SoonerVision prepared for OU network

Wishbone · 01-24-2012, 02:13 PM

SoonerVision prepared for OU TV network - ESPN

NORMAN, Okla. -- When Brandon Meier took over the University of Oklahoma's SoonerVision department in 2007, he found hundreds of old film reels stashed in pizza boxes.

Soon, those old reels -- along with a pair of multi-million dollar high-definition control rooms tucked in on the west side of Memorial Stadium and a fiber optic cable network connecting OU's athletic facilities to the control rooms -- will be the foundation of the soon-to-be-launched OU network.

"We're developing our archives, working on our history," Meier said. "But we're producing new content, too."

he ability to generate both has made SoonerVision -- the athletic department's in-house production studio -- an attractive partner to television distributors, whom Oklahoma has been courting for months. Earlier this month, Sports Business Journal reported that OU was negotiating a deal with Fox, which would distribute OU programming across Fox Sports Oklahoma and Fox Sports Southwest.

Tuesday, the OU board of regents is expected to authorize school president David Boren to negotiate with "current and potential licensees in order to increase distribution of the University's media content," according to the board's agenda.

Chances are, the OU model will be very different from the Longhorn Network, which is run in partnership with ESPN and the University of Texas. While the LHN is an individual, 24-hour channel, OU's programming could be broadcast across multiple Fox Sports channels at different times in the day.

"We are certainly monitoring what's going on with them." Meier said of the Longhorn Network. "Don't think for a second (athletic director Joe Castiglione) hasn't been keeping track of it and learning from it."

What distinguishes OU from Texas, however, is that the Sooners will have had their broadcasting infrastructure in place before signing a deal with a carrier. An infrastructure, which has been built in less than five years, that began with the $3 million Daktronics HD-capable video replay board.

"What spurred the investment in SoonerVision was the big screen," said Meier, who pointed out that when he was hired to oversee production on the HD board, he found OU didn't actually have any HD equipment. "Pushing analog to that board wasn't going to look good. It was like buying the greatest big screen, and then not even having an HDMI cable box. Once we got the big screen going, it gave us a shot in the arm."

The Sooners have come quite a ways in five years. They've added a second control room so they can broadcast one game on TV, while simultaneously broadcasting another on the Internet. This academic year alone, SoonerVision will do roughly 80 TV broadcasts and several more on SoonerSports.com. Whatever carrier decides to air OU's content won't have to supply much in equipment, personnel or studio space. Most of that already is in place.

"It's not far off to say we have the most aggressive production unit in college athletics," Meier said. "Maybe even pro sports."

Thanks to a partnership with the journalism school, SoonerVision also employs close to 100 people, including 60 students, who work anywhere from seven to 30 hours a week.

"We look at that as the biggest win-win in all of this," Meier said. "They get great experience. We get to help train them, help develop them into broadcast professionals."

Now, Meier and his staff are combing through the school's vast archives, which include hundreds of reels of games, coaches shows and other content from the Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer eras and even before. That task hasn't been easy.

"In some cases, the film was warped, stuck together, even toxic," Meier said. "But we're not setting up field production and hitting record on our cameras. We're really doing it the right way digitizing our archives."

But the OU network won't be just a re-run of classic football games. The archived content will be supplemented with pregame shows, postgame shows, live broadcasts, interviews and even documentaries.

"The challenge for us will be, how much content can we produce, how much unique content?" Meier said. "We want to strike that delicate balance and decide what model is best for us."

occupant · 01-24-2012, 03:00 PM

But...but...we didn't get 300 kajillion dollars from the Mommyship!

SoonerDO · 01-24-2012, 03:41 PM

One of my friends worked for Sooner Vision before she graduated. That studio and place is crazy to be in.

bone3421 · 01-24-2012, 09:08 PM

so does this mean everyone can start crying about how OU ruined the big 12

TexasMan · 01-24-2012, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bone3421

so does this mean everyone can start crying about how OU ruined the big 12

TexasMan · 01-24-2012, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by occupant

But...but...we didn't get 300 kajillion dollars from the Mommyship!

Why do y'all always gotta compare yourselves with big brother?

Wishbone · 01-25-2012, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasMan

Why do y'all always gotta compare yourselves with big brother?

If you where "big brother" wouldn't you have 7 National Titles and 5 Heisman winners instead of the other way around?

MarkOU · 01-25-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wishbone

If you where "big brother" wouldn't you have 7 National Titles and 5 Heisman winners instead of the other way around?

zing

occupant · 01-31-2012, 01:46 PM

My big brother lives in a van down by the river...

