What it's Like to Cover a Live Broadcast

“Ready one! Take one! Ready Three! Take three! Camera two get a close up on the quarterback! Do we have the highlight package ready!?” The constant orders and demands of a live sports director have to be direct and precise in the heat of the action. With minutes left in the 4th quarter the director knows that viewers are on the edge of their seat wanting to know what is happening with their team. There are three teams during the sports broadcast; the two that are competing against each other and the team covering the event.

Last Week I was thrilled to help cover the Minnesota State High School Football Semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium Over three long and fast-paced days, our crew’s task was to cover fourteen games. With having only twenty minutes between games, I had just enough time to chuck some food in the back of my throat, take a short visit to the restroom, and sprint to the next assignment before I had to be locked and loaded for the next game.

What people don’t think about and often overlook with live sports broadcasts is the amount of talent and teamwork it requires to put on a show. Cameramen have to have a steady hand when it comes to following the play as it happens and always keep one eye open to what else is happening in between plays. The cameramen are also the eyes for the director so they have to constantly listen and anticipate for what the director needs both in the moment and in the future.

Talented replay operators should always know what camera had the best angle, have the play categorized, and have it ready to cue up before the tackled player stands up. Juggling is the best way to describe being a replay operator. Not only do they have to pay attention to the game and clip the plays that happen, they have to edit highlights reels and notice trends that are happening as well.

The director is a dictator during the broadcast. This is not a democracy where everyone gets a say. With milliseconds of time, the director has to make snap decisions all the time and everyone must follow. A good director knows that he’s telling the story of a game and needs everyone’s focus to help tell that story. Directing means more than just yelling out camera shots and expecting everyone to know what he wants. Support and constant communication is what helps the cameraman stay focused on the task at hand. Even though everyone in the truck listens to what the director says and calls for, the director also relies on everyone else to do their job effectively.

The energy and intense focus that live sports production requires isn’t quite like anything else that someone can do in video production. You can plan and prepare all you want before the game starts, but once the ball gets kicked in the air, you have no idea how the game is going to play out. There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with working with other talented people in a team atmosphere. Even though we all have our roles, everyone needs each other to succeed. While I quite enjoy writing, shooting, and editing; it doesn’t quite encapsulate that adrenaline of capturing the moment of a game-winning score and the whole truck going berserk trying to keep up with the climax of the finale.

Camera overlooking the field of U.S. Bank Stadium (photo take by Jake Loftus)

Blurry photo of Joel Klein directing a High School Semi-Final Football game. (Photo taken by Jake Loftus)

Picture taken of crew after the last Saturday game at 11:30pm (Photo taken by Jake Loftus)