Enabling next-generation remote production for Florida International University ESPN+ broadcasts

With a diverse sports and athletics program, Florida International University (FIU) plays out hundreds of sports fixtures a year, with fans supporting pitch-side and from across the nation tuning in online. For those not joining on the ground, broadcasts of fixtures via YouTube and ESPN+ offer prime opportunity for fans to show their support for the Panthers. 

Yet for the teams behind the scenes, drawing together various aspects of these multiple productions was no easy task. With a variety of sports on offer placed across different venues, the team frequently lugged equipment to the respective locations to ensure fans tuning in virtually didn’t miss out on the action.  

With the help of Midtown Video, FIU tapped into the power of Vizrt technologies to drive their sports productions – all by developing a central control room to remotely direct and broadcast football, soccer, basketball, and volleyball games. 

Driving reliability and seamless workflows 

The creation of the ESPN+ control room was driven by a desire to enable more flexible and engaging sports fixture broadcasts that didn’t rely on physically moving equipment each time. Before this installation, FIU had to move their production switchers, instant replay system, graphics machine, and streaming encoder to each sports venue per game.  

It was time consuming and logistically challenging, but also restrictive and high-risk. It was highly dependent on set-up being correct each time, and the practicalities of moving a range of equipment around multiple locations was not sustainable for achieving high-quality productions. Not only was equipment subject to strenuous wear and tear, but production workflows for individual fixtures were siloed, lacking broader network connectivity, and the broadcast team also faced cramped and uncomfortable conditions.  

However, FIU’s new installation sought to create a centralized broadcast control room to produce its sports shows. By linking several sports venues to the control room in the Basketball Arena over fiber optic cable, FIU now only needed to move their cameras around, with footage shared via NDI® to their centralized in-house video board. Not only has this boosted output quality and made production far easier but gives way to closer collaboration between the production and in-house marketing teams. 

A centralized TriCaster TC1 fixed at the control room, and enhanced NDI-enabled network connectivity bridging the gap between various event locations and the broadcast team’s Viz 3Play 3P1 system, makes creating high-energy sports broadcasts easy. Now, switching video feeds in-game and cutting to different sports, bringing in live commentary, incorporating other sources and information, giving direction, and more, is seamless. Moving equipment is no longer required and flexible production is achieved with ease. 

And with NDI, FIU has democratized access to a wealth of video content between the broadcast and in-house marketing teams. The broadcast team can access wireless gimmick ‘Kiss Cams’ used by the marketing team, and the marketing team can now access replays of specific match moments and more, to create engaging promotional materials. 

TriCaster makes creating high energy broadcasts easy

A centralized TriCaster TC1 fixed at the control room, and enhanced NDI-enabled network connectivity bridging the gap between various event locations and the broadcast team’s Viz 3Play 3P1 system, creating high-energy sports broadcasts easy. Now, switching video feeds
in-game and cutting to different sports, bringing in live commentary, incorporating other sources and information, giving direction, and more, is seamless. Moving equipment is no longer required and flexible production is achieved with ease.

Flexible team collaboration 

From the central control room, the broadcast crew – responsible for feed switching, match replays, audio and graphics – can work seamlessly with those on the pitch and elsewhere across campus to create an immersive, high-action production.  

A dual-base station intercom system, with a base station at each venue, enables multiple lines of communication between all those involved, with those in the control room directing camera operators and announcers. The referee’s wireless microphone on the field can even be included in broadcasts, if desired. 

And with the new NDI-enabled network, other members of the production, such as announcers, no longer need to sit in a specific place. Announcers can sit right in on the action from the bleachers, or could set up undercover in a stadium, despite covering an outdoor soccer game.  

Likewise, directors no longer need to call the shots pitch-side surrounded by noise, and can instead direct the entire production from the comfort of the control room. Program feeds, game feeds, replays and talent cameras are all available over NDI, regardless of where key staff decide to base themselves. 

“With TriCaster^®, NDI ^® and Viz 3Play^®, and outstanding service from Midtown Video, we’ve achieved a range of efficiencies through a centralized, flexible workflow and this has totally transformed how we broadcast high-action FIU sports fixtures to fans. It’s opened a wide range of new opportunities, enabling new levels of creativity and collaboration between our internal teams. Our production team was able to achieve broadcast-quality output for every single one of our home volleyball, soccer, football and basketball games in the 2023 season. It is something we have never achieved before. Midtown’s key personnel were on hand during our critical football games to enhance production value and ensure success.”  -Nick Garrido, FIU Athletics, Assistant Athletic Director/Live Productions, at Florida International University. 

With the benefits realized, Florida International University is working towards integrating softball, baseball and tennis fixtures into future broadcasts.  

Speaking of future projects and plans: With the benefits realized, Florida International University is working towards integrating softball, baseball and tennis fixtures into future broadcasts.