How a Backbone of Thirty Switchers Delivered Unmatched Flexibility, HDR Brilliance, and Rock-Solid Reliability in a Record-Breaking Live Broadcast
When the broadcast team descended on the Caesars Superdome for the NFL’s biggest game of the year, their secret weapon wasn’t just the 150 cameras or 16 mobile units – it was roughly thirty Grass Valley switchers quietly orchestrating every shot. As Kevin Callahan, the network’s vice president of operations and engineering, put it, “The switchers were the lifeblood of the production. Every signal that a viewer sees goes through it.” From the main world feed to clean partner-network outputs and bespoke international streams, each video path passed through a Grass Valley frame, guaranteeing viewers a seamless experience.
What truly set this deployment apart was its chameleon-like ability to bridge decades-old SDI workflows with cutting-edge SMPTE 2110 IP infrastructures. Even though the core production truck ran on modern IP, operators “treated it as if it were SDI” while weaving in the latest 2110-based mobile units – all without missing a beat. When the opening segment underwent a last-minute rewrite just days before kickoff, panels reserved for rehearsal were repurposed on the fly: one taking over sub-switch duties, the other powering augmented-reality graphics, transforming potential chaos into precision choreography.
Beyond raw routing power, these switchers underpinned a stunning HDR and high-frame-rate presentation that set new standards for slow-motion clarity. “High frame rate provides a unique visual difference to viewers at home and enables super-clear replays,” Callahan explains – and with a record audience tuning in, every pivotal moment, from the halftime spectacle to the final play, sparkled with unparalleled detail. By leaning on Grass Valley’s rock-solid frames as their production backbone, the broadcast team proved that even the biggest live event can run like clockwork – remaining invisible yet utterly indispensable.
Article written by Verity Butler for LIVE Magazine