01-24-2012, 02:13 PM	#1
Wishbone Robust Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 226 Rep Power: 1073	SoonerVision prepared for OU network SoonerVision prepared for OU TV network - ESPN NORMAN, Okla. -- When Brandon Meier took over the University of Oklahoma's SoonerVision department in 2007, he found hundreds of old film reels stashed in pizza boxes. Soon, those old reels -- along with a pair of multi-million dollar high-definition control rooms tucked in on the west side of Memorial Stadium and a fiber optic cable network connecting OU's athletic facilities to the control rooms -- will be the foundation of the soon-to-be-launched OU network. "We're developing our archives, working on our history," Meier said. "But we're producing new content, too." he ability to generate both has made SoonerVision -- the athletic department's in-house production studio -- an attractive partner to television distributors, whom Oklahoma has been courting for months. Earlier this month, Sports Business Journal reported that OU was negotiating a deal with Fox, which would distribute OU programming across Fox Sports Oklahoma and Fox Sports Southwest. Tuesday, the OU board of regents is expected to authorize school president David Boren to negotiate with "current and potential licensees in order to increase distribution of the University's media content," according to the board's agenda. Chances are, the OU model will be very different from the Longhorn Network, which is run in partnership with ESPN and the University of Texas. While the LHN is an individual, 24-hour channel, OU's programming could be broadcast across multiple Fox Sports channels at different times in the day. "We are certainly monitoring what's going on with them." Meier said of the Longhorn Network. "Don't think for a second (athletic director Joe Castiglione) hasn't been keeping track of it and learning from it." What distinguishes OU from Texas, however, is that the Sooners will have had their broadcasting infrastructure in place before signing a deal with a carrier. An infrastructure, which has been built in less than five years, that began with the $3 million Daktronics HD-capable video replay board. "What spurred the investment in SoonerVision was the big screen," said Meier, who pointed out that when he was hired to oversee production on the HD board, he found OU didn't actually have any HD equipment. "Pushing analog to that board wasn't going to look good. It was like buying the greatest big screen, and then not even having an HDMI cable box. Once we got the big screen going, it gave us a shot in the arm." The Sooners have come quite a ways in five years. They've added a second control room so they can broadcast one game on TV, while simultaneously broadcasting another on the Internet. This academic year alone, SoonerVision will do roughly 80 TV broadcasts and several more on SoonerSports.com. Whatever carrier decides to air OU's content won't have to supply much in equipment, personnel or studio space. Most of that already is in place. "It's not far off to say we have the most aggressive production unit in college athletics," Meier said. "Maybe even pro sports." Thanks to a partnership with the journalism school, SoonerVision also employs close to 100 people, including 60 students, who work anywhere from seven to 30 hours a week. "We look at that as the biggest win-win in all of this," Meier said. "They get great experience. We get to help train them, help develop them into broadcast professionals." Now, Meier and his staff are combing through the school's vast archives, which include hundreds of reels of games, coaches shows and other content from the Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer eras and even before. That task hasn't been easy. "In some cases, the film was warped, stuck together, even toxic," Meier said. "But we're not setting up field production and hitting record on our cameras. We're really doing it the right way digitizing our archives." But the OU network won't be just a re-run of classic football games. The archived content will be supplemented with pregame shows, postgame shows, live broadcasts, interviews and even documentaries. "The challenge for us will be, how much content can we produce, how much unique content?" Meier said. "We want to strike that delicate balance and decide what model is best for us." __________________ BOOMER SOONER

01-24-2012, 03:00 PM	#2
occupant Resident Inhabitant Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: between Posts: 2,338 Rep Power: 18536	But...but...we didn't get 300 kajillion dollars from the Mommyship! __________________ Well, don't want to sound like a dick or nothin', but, ah... it says on your chart that you're fucked up. Ah, you talk like a fag, and your shit's all retarded.

01-24-2012, 03:41 PM	#3
SoonerDO негр пятно Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Edmond Posts: 5,892 Rep Power: 44084	One of my friends worked for Sooner Vision before she graduated. That studio and place is crazy to be in. __________________ Sports Hoopla BLACKLIST Alumni

01-24-2012, 09:08 PM	#4
bone3421 like in the back of a VW Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: the happiest place on earth Posts: 5,096 Rep Power: 26095	so does this mean everyone can start crying about how OU ruined the big 12 __________________ THE 2012 HOOPLA TOURNEY CHAMP& 2012 MASTERS CHAMP(for the 6 of us that played)

01-31-2012, 01:46 PM	#9
occupant Resident Inhabitant Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: between Posts: 2,338 Rep Power: 18536	My big brother lives in a van down by the river... __________________ Well, don't want to sound like a dick or nothin', but, ah... it says on your chart that you're fucked up. Ah, you talk like a fag, and your shit's all retarded.