NBC Sports Reflects Lessons Learned During Project Restart for Upcoming Premier League Fixtures The broadcaster is continuing its enhanced crowd audio, COVID-19 safety guidelines By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - 11:50 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The U.S. has celebrated the first weekend of NFL football since February, but another kind of football also occupied the minds of Americans. Fans flocked to their television sets for a full slate of Premier League fixtures on NBC Sports, and the production crew responsible for these matches is moving forward with valuable information gathered during Project Restart.
I think it's important to recognize the success of Project Restart both on and off the pitch, says NBC Sports Coordinating Producer Pierre Moossa. As we look towards the 2020-21 season, we want to build on that success and momentum.
Soundtrack of the Game: Enhanced Audio Rolls Over to 2020-21 Campaign In June, when last year's schedule resumed, NBC Sports decided to implement enhanced audio to all games on linear television. With stands and pitches still at zero audience, the network is committed to using fake atmospheric noise for fans watching at home.
It's a continuation of the production plans and workflows [from Project Restart], notes Moossa. Our audio offerings will include added sound effects. When technically possible, we will offer the option for natural sounds on our digital platform.
Unlike the U.S., the UK has considered bringing fans back to stadiums later in the season. Some reports suggest a return as early as Oct. 1, but Brighton & Hove Albion participated in a pilot program that allowed roughly 2,500 supporters into their preseason friendly against Chelsea. With the prospect of fans onsite making natural noise, Moossa is more than excited to reflect their energy in the broadcast.
Fans are such a huge part of the fabric of the Premier League, he continues. They are the soundtrack of a football match, so we miss their involvement in the viewing experience.
Safe and Secure Facility: Stamford Crew To Maintain COVID-19 Guidelines Although health and safety protocols were a new concept for the production team to deal with after the resumption of the season, the guidelines will still be in place at the Sports Production Operations Center in Stamford, CT.
The most important lesson [that we learned] is the support from NBC's health and safety team to be able to put us in a safe working environment and to allow us to be able to do our jobs, albeit in a different way, says Moossa. When you're facing challenges, it's awesome to see the production and technical teams rise to the occasion.
For anyone who will be in the facility, extensive measures like one-way traffic and separate workspaces will still be enforced. To limit potential cross-contamination and to unclutter this enclosed area, Moossa and company will continue to rely on remote-production workflows from offsite locations.
Most of us are learning new ways of working, he adds. Ultimately, every part of this new workflow has worked out well.
Bird Is the Word: Network Shifts 175 Exclusive Matches to Peacock Launched July 15, the broadcaster's new Peacock steaming service will play a vital role in coverage of the Premier League. With Premier League Pass folded into the new platform, 175 exclusive matches and 1,500 hours of programming will be consumed this season. New to the digital outlet will be Premier League TV, a 24/7, fully dedicated channel for the most avid of fans of The Beautiful Game.
Besides the virtual channel, there will be original, topical, and timeless content, like Premier League Review and Preview, Fan Zone, and more, says Moossa. [Peacock] will also be the home to all 380 on-demand matches, as well as classic matches.
With the freedom of this new avenue for content, the production team is able to push the normal time constraints of linear television. If the subject warrants an extra minute or two, fewer commercial obligations allow more room to work with.
When the match is over, he explains, there's no time constraint for getting off the air. If necessary, Goal Zone can go over the allotted time, especially if there's breaking news or something we want to get into.
New Face, Familiar Place: Tim Howard Returns in Full-Time Broadcasting Role Coming into this season, Premier League Mornings will look a little different. With the departure of Kyle Martino, Tim Howard will join the broadcasting ranks on a full-time basis.
I got my start in television [at NBC Sports] , he says, so I share in the excitement and am delighted to be back here.
The former goalkeeper for the U.S. Men's National Team and Everton made his debut on the network in 2013 during a call of Manchester United-Chelsea. Now that he has officially hung up the boots, the production team is looking forward to spicing up the pre/postgame and halftime coverage with his playing expertise.
He will be able to explain to us whether or not a goalkeeper really is at fault [for a mistake], says host Rebecca Lowe. We all have our own opinions, but we've never stood between the sticks. To have that chance to find out once and for all whether conceding a goal to the near post from 20 yards out is actually a terrible error is the perspective I think viewers haven't had and you can't have unless you have a top-of-the-line former keeper in the studio.
To round out the Premier League Mornings team, Lowe and Howard will be joined by the Robbies: Robbie Mustoe and Robbie Earle. In the UK, play-by-play announcer Arlo White and analysts Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux will call the action from the gantry.
Week 2 of NBC Sports' coverage of the Premier League begins with Everton vs. West Bromwich
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced its return as a sponsor of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the company will serve as the Official Connectivity ...
08/05/2026
For the second straight year, Miri Technologies Inc. has been honored with a pair of coveted awards at the broadcast, media and entertainment industry's pre...
