College Football on The CW: Raycom Sports Extends Legacy With New ACC Broadcast Package

The production company had six weeks to develop strategy before season start

After years of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) productions on ESPN, Raycom Sports is now producing The CW’s new ACC college-football broadcasts. Having completed the deal only six weeks before the start of the 2023 conference slate, the company relied on its well-known experience in collegiate sports to put together its production and operations philosophy in time for Week 1.

“The CW is making a big push for sports, so they’re 100% all-in on college football,” says Rob Reichley, SVP/executive producer, Raycom Sports. “The network isn’t shy about wanting the quality of a [national] network show, and I believe we’re delivering that.”

Pressurized Prep: Strategy Is Finalized in Time for Kickoff

With the broadcasting deal getting done just under the wire, Raycom Sports had a shortened timeline to figure out how to approach the season. The team tapped its vast experience in the industry to come up with a plan.

A super-slow-motion camera on a chain-crew member was a tech highlight during Pitt vs. Cincinnati on Sept. 9.

“It was important to know what we’ve done in the past and understand where we had to get to,” says Bill Stafford, VP, engineering and technical operations, Raycom Sports. “Our trucks were built for a specific show, but, when you have to add the gear and equipment to meet the enhancements that we needed to do, that’s when it was a bit tough.”

Not only did the addition of a handful of specialty cameras pose an operational hurdle, but crewing was a bit of an issue since Raycom’s entrance into the deal was late in the process. With the first game on Sept. 9, the University of Cincinnati at the University of Pittsburgh, looming, the company was able to assemble a team of technicians and experts.

“Having a core crew was one of the things that we were pushing for,” says Stafford. “Pittsburgh is a very strong market, so we had a good balance of travel crew and local crew for that show. We’ll continue to work on that core crew as we build this out, and we’re finding some really good individuals for this team.”

The front bench in Raycom Sports’ HD1

In addition, Stafford relied on colleagues and business relationships to round out the infrastructure that will be used on a weekly basis. One name in his phonebook, NASCAR VP, Operations and Technical Production, Steve Stum, was a reliable resource since both Raycom Sports and the motorsports organization are based in Charlotte, NC. With useful advice and a dedicated staff slowly taking shape, the operations team was able to solve any problems that popped up.

“Our managers, coordinators, and engineers were nonstop,” says Stafford, “but they were able to stay right in line as we made this change. From the scheduling of crew and hotel blocks to rewiring new tech to our truck, it was all hands on deck.”

Production Details: Internally Operated HD1 Mobile Unit, Feeds from National Nets

Working with University of Pittsburgh Executive Associate Athletic Director, Communications, E.J. Borghetti; Associate Athletic Director, Broadcast and Video Production, Paul Barto; and Associate Athletic Director, Acrisure Stadium Operations and Event Management, John Abrams, Raycom Sports rolled its HD1 mobile unit into the compound at in Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since Fox Sports was on hand for the Steelers home opener vs. the San Francisco 49ers the following day, Raycom Sports was able to tap into some of Fox Sports’ resources with the broadcasters’ trucks parked next to each other.

The wearable camera on a chain-crew member captured a unique on-the-field POV.

With the added feeds, the first game on The CW deployed 30 total cameras: six hard cameras, five line-to-gain pylon cams, four end-zone pylon cams, four field pylon cams, three POVs, two handhelds, a Skycam, a helicopter, a PTZ booth robo, a dedicated all-22 camera, a super-slow-motion camera worn by a member of the first-down chain crew, and a camera within the ACC’s Replay Room. Skycam, for example, won’t be used every week, but having The CW as a broadcast partner allows Raycom Sports to push the tech envelope.

“Skycam is a home run whenever you can have it,” notes Stafford. “Not many regional sports packages have the ability to add that. The CW trust us to get the job done.”

Along with the camera complement, Ross Video’s Piero system was used to augment replays. From a creative perspective, the graphics package was developed by artists at The CW and other on-screen elements received some outside help.

V1 Alex Green (seated) and Engineering Manager Calan Canipe during the broadcast

“To get a Viz insert package done in the shortened time,” says Reichley, “ESPN was nice enough to manipulate their insert package and let us use it. With our men’s and women’s basketball [broadcasts] starting in early December, we’re working toward building a complete package for that.”

To prepare for the winter schedule and improve on its ACC football efforts, the crew at Raycom Sports is continually learning from what the other major broadcasters are doing.

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel,” adds Stafford, “but we’ll have lessons to learn from workflows that [Fox Sports VP, Technical and Field Operations,] Mike Davies and [CBS Sports VP, Remote Technical Operations,] Jason Cohen [deploy]. That also includes learning about budgets from each show and a little bit of experimenting.”

Measuring Success: High-Quality Shows Build on Renowned Reputation

A tight relationship with an external partner is an important ingredient in sustained success. For Raycom Sports, years-long rapport with the ACC has been critical.

“Our relationship with the ACC has been great in getting some cool things approved,” notes Stafford. “It also helps having a great relationship with all the schools within the conference.”

Raycom Sports’ HD1 mobile unit in the compound outside Acrisure Stadium on Sept. 9

Internally, having a crew whose members treat each other like family is the production company’s secret sauce. Engaging stories of ACC football since 1984 reveal the camaraderie among them. Whether you’ve been at Raycom Sports for 40 years or have joined this season, the tight bond helps the crew put on the best show possible.

“The term family is tossed around a lot,” says Reichley, “but this really is a family. These relationships have helped us [over the years], and there has always been a give-and-take [mentality] with everyone in this group.”

The CW’s ACC football schedule continues this weekend with Marshall vs. NC State at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.