PBR Teams Ready To Roll at CSU for Opening Weekend 2026

Drones, jibs, robos are part of the expanded camera complement for the Professional Bull Riders series

PBR Teams' 2026 season, with a 10-team field competing in five-on-five bull-riding games, kicks off its 12-event slate this weekend at Canvas Stadium, home of Colorado State University's football program.

For the fifth straight year, competition will air across CBS, and, for the second consecutive year, games will be broadcast on The CW. Additionally, Paramount+ will serve as streaming provider.

We're excited to get back to a full crew, says Jim Palermo, director, remote productions, PBR. We were down after COVID and have been building back up. We feel like, this year, the production is going to be so much better than we've had in the past few years for the simple reason that we've added a major number of people back into the show.

PBR's Jim Palermo at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Falcon Stadium, which hosted last month's PBR Space Cowboys event. (Photo: Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media)This season, PBR Teams shows will be produced onsite from two 53-ft. expando mobile units. The A truck, Palermo says, will handle the television production, the big-screen video feed, and the in-arena show. PBR has owned this truck, which houses two control rooms and a split bench, since around 2020.

The B truck houses PBR's timing/scoring capabilities, a replay judge, and submix audio mixer. Panasonic PTZ robotic cameras will also be controlled from inside this truck.

For PBR Teams stadium shows, 30-plus cameras will be deployed, including Sony HDC-3500 and HDC-4300 cameras, Marshall POVs, Panasonic PTZs, Sony A-7 mirrorless cameras with DJI gimbals, and RF transmitter/receiver kits. Arena shows will have around 17 cameras.

The start of the 2026 season marks the first full season in which robotic cameras are used to capture low angles. Two jibs will be used for coverage, up from just one in 2025.

Palermo notes that how a venue is normally staged and where bulls are placed for PBR Teams competition occasionally limits where cameras and staff can be located. Jibs provide PBR an opportunity to get up and over the steel and get down low onto the dirt and stay out of people's way. They also don't get trapped.

Three RF cameras, two more than in 2025, are being integrated into the production and will allow operators to follow sideline reporters, extending the overall breadth of PBR's coverage area.

PBR's A production truck handles the TV production for PBR Teams competitions. (Photo: PBR)In terms of sound, about five audio-specific personnel are on hand for these productions, according to Palermo. For PBR Teams, handheld cameras with microphones, two boom mics on the rider chutes, and crowd microphones are integral in capturing audio for the shows.

For multiple events in 2026, including this weekend in Colorado, drones will be incorporated into the production. Palermo describes the technology as a great scene-setter for PBR. The issue we always had was safety and flying a drone live over crowds. Now that the technology is good and drones are so small, a lot of arenas are lifting their no-drone policies. It should help the show tremendously.

This season, PBR Teamsbroadcasts will be led by PBR Executive Producer Jason Jacquette and Director Nate Hill. And a new graphics package will debut, thanks to the property's partnership with Keyport Keys.

Among vendors and third-party companies working with PBR this year are Ross Video Production Services, PRG, and NEP Rentals (formerly Bexel). Zero Point Aerial is drone vendor.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/07/10/pbr-teams-ready-to-roll-at-csu-...
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