The traditional NFL Draft has returned to its three-day format. The event has been broadcast on NFL Network and ESPN. The broadcasters contracted AY Productions to create and deploy the intercom system that connects control rooms, stages, cameras and personnel. The company relied on RTS’s ADAM solution.

It includes 100 RVON channels for long-distance transport. “Our backbone is built on Dante, both on the intercom and audio side,” Young explains. “We leverage three OMI-64 cards in ADAM, which gives us redundancy in Hydra and Dante. We also use a bunch of RTS digital Beltpacks, which we love for their channel density, plus about 30 KP-5032 keypads,” assures Aaron Young, owner of AY Productions.

The communications team arrived four days ahead of the project. Working on Gamecreek Video’s Encore OB truck set, they began with equipment setup. “We started by opening up the ADAM racks and installing the cards we needed,” says Mike Gilman, CTO of Gilman Technologies, the company subcontracted to create the intercom system. “Everything is labeled according to plan. We configure everything, get it up and running, and test it before installing it elsewhere. Then we fine-tune the programming as the broadcast goes on.”

Four production control rooms were developed, one in Las Vegas and three off-site. The main set was built over the Bellagio fountain. In addition, there were several more broadcast sets along with special cameras such as cranes and blimps. Since any control room could need to talk to any asset, the communications challenge was to ensure that everyone was talking to the right people at the right time.

Throughout the three-day event, the AY Productions team focused on keeping everyone communicating seamlessly.