Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

A Whole New Bull-Game: PBR Teams Series Calls for New Production Technology, Storytelling Strategy

18/08/2022

A Whole New Bull-Game: PBR Teams Series Calls for New Production Technology, Storytelling Strategy The live broadcast now mirrors the in-venue production with the same on-air talent for both By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor

Thursday, August 18, 2022 - 2:33 pm

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

With the launch of the PBR Team Series last month, an entirely new five-on-five bull riding format has changed the face of the sport. And with that new format comes a brand-new look and feel for both the broadcast and the in-venue show - complete with a new state-of-the art in-arena experience, as well as new cameras, graphics, and audio elements for the broadcast.

Photo by Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media.

This has been a one-on-one sport for almost 30 years and now it's about teams; that changes the entire story, says Robby Greene, who oversees TV and production for PBR. The camaraderie and team spirit adds a whole new level to the story. To watch teammates and coaches on the back of these bucking shoots pulling for the guy out there [riding] is really special to watch. So I'm really excited to present that to our audience in a new and totally different way.

After debuting at the outdoor Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 25-26, the PBR Team went into full swing with indoor events at arenas Kansas City and Anaheim followed by Nashville this weekend as part of the 11-event regular season with championship weekend in Las Vegas in November. All PBR Team Series events are being broadcast on either the CBS Television Network or CBS Sports Network or streamed live on Paramount+ or PBR RidePass on Pluto TV.

Best of Both Worlds: Melding the Broadcast and In-Venue Shows From an operations standpoint, the live broadcast now mirrors the in-venue show with the same talent heard in the arena and on television (as opposed to two independent shows for PBR's primary Unleash the Beast series).

Photo by Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Over the years, people at our live events have always told us I wish I could hear the television commentators while I'm in arena' and then people watching on television at home say, I wish I could see and hear more of what going on [in the arena].' Says Greene. So we're trying to give everybody the best of both worlds by combining these two distinctly different shows and making it one product.

As part of this single-show mentality, the CBS TV broadcast desk, captained by Kate Harrison, is located front and center in the middle of the bucking chutes rather than in a traditional announce booth. In addition, CBS has embedded sideline reporters Allen Bestwick and Matt West and dedicated cameras to each team's bucking chute - similar to coverage of dugouts in baseball broadcasts. All of these elements will also be incorporated into the in-venue videoboard show, bringing fans in the stands and at home closer to the action than ever before.

We're definitely still learning, but we're just so excited to be able to provide that same perspective to both the spectator that bought a ticket [at the venue] or that's watching at home, says Greene. We can now offer that perspective now from the entire talent team - both in arena and television. Is it perfect? Not yet. But is it a product that we're proud of? Absolutely. And we're getting better every week.

Inside the Arena: Big-Time Videoboard, Lighting, and Audio Upgrades The in-venue Teams Series experience is almost unrecognizable compared to a traditional PBR event, including PBR's largest-ever main video board, a state-of-the-art theatrical lighting system, and a drastically enhanced sound system.

Arena, Opening during the 2nd day of Anaheim California PBR Teams event. Photo by Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media.

The new center-hung videoboard measures 55 feet wide by 30 feet tall and is comprised of nearly 5 million individual LEDs. In addition, 400 linear feet of reinforced face LED signage surround the entire arena, replacing the traditional printed signage tacked to the fences that bulls would sometimes tear down.

The in-venue experience also features nearly 300 individual lighting elements, including beams, strobes, spotlights, moving head fixtures, fixed and flashing lights. This significantly boosts the drama-factor inside the arena compared to previous PRB events, which relied heavily on each venue's house lighting.

On the audio side, a new sounds system equipped with 56 line-array speakers and eight subwoofers delivers 512,000-watts of sound amplification. PBR has also invested in state-of-the-art sound reinforcement technology to improve sound levels and clarity everywhere in the arena. Dan Hickman, head of production for PBR, told the Wrangler Network that the system (developed by a German audio company specializing in high-end concert audio) dramatically improves sound clarity and will allow his team to digitally steer sound away from areas the TV booth and other areas that require quiet.

Photo by Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

A total of 15 semi-trucks are required to transport all this gear from venue to venue each week - not counting trailers and trucks to bring in an average of 90 bulls to each 3-day homestand as well as 750 tons of dirt.

