
SVG Sit-Down: NBC Sports' John Barnes, IMS Productions' Kevin Sublette on Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Production for this weekend's IndyCar street race in Nashville will be primarily onsite By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Friday, August 4, 2023 - 2:14 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The third edition of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (Sunday, Aug. 6, noon ET, NBC and Peacock) in Nashville, one of IndyCar's flagship races, shows off its growing connection to a city increasingly known as much for sports - it's home to the NFL's Titans and the NHL's Predators and is on the short list for an MLB expansion franchise - as for music.
The inaugural Music City Grand Prix in 2021 averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 1.212 million viewers on NBCSN, making it the most-watched NTT IndyCar Series race on cable on NBC Sports since 2009.
John Barnes, senior producer, NBC Sports, and Kevin Sublette, president, IMS Productions - who will be joined onsite by director Roger Vincent - sat down with SVG this week to provide an update on what viewers will be seeing this weekend.
IMS Productions' Kevin Sublette: If you stretch each strand [of the fiber infrastructure] end to end, it's about 135 miles, or the same distance from Nashville to Chattanooga.
Signal transport around the street circuit is a huge undertaking. What's the infrastructure for that like? What does it comprise?
Sublette: Our fiber team, made up of 10 people, starts deploying our TAC-12 fiber on Tuesday, after the mobile units are parked. By Thursday afternoon, they will have deployed 90,000 ft. of fiber, connecting 11 hard cameras, eight robotic cameras, eight POVs, and eight Hydra boxes. Five of the hard cameras are SSMO (Sony 4300) and one (Sony P50) on a robotic head. IMS Productions also works closely with IndyCar to provide support for Timing and Scoring, Race Control, and Big Screen Productions. If you stretch each strand end to end, it's about 135 miles, or the same distance from Nashville to Chattanooga.
What's the production model? Any REMI? Hybrid? All onsite?
Barnes: Our production model is mostly onsite with all of our production and technical team. We have selected at-home personnel working on video and graphic elements, also with an edit onsite at every race that focuses on creative content.
Sublette: We deploy seven units, HD5 main production, B1 fiber headend, GFX, submix and robotics, C1 driver's radios, Big Screen Productions, IMS Radio Network and network edit, TX4 dual dish uplink, and three other support trailers.
Who are the main production vendors for this?
Sublette: The main production vendor is IMS Productions, owned by Roger Penske, who also owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar.
NBC Sports' John Barnes: Nashville has proven to be one of the most unpredictable races on the circuit, and we want to do everything we can to convey that unpredictability around each turn.
What are the main production challenges?
Barnes: Our biggest challenge with the Nashville street course is to properly illustrate the frenetic racing. In just two years, Nashville has proven to be one of the most unpredictable races on the circuit, and we want to do everything we can to convey that unpredictability around each turn. Throughout the season, IndyCar races give us multiple storylines and entertaining drama within the field, but Nashville will push our broadcast team to the limit. It has been a memorable race the past two years, so we want to rise to the challenge of making sure viewers get a complete sense of the racing action.
What special camera/video techniques are you rolling out for this race?
Barnes: Our aerial shots will be unique in Nashville because it never gets old watching race cars drive over the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge from a vantagepoint that's 80 ft. in the air. With every IndyCar race, particularly street races, our on-board cameras provide the best look at how drivers work throughout the race. But the aerial shots of the bridge in Nashville give us a look we don't get anywhere else.
How are you weaving the entertainment/music concerts into the larger production?
Barnes: The race has become a marquee event for IndyCar, and the entertainment that comes with the weekend gives our broadcast a big-event feel. We'll work in video elements of concerts and highlight the celebrities and entertainers that show up to the track over the weekend. Each time we can show someone notable or something entertaining to complement the racing, we hope it makes people watching at home think, I want to be there.
Most recent headlines
14/03/2025
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
14/03/2025
Time flies when you're having fun and we can confidently say that Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer and Spotify's Head of Talk Strategy, is having not...
14/03/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
14/03/2025
TV Technology: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2025 NAB Show?...
14/03/2025
The Dalet NAB 2025 showcase will feature its market-leading enterprise News, Media Management and Supply Chain solutions designed for faster deployment and acce...
14/03/2025
IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) will debut its latest advancements for premium live streaming at NAB 2025 (booth W1401), introducing new AI-driven technologies d...
14/03/2025
TAG Video Systems, the leader in software-based IP media probing, monitoring, visualization, and analytics, and Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in...
14/03/2025
Unicanal and Trece TV, two of Paraguay s leading broadcasters, have successfully launched digital TV services in three main cities: Encarnaci n, Ciudad del Este...
14/03/2025
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), and the Video Services Forum (VSF) today announced that the IP Showcase ...
14/03/2025
Digital Alert Systems, the global leader in emergency communications solutions for media providers, today announced that Nebraska Public Media is deploying the ...
14/03/2025
Interra Systems, a leading provider of end-to-end quality assurance solutions for the digital media industry, today announced that Comcast Technology Solutions ...
14/03/2025
At the 2025 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, Rightsline will showcase innovations designed to make rights and royalties management smarter, fast...
14/03/2025
PK Sound, the robotic line array company, has formally released the Tx Series of intelligent multi-purpose point source modules, beginning with the ultra-versat...
