JVC, Panasonic Powers New Mexico State Aggievision

By Ken Kerschbaumer

New Mexico State University last week began producing its own athletic events under the guise of “AggieVision,” a mobile production unit based around six JVC DV1500V cameras and two Panasonic DVX100B cameras. The university also fired up a new video scoreboard for the football team’s 35-14 win over Southeastern Louisiana. “Things went really well,” says Steve Macy, New Mexico State Associate Athletic Director. “The interest in the board by our fans was remarkable.”

But while the fans in the stadium loved the scoreboard fans at home loved having a chance to watch the games on Time Warner Cable, FSN Arizona, and Comcast Cable’s local access channel. The school will produce and distribute at least 43 games via AggieVision, produced by the University’s mobile production unit.

Comcast affiliates in Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Gallup, and Santa Fe and Time Warner Cable in El Paso will carry each of these events, while Altitude Sports & Entertainment and FSN-Arizona will carry selected events. In most cases, these games will be carried live, but home football games will be tape delayed in Las Cruces.

“AggieVision and our partnership with Comcast Cable and our other affiliates is a key component to our plan to advance the reach and scope of New Mexico State athletics,” said athletic director Dr. McKinley Boston. “Not only will AggieVision bring our events to more of our fans and alumni, but it will help our coaches in recruiting and increase the value of our brand to our current and future corporate partners.”

Macy says that from a live TV standpoint the university felt very underexposed. “We decided to take the bull by our own horns and create our own mobile video production unit,” says Macy. “We’ll be mostly doing home events but also some road games and the trailer will also be used by other university departments.”

Students in the Communication Department will complement five full-time staffers that include a general manager and assistant FM, two videographers and an IT engineer.

The university has run some fiber cable in the stadium to help transport signals to the production truck that will be located on the back side of the press box.

As for the scoreboard, the 37-foot by 27-foot unit is the biggest scoreboard from Denver to Mexico City. While it’s designed to wow fans it’s also designed to bring in revenues, with $500,000 in sponsorships already brought in this year.

“By year two we also believe the production truck will be a money-making venture as well,” says Macy.