The addition, 30 seats on a new deck above the bucking chutes will put VIP guests virtually on top of the action, while another 18 Dirt Suites are located in the end zone area opposite the bucking chutes. Greene says the in-venue show now feels more like a high-profile title fight or WWE show than a rodeo.

I think I underestimated just how big the wow' factor would be at one of these PBR Teams events, he says. I just sit back in awe of what has been created in the arena with these 360-degree LED video boards, the new sound system, the new people-pin structure, and the concert stage. If you didn'
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/08/18/a-whole-new-bull-game-pbr-teams...
See more stories from svg

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

14/11/2026

MLB Networks David Maybrown, 57, Passes Away

Longtime MLB Network employee David Maybrown passed away Thursday at the age of 57. David joined MLB Network in 2009 shortly after its launch, beginning as an i...

14/11/2026

Rotary Exciter & Resonator Clamps from ADDAC System

Modular innovators introduce two guitar-based products ADDAC System's recently introduced Four String Series makes it possible to integrate physical str...

14/11/2026

Marcelo Dai's Live Session Captured with URSA Cine Immersive

Marcelo Dai's Live Session Captured with URSA Cine Immersive Brie Clayton November 14, 2026 0 Comments Artist takes viewers on an immersive journe...

14/11/2026

Political Ads Spiked a Week Before Midterm Elections, Nielsen Says

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

14/11/2026

FCC Sends 2027 Upper C-Band Auction Plan Into Motion

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

14/11/2026

ZEISS Showcases Latest Cine Lenses at TorunCAMERIMAGE 202...

Newest Lenses, Horizon Anamorphic Seminar & Guided Lens Character Experience Highlight Creative Possibilities At the 2026 Toru CAMERIMAGE Film Festival, ZEISS...

14/11/2026

Sonnet Announces Black Friday Sale on Select Products

Sonnet Announces Black Friday Sale on Select Products Brie Clayton November 14, 2026 0 Comments WHAT: Sonnet Technologies is having a sale on a select...

14/11/2026

Berklee Alumni Shine at the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards

Berklee Alumni Shine at the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards This year's winners included songwriters, engineers, and performers who contributed to acclaimed reco...

13/11/2026

E1 Series Brings Its Remote-First Broadcast Model to Miami for Season Finale

The UIM E1 Series wraps its third season this week with the Bombay Sapphire E1 Miami GP, Nov. 11-14, on Biscayne Bay at the Miami Seaplane Base on Watson Island...

13/11/2026

SVG GameDay, Ep. 39: Carolina Hurricanes Christine Williams & Jason Danby - Celebrating a Stanley Cup in Raleigh

In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...

13/11/2026

Benson Boone to Headline Entertainment at Discover NHL Winter Classic

Singer-songwriter Benson Boone will headline entertainment for the Discover NHL Winter Classic between the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles St...

13/11/2026

Blackmagic Design Announces Ambisonic Microphone for Immersive Spatial Audio

Blackmagic Design has announced the Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone, a 7th order ambisonic microphone array that captures spatial audio for immersive video prod...

13/11/2026

The Studio B&H and Riedel to Power SMPTE MTS Solutions Hub

SMPTE has announced that The Studio B&H and Riedel Communications will provide the video infrastructure and communications technology for the Solutions Hub at t...

13/11/2026

HPA Sets 2027 Tech Retreat Theme Around a Changing Industry

The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) has announced the theme and program focus for the 2027 HPA Tech Retreat, which takes place Feb. 14-18, 2027, in La ...

13/11/2026

Football Manager 27 Touch Joins Apple Arcade, with Plants vs. Zombies, Prince of Persia Added Dec. 3

Football Manager 27 Touch is available on Apple Arcade starting today. The game ...

13/11/2026

MotoGP and ESPN Announce Two-Year Media Rights Agreement for U.S. and Latin America

MotoGP has announced a two-year media rights agreement with ESPN covering the Un...

13/11/2026

Apple Sports Adds UFC Ahead of UFC 334

Apple Sports, the free iPhone app, has added the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to its lineup of supported sports, in time for Saturday's UFC 334. The...

13/11/2026

NBA Names Fanatics Studios Multiyear Creative and Event Production Partner for NBA All-Star

The NBA and Fanatics Studios, the joint venture between Fanatics and entertainme...

