America East Establishes Landmark Partnership with Ross Mobile Productions

Ross Video and the America East Conference announced a breakthrough partnership that teams Ross Video’s mobile production unit, Ross Mobile Productions (Ross MP), with one of the most progressive conferences in the country. As part of the two-year agreement, Ross MP will serve as the packager and producer for at least 34 America East games annually for distribution on ESPN3. In addition, Ross MP will serve as a technology consultant for America East’s nine institutions to enhance their school-based productions.
“Our partnership with America East is truly a landmark agreement in the college sports landscape,” said Ross MP President and Executive Producer Mitch Rubenstein. “We’re a turnkey packager and a technology company, and this deal will allow us to provide everything Ross has to offer. It combines innovative, high quality mobile production with long-term school-based technology initiatives – customized to solidify the long-term success of the America East.”

“We’re thrilled to develop a relationship with Ross Video, and especially Mitch and his team at Ross MP,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “Ross is an immensely respected brand within the television and video industry and this unique partnership presents a number of exciting opportunities for the conference and our members.”

Ross Video’s integrated switching and graphics workflows have been successful in enabling schools throughout the country to produce their own network level content. Institutions in the ACC, Atlantic Sun, Big XII and SEC, including Clemson, Duke, Georgia, Kansas, LSU, North Carolina and Notre Dame among others, have utilized Ross technology to enhance their video quality and capabilities.

Ross MP’s newly-opened office in New York will be the base of operations and feature a staff that has the highest level of experience in both mobile and school based productions. The Ross MP New York-based office will service the Northeast and also house the new Ross MP “Future is Now 3” (FIN3) mobile production unit, which was built using Ross Video’s openTruck initiative. FIN3, which will be used to produce America East games in HD, is making its debut at the 2014 NAB Show, the world’s largest electronic media show covering filmed entertainment and the development, management and delivery of content across all mediums, this week in Las Vegas.

A unique feature of the partnership is that Ross MP will provide consulting services and training to all conference institutions as they strategize, build and enhance their video and technological capabilities.

“To be able to directly influence the success of member institutions, while packaging America East’s premium content is a model that will give growth and staying power to school productions,” said Rubenstein. “We are looking forward to our involvement with all nine of these outstanding institutions and with the America East.”

In recent years, America East has been at the forefront of the changing digital landscape within college athletics. One of the first conferences to fully embrace ESPN3 and its reach and capability, the conference has aired games exclusively on ESPN networks, with the majority of those contests on ESPN3, since 2011. In August 2013, the conference launched AmericaEast.TV, the league’s digital network, which features free live and on-demand video content from each of the member institutions’ campuses.

In its first year, AmericaEast.TV has or will feature more than 500 live events from conference members and America East Championships, as well as on-demand video content including interviews, feature stories and highlights from the league’s 19 sports. The conference is also focused on enhancing the network for the future, working with its members to develop a long-term plan aimed at enhancing each school’s productions and content.

“As a league, we’re committed to identifying innovative ways our members can build upon their existing infrastructure as major research institutions and use technology to enhance their video productions to further expand their reach and showcase the experiences they offer,” said Huchthausen. “The approach taken by Ross MP to truly partner with our members on their productions will allow our institutions to advance both their capabilities and brand.”

“The expertise and resources available to our institutions through this partnership with Ross are invaluable,” said Binghamton University Director of Athletics and Chair of America East Athletics Directors’ Council Patrick Elliott. “To be directly connected with one of the leading technology equipment providers will help us as we create plans to enhance our capabilities on campus. I know my colleagues are excited about this opportunity that will ultimately help us grow our institutional brands to a wider audience.”