RSN Summit: RSN Experts Discuss Marriage of Digital, Linear Production Teams By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Friday, June 29, 2018 - 8:45 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
Executives from the Regional Sports Network (RSN) community discussed the growing unified relationship between digital and linear production teams, how it is impacting hiring and workflows, and how linear and digital production philosophies are influencing content creation for the other.
Larry Meyers, EVP, Content, Pac-12 Networks said that one of the goals is to have a barrier-less relationship between parts of the company that have long operated in separate circles. Studio operations and digital and editing teams are all aware that the goal is to create content that can be served out in a multiplatform world.
The strategy for creating content may vary a little from platform to platform, but the mission is still to connect fans across a national network and six regional networks to the schools they love, he explains. It's a different approach, but with the same result.
That different approach is also impacting technology providers. Steve Davis, Chief Revenue Officer, Ooyala said that companies like Ooyala are looking to help automate many of the processes that are required to get content out to both digital and linear viewers.
More and more, it is about shared metadata and workflows, even if the content is different, explained Davis. They need a common MAM or workflow for cost savings and also to speed up access to content. And they want to make [content creation] for both cheaper, with automation in the middle that can work with different departments.
MSG Networks' Kevin Marotta
Kevin Marotta, SVP, Marketing and Content Strategy, MSG Networks, said that those involved in content creation for linear or digital are increasingly embracing a cultural change where they have more creative freedom with respect to storytelling. One way the digital world has changed linear content creation is that programs and segments are increasingly freed from having to be cut or extended to fit into a 30-minute or one-hour program.
We can tell the stories in as efficient away as possible, and if we can only get 10 minutes with a player, that is OK because we only need a few minutes of content, added Marotta.
The production team isn't the only one adjusting to a more unified world. Sales teams are also becoming more integrated and the days of having separate sales, buyers, and agencies for different platforms are giving way to integrated sales efforts as brands look to connect across all platforms.
One thing all of the panelists agreed on is that the days of good enough for digital are long gone. Michael R. Hall, SVP, Digital, NESN, said the production values need to be as high as they can for both platforms, a move that ensures that content that comes out of the digital team can be worthy of being shown on air.
Hall hinted at another challenge facing the industry: serving two masters, and not just the platforms. At its core, a regional network is serving fans in a fairly limited geographical zone and typically over cable operators within that zone. But digital delivery has created the opportunity to reach fans across the country and that can require different production teams to make content for each.
Ooyala's Steve Davis, alongside NESN's Michael R. Hall
The evolution within the production teams is also impacting the skill set that the networks are looking for in employees. As the quality of digitally delivered content continues to rise, there is also a rise in the interest in hiring people who have broadcast-technology experience. And when networks are hiring on-air talent, those new hires are expected to join a network with a built-in audience via a social media following, ideally a following that is younger.
Regardless of what role a person has on a digital team, they are often excited to have a chance to be involved in creating content for delivery on air. On-air talent on the digital side, for example, are starting to focus less on quips and humor and more on playing it straight. And in a world of increased consolidation, Hall said they are also sticking around longer than they might have anticipated as they take advantage of the ability to develop their career and sharpen their skills.
Michael Wargo, Senior Director of Multi-Platform Content, NBC Sports Regional Networks, said the philosophy at NBC Sports is don't look at the voice and tone of each platform, as the lines are blurring. At NBC Sports, for example, content teams are divided up by the teams they cover, not the platform. In addition, the fans in Boston may not be looking for the same thing as fans in the Bay Area, although Hall said often those differences don't vary too much.
And while fans in different markets may have slightly different needs, there are some consistent challenges for those creating content for digital delivery. Content that is delivered digitally, for example, often is under the pressure to hook the viewer within the first three seconds and, often, without sound.
Our creative services team in Stamford distributed to RSNs a similar look and feel on how to package content, and they spent a lot of time looking at every content distribution scenario, said Wargo. We have templates for content that needs to get out quickly when time matters, but everyone has a tool kit and an understanding how to use it. You need to make sure the teams are in a position to succeed, and that means training on new equipment.
Increasingly, that new equipment is becoming more intuitive, automated, and capable. And for many production professionals, that means less need to focus on mundane tasks and more time to focus on what matters: tightening the relationship with passionate sports fans with content
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
01/06/2024
Busy this week catching up from the Memorial Day holiday? Our TV Tech weekly wrap-up of all our coverage of new products, services and deployments will get you ...
01/06/2024
Young Sherlock, with Guy Ritchie directing and executive producing, is a go at Prime Video. Hero Fiennes Tiffin plays Sherlock. Prime Video calls it the origin...
01/06/2024
The Los Angeles Sparks-Indiana Fever game on Friday featuring the top two WNBA draft picks, Caitlin Clark and Cameron Brink, was the most watched WNBA game on I...
01/06/2024
Lionsgate, which increased its majority stake in 3 Arts Entertainment in January, said it named Brian Weinstein co-CEO of 3 Arts....
01/06/2024
Netflix is launching four video games based on unscripted series this year. They...
01/06/2024
ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates switched from their regular programming to carry live coverage of the verdicts in the porn star hush-money trial of former Pres...
31/05/2024
A U.S. Marine fires an FIM-92 Stinger missile during a training exercise in Yuma...
31/05/2024
NEW YORK The global body that sets technical standards for digital advertising h...
31/05/2024
In a new analysis of what services might make up a good bundle and what services might benefit the most from bundling, Antenna has released new data that highli...
