EURO 2020: ESPN Infuses Geography Into Tech-Heavy Bristol-based Studio Sets After COVID scuttled plans for onsite studio presence, ESPN makes most of space at home campus By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Monday, June 14, 2021 - 4:08 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
These events are not for the faint of heart.
Words drenched in truth from ESPN VP, Production, Amy Rosenfeld, a sports-television veteran who has been here before.
ESPN's studio coverage of the 2020 UEFA European Football Championships are anchored from space at the broadcaster's Bristol campus. (Photo: ESPN)
Be it World Cups, European championships, or other mammoth events, Rosenfeld and much of the crew working ESPN's coverage of the UEFA European Football Championship, which kicked off this past Friday, know what it takes to produce an event of this size, length, and global significance.
This marks the fourth straight year (following 2008, 2012, and 2016) that ESPN networks and ABC have carried the month-long competition in the U.S., presenting all 51 matches (140 combined hours of live coverage) of the UEFA European Football Championship 2020.
Although the matches themselves are produced by UEFA's host broadcasters, ESPN is supplementing the coverage in a big way despite COVID protocols that limit its ability to be onsite as much as the broadcaster would like. ESPN will have its own on-air talent and host a substantial studio presence originating from its home campus in Bristol, CT.
Anyone who has ever worked an event of this size and scope (a FIFA men's or women's World Cup or an Olympic Games, for example) knows the sheer fortitude it takes to be a part of the crew. ESPN behind-the-scenes staffers are working nearly 12-hour days during the Group Stage, arriving for their first production meeting of the day at 5 a.m. ET.
I don't think people really recognize the kind of marathon it is, says Rosenfeld. What I think is so critical is, it's one team. Regardless of what department you come from - ops, directing, a technical position, catering, whatever - it is just the Euros team. I have found over the years that, as hard as this is, when you feel like you are part of the team, everyone is really pulling together. I think that does carry you through what is the worst grind that anyone can do in television, an event like this.
A secondary set allows talent to be socially distanced in a conversational setting for between-match discussion. (Photo: ESPN)
Obviously, this event was supposed to be held a year ago but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus, in fact, is still ravaging the tournament, with certain venues hosting only a limited number of fans, some matches relocated due to full lockdowns, and multiple teams having players test positive for the virus. As a result, ESPN, which has a rich history of a strong onsite studio presence in broadcasting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Euros, has instead needed to make the most of its facilities in Bristol.
The studio is built with social distancing in mind. The primary desk is large and wide, with space for three on-air personalities. A secondary set, for more-casual conversations and analyses, features individual chairs for talent spaced apart.
Adjusting the space for safety was a challenge because the studio used was, naturally, not designed to meet distancing guidelines. According to ESPN director Steve Zawilinski, who helps oversee much of the broadcaster's studio efforts in Bristol, that meant moving traditional spots for monitors and rethinking the positioning of crossbeams that might be hidden in a typical design.
In true ESPN fashion, he says, nobody will be able to tell that this is a set that they've seen on-air before. We were able to completely retrofit it. It is gorgeous.
One of the tech highlights of this studio space is a virtual depth monitor paired with the room's largest LED screen. According to Zawilinski, the studio crew is able to create a virtual environment within the monitor, producing what looks like 3D space to the viewer. The camera assigned to it can move around the content on the LED screen.
A large LED wall on the set will dsplay 3D graphics via a virtual set monitor. (Photo: ESPN)
For example, the studio team is attempting to deliver that sense of geography lost in not being onsite, making the map of Europe a centerpiece of its graphics package. Free movement in and around that map is a key storytelling item in the multi-city event's transition from venue to venue.
Also, the technology allows on-air talent to break down plays in the format, with a field of play traversed in a 3D environment.
We said, How do we utilize this giant monitor in a way that no one has ever seen before?' says Zawilinski. We challenged our virtual team, and it's just incredible. The Creative Services team just went above and beyond. I think this is one of our advantages of [deploying] some of the technology that we have in Bristol that we wouldn't have if we were onsite.
All match telecasts are getting the full pre/postgame and halftime studio treatment across the ESPN family of networks. EURO Today airs between matches throughout the tournament; EURO Tonight, on match days after the last match of the day.
The reason this looks so great and the reason this is going to be excellent is the cumulative years of this group, says Rosenfeld. World Cups, Euros - the reason this is all successful is the bond of this group. [ESPN Senior Remote Operations Specialist Claude Phipps] was there when we had generators that were failing in Brazil and we were 48 hours to air. We had the rioting in France that went to our host set. It's this group [that is] why it looks so beautiful. We know each other; we trust each other.
