New developments and routines have been seen by those who attend the Grambling State University basketball games this year.
The Television Center has expanded the coverage of the basket- ball games to bring more interaction and excitement to the games. When students or spectators go to basketball games, they will now see not only new media equipment but sideline reporters, interviews with coaches and players, and in- stant replay viewing as well.
“We are trying to make the basketball games look as professional as possible,” said Alan Blakeney, the TV Center director. “We want to cover the games like we are at a professional job as well as bring crowd interaction.”
The new control room on the first floor of the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center is the main reason for the newly developed coverage for the games.
“This control room and the pro- cess of the expansion of coverage has been a couple of years in the making,” said Blakeney. “This plan was developed years ago and is finally coming to reality and now we can have our cables and tools set up to the arena from the control room.”
According to Blakeney, the TV Center didn’t necessarily receive new tools but just expanded on the old tools and equipment that were used to cover the football games in the fall and transfer them over to the basketball arena. In the control room there are switchers, replay machines, head- sets so camera operators can communicate among one another and the floor and technical directors and multiple audio machines. The entire game can now be watched from the jumbo screens if fans in the arena choose to watch. Replays of almost every score can be seen as well.
“We have had more extensive training so that the students can be well equipped so they know what they are doing,” said Blakeney. “Our students need to be well trained and fully experienced so it will be easy for them to land a job once they leave here.”
Not only is it a requirement for the students to work like professionals but it is now mandatory to dress like professionals.
“We now have a dress code and strict guidelines that follows similar guidelines for ESPN,” said Blakeney.
The GSU basketball fans are en- joying the expanded efforts made by the students and directors at the TV Center.
“Seeing students on the floor with cameras getting hands on ex- perience in what they are studying is good to see at Grambling State,” said D.J. Parker, a sophomore therapeutic recreation major from New Orleans. “Being able to relive that moment of an amazing play looking up at the jumbotron is really exciting and doesn’t go unnoticed by students of GSU attending the games.”