31/05/2024
Global SVOD revenues will increase by $116.6 billion by 2031, a growth rate of 13.3% per year over the next eight years, according to a new report from MIDiA Re...
31/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. The FCC Media Bureau has announced that effective August 1, 2024 the Commission's TVStudy software will incorporate the most recent U.S. Ce...
31/05/2024
NBCUniversal has announced that its FAST channel TNBC will be rebranding to NBC Comedy Vault on June 1 and that the free streaming service will officially launc...
31/05/2024
PARIS Ateme has announced that the Indonesian public broadcaster TVRI is making the transition to 4K UHD OTT streaming using Ateme technologies....
31/05/2024
The proposal had received support from James Cameron, Andy Serkis, Paul Greengrass, Richard Curtis, and Jeremy Irons
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 31, 2...
31/05/2024
According to multiple reports, the new bid from Skydance offers a better deal to Paramounts Class B shareholders, who were said to be unhappy with the companys ...
31/05/2024
The awards recognise women and companies who are stand-out performers, innovators and leaders in the broadcast media technology industry
By Matthew Corrigan
...
31/05/2024
NEW YORK The global body that sets technical standards for digital advertising has expanded the reach of its measurement software development kit to include Sam...
31/05/2024
The rise of digital platforms is fundamentally changing the broadcast newsroom and its investment in technology according to Jon Roberts, director of technology...
31/05/2024
In a new analysis of what services might make up a good bundle and what services might benefit the most from bundling, Antenna has released new data that highli...
31/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Fifty state broadcasters associations, including the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, have sent a letter to Congressio...
31/05/2024
EVS has announced the appointment of Richard Katz as senior vice president of operations for the North and Latin American (NALA) region. This appointment is par...
31/05/2024
CommScope has announced that it was selected by Casa Systems, Inc. as the highest to acquire Casa's cable business assets and that the two companies have en...
31/05/2024
Robert De Niro won't be receiving the Service to America Leadership Award from the NAB Leadership Foundation after all....
31/05/2024
Viant Technology said it formed an integration with Google Cloud's BigQuery data clean rooms...
31/05/2024
The CW said it will broadcast the 2024 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop Last year, The CW aired the game when it was called Bar...
31/05/2024
Allen Media Group said it made a deal with Amazon's Fire TV Channel that will make content from several of Allen's outlet available via Fire TV and Echo...
31/05/2024
Robert De Niro, announced as the winner of the NAB's Leadership Foundation's Service to America Leadership Award on May 28, will not get the award. The ...
31/05/2024
Comcast Technology Solutions was selected by AccuWeather to create, manage and distribute linear and over-the-top video channels....
31/05/2024
Connected TV is becoming a bigger deal for consumers and advertisers, according to a new report from TVision....
31/05/2024
By Craig Anderton
Let's get right to what this sounds like. It's not quite feedback or tape reverse, it's well, listen to what it does in this blue...
31/05/2024
31 May 2024
VEON discloses April YTD trading update at its AGM Amsterdam, 31 May 2024 07:00 CEST -
VEON April YTD 2024 Highlights
Total revenue of USD 1,278 ...
31/05/2024
31 May 2024
VEON Announces Its New Board, Names Founder Augie Fabela as Chairman Amsterdam, 31 May 2024, 16.00 CET: VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam...
31/05/2024
May 31st, 2024
TRIBECA FESTIVAL AND OPEN AI ANNOUNCE SORA SHORTS'
Five Commissioned Short Films Created Using Sora Debut at 2024 Tribeca Festival
New ...
31/05/2024
In-Venue Technology Wrap-Up: How 4K, IP, and More are Changing the Game Pres Gam...
31/05/2024
UEFA Champions League Final 2024: The host broadcast facts and figures for Real ...
31/05/2024
UEFA Europa Conference League Final 2024: Bringing the broadcast to global TV sc...
31/05/2024
Willow Offers Free 2024 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup Preview via DirecTV, Verizon, ...
31/05/2024
Women's College World Series: ESPN Brings Live Drone, Two-Point Cabled, and ...
31/05/2024
SVG College Summit Brings Video-Production Industry Together in Atlanta in the M...
31/05/2024
UEFA Champions League Final 2024: CBS Sports' UCL Today Studio Show Is Pitch...
31/05/2024
Back to All News
Master of the House' Unveils a Scandalous Tale of Power and Greed on July 18
Entertainment
31 May 2024
GlobalThailand
Link copied to ...
31/05/2024
Back to All News
JEEtu Bhaiya is Back: Kota Factory' Season 3 Arrives on Netflix June 20
Entertainment
31 May 2024
GlobalIndia
Link copied to clipboar...
31/05/2024
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
With around 9,000 employees, Ground Transportation Systems is a global leader in Rail Signaling and Train Control Systems, Telec...
31/05/2024
RT 2FM is the home of music this summer, entertaining listeners across the day and night, with the best music, chat and interviews providing the soundtrack to ...
31/05/2024
After the 2008 financial crisis and increased risk-management regulations that f...
31/05/2024
RT Supporting the Arts: What's On this June
Watch our promo: RT Supporting the Arts | What's on YouTube
This June, RT is delighted to support Lim...
30/05/2024
When to Upgrade Software or Firmware This post is from our blog and news archive. The information may be out of date. Please contact us for further information ...
RSN Summit: RSN Experts Discuss Marriage of Digital, Linear Production Teams By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director 
