
NHL Productions In-House Studio Ops Continue To Grow With Data-Driven Stanley Cup Central Live-Streaming Show New second-screen YouTube experience offers conversational style, stats driven by the NHL EDGE By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 3:12 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Seven years ago, when Steve Mayer arrived at NHL Productions, his team comprised five people. Today, the league's chief content officer/EVP has a staff of more than 50 and an in-house studio that cranks out live and quick-turnaround programming on an almost daily basis. The culmination of its efforts this season has been the launch of Stanley Cup Central, a second-screen YouTube experience covering one game per night throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, bringing a conversational style to the coverage, and providing deep stats driven by the NHL EDGE puck- and player-tracking system.
From left: Lauren Jbara, Alexa Landestoy, and Jonny Lazarus host Stanley Cup Central.
With [Stanley Cup Central], we have several different things we're trying to accomplish, says Mayer. We're looking to build our YouTube platform, experiment with the second-screen experience, find new ways to tell stories with the NHL EDGE [data], identify and develop new [on-air] talent, and get fans into an environment where they're interacting and talking to each other in real time. And, maybe most important, we're looking to establish exactly what we are capable of in this studio. We've certainly had studios before but never with the capabilities that this one has in terms of technology.
NHL EDGE Data Serves as Backbone' of Stanley Cup Central During the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL Productions launched a new state-of-the-art studio in its headquarters at One Manhattan West. The studio and accompanying control room made their live-streaming debut with Third Period Live, a second-screen experience on YouTube. Since then, the studio operation has continued to evolve, with the facility producing programming almost every day since January.
NHL Productions' Steve Mayer: Our goal is to create an environment where fans are having a conversation and we just happen to be eavesdropping.
Since the beginning of the second round at the beginning of May, Stanley Cup Central has emanated live from NHL Productions' studio on a nightly basis. The show features a constant L-bar graphic providing such statistical data as face-off probability, skating speed, and time on-ice. Betting odds and breakdowns of the betting lines are also displayed prominently.
The backbone of this show is the data component powered by NHL EDGE puck and player tracking, says Matt Celli, VP/coordinating director, NHL Studios. That is what [distinguishes] our show [from] the traditional broadcasts. Hockey is a very fast sport, so it can be challenging to [integrate] deep data in a traditional broadcast. Our goal with [Stanley Cup Central] is to bring that data to the forefront throughout the entire show.
NHL Studios' Matt Celli oversees operations at the One Manhattan West production center.
The same constant L-Bar graphic is used in videoboard shows at NHL arenas across the continent, but this marks the first time it is being used in a live broadcast.
We want make that data and information part of the narrative, says Mayer. We can now tell stories with NHL EDGE [data] that allow you to understand the game better. Our broadcast partners use that data on occasion, but we want to take it to the next level. The key is being able to not only understand and make sense of the data but also uniquely tell the story of that data. You could put deep data up there all day long, and it could just be meaningless eye candy, but, if you can translate that data into something people understand, that is where it gets really interesting.
In addition to the L-Bar, Stanley Cup Central incorporates NHL Blockie visualizations and interactive game elements developed with NHL EDGE data and Beyond Sports technology. This technology was first used by the NHL during ESPN's live, animated Big City Greens Classic broadcast in March.
We are looking to lean heavily into those Blockie data visualizations, says Celli. We have a lot of the same technology that ESPN employed [for the BCG Classic], where we're able to cut all 40 virtual cameras in the system. We've found it works best in replay packages. [For example], during a key play, we'll do a couple of traditional replays off an EVS [server] like people would see [in the TV broadcast], and then we will choose Blockie angle and roll that in to finish it off. The chat seems to love it, which is great, and it gives us a lot of flexibility since we don't have [access to isolated camera shots].
Stanley Cup Central Provides Sports Bar' Feel - Both in the Studio and Remotely Each night, a rotating cast of hosts - Lauren Jbara, Alexa Landestoy, Jonny Lazarus, NHL Fantasy reporter Anna Dua - lend their insights and banter throughout the game, as well as during pre/postgame coverage. Longtime NHL Insider Pierre McGuire also joins each night to offer analysis and commentary. In addition to game analysis, hosts discuss the latest news and happenings around the league and chat with fans live in the YouTube comments section.
NHL Productions deploys BitFire to bring in remote feeds for productions like Stanley Cup Central.
We want [viewers] to feel like they're hanging out at a sports bar watching the game with their friends, says Mayer. We want them to be engaged while the game is going on but also talking amongst themselves. Our goal is to create an environment where fans are having a conversation and we just happen to be eavesdropping.