14/03/2025
Avid today announced the expansion of its executive leadership team (ELT) with the appointment of three experienced executives: Tom Sharma as Chief Technology ...
14/03/2025
DigitalGlue, a trusted systems integrator and provider of end-to-end media solutions, is redefining storage workflows with its innovative platform, creative.spa...
14/03/2025
CVP, one of Europe s leading resellers and providers of professional video and broadcast solutions, is partnering with renowned director and cinematographer Joe...
14/03/2025
Cobalt Digital, the leading designer and manufacturer of award-winning signal processing products, and a founding partner in the openGear initiative has announ...
14/03/2025
Keepit, a global provider of a comprehensive cloud backup and recovery platform, announced today its success at the Business Awards UK, 2025 Cybersecurity and R...
14/03/2025
Lightware, an industry-leading manufacturer of signal management solutions, has announced its commitment to fostering strong relationships with top technology c...
14/03/2025
Editing and Color Grading Promo Codes
Kasia Jarco March 14, 2025
0 Comments
I wanted to share some promo codes for great tools for your video editing ...
14/03/2025
Singaporean singer-songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity The artist shared candid insights into his musical evolution, personal challenges, and ...
14/03/2025
Three strategic appointments aims to bolster the leadership team at Avid, reinforcing the companys commitment to remain at the forefront of innovation
By Matth...
14/03/2025
Coming at a pivotal time for the sector, the funding underscores Cinesites ambition and confidence in the media and entertainment industry
By Matthew Corrigan ...
14/03/2025
Karen Chupka, executive vice president and managing director, NAB Global Connections and Events, gives TVBEurope the lowdown on what visitors can expect at next...
14/03/2025
BURLINGTON, Mass. Avid has expanded its executive leadership team (ELT) with the appointment of three experienced executives: Tom Sharma as chief technology off...
14/03/2025
CUPERTINO, Calif. TVU Networks, a pioneer in live video production and a leader in cloud-based media solutions, is marking its 20th anniversary at the 2025 NAB ...
14/03/2025
Telos Alliance To Demonstrate New Next Generation Audio Features at 2025 NAB Sh...
14/03/2025
Live From THE PLAYERS: RED Cameras Help Cosm Capture Unique Looks for Cosm Venue...
14/03/2025
NWSL Kickoff 2025: League Operations Team Preps for NEP-Driven Remote Production...
14/03/2025
NWSL Kickoff 2025: Scripps Sports Introduces New On-Air Team for Second Year of ...
14/03/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Marie Margolius on the Thrill of Directing New Prime Video Docuser...
14/03/2025
Live From THE PLAYERS: NBC Sports Tees Up Drone Tracing, Taps Into NEP Compound ...
14/03/2025
Back to All News
Get a Glimpse of the Epic Battles in First Look at Record of ...
14/03/2025
Back to All News
Celebrating the Italian Historical Drama Il Gattopardo' Across the Globe
The series' creative team speaks at the Rome premiere.
Ent...
14/03/2025
Back to All News
The Electric State' Brings Cosmo and The Billbots to Life...
14/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales has reached a historic milestone by deliv...
14/03/2025
2FM's fresh weekend lineup goes live this Saturday as a host of new presente...
13/03/2025
(L-R) Stephanie Suganami, Tatanka Means, John Malkovich, Ayo Edebiri, and Juliette Lewis attend the premiere of Opus at Eccles Theatre in Park City. (Photo by...
13/03/2025
Spotify took center stage at the London Book Fair this week, reaffirming our commitment to the audiobook market and showcasing our impact on the publishing indu...
13/03/2025
At Spotify, we work every day to lift up new voices, giving creators the opportunity to live off their art. Through Spotify Audiobooks, our in-house publishing ...
13/03/2025
Every time airborne law enforcement (ALE) teams fly, they expect their equipment to perform. Whether airborne units are conducting support for ground teams, bor...
13/03/2025
Sunday February 9 saw the annual return of the US' biggest television event, the Super Bowl LIX. Jamie McCombs, Fox Sports Audio Consultant / Sr. Audio capt...
13/03/2025
On Sunday March 2, stars across the film industry gathered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 97th Academy Awards. Production Sound Mixer Paul Sandweis...
13/03/2025
WUPPERTAL, Germany Riedel Communications will feature its new StageLink family of smart edge devices, Smart Audio and Mixing Engine (SAME) and Virtual Smart Pan...
13/03/2025
TAG Video Systems and Harmonic Partner to Deliver Enhanced Real-Time Monitoring ...
13/03/2025
DigitalGlue Invites NAB Visitors to Experience New Features in Managed Storage P...
13/03/2025
FOR-A America Theme - Connecting the Present, Building the Future - Comes to Lif...
13/03/2025
CTIA, the wireless industry association, has named former FCC Chairman Aji Pai as its President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1. He replaces Mere...
13/03/2025
he National Association of Broadcasters is urging the FCC to end its investigation of that controversial CBS interview with Kamala Harris stating there is no ...
13/03/2025
MIAMI CBS News & Stations continues to expand its use of augmented and virtual reality technologies with the planned launch of an augmented reality/virtual real...