TNT Sports is set to embark on its most ambitious college basketball season to date, featuring a total of 98 games. This significant endeavor marks a major shift in the network’s production approach, as the majority of these events will utilize a Multi-Feed Production (MFP) model. The season kicks off this week, with games produced primarily from the Techwood Campus in Atlanta.
Expansive Coverage and Innovative Production
With a newly acquired 50-game package from the Big East, TNT Sports will also cover 15 Big 12 men’s games, over 30 other men’s college games, and 15 Big East women’s games. In total, the network plans to broadcast 67 NCAA March Madness matchups in collaboration with CBS Sports, alongside 13 Big 12 football games and two College Football Playoff games sublicensed through ESPN. This extensive portfolio translates to over 500 hours of live college sports, demonstrating a remarkable 60% year-over-year increase for TNT Sports and Bleacher Report.
Chris Brown, Vice President of Technology and Operations at Warner Bros. Discovery, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming season, stating, “Managing this Big East college basketball package is going to be like having the Playoffs for four months.” He acknowledged that while challenges may arise, the commitment to delivering quality content remains paramount.
Transforming Production Techniques
In recent years, TNT Sports has transformed its Atlanta campus into a state-of-the-art remote production hub. This facility features multiple control rooms designed for diverse event levels. The MFP model has already been employed for the majority of Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Hockey League (NHL) productions this year, with college basketball now following suit.
Brown highlighted the necessity for a mindset shift to accommodate the expanded college basketball schedule. “We have to represent each brand uniquely while maintaining the storytelling and coverage standards that TNT Sports is known for,” he remarked.
On the ground, TNT Sports will leverage three mobile units tailored for MFP workflows: NEP’s Supershooter 63 and Supershooter 64, along with Live Media Group’s MU 28. This flexibility allows TNT Sports to utilize additional trucks as needed, ensuring that production remains efficient and responsive to dynamic scheduling.
Importantly, the production team will maintain on-site presence for key roles, including the producer and director, while other team members will operate from the Techwood control rooms. “High volume, back-to-back games are what the MFP model was made for,” Brown noted, emphasizing the system’s design for adaptability.
This season’s games will be equipped with a minimum of six cameras, including at least one super-slow-motion camera, and three EVS replay servers. The production team will adjust equipment levels on a game-by-game basis, based on the significance of each matchup.
The opening week includes a notable game featuring #13 Arizona against the visiting Utah Tech Trailblazers, scheduled for 9 p.m. on March 15, 2024, at the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona. As TNT Sports dives into this unprecedented season, the focus on innovation and viewer engagement is set to redefine the landscape of college sports broadcasting.
