SVG All-Stars: Sarah Backerman, Senior Director, Production Operations, Big Ten Network After a decade out west, a behind-the-scenes superstar returns to her roots By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 - 10:18 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
In an era when sports production is evolving faster than ever, a new generation of leaders is beginning to make its mark on the industry. Our new SVG All-Stars series explores the journey of the industry's rising executives, showcasing their experiences and career highlights in the business, overarching philosophy and leadership strategy, technological and creative innovation, and where they see the industry headed. Join us as we uncover the story behind their ascent and the impact they are having in an ever-evolving industry.
During a volatile time of conference realignment across college athletics, the Big Ten Network sought a steady hand and a familiar face this past summer when adding four new schools to its roster.
Sarah Backerman at the Big Ten Network set outside the 2024 Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, CA
Sarah Backerman got her start in Big Ten country. The Michigan State University graduate cut her teeth as a freelance producer and StudentU coordinator for BTN, helping steer student-produced live productions for the network. Then, an exciting opportunity at the burgeoning Pac-12 Networks took her west, and her career exploded.
For nearly a decade, Backerman was instrumental in P12N's live production of thousands of sports events, helping pioneer operations behind the network's innovative remote-production infrastructure. When the Pac-12 fractured and Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington moved to the Big Ten, BTN knew exactly whom to call.
[Sarah] has come in and made an immediate impact, says Mark Hulsey, SVP, production/executive producer, Big Ten Network. Her relationships with the four incoming schools and vendors got us off to a smooth start.
Sometimes, life has a funny way of coming full circle.
Backerman at a USC football game in Los Angeles last month with (from left) BTN producer Denny Blount, play-by-play caller Guy Haberman, and analyst Yogi Roth
In this week's edition of SVG All-Stars, Backerman shares her story, what industry innovations she has her eye on, and her advice for making a mark in live sports production:
What are the key responsibilities of your current role?
As senior director, production operations, I oversee the operations team that manages live events from the 10 Big Ten universities across the Central and Pacific Time Zones. During my first year with the Big Ten Network, one of my primary responsibilities was facilitating West Coast expansion with the addition of UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington. This included preparing the venues, vendors, and crews we are using for live events. I also negotiate and manage vendor contracts for mobile units, graphics, and equipment rentals for enhanced production value.
What key industry trend do you see as having a major impact on your organization right now?
A collaborative effort continues between production, operations, and engineering to refine and improve our MICR (Multi-Cam Insert Control Room) Productions. The addition of the Appear encoders have allowed us to bring back more cameras and feeds to our Chicago studios, including the use of super-slo-mo on these events. These types of enhancements allow us to effectively cover more events with more production value, including football, as MICRs. Storytelling also continues to improve with the use of Libero for enhanced telestration, and the increased content creation that is shared from campus producers, who are located at each university, and our in- house features team. A centralized location producing a large number of events allows the opportunity to do live look-ins from all games across the conference, including B1G+ events, to update fans in real time.
Backerman working as a student for Michigan State's Spartan Vision in 2010
What is one core philosophy you try to live by when managing your team/operation?
I have had the incredible honor of working with some amazing teams during my career. Teamwork has been a foundational philosophy for me. Building trust through respect, kindness, and clear communication are integral in creating a team that enjoys coming together to get the work done.
What is your favorite event(s) you've worked?
This will sound strange coming from a Spartan, but one of my favorite events of all time happened at the University of Michigan. It was the first Big Ten Network StudentU game that went live on the linear network in November 2013. The StudentU program launched in 2009 with all the games streaming on the digital platform and some being edited and cut down to re-air, tape delayed, on the linear network. This event was produced completely with students from the University of Michigan - from the front bench and talent to the camera ops and technicians. These students worked hard to get to that point, and I was so proud to be there cheering them on! I have worked a lot of great events, been in fantastic arenas, and seen some amazing games, but this one has always stood out as such a moment of incredible growth.
More recently, I would have to say my favorite event was a USC football game in early September. I had the opportunity to be onsite with former colleagues from my early days at the Big Ten Network as well as those I had the pleasure to work with for years at the PAC-12 Networks. We utilized a drone for the game, and, in true USC fashion, the open did not disappoint. The pomp and circumstance covered by the crew with the amazing shots from the drone gave me chills watching from the truck!
Backerman overseeing a BTN StudentU production at the University of Michigan in 2013
How did you get started in
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
IPC Expands Brazilian Presence with New Channel Partner CCATech
Industry veterans Carlos Abrah o and Bruno Lopes strengthen local support and expand IPCs prese...
20/08/2026
Zixi Enters Mauritius Market Through Strategic Deployment with MTC Jockey Club
Worlds Oldest Horse Racing Club in the Southern Hemisphere Selects Zixis Softwar...
20/08/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Scripps Research assistant professor Tiantian Liu has received a five-year NIAID DP2 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di...
20/08/2026
Audiences reveal appetite for multicultural Australia on-screen 20 August 2026
Dr Georgie McClean, Dr Rebecca Huntley (L-R)
By Dr Georgie McClean and Dr Rebec...
20/08/2026
How Mavis Studio Is Expanding Live Production Teaching at Sussex
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image displays a student about to mix be...
20/08/2026
Vertical Unscripted Series Legal Queens Captured with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Reality TV veteran Eric Gardner create...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
SVG All-Stars: Sarah Backerman, Senior Director, Production Operations, Big Ten Network After a decade out west, a behind-the-scenes superstar returns to her roots By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
