Multiple Athletics Events Lead to Multi-Media Challenges and Solutions

[NOTE:  This weekend, 11 Gamecock athletics teams will be in action.  Fans will be able to get updates on all of the teams on either GamecocksOnline.com or on social media. The Gamecock Sports Radio Network and the Gamecock Live Video Production staff are working to keep fans updated with live coverage of men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball.  Below is a story describing the weekend’s multi-media plans.]
 
COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 6, 2019) – In the eight sports in which the University of South Carolina participates and the NCAA recognizes national attendance rankings, South Carolina is the only school in the nation to be in the Top 30 in average attendance in all eight.
 
That says a lot about the passion of Gamecock fans and the success of USC Athletics teams.
 
To satisfy that passion, especially from fans who can’t attend the games, the Gamecock Learfield IMG Sports Marketing, Live Video Productions, Gamecock Marketing and Communications/PR Staffs are hard at work to make it as easy as possible for fans to follow the Garnet and Black.
 
Take for instance, any home men’s or women’s basketball game. Gamecock Learfield IMG Sports Marketing makes sure fans can hear the game on the radio.  Live Video Productions makes sure the video board is up-and-running and, on many occasions, produces the game for either SEC Network (linear) or SEC Network Plus. Gamecock Marketing and Communications/PR make sure you can follow the games on the GamecocksOnline app, the website and on social media platforms. All of that is during the live action, not to mention the post-game highlights that need to be produced.
 
Now, think about when the Gamecocks are hosting multiple sports in a single weekend.  This weekend, the Gamecocks are hosting Kentucky in a three-game SEC softball series, Valparaiso in a three-game baseball series, Georgia in a men’s basketball game on Saturday, Mississippi State on Friday and Ole Miss on Sunday in men’s tennis and Delaware State on Friday in equestrian. 
 
That’s a busy weekend! And, that’s not including the women’s basketball team playing in the SEC Tournament in Greenville, S.C.
 
How are we going to keep you updated?  Easy … and hard. 
 
“Our staff works hard to bring our fans the coverage of all our athletics teams,” said Athletics Director Ray Tanner.  “It takes a lot of resources to be able to produce our sporting events for video.  In some cases, we must make special accommodations when we have multiple events on the same day, to provide this coverage.  I think we have a good plan in place for this weekend to make sure our fans can keep up with our teams.”
 
The Gamecock Live Video Productions staff is working to get the following games on the SEC Network Plus (WatchESPN App) for this weekend:
 
FRIDAY, MARCH 8
6 p.m. air time – Softball vs. Kentucky
7 p.m. air time – Baseball vs. Valparaiso
 
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
2 p.m. air time – Softball vs. Kentucky
4 p.m. air time – Baseball vs. Valparaiso
 
The Live Video Productions staff will also be producing the 1 p.m. men’s basketball game against Georgia for the Colonial Life Arena video board.  The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
 
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
1 p.m. air time – Softball vs. Kentucky
1:30 p.m. air time – Baseball vs. Valparaiso
 
Because of the manpower and equipment necessary to operate the video board at Colonial Life Arena and the three softball games vs. Kentucky, the SEC Network Plus production for baseball will be a single-camera feed with the radio call overlay.  
 
The video board feeds are all separate productions. Williams-Brice Stadium has three broadcast control rooms. For a home basketball game that is on SEC Network Plus, there is a control room for the SECN+ broadcast as well as a control room for the video board. Add another home sporting event broadcast, and that fills up another control room.  
 
“This is the first time we have tried this type of production,” said Charles Bloom, Executive Associate Athletics Director. “Originally, we were not going to be able to do the Valparaiso games, but our staff worked to find a solution. It’s not perfect, but we wanted to give our fans who wanted to watch Gamecock Baseball an opportunity to do so.”
 
With its partnership with Cumulus Broadcasting, Gamecock Learfield IMG Sports Marketing has set up the following schedule for this weekend:
 
FRIDAY, MARCH 8
5:45 p.m. air time, 107.5 FM The Game – Women’s Basketball vs. Arkansas-Georgia Winner
6:45 p.m. air time, WISW 1320 AM/Gamecock Sports Radio Network – Baseball vs. Valparaiso (107.5 The Game joins in progress upon completion of the WBB game)
 
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
12:30 p.m. air time, 107.5 The Game/Gamecock Sports Radio Network – Men’s Basketball vs. Georgia
3:45 p.m. air time, 107.5 The Game/Gamecock Sports Radio Network – Baseball vs. Valparaiso
7:15 p.m. air time, 107.5 The Game – Women’s Basketball in SEC Tournament (if Gamecocks win Friday) (Should baseball run over, WBB game will start on WISW-1320 AM)
 
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
1:15 p.m. air time, WOMG-98.5 FM/Gamecock Sports Radio Network – Baseball vs. Valparaiso
1:45 p.m. air time, 107.5 The Game – Women’s Basketball in SEC Tournament (if Gamecocks win Friday and Saturday)

Gamecock Marketing and Communications/PR staffs keep fans updated via StatBroadcast on the GamecocksOnline.com website as well as on Twitter.
 
It is indeed an all-hands-on-deck approach to event coverage for Gamecock Athletics.