The 125th U.S. Open: NBC Sports Rolls Out Massive Production-Tech Arsenal To Cover Overhauled Oakmont Course

The 125th U.S. Open: NBC Sports Rolls Out Massive Production-Tech Arsenal To Cover Overhauled Oakmont Course More than 100 cameras, fleet of trucks will cover every part of the legendary venue By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.

Thursday, June 12, 2025 - 3:13 pm

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There are plenty of great storylines heading into this week's U.S. Open golf tournament, but the course itself will likely be the focus of NBC Sports' coverage over the next four days. Long ranked as one of America's most fearsome tests for golfers, Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania has completely revamped the course in an effort not only to restore the original design from 1903 but to make it even more challenging for players seeking the 2025 U.S. Open Championship Trophy.

Besides putting 156 players through the wringer this week, the renovated Oakmont course presents a litany of challenges for NBC Sports' technical and operations teams. In addition to the overhauled course layout and bad weather, the large team has faced several significant logistical hurdles, including having to cross the Pennsylvania Turnpike (which runs literally through the course itself) and active railroad tracks.

There's no underground fiber in place, which definitely adds to the complexity, but that's part of what makes covering events like this so rewarding, says Allison McAllister, VP, golf operations, NBC Sports. We enjoy the challenge of finding creative solutions when obstacles come up. It has pushed us to be innovative, and the team has done a great job making it all work.

Onslaught of Tech: 100+ Cameras Include Drones, Ditch Cam, and 1080p HDR Bunker Cams With more than 100 cameras strewn across Oakmont - including an additional pair of drone cameras this year - NBC Sports will have every nook and cranny of the legendary course covered.

New this year, a ditch cam has been placed at the 15th hole, where tee shots are expected to roll toward the ditch alongside the fairway. The Robovision robotic system, McCallister says, has an angle that delivers an immersive look from the point of view of 24-in.-high grass.

The new production compound at Oakmont is not only capacious but on flat ground.

Also new this year, NBC will deploy four 1080p HDR RF bunker cameras from NEP Specialty Capture, which will offer unique perspectives from the sand near the 8th green and surrounding the green at the potentially drivable 17th hole.

In addition, the role of NBC's Emmy Award-winning drone tracing continues to grow, as does the sophistication of the technology. NBC will be using ARL graphics and 3D course modeling, which continue to be a hit with viewers, and will once again rely on Trackman as its tracing partner (as it did for U.S. Women's Open).

Drone tracing has quickly become a fan favorite, says McCallister, and we're excited to bring it to the U.S. Open - especially on a course like Oakmont, which has undergone significant renovation, opening up some stunning aerial views.

Additional production elements include techno cranes on Holes 3, 16 (a Krypto crane positioned on the fairway), and 17. Also deployed: a RoboVision Tracer on the 6th tee with a reverse follow shot with ARL graphics; Pinpoint green animations showing the projected breaks of putts; a jib camera providing coverage of the first tee and 9th and 18th greens; a shallow-depth-of-field Steadicam; and a robo bridge camera following the players as they walk across the bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Hole 1 and Hole 2.

NBC has also deployed an ENG unit equipped with LiveU systems to capture live scenic shots from around the Oakmont area to enhance the overall broadcast.

A Proper' Compound: Trucks Find a Suitable Home at Oakmont All onsite content is being acquired and produced in 1080p HDR. From an engineering standpoint, all facilities in the compound - NEP ND2, Supershooter 4, and Super Shooter 8, along with NBC's Neubert remote and TX Kits - are connected via ST 2110, with NEP TFC software managing all the signal flows. This setup has streamlined NBC's workflow and offers more-efficient and flexible signal transport across the entire compound.

Although NBC is no stranger to Oakmont, this year's Open will be the first in which the Peacock's onsite team will be working out of a proper truck compound. In the past, broadcasters were forced to create makeshift compounds using existing space, but, as part of the recent renovations, the course created a true production -compound area.

NBC Sports is operating out of a suite of Sunday Night Football trucks.

It's definitely nice to have a proper compound at Oakmont this year, especially with the renovated course, says McCallister. That said, part of producing a major event like the U.S. Open is being flexible and finding solutions that work for all our partners. Working closely with the USGA, we had to make a few adjustments to the compound layout thanks to Mother Nature, but we're in a great spot now and are well-positioned to deliver a top-tier product.

NBC also has the added benefit of having the headquarters of NEP Group, its primary facilities provider, nearby in Pittsburgh. That proximity allows quick access to backup equipment and support.

Having NEP just down the road is a huge advantage, says McCallister, especially when unexpected needs, or OBTWs,' pop up. We're even utilizing their local facilities as a sort of boneyard for overflow and additional trucks, which has been incredibly helpful in keeping everything running smoothly.

Although NBC has a sizable presence onsite, several key productions are being handled remotely from NBC Sports' broadcast center in Stamford, CT, including Live From, Feature Group 2, Feature Group 3, and All Access. In addition, NBC i

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