Azzuro, NFL Network Enhance TeamCam System for NFL Draft Needs

The NFL Network relied heavily on the TeamCam System, co-designed and custom built by Azzuro, for capturing live coverage of the 78th Annual NFL Draft. TeamCam carried live feeds from all 32 NFL team sites and the network strategically installed cameras in 15 “War Rooms,” offering behind-the-scenes video access as team executives made their selections. It also carried coverage of 19 draft parties for fan reaction to their team’s picks.

Initially designed in 2011, today, TeamCam is currently installed at more than 50 locations throughout the United States; every NFL team site, NFL league offices and several remote analyst homes and office locations. The entire system is controlled via the NFL Network technical operations center in Culver City, CA. In addition, NFL Films Mt. Laurel, NJ facility can control any of the remote sites and Azzurro’s 24/7 NOC actively monitors the health of each system, the network, and can remotely control any location in the event of an emergency offering multiple levels of control and redundancy.

NFL TeamCam serves as a complete remote studio capable of controlling professional cameras, lighting and audio through a single simple user interface. The integrated package includes a robotic HD/SD camera with remote control over focus, aperture, color, set-up, and pan/tilt/zoom, IFB and four-outlet DMX lighting dimmer. Multiple touchscreen interfaces put all necessary functions under operator control via presets, on-screen buttons or joysticks. Each unit is built as a fully portable road case; allowing for ease of shipping.

“NFL Network sought one partner capable of providing a fully integrated HD production system, a managed IP network service, and remote control capability,” said Frank Luperella, President and CEO of Azzurro Group. “The NFL Team Cam product combined with Azzurro’s suite of managed encoding, decoding and IP transport services provides NFL Network the robust and elegant solution they were seeking.”

Additionally, Jets and Giants Draft Party content was delivered to the network via MetLife Stadium lines connected directly to Azzurro’s Network Operations Center (NOC) in NYC. NFL Network’s “Draft Week” on site coverage included daily live shows originating from SNY’s studio located across the street from Radio City Music Hall. SNY studios are also connected to the Azzurro NOC. Azzurro provided uncompressed video circuits to and from Radio City for network programming.