By Brian Galante
When Athletes Unlimited brought its professional women’s basketball season to Nashville in February, the action extended far beyond the court. Behind the scenes at Municipal Auditorium, GameTime Productions and sister company Live Media delivered an ambitious 18-camera live broadcast production for the 24-game event, streaming nationally on ESPN+ and the WNBA App and airing over-the-air in four Tennessee markets.
In its second season producing the event, GameTime significantly elevated the technical scope. Athletes Unlimited operates under a unique format in which individual players accumulate points throughout the season rather than teams competing for a championship. Players earn or lose points based on performance, and the top four athletes each week draft new teams for the next slate of games. That format requires a broadcast capable of constant statistical updates and clear storytelling.
GameTime collaborated closely with Athletes Unlimited to create a customized scorebug and data dashboard tailored specifically to the league’s scoring system. The production integrates live data feeds, allowing operators to surface player bios, quarter scoring, leaderboard changes and promotional information in real time. President Patricia Lowry says the system evolved through close teamwork between GameTime, the league and a dedicated programmer.
In year one, coverage utilized 11 cameras. This season, GameTime expanded to 18, with a complement that included five hard cameras for primary game coverage, handheld cameras under each basket and at center court, stanchion mounted cameras, six PTZ cameras positioned in the booth and for player “chair chats,” and dedicated positions for ISO shots and talent reactions.
The expanded layout allowed for more sophisticated analysis and replay workflows. GameTime deployed both Telestripe and Fingerworks Telestrator systems for live breakdowns, including spot shadows, arrows and graphic overlays. “We set up our camera complement allowing for unique inside-the-game breakdown and analysis,” Lowry said.
One of the most visible additions was a newly constructed elevated booth set built into the arena. The idea for the “floating booth” came from Athletes Unlimited Chief Broadcast Officer Cheri Kempf. The 20-by-22-foot space included a studio area for Half Show interviews, a basketball goal for interactive segments and two 50-inch monitors with capabilities to enhance the storytelling experience of live game action.
On-air talent operated on wireless Madonna microphones and IFBs, allowing mobility throughout the set. A sideline reporter utilized an RF stick mic kit, while one player and one coach per game were mic’d for additional access. The production also included “chair chats” where players could sit at the end of the bench with a headset and join the broadcast live, a feature designed to deepen fan engagement both in-venue and on stream.
GameTime supports Athletes Unlimited across multiple sports, including volleyball and softball, often leveraging REMI workflows from TNDV’s Nashville control rooms. For basketball, Live Media deployed a mobile production unit onsite to handle the full 18-camera live cut-to-air workflow. A key element of the successful season of production was GameTime’s growing Nashville-based crew network. The company combined experienced local technicians with personnel familiar with Athletes Unlimited’s distinctive format.
As the tournament concluded March 1, the production showcased more than an expanded camera count integrated sound and upgraded graphics. It reflected a shared commitment to innovation in women’s sports broadcasting, and a partnership built to evolve. “We are always looking for this type of relationship when we look at packaging and producing our shows,” Kempf said.