08/05/2026
Nine Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards More than 20 alumni contributed to this year's Tony-nominated productions.
May 7, 2026
By
Tori Donahue
Boston Co...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Liberty University on why broadcast technology isn't just a technical invest...
08/05/2026
COW Jobs: UGC, On-Camera Video Content
Brie Clayton May 7, 2026
0 Comments
UGC, On-Camera Video Content
April 17, 2026Documentary Editor - US,......
07/05/2026
Journalists reporting on Sudan are working in one of the most complex and fast-m...
07/05/2026
Multi-year partnership positions Victory+ as a free home for Dallas Cowboys orig...
07/05/2026
From sideline reporting to directing and producing, the talented sophomore is building a well-rounded foundation for a career in live sports production
In the ...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital has received two Future Best of Show awards at NAB Show 2026. The COBALT blueCORE platform was recognized by TV Tech, and the COBALT PACIFIC ULL-...
07/05/2026
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the televised semifinals and finals of the 202...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI, the global film streaming platform, has selected Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner. Bitmovin's encoding infrastru...
07/05/2026
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and the U.S. Soccer Federation have announced...
07/05/2026
Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and Victory have announced a regional broadcast partnership bringing live match coverage to fans across the greater Los Angeles...
07/05/2026
Spiideo has announced the launch of AI Highlights inside Spiideo Play, its automated sports production platform. AI Highlights combines video, event data, audio...
07/05/2026
Leostream Corporation has announced a unified remote access ecosystem for high-p...
07/05/2026
The Atlanta Dream has partnered with Victory to stream all locally broadcast Dream games for free, expanding the team's digital distribution strategy and g...
07/05/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the appointment of Marc Engroff as Chief Fin...
07/05/2026
SES and ARD, Germany's largest public broadcasting network, have announced a long-term extension of their satellite distribution partnership through 2039. U...
07/05/2026
UpLight Technologies delivers a flexible video and lighting system for a new televised sportLaunching the Pro Cheer League required more than creating a compell...
07/05/2026
Full Day Productions and GSE Worldwide have announced Spikes Under the Lights, a...
07/05/2026
Seit dem Start im Jahr 2023 hat DJ (Beta) das personalisierte H rerlebnis von 94...
07/05/2026
Da quando stata presentata nel 2023, DJ (beta) ha aiutato a definire un'esperienza d'ascolto pi personalizzata per 94 milioni di utenti Spotify Premi...
07/05/2026
Since launching in 2023, DJ (beta) has helped shape a more personalized listenin...
07/05/2026
Desde o lan amento em 2023, o DJ (beta) j ajudou a deixar a experi ncia de ouvi...
07/05/2026
From our earliest days, Spotify has been built on a simple principle: Great audio should be easy to reach. It's what's driven us to expand from music to...
07/05/2026
Asian and Pacific Islander artists continue to shape the global soundscape, pushing creative boundaries and connecting with fans worldwide. This Asian & Pacific...
07/05/2026
Company announce long-requested choir instrument
In the latest expansion of their Symphonic Elements series, UJAM have introduced an all-new vocal instrumen...
07/05/2026
Modular-inspired sound generation with digital control
Buchla have introduced Ziggy, a new compact synthesizer built around the company's complex oscill...
07/05/2026
Combines analogue voices with digital synthesis and sequencing
Polyend have announced Drums, a new hybrid analogue and digital drum machine that combines sy...
07/05/2026
Control surface now officially supports four DAWs
When Nektar launched the Panorama CS12 control surface, it worked exclusively with Apple's Logic Pro, ...
07/05/2026
In the first quarter 2026, SGL Carbon generated consolidated sales of 184.5 million, which was 49.8 million, or 21.3%, lower than in the prior year (Q1 2025: ...
07/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Greenerwave achieve precise and fast ESA antenna characteriz...
07/05/2026
Two multi-role L3Harris products - the Red Wolf launched effects vehicle and SK...
07/05/2026
L3Harris will be developing key features of a secure and resilient digital infra...
07/05/2026
Alysa Liu and Shohei Ohtani Help Drive Viewership as 91 of the Top 100 Broadcast...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital Wins Two Future Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show
Manufacturer Recognized by TV Tech and TVBEurope for Innovation in signal processing
Cobal...
07/05/2026
Software and hardware platforms, AI power and user-friendliness on show...
07/05/2026
Intinor will demonstrate its latest technical enhancements for the Direkt series at BroadcastAsia 2026. With a continued focus on reliable contribution and remo...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI has chosen Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner, replacing MUBI's legacy on premises encoding setup to improve scalab...
NBC Sports Reflects Lessons Learned During Project Restart for Upcoming Premier League Fixtures The broadcaster is continuing its enhanced crowd audio, COVID-19 safety guidelines By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor 