In addition to the in-studio elements, a variety of special guests - influencers, media personaliti
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...
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 ...
23/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
23/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
23/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
23/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
23/04/2026
Partnership between ARRI and SmallHD brings new Hi-5 license
Configurable monitor overlays adapt to individual working styles
Supported by SmallHD monitors ru...
23/04/2026
Lighting Master Cronenweth ASC brings a unique look to each grid world with the help of Astera
Jeff Cronenweth on the set of Disney's TRON: ARES. Photo by...
23/04/2026
DP Chloe Smolkin ( The Late Show, Kidz Bop ) joins director Danielle Beckmann and writer/actor Raji Ahsan behind the camera for the heartfelt short comedy Dr...
23/04/2026
Apply now to join the 2026 Producer Delegation to TIFF: The Market 23 April 2026
Screen Australia, in partnership with Ontario Creates, has opened application...
22/04/2026
Solid State Logic is advancing its System T platform with a stronger focus on IP...
22/04/2026
From immersive audio to live streaming, Dolby Laboratories is focused on the fut...
22/04/2026
Shallow depth-of-field cameras have taken the industry by storm. Its debut a han...
22/04/2026
Riedel Communications (Booth C4908) announced that Eastern Kentucky University (...
22/04/2026
The NAB Show is in full swing, and the SVG and SVG Europe editorial teams are chasing down the hottest stories from all over the Las Vegas Convention Center. He...
22/04/2026
Blackmagic Design has announced the URSA Cine 12K LF 100G, a new model in the URSA Cine family adding 100G Ethernet for SMPTE 2110 live production output up to ...
22/04/2026
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, NEP is leaning into hybrid production with the...
22/04/2026
NEP VP, Platform Dan Murphy sits down at the 2026 NAB Show to unpack what NEP P...
22/04/2026
Spotify and the New York Liberty are teaming up to give music and basketball fan...
22/04/2026
New 20-minute documentary explores iconic design The Focusrite Room in Mesa, Arizona, where John Aquilino hosts the Studio Console 005.
In 2025, Focusrite co...
22/04/2026
Offers compact wireless solution for pedalboards
Taiwanese audio brand Cloudvocal have announced the availability of a new pedalboard-friendly wireless syst...
22/04/2026
Latest hybrid sampling/synthesis instrument arrives
Arturia's Augmented series offerings rely on a mixture of sampling and synthesis, allowing users to ...
22/04/2026
Combines three distinct analogue EQ emulations
The latest addition to Acustica Audio's ever-expanding collection of analogue-emulation plug-ins combines...
22/04/2026
Final instalment in vintage-inspired instrument series
Analog Empire: Bass & Lead marks the final instalment in Melda Production's vintage hardware-insp...
22/04/2026
Fuzz pedal joins all-analogue Series A line
Given that Strymons reputation was built on unapologetically digital pedals, it was a little surprising to see t...
22/04/2026
SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge
22 April, 2026
Media releases
National broadcaster also releases its second annual...
22/04/2026
Why Low Band Electronic Warfare Matters...
22/04/2026
The nation unites around football team's World Cup dream
Warsaw, Poland, 20.04.26: Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data, and media intell...
22/04/2026
Warsaw, Poland, 22.04.26: Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data...
22/04/2026
New market intelligence offering gives businesses a clearer view of local consum...
22/04/2026
Glookast Unveils New UX, YouTube and Social Media Connectors, Premiere Panel, Ci...
22/04/2026
Lightcraft Technology to Preview Spark Story at NAB 2026 with Interactive Previs...
22/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/04/2026
22 Apr 2026
VEON's Banglalink to Bring Starlink Mobile to Customers in Bangladesh Bangladesh becomes the third market where VEON and Starlink Mobile partne...
22/04/2026
U have unveiled exclusive first-look images for their six-part police thriller Hit Point, starring Nick Blood (Day of the Jackal) and BAFTA nominee Saffron Hock...
22/04/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...
22/04/2026
Wednesday 22 April 2026
Sky announces fifth year of WNT Fund with 30,000 bursa...
22/04/2026
Back to All News
This Earth Day, Discover the Sustainable Productions Behind Our Films and Series
Emma Stewart, Ph.D.
Netflix Sustainability Officer
Enterta...
22/04/2026
The move from Retail Media to Commerce Media is about broadening the scope of th...
22/04/2026
April 22 2026, 07:00 (PDT) Dolby and BMW Bring Dolby Atmos to the BMW 7 Series,...
22/04/2026
RT Documentary On One 7-part series breaks US market for first time
RT Programme Sales has announced its first deal with a US distribution partner for its 7-...