13/11/2026

From ManningCast to McAfee to Star Wars: ESPN, Disney Pull Back the Curtain on Super Bowl LXI Plans

ESPN held its annual EDGE Innovation Conference last night and offered up an ove...

13/11/2026

Battle in the Bronx: YES Network Presents 2026 Cortaca Jug at Yankee Stadium

Regional sports network gives Ithaca College, SUNY Cortland students a platform to thrive One of the biggest games in Division III college football will be pla...

13/11/2026

HLabs reveal the CL089

Studer-inspired 500-series PWM compressor unveiled The HLabs range already includes a couple of Studer-inspired offerings in the form of the PRE169 and EQ16...

13/11/2026

Freedom of Choice White Paper

Download Now! To view the white paper, please enter the following details: -- First Name* First Name Company* Country* Please select your countryA...

13/11/2026

Cruz Schedules Confirmation Vote for FCC Nominee Thumann-Severs

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

Yamaha Acquires Virtual Production Specialist Disguise

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

MyStation App Emulates TV Network' Marketplace

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

Blue Lucy integrates with Comcast Technology Solutions Vi...

Blue Lucy, the workflow orchestration and integration platform for broadcasters, rights owners and localisation companies, today announced an integration with c...

13/11/2026

Krotos announces Black Friday offers on Studio Pro and Studio Max

Krotos announces Black Friday offers on Studio Pro and Studio Max Brie Clayton November 12, 2026 0 Comments First-year annual plans start at US$195.99...

13/11/2026

Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone

Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone Brie Clayton November 12, 2026 0 Comments New 7th order ambisonic microphone with 108 MEMS...

13/11/2026

Meet the Berklee Student Setting Planetary Motion to Music

Meet the Berklee Student Setting Planetary Motion to Music With his compositional platform SoniKosmos, Javier Roqueni aims to make the universe the ultimate i...

13/11/2026

Hub: Despite AI, More Viewers Still Rely on Word of Mouth and Trailers to Find New TV Shows

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , er...

13/11/2026

Jack Smith Joins Madhive as Chief Product and Technology Officer

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

Operative Names Brian Beirne as Senior VP, Commercial Growth

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

Former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler to Advise AI Startup

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

IEEE Broadcast Technology Society Honors Dr. Yiyan Wu with the 2026 Jules Cohen Award

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , er...

13/11/2026

Vizrt Acquires Chyron

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

Samsung Ads to Offer 3 New Interactive Formats

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

HPA Retreat to Explore Changing Shape of Industry

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

The Studio B&H, Riedel to Equip SMPTE Media Tech Summit

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

Tegna Promotes 3 Sales Executives to President and GM

Share {alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...

13/11/2026

Amagi and Golden Times Media Technology to Bring Chinese...

Amagi, the media industry cloud company, today announced a partnership with Golden Times Media Technology (stock code 920021.BJ), a Beijing-based media and tech...

13/11/2026

CGI and Cedar Broadcast and Communications deploy advance...

CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, together with its Malaysian partner, Cedar ...

13/11/2026

The Studio BH and Riedel Communications Power the SMPTE...

SMPTE, the home for media professionals, technologists and engineers, today announced that The Studio B&H and Riedel Communications will provide the video infra...

13/11/2026

iWedia Brings Software-First DRAM Optimization to Android...

iWedia, a global leader in connected TV software solutions, will present its software-first approach to DRAM optimization at Android TV APAC Summit 2026 in Bang...

13/11/2026

Apple HomeView available today - UPDATE - Posted on 13 November 2026

Beginning today, November 13, Apple HomeView is available for purchase at Apple Store locations, on the Apple Store online, and in the Apple Store app in select...

13/11/2026

How AI Is Helping Care Teams Get Patients the Right Care, Sooner

From pediatric research to smart hospitals, AI is helping care teams spend less time on routine tasks and more time with patients. Health systems and startups...

12/11/2026

The Software-Defined Shift: A Discussion on the Technologies Reshaping Live Sports Production

Industry leaders examine how Dynamic Media Facility, Media eXchange Layer, and c...

12/11/2026

SVG Students to Watch: Addison Carnow, University of North Carolina

The junior Tar Heel is embracing the technical and creative challenges of live production while emerging as a leader and mentor in the control room...

12/11/2026

Gracenote Survey: 78% of Viewers 18-24 Want a Single Program Guide Across Streaming Services

Gracenote, Nielsen's content intelligence business, has released its fifth a...