NHL Productions In-House Studio Ops Continue to Grow with Data-Driven Stanley Cup Central' Live-Streaming Show By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 3:12 pm
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Seven years ago when Steve Mayer arrived at NHL Productions, his team consisted of five people. Today the leagues Chief Content Officer and EVP's staff has grown to more than 50 and boasts an in-house studio that cranks out live and quick turnaround programming on an almost daily basis. The culmination of those efforts this season has been the launch of Stanley Cup Central, a new second-screen YouTube experience covering one game per night throughout the Playoffs that brings a more conversational style and provides deep stats driven by the NHL EDGE puck-and-player tracking system.
Lauren Jbara, Alexa Landestoy, Jonny Lazarus hosting Stanley Cup Central
With [Stanley Cup Central], we have several different things we're trying to accomplish, says Mayer. We're looking to build our YouTube platform, experiment with the second screen experience, find new ways to tell stories with the NHL EDGE [data], identify and develop new [on-air] talent, and get fans into an environment where they're interacting and talking to each other in real time. And, maybe most importantly, we're looking to establish exactly what we are capable of in this studio. We've certainly had studios before, but never with the capabilities that this one has in terms of technology.
NHL EDGE Data Serves as Backbone' of Stanley Cup Central During the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL Productions launched a new state-of-the-art studio in its headquarters at One Manhattan West. The studio and accompanying control room made their live-streaming debut with Third Period Live, a second-screen experience on YouTube. Since then, the studio operation has continued to evolve with the facility producing programming almost every day since January.
NHL Chief Creative Officer and EVP Steve Mayer on hand at the NHL Productions studio in Manhattan
Since the beginning of the second round at the beginning of May, Stanley Cup Central has emanated live from NHL Productions' studio on a nightly basis. The show features a constant L-bar graphic providing a host of statistical data, including stats like face-off probability, skating speed, time on-ice, and others. Betting odds and breakdowns of the betting lines are also displayed prominently.
The backbone of this show is the data component powered by NHL EDGE puck and player tracking, says Matt Celli, VP and Coordinating Director, NHL Studios. That is what makes our show unique compared to the traditional broadcasts. Hockey is a very fast sport, so it can be challenging to [integrate] deep data in a traditional broadcast. But our goal with [Stanley Cup Central] is to bring that data to the forefront throughout the entire show.
NHL Studios' Matt Celli oversees operations at the One Manhattan West production center
The same constant L-Bar graphic is used in videoboard shows at NHL arenas across the continent, but this marks the first time it is being used in a live broadcast.
We want make that data and information part of the narrative, says Mayer. We can now tell stories with NHL Edge [data] that allow you to understand the game better. Our broadcast partners use that data on occasion, but we want to take it to the next level. The key is being able to not only understand and make sense of the data, but also uniquely tell the story of that data. You could put deep data up there all day long and it could just be meaningless eye candy, but if you can translate that data into something people understand that is where it gets really interesting.
In addition to the L-Bar, Stanley Cup Central incorporates NHL Blockie visualizations and interactive game elements developed with NHL EDGE data and Beyond Sports technology. This technology was first used by the NHL during ESPN's the live, animated Big City Greens Classic broadcast in March.
We are looking to lean heavily into those Blockie data visualizations, says Celli. We have a lot of the same technology that ESPN employed [for the BCG Classic] where we're able to actually cut all 40 virtual cameras in the system. We've found it works best in replay packages. [For example], during a key play we'll do a couple traditional replays off of an EVS like people would see [in the TV broadcast] and then we will choose blockie angle and roll that in to finish it off. The chat seems to love it, which is great, and it gives us a lot of flexibility since we don't have [access to isolated camera shots].
Stanley Cup Central Provides Sports Bar' Feel - Both in the Studio and Remotely Each night, a rotating cast of hosts, including Lauren Jbara, Alexa Landestoy, Jonny Lazarus, and NHL Fantasy reporter Anna Dua lend their insights and banter throughout the game, as well as during pre-and post-game coverage. Longtime NHL insider Pierre McGuire also joins each night to offer analysis and commentary. In addition to game analysis, hosts discuss the latest news and happenings around the League and chat with fans live in the YouTube comments section.
NHL Productions leverages BitFire to bring in remote feeds for its productions like Stanley Cup Central
We really [viewers] to feel like they're hanging out at a sports bar watching the game with their friends, says Mayer. We want them to be engaged while the game is going on, but also talking amongst themselves. Our goal is to create an environment where fans are having a conversation and we just happen to be eavesdropping.
In addition to the in-studio elements, a variety of special guests - including influencers, media personalities, NHL alumni, and other celebrity hockey fans - appear remotely during the sho
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NHL Productions In-House Studio Ops Continue to Grow with Data-Driven Stanley Cup Central' Live-Streaming Show By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
