TVs, says Debra DeCourcy of Dan Pinger Public Relations, a spokeswoman for Great American Ball Park.

"The best place they can watch it is on television, because security downtown will be very tight," says Ms. DeCourcy.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com