Gravity Media Caps Off 47-Event Week With Knucklemania PPV

The broadcast-solutions provider expands into event packaging

Gravity Media’s Columbus 4K production unit will be at the center of the production of BKFC’s Knucklemania on Friday night from Lakeland, FL. Gravity Media is packaging the event, one of 47 the company is packaging just this week alone.

“As a company, we are known for facilities,” says Will Wright, head of production/executive producer, Gravity Media, who is responsible for the Knucklemania event. “We are able to still provide that with great high-end facilities and high-end cameras like the Sony HDC-4300, but now we are a packager as well. This is the third PPV we have done with BKFC and the biggest event that they’ve done.”

Knucklemania will be available on PPV on Friday, Feb. 5.

As the packager for the show, the Gravity Media team had a lot of control over the production elements. Besides the HDC-4300 cameras (three in 4K mode), the team has brought in a Cable Cam by Jitacam and a Jitacam Jimmy jib. There will also be a Sony P50 used on a MōVI rig and 15 cameras in total.

“The Cable Cam will be the main camera throughout the night over the ring to give it a ‘videogame’ feel,” says Wright.

Wireless audio will be used throughout the venue, with all refs and trainers wearing wireless microphones.

All told, 45 people are working on the show, with five working from home and 10 in Los Angeles, where remote graphics, highlight editing, streaming/and social integration, and Spanish-language commentary are handled.

The announcers for the Spanish-language PPV also will be in Los Angeles because the larger studio there offers plenty of social distancing.

“We’re bringing audio to L.A. for the announcers via Dante and then back here for the SAP portion,” says Wright.

Gravity Media’s Will Wright (left) and Jonathan Evans in the company’s Columbus 4K production truck

He adds that the studio is being used more and more for remote production, allowing graphics operators to work on other events, such as college basketball, as well. “The graphics operators like being in a bigger space and, honestly, being able to sleep in their own bed at night. And it gives us a chance to have A-level operators, the same crew, and we don’t have to worry about travel.”

Wright is executive-producing the event, and former HBO Boxing Director Jonathan Evans will produce and direct.

Gravity Media is using BitFire to transport signals from Lakeland to Los Angeles, and PSSI is involved with transmission services.

Gravity Media Director, Engineering, Tyler Thomas is onsite in Lakeland with the Columbus mobile production unit. Director, Technology, Alex Rybalko is overseeing the operations along with his team and Manager, Remote Production, Danita Davies from the Los Angeles Studios.

“Our team is the best in the business,” says Wright. “Being able to manage so many events all in one week is testament to everyone on our incredible team.”