LCCC Offers Students Experience in Sports Broadcasting

Delaine Popa Nina | Writer

Behind the scenes of the sports broadcasting program- photo taken by Iris Redondo Ponce, Visual Media major.

While most students are cheering in the bleachers or playing on the field, a crew dedicated to sports broadcasting is stationed behind the lens. What began as a simple game of basketball being recorded turned into a high-tech program working alongside ESPN for hundreds of people to see.

The sports broadcasting program began in 2021 when the athletic director approached Peter Sabino,  digital media and design lab coordinator, and asked if it would be possible to record a basketball game. The original goal was just to get games filmed, but that turned into something much more.

“I had been wanting to do a sports broadcast for a while,” said Sabino. “So I asked her, while I record the game, can we stream it?”

The athletic director agreed, allowing his idea to start with just one camera and a laptop using Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), which soon laid the groundwork for what the future had in store. By the summer of 2024, they had a full production and mobile production setup, which is when things really started to take off.

Thanks to LCCC’s partnership with Lafayette College, students get the chance to produce content for ESPN while also getting hands-on experience to use after they graduate. 

For many students, the most exciting part of the program is that you don’t need to be a film expert to join. While some students come from the TV studio class, many walk in with zero experience.

“They learn on the spot,” said Sabino. “I train them on the equipment, the different programs, and the protocol. This is a learning experience, so no prior experience is needed.”

Sabino also has agreements with certain networks, such as Astound, allowing him to recommend students to them, knowing they have been trained.

Whether a student wants to do this as a hobby or become a filmmaker or live news producer, the skills are relatively the same. Getting behind the camera gives students the experience they need to excel in the digital media field. 

Ready to get behind the camera? Getting involved is as simple as sending an email to Peter Sabino, Psabino@lccc.edu. Reaching out will get you a game schedule, and all you have to do is respond yes or no to those games you can work.