ESPN's co
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
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...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Marshall Electronics launches the CV420-27X, its next-generation ultra-high-definition (UHD) IP camera, at ISE 2026 (Stand 4N900). Engineered for modern IP-base...
28/01/2026
Grass Valley has announced that Television Mobiles Ltd. (TVM), one of Europe's leading independent outside broadcast providers, has carried out a major refu...
28/01/2026
AI, graphics and virtual software power new production capabilities
FOR-A is bringing remarkable new technologies to FOMEX, the Future of Media Exhibition (ex...
28/01/2026
Continuing a longstanding collaboration, Riedel Communications and Nordic media technology company Media Tailor have once again joined forces to deliver a state...
28/01/2026
Pebble has appointed Paul Nagle-Smith as vice president for customer fulfilment, strengthening its senior leadership focus on customer delivery and operational ...
28/01/2026
Cloud playout solutions provider, Veset has announced that leading Mexican broadcaster, TV Azteca is using Veset Nimbus on AWS as a disaster recovery (DR) playo...
28/01/2026
Ensuring it can keep pace with a rapidly evolving live sports market, Balkan broadcast facility provider MVP Most Valuable Production has upgraded its flags...
28/01/2026
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud solutions provider that powers and protects life online, and Yospace, the leader in dynamic ad insertion tec...
28/01/2026
The renowned Reykjavik City Theatre (RCT) recently underwent a major intercom system upgrade using Clear-Com solutions. This milestone project utilizes Clear-C...
28/01/2026
Luxembourg, January 26, 2026 - SES S.A. ( SES or the Company ), a leading space solutions company, acknowledges the credit rating action announced by Fitch to...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
28 01 2026 - Media release Screen Australia refreshes Market & Audience approach...
28/01/2026
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Premieres a New Piano Concerto by Peter and Leonar...
27/01/2026
Click for Japanese version
Tokyo, Japan - January 27, 2026 - Akamai Technolo...
27/01/2026
L-R: Jonathan Cuchacovich, Sonia Kennebeck, Alan Fischer, Daeil Kim, Andrew Sta...
27/01/2026
Today, Spotify is proud to support our partner Backline, an industry-leading men...
27/01/2026
With nearly 29 million monthly listeners and clear momentum on Spotify, Net n Ve...
27/01/2026
January 14, 2026
We are proud to share that 25 Ontario, First Gulf's commercial project located just two minutes from our head office, has been recognized ...
27/01/2026
January 22, 2026
First Gulf is excited to share that a full-building lease has been secured at 625 Bronte Rd in Oakville, part of Bronte Station Business Park,...
27/01/2026
January 23, 2026
First Gulf continues to demonstrate its commitment to high-performance, sustainable real estate with 351 King Street East achieving BOMA BEST ...
27/01/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
27/01/2026
Nielsen will continue to drive growth and provide local audience measurement
in...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Amagi Media Labs Limited, the only cloud-native SaaS provider offering end-to-end solutions across live production, content preparation, distribution, and monet...
27/01/2026
Miri Technologies Inc. today unveiled its V410 live 4K video encoder/decoder for streaming, IP-based production workflows and AV-over-IP distribution. Designed ...
27/01/2026
The Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell in Massachusetts has chosen Ikegami cameras for incorporation into its broadcast-quality television production facili...
27/01/2026
SipRadius, specialists in secure, low latency media transport, will show the pro AV community its end-to-end solution for high quality content distribution and ...
27/01/2026
Hiltron will highlight the fruits of its 45-plus years of experience in satellite communications system integration and product development at the annual GovSat...
27/01/2026
Klvr will demonstrate how its Charger Pro solution is delivering cost reduction and performance benefits for live entertainment and pro AV markets at ISE 2026 (...
27/01/2026
Amino, a global media technology leader in enterprise video and digital signage, today announced that its Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 booth (4N700) wil...
27/01/2026
ANI, India's leading news agency and a major content provider across the Asia Pacific region, today announced a significant expansion of its long standing p...
27/01/2026
Independent analysis confirms faster encoding, lower CPU usage, and improved perceptual quality compared to CBR and CRF
VisualOn, a leader in multimedia playba...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
New agreement for uninterrupted UHF connectivity for Australian Defence Force through 2033, With Options Extending to 2041
Luxembourg, January 13, 2026 - Satel...
27/01/2026
Tuesday 27 January 2026
SNL UK creative team expands as Pauli Lovejoy, Annie Ha...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
When It Feels Real, Is It Still a Lie? The Art of Sarah' ...
EURO 2020: ESPN Infuses Geography Into Tech-Heavy Bristol-based Studio Sets After COVID scuttled plans for onsite studio presence, ESPN makes most of space at home campus By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
