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...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
07/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/04/2026
Frequency, the engine behind many of the world's leading streaming television channels, at NAB 2026 will be launching new Studio services to help content ow...
07/04/2026
Ikegami USA has chosen NAB 2026 in Las Vegas as the launch platform for new additions to its range of broadcast-quality television production equipment. These w...
07/04/2026
April 19, 2026, Las Vegas Kiloview, an innovative provider of AV-over-IP technologies, will showcase its latest broadcast IP solutions at NAB 2026, presenting...
07/04/2026
Bitmovin has announced support for Server-Guided Ad Insertion (SGAI) across its playback products using HLS interstitials, enabling more advanced ad-supported s...
07/04/2026
Synamedia is unveiling AI by Quortex at The NAB show, a just-in-time AI plugin framework that applies intelligence only when needed across video processing, dis...
07/04/2026
Cuez will showcase four additions to its cloud-based newsroom, rundown and automation platform at NAB Show 2026 (April 18 22, Las Vegas, Booth N1867):
Cuez ...
07/04/2026
CueScript to Showcase Innovations at NAB that Add Mobility Options, Ease Editing...
07/04/2026
Barix Extends Transport Options for Multi-Engine IP Encoder
Brie Clayton April 7, 2026
0 Comments
New for NAB, Barix adds SRT and RIST support to Mult...
07/04/2026
Elite Media Technologies Selects Interra Systems' BATON File-Based QC Soluti...
07/04/2026
Tightrope Media Systems to Debut Cablecast LiveBridge for Simultaneous Streaming...
07/04/2026
Cuez Brings Four New Innovations to NAB 2026: From Story-Centric Newsroom to Ope...
07/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/04/2026
Designed for synchronized multi-stream playback, low-latency delivery, and real-time analytics, MATCH introduces a unified viewing experience for sports broadca...
07/04/2026
Berklee Students to Honor George Martin with Performance of Original Scores The orchestra, led by associate professor Xander Rovang, will perform several work...
06/04/2026
Michigan legends bring a new voice to the broadcast as TNT Sports and CBS Sports...
06/04/2026
From high school sports all the way up to the major leagues, building high-quali...
06/04/2026
Quickplay, an AI company for the media and entertainment industry, has been accepted into the Advanced tier of the TwelveLabs Ecosystem Partner Program. Quickpl...
06/04/2026
Grass Valley has announced the Future Playmakers Program, a global initiative to...
06/04/2026
El l der de operaciones impulsa la producci n en estudio mientras encuentra insp...
06/04/2026
The ops leader helps lead the charge in studio for the Spanish-language broadcas...
06/04/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
06/04/2026
The National Hockey League (NHL), in partnership with Verizon and the New Jersey Devils, today announced the opening of the NHL Innovation Lab powered by Verizo...
06/04/2026
Rock League, a new professional curling league, has announced that ESPN+ will stream its inaugural 2026 season for fans in the United States. The first Rock Lea...
06/04/2026
Advanced Systems Group has announced the appointment of Andrea (Andy) Cummis as Vice President of Systems Design and Engineering. In this role, she will lead de...
06/04/2026
Backed by Bolt Ventures, the venture brings Bryson DeChambeau, Grant Horvat, and...
06/04/2026
With this environment we can start that collaboration even earlier because we ca...
06/04/2026
Like the immortal lives of vampires, some stories never really end. That's t...
06/04/2026
As podcasting continues to evolve, growth increasingly means building beyond aud...
06/04/2026
Multiband dynamics plug-in enhanced
California-based developer FSK Audio have released a significant update for their innovative multiband dynamics processo...
06/04/2026
Share official & user-created full-rig presets
IK Multimedia's latest TONEX update makes it possible for users of the popular amp and effects modelling ...
06/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/04/2026
Dalet Showcases Dalia Agentic AI and End-to-End Media Workflows at NAB Show 2026
Brie Clayton April 6, 2026
0 Comments
Dalet, a leading technology and...
06/04/2026
OpenDrives Shows Off Sports Expertise in Sports Business Hub located in NAB Show...
06/04/2026
Proton to Demonstrate 3D Application at NAB 2026
Brie Clayton April 6, 2026
0 Comments
Yet further creative potential unleashed through innovation in ...
06/04/2026
Autoscript Highlights Voice-Driven Prompting and PTZ Solutions at NAB 2026
Brie Clayton April 6, 2026
0 Comments
Experience Autoscript Voice, PTZ prom...
06/04/2026
Mediaproxy Highlights Significant Enhancements to its LogServer suite at NAB Sho...
06/04/2026
Wayne, N.J., April 6th, 2026 Phantom High-Speed announces the release of PCC 4...
06/04/2026
April 6th, 2026
TRIBECA STUDIOS AND LILLY ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF INAUGURAL VITAL...
06/04/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Expands Kids Entertainment Lineup With Playground App ...
05/04/2026
Tackles all reported bugs!
SoundBridge have just announced the launch of a new update that introduces a couple of minor changes to their remote collaboratio...
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 
