
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
Print This Story
Story Highlights
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.
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
13/09/2025
ATLANTA Cox Media Group has announced that the company's vice president of news, Misty Turnbull has been inducted into the National Academy of Television Ar...
13/09/2025
AMSTERDAM Shotoku Broadcast Systems, a major developer of robotic systems, has announced plans to take studio robotics to the next level at IBC2025 by debuting ...
13/09/2025
At IBC2025 in Amsterdam, Riedel Communications unveiled Bolero Mini, the company's lightest and flattest wireless intercom beltpack to date. Designed to del...
13/09/2025
Shotoku Broadcast Systems, the international developer of dependable, userfriendly robotic systems, is taking studio robotics to the next level at IBC 2025 with...
13/09/2025
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming solutions, today released the 9th annual Video Developer Report 2025/26, offering an in-depth look at the evolvi...
13/09/2025
Bitmovin, the leading provider of video streaming solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with StreamShark, the trusted video platform for enterprise...
13/09/2025
Ikegami has chosen IBC 2025 in Amsterdam as the launch venue for a major addition to its range of viewfinders. The new VFE-P711AD is a 7-inch high resolution OL...
13/09/2025
Founder-led Merger to Fast Track R&D, Asset Library Upgrades, Tools and More; No Disruption to Pricing or Support for Users
Today, KitBash3D, a pioneer in 3D a...
13/09/2025
With NDI certification, Atomos integration, Grass Valley collaboration, and a new Monitor app, at this year's IBC, Mavis is showcasing a series of powerful...
13/09/2025
Creamsource, maker of artisan LED lighting for film and television, has unveiled the Vortex24 Soft (V24S), a 1950W native soft light and the largest soft source...
13/09/2025
When international sports streaming service DAZN secured the global rights to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup football tournament, it set out to deliver an unmatch...
13/09/2025
Riedel Communications today announced the acquisition of hi human interface from Broadcast Solutions, bringing a powerful, vendor-agnostic control system to it...
13/09/2025
Building on its long-term relationship with audio metering specialist RTW, Calrec has integrated the company's brand new TMxCore metering platform across it...
13/09/2025
Calrec is expanding its family of future-ready self-contained Argo M control surfaces at IBC2025, with the addition of a brand new powerful 48-fader console. Co...
13/09/2025
Harmonic's Software-Based XOS Advanced Media Processor Provides Unparalleled Efficiency and Unlocks New Business Models SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sept. 13, 2025 -...
13/09/2025
Researchers find brain region that fuels compulsive drinking Study by Scripps Research scientists shows how the brain learns to seek alcohol for relief, not jus...
12/09/2025
College Football Kickoff 2025: Fox Sports Ups Look as Canon, Sony Power Shallow ...
12/09/2025
ABC/ESPN Excited For WNBA Postseason Coverage In Revamped FormatThe Finals moves to a best-of-seven series in 2025By Mark J Burns, SVG Contributor
Friday, Sep...
12/09/2025
(L-R) Jade Croot, Rosy McEwen, and Bryn Chainey attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Rabbit Trap at Eccles Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park ...
12/09/2025
For fans, we know how important it is to stay plugged into music culture and dis...
12/09/2025
Link ping, Sweden and Shipley, United Kingdom, September 12, 2025 - Agama, the expert in video observability and analytics for service quality and customer expe...
12/09/2025
IBC2025 began on Sept. 12, with exhibits and conferences running through Sept. 15 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center. Explore the full TV Tech coverage of t...
12/09/2025
The Best Fictional Bands (and the Artists Who Make Them Great) With Spinal Tap II: The End Continues hitting theaters and songs from KPop Demon Hunters ruling...
12/09/2025
Industry veteran Tom Baldassare has joined Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, as a Se...
12/09/2025
Maxon, maker of powerful, approachable software solutions for creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, and more, today announced a...
12/09/2025
PlayBox Neo, a leading provider of media playout solutions, has partnered with AI-Media, pioneering developers of AI-powered captioning technology, to integrate...
12/09/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
12/09/2025
New alliance strengthens the IT channel in Germany and Switzerland in protecting business-critical SaaS data.
Keepit, the world s only independent, cloud-nativ...
12/09/2025
Fincons Group, an international IT business consultancy and systems integrator company with more than 40 years of experience in the market, is proud to announce...
12/09/2025
Following its acquisition of Telemetrics, EVS continues its push into robotics with an announcement at IBC2025 that it is acquiring XD motion....
12/09/2025
TORONTO The North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) has announced the appointment of Eduardo Ruiz Sanchez, deputy director, broadcast operations at Telev...
12/09/2025
Ed Miller, a longtime broadcast engineer in Ohio and a former national president of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, has died....
12/09/2025
AMSTERDAM At this year's IBC2025, the Advanced HDR by Technicolor initiative will be pushing broadcasters to adopt a more dynamic, frame-by-frame conversion...
12/09/2025
Feature-length retrospective from Studio Crook to air in 2026
Sir David Jason returns to the nation's favourite comedy channel, U&GOLD, for Open All Hours:...
12/09/2025
September 12th, 2025
Tribeca X and The Female Quotient to Host Powerhouse Em...
12/09/2025
Friday 12 September 2025
The Boomtown Rats, Nyah Grace, Soweto Kinch, Royal Ballet and Madness also announced to perform at the ceremony on Tuesday
Sky today ...
12/09/2025
Wuppertal September 12, 2025
Riedel Unveils Ultra-Light Bolero Mini Wireless Intercom BeltpackAt IBC2025 in Amsterdam, Riedel Communications unveiled Bolero M...
12/09/2025
Wuppertal September 12, 2025
Riedel Communications Acquires hi human interfaceRiedel Communications today announced the acquisition of hi human interface fro...
12/09/2025
Back to All News
New International Crime Series Road (WT)' Explores Twiste...
12/09/2025
Back to All News
First Look: Thai Crime Drama Everybody Loves Me When I'm ...
12/09/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Marks 10 Years in Japan, Announces Three New Series Th...
12/09/2025
CORE+ virtually removes distortion, setting a new standard for church sound and giving worship teams the clarity and confidence they need.
Read the full artic...
12/09/2025
The Late Late Show is back with a bang after the summer break, and Patrick Kielt...
12/09/2025
The World Athletics Championships, Ireland v France in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final, the Irish Champions Festival, and two Sports Direct Men...
12/09/2025
The Records Show starts Sunday at 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player.
Katie Hanno...
11/09/2025
Report: Busy Live Sports Streaming Execs Have Low-hanging Fruit' in Front o...
11/09/2025
Inside Game Creek Video's Big Week as Ovation, Flagship Make NFL DebutsBy Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 7:00 am
Pr...
11/09/2025
NFL Kickoff 2025: Prime Sports Starts New Season at Lambeau Field; Sets Sights o...