Grass Valley, a prominent innovator in media and entertainment technology, recently announced that Texas A&M University has integrated its IP-enabled live production solutions to modernize its athletic event coverage. Texas A&M, a prestigious member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), renowned for its progressive approach to collegiate athletics, has implemented two Grass Valley K-Frame X switchers (with supplemental control panels), ten LDX 135 cameras, and four LDX 150 cameras to significantly improve its production capabilities.
This new system enables the university's production team to deliver high-quality 1080p broadcasts immediately, with a smooth transition path to UHD as future demands increase. “Grass Valley’s equipment gave us the flexibility we needed to upgrade our workflows and move confidently into IP,” said Jonathan Kerr, Chief Broadcast Engineer at Texas A&M. “We’ve relied on their systems for years, and the reliability, performance, and support made this an easy choice.”
Andy Richardson, Associate Athletic Director, 12th Man Productions, added, “12th Man Productions first invested in Grass Valley camera technology in 2014 when we upgraded our facility to support the Videoboard shows and ESPN/SEC Network live event programming for Texas A&M Athletics. In 2024, as we turned a new page in technology upgrading our live camera systems to support IP 2110 infrastructure and transitioning to HD 1080p, we saw Grass Valley as the ideal partner to elevate our productions. And we couldn’t be happier with the results.”
Grass Valley's established reputation for reliability and superior service, coupled with the advanced features of the K-Frame X switchers and LDX series cameras, were pivotal in Texas A&M's decision. Diversified played a crucial role in the deployment's success, leveraging its expertise and pre-existing relationships with both Grass Valley and Texas A&M to guarantee seamless integration. Their team, led by Tony Gaston, designed a complete solution that not only satisfied the university's current 1080p needs but also established a solid foundation for future UHD expansion.
“Partnering with Texas A&M and Grass Valley on this innovative project underscores our dedication to advancing collegiate sports production. This deployment not only meets the university’s current needs but also sets the stage for future technological growth,” stated Tony Gaston, Senior Account Executive – Sports & Live Events. Alex Keighley, Senior VP of Sales, Americas at Grass Valley, expressed enthusiasm, saying, “We’re thrilled to partner with Texas A&M on this forward-looking project…By combining our IP-enabled hardware with Diversified’s integration leadership, we’ve empowered the Aggies to tell their stories in stunning quality today — and scale effortlessly into tomorrow’s formats.”
This implementation positions Texas A&M as one of the first SEC institutions to embrace Grass Valley's comprehensive IP production tools, solidifying its status as a leader in technologically advanced athletics coverage.