Live From Super Bowl LIX: Inside the Big Game (and Studio) Production with Mike Davies of Fox Sports By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Thursday, February 6, 2025 - 3:21 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
When it comes to producing a Super Bowl in recent years, the reality is that the efforts are increasingly not just about the game on Sunday (and the pre-game) but how the event has become a true cultural touchstone complete with dozens of hours of coverage and plenty of innovations, both technical but, more and more, creative. And this weekend's Fox Sports production of Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans is a perfect example.
Every year, one network is the steward of this seminal event. says Mike Davies, Fox Sports, EVP, technical and field operations. It is our mantra to elevate this game to the state of the art, making sure that every angle is covered and every moment on the field is available for replay after the fact in crisp, clean motion.
Despite the fact that each of these games has literally hundreds of cameras, our mantra is to very much keep things as similar to the regular season as possible so our lead producer Richie Zyontz, our lead director Rich Russo, as well as our full team are comfortable and in a familiar environment.
Mike Davies of Fox Sports says the production efforts have been months in the making for Super Bowl LIX.
For example, by the time Zyontz and Russo settle into their chairs on Sunday afternoon Fox Sports will have already delivered 67 hours of programming all week across Fox, FS1, and Fox Deportes as well as other initiatives planned for this weekend. And while there is always plenty of focus on the numbers like 149 cameras for the game and pre-game, 48 microphones, 53 miles of fiber and, of course, things like 2,783 Po boys set to be served up for lunch to the Fox Sports crew on Super Bowl Sunday, numbers don't tell the true story of a Super Bowl which is always a multiple month (or years) long project that involves plenty of planning designed not only to capture the game but also the story of the teams, players, and the host city from all angles.
We've been planning this daily for 14 months, says Davies. With New Orleans-hosting its first intracity' Super Bowl in years-playing a central role, our President of Production & Operations and Executive Producer, Brad Zager, challenged us to find the city's most iconic location. That had to be the French Quarter, and more specifically, Bourbon Street at St. Peter-arguably its cultural heart, surrounded by legendary spots like Maison Bourbon.
Having the French Quarter just a stone's throw from the stadium is a game-changer, shaping our entire approach to the Super Bowl beyond the Xs and Os. For example, we'll be using drone coverage to seamlessly connect the different areas of interest.
The end-product of the efforts involved not only Fox Sports but also state and local government officials, the New Orleans Police Department, and local civic leaders and business owners in the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. And that product will be on full display when the Fox Sports Super Bowl Sunday Pre-game Show takes to a parade float (a tribute to Mardi Gras) in the intersection of Bourbon and Mason Streets on Sunday morning.
When we first mentioned the idea of setting up on Bourbon Street, the reaction was, You're going to do what?' says Davies. But after some thought, they came back and said, Let's make this a reality'-after all, this city knows how to throw a party.
For this Super Bowl, Fox Sports fully embraced the local scene. The Solomon Group was instrumental in planning and production, and I can't say enough about Gary Solomon and his incredible team for making it all happen. Chris Young was a key piece of the puzzle, leveraging his relationships to help us communicate effectively with business owners.
We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the New Orleans Host Committee, whose connections and support opened doors across the city.
That focus on Bourbon Street was of course put to the test a little more than a month ago when 14 people were killed and 57 injured when a terrorist drove down Bourbon Street on the morning of January 1.
The attack on January 1 put everything into perspective, forcing us to view it through both the lens of loss and resilience, says Davies. Operationally, this event could not have continued without the support of the Governor's office, City Officials, and the invaluable assistance of the New Orleans and State Police, along with so many others. One of the greatest privileges of this show has been working with such incredible people-people I will always consider friends.
Game Time
With respect to the game itself, Davies thinks the game is going to be defined by instant replay and how good a job Fox Sports does getting the right looks.
Our ethos is a little different than other networks in that we don't really seek technology that might get used once or twice or that the audience really isn't going to see a lot, he says. We like to get the technology in the hands of the producers and directors so they can have multiple chances to work with it and see how it can be integrated.
Example one this year? The high SkyCam which features a Sony HDC-P50A 4K HFR box camera. Davies says because the camera has a 4K sensor it can fly a lot higher than previous second SkyCam but also do a lot more than just be a SkyCam.
One of the great things about 4K replay is that it can be used for many different things, especially on a SkyCam, he says. It can be used as a high all-22 where you can get both guards in the image and it's also a really great telestration device for [analyst] Tom Brady and others to show how a play is unfolding. And it can also ope
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...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
12/05/2026
CVP, one of Europe's leading suppliers of professional video and broadcast solutions, has appointed Randy Koeman as Sales Manager, Netherlands, marking anot...
12/05/2026
Taiwan Television has expanded its HD content ingest workflow capabilities by investing in the PlayBox Neo Suite - a leading multi-channel multi-server UHD/HD/S...
12/05/2026
Jigsaw24 is strengthening its media team with the appointment of Tom Laker as Client Director and Ashish Chauhan as Project Manager. These strategic hires bring...
12/05/2026
Broadcast playout leader showcases hybrid IP infrastructure and workflow automation with Videoland deployment as regional benchmark...
12/05/2026
dzjinius, the all-in-one production management platform for the media and entertainment industry, will showcase its centralised approach to production workflows...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
Live From Super Bowl LIX: Inside the Big Game (and Studio) Production with Mike Davies of Fox Sports By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director 
