While it’s not the same as attending in person, if you enjoy watching UMBC basketball or Commencement live online, soon you might also be able to watch other major campus events in the same way. In addition, like many of UMBC’s ESPN+ broadcasts now, most of the production crews will likely be staffed by UMBC students and young alums. 

Through a competitive procurement process facilitated by UMBC Procurement & Strategic Sourcing over the summer, the University recently selected VPC, Inc. of Reisterstown, Maryland, to provide high definition (HD), live stream broadcast capabilities across campus. Over the past three years, the firm had partnered with UMBC Athletics, DoIT and Media & Communications Studies (MCS) to provide video production services, primarily for the broadcast of basketball games on ESPN+. UMBC Athletics and DoIT collaborated to solicit a partner with a shared strategic vision to expand live streaming beyond athletics, and continue the strong participation of UMBC students and young alums as production crew staff. The initial contract term with VPC, Inc. --  to be coordinated through DoIT’s New Media Studio -- is for three years, with optional renewals for up to an additional five years.

“VPC has been a strong campus partner for many years, having produced numerous commencements, alumni awards, anniversary celebrations and athletics events,” says Jack Suess, Vice President of IT and Chief Information Officer (CIO). “We’re especially pleased to work with a partner so committed to higher education and training our students to work alongside industry professionals in live stream broadcasting.”

In addition to producing UMBC’s ESPN3 broadcasts, VPC, Inc. has provided production services for marquee events such as the AFL Arena Bowl, the Olympics, and the Kentucky Derby. VPC provides scoreboard production and engineering services for the United States Naval Academy and 3 NFL teams including the Ravens. In recent years, the firm has also “crossed over” into college and university commencements, capital campaign launches and alumni awards including involvement for the UMBC50 Celebration. Today, the firm routinely produces more than 250 events a year, with over 100 of them in live sports production. The University’s new contractual agreement with VPC also complements DoIT’s 2017 upgrade of the New Media Studio  to HD.

“We couldn’t be happier to continue the campus partnership with UMBC,” says Eli Eisenberg, CEO of VPC, and a 1986 UMBC alum. “We’ve enjoyed working with Athletics and look forward to continue doing so under the relationship with DoIT for other major campus events. Regardless of the event or venue, our professional staff really enjoys working with students, and helping them grow their skillsets." 

Over the summer, DoIT replaced all of the New Media Studio’s analog, standard-definition TV production equipment to high definition (HD). This included three new Sony HD cameras and related components and switchers for video and audio production.

“The upgrade means we’ll be able to give UMBC students, faculty and staff the kinds of live production experiences they’d find in the Baltimore area,” says Jack Suess, Vice President of IT and Chief Information Officer (CIO). “In addition to improving our institutional capabilities, bringing the Studio up to modern production standards will help prepare students for the kind of work environments they’ll encounter.”

A good example of this kind of student talent development pipeline ocurred during the very successful first season of HD live streaming athetics events on ESPN3 last year. Working with ‘Eli Eisenberg (‘86) and his media production company, VPC, Inc, DoIT, Athletics and several Media and Commuication Studies (MCS) students produced more than 20 live men’s & women’s basketball games that drew rave reviews from ESPN and the America East Conference (AEC). Consisting of 15-20 member crews, the broadcasts were initially produced more by VPC professionals, but by the end of season, they were largely student produced. Several of these students and young alums were then hired by the Baltimore Ravens for the team’s own multimedia upgrade to facilities at M&T Bank Stadium and practice facilities in Owings Mills.

“The upgrade to HD is a boon to the students in Media and Communication Studies,” says MCS Chair Jason Loviglio. “Working with industry-quality gear and with talented professionals like Professor Bill Shewbridge represents a huge advantage when it comes to finding work in a variety of industries that now rely on in-house video production for websites, streaming, and other applications. Along with the ESPN-3 upgrade in sports broadcasting, UMBC now offers students incredible opportunities to do professional-quality video work.”

The New Media Studio is a fee-for-service production facility that has a long tradition of working with faculty in digital storytelling, research grant results dissemination, covering campus events, and producing recorded TV shows like “In The Loop.” We also work with courses focused on media production. To tour the space or discuss a potential project, contact Manager Dustin Roddy at 5-3214 or drod2@umbc.edu.

Clockwise From Top Left: The Studio’s control room with old analog tube monitors; same room with updated controls, new flat screen monitors and digital equipment, added graphics and media manager stations; one of three new HD Sony cameras with fiber optic cabling; and Ross Graphite Switcher- the main unit of the system.

Pictured L to R at M&T Bank Stadium: UMBC students and alums Kevin Harris, Taylor Crimmel, Karlise Simpson, Jerome Graham, Dustin Roddy, Jordan Becker.