Live from Final Four: Compound Shuffle Gives CBS/Turner's Titanic Production a Tech Shot in The Arm With return of TeamCasts on TNT and truTV joining main telecast on TBS, resources expand By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Saturday, March 31, 2018 - 3:47 pm
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In Year 8 of the March Madness partnership between CBS Sports and Turner Sports, operations at the Final Four are running smoother than ever. Camera resources have been advanced, IP infrastructures are at full tilt, and in-compound (and nation-wide) file sharing networks have talent from across the country contributing to the overall production of this year's championship.
An on-site set in the fan section of the south end of the Alamodome anchored Turner Sports' pre, halftime, and postgame coverage at the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four.
Here in San Antonio at the Alamodome, the most notable change comes in the form of a major presence from Game Creek Video. Five mobile units, four of which are supporting the main game production in some capacity, anchor the compound with the new '79 which just debuted six weeks ago serving as host to the main production on TBS being run by director Bob Fishman and producer Mark Wolff at the front bench.
'79 is Game Creek's (and one of the industry's) most advanced IP trucks to date and is helping take this event's IP backbone to new heights.
The whole IP routing infrastructure [of 79] is exciting, says Chris Brown, Director of Technical Operations for Turner Sports. It changes the workflow a little bit, but not drastically. It also makes things like distribution easier. So its a great addition to what we have been doing.
Chris Brown, Turner Sports' Director of Technical Operations
According to Brown, the refreshed IP backbone has helped both expand the compound's capabilities while reducing its footprint (though the compound here is still impressive). What may have taken four or five trucks in previous years, now is down to three. NEP also has a robust collection of mobile units on site supporting both the TeamCasts and other needs. Chromium is the home for TBS's pre, halftime, and postgame on-site studio coverage.
CBS and Turner have again deployed an IP-based asset-sharing EVS network. Connectivity between the compound and broadcast centers in New York City and Atlanta allow for more editors to churn out content for everything from the telecast to social and digital platforms. There's also added facilities being utilized at CNN's Los Angeles facility. Content being cut there was being dropped across the public Internet as early as hours before opening tip.
Back inside, there's 50+ cameras here at the Alamodome (59 total if you count the five at Turner's special set on San Antonio's iconic Riverwalk) covering action for the main game, supplementing the TeamCasts (which are back), and shooting the on-site studio set positioned on the south end of the dome.
The popular Rail Cam has established itself as one of the most useful and captivating camera angles in the entire Turner/CBS arsenal.
Back in the mix are Skycam Wildcat, a collection of Sony HDC4300 high-speed cameras, Bexel's Clarity 800 camera (which, for the second year, is positioned at the base of the basket stanchions), and the popular Rail Cam system, which has become a popular shot of choice for Fishman and Wolff since its implementation in 2015.
Robotic 4K cameras affixed to the top of each backboard, this year, have gotten a lens upgrade with CJ12x4.3B Canon lenses.
The Rail Cam, right now at the Final Four, is just as important of a camera as any other of our primary coverage cameras, says Brown. Continually bringing it back every year is really exciting.
The move to Game Creek Video trucks supporting the main game broadcast has also brought with it a shot in the arm on the lens front. Canon is out in full force with two CJ12x4.3B lenses on the robotics affixed atop each of the backboards. There's a Canon HJ15x8.5BKRSE-V Image Stabilized HD Lens on the Rail Cam, and a pair of pedestal cams boast Digisuper 95 Super Telephotos. Those are covered up with protective materials for player safety.
Industry vets return as the brainpower behind the massive ioperation. From the CBS side, Patty Power, EVP, Operations and Engineering, Mike Francis, VP, Remote Engineering and Planning, Tom McShane, VP of Remote Operations, and Ken Aagaard, EVP, Innovation and New Technology. Joining Brown from Turner Sports is Tom Sahara, EVP, Technology.
Other notable firsts on the personnel end include Janis Murray, who is running the main game camera, taking over for George Graffeo, who manned the position for 30+ years. Wendell Stephens is also capping his first NCAA Tournament as CBS Sports' A1.
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Live from Final Four: Compound Shuffle Gives CBS/Turner's Titanic Production a Tech Shot in The Arm With return of TeamCasts on TNT and truTV joining main telecast on TBS, resources expand By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
