The Savannah Bananas, committed to its 'fans first' approach, has partnered with Calrec to enhance its broadcast capabilities. The team has installed three 36-fader Argo M consoles, three Type R systems, and True Control 2.0 in its remote facility and mobile units, expanding its REMI (Remote Electronic Media Integration) capabilities to support the growing Banana Ball Championship League. Head of Technology Matt Webster explains, "This gives us a combination of analogue, embedded SDI, MADI and Dante, and all the audio is given a first pass mix and level set before it is embedded in our video transmission system back to Savannah."
The rise of the Savannah Bananas baseball team and its Banana Ball Championship League has brought a unique hybrid approach to sports broadcasting, blending non-stop entertainment with traditional game coverage. This innovative model, which has captured the hearts of both casual and hardcore sports fans, has significantly expanded the reach and engagement of live sports broadcasting. To keep pace with this growth, the Bananas have embraced an agile, distributed audio ecosystem centered around Calrec's advanced consoles. This setup, featuring three Argo M consoles, three Type R systems, and True Control 2.0, enables BTV to scale its REMI capabilities and ensure consistent, high-quality audio across its expanding broadcast footprint. As the team expands its operations to cover games in 75 stadiums across 45 states, the Calrec infrastructure provides the flexibility and control needed to maintain the highest standards of production, making it a critical component in the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting.
Technical and Operational Implications
The deployment of Calrec's Argo M consoles, Type R systems, and True Control 2.0 protocol at BTV's remote facility in Savannah is a significant step in enhancing the team's broadcast capabilities. The Argo M consoles, with their 36-faders, provide a reliable audio mixing solution that can handle the demands of REMI broadcasts, ensuring high-quality audio in both main control rooms and mobile units. The Type R systems, known for their flexibility and scalability, are particularly useful in the field, allowing for integrated integration into the broadcast workflow.
The use of MADI, Dante, and embedded SDI connections ensures a smooth signal flow, from on-site audio capture to the final transmission back to the control rooms. The True Control 2.0 protocol, which enables extensive remote control and scaling, is a key factor in BTV's ability to manage a busy broadcast schedule covering 75 stadiums and 45 states. This setup enhances the efficiency and flexibility of the production team, making it easier for local audio mixers to adapt and excel in their roles. The combination of these technologies ensures that BTV can maintain the highest standards of audio quality, even as the Banana Ball Championship League expands.
The deployment of Calrec's advanced audio consoles by the Savannah Bananas signals a clear trend towards more scalable and flexible broadcasting solutions in the sports industry. As the team expands its REMI capabilities and prepares for an even larger 2026 World Tour season, the use of Calrec's infrastructure is paving the way for more efficient and dynamic workflows. This move indicates a shift towards more reliable and adaptable audio networks that can handle the demands of growing broadcast schedules and increasing team numbers.
Next, the industry can expect to see a greater adoption of remote control features and enhanced scalability in audio consoles. The Calrec True Control 2.0 protocol, which allows for integrated remote control and easy scaling, is poised to become a standard in REMI workflows. This will enable broadcasters to manage larger and more complex productions more efficiently, ensuring consistent audio quality and allowing for real-time adjustments from anywhere. As more teams and events look to expand their reach and enhance their broadcasts, the demand for such flexible and scalable audio solutions is likely to grow.
As the 2026 season heats up, readers should watch for BTV to further integrate Calrec's True Control 2.0 protocol, enhancing its ability to manage remote broadcasts more efficiently. This will be crucial as the Savannah Bananas expand their reach, with more teams and games across 75 stadiums. Additionally, BTV plans to refine its REMI workflows, ensuring they remain dynamic and scalable to meet the demands of the Banana Ball Championship League. The focus will be on maintaining high audio quality and operational simplicity, allowing for integrated transitions between control rooms and remote units. This season will showcase the maturity and reliability of BTV's distributed ecosystem, setting the stage for continued innovation in live sports broadcasting.
With the expansion of the Banana Ball Championship League, BTV faces the challenge of managing a complex broadcast schedule across multiple venues. The distributed audio ecosystem centered around Calrec's consoles allows for efficient workflow management and remote control, which is crucial for covering games in diverse locations. Webster notes, "The ability to remotely control our consoles is a . We can make adjustments from the control rooms or even from home, which is particularly useful when dealing with last-minute changes or technical issues." This flexibility is especially important during the 2026 World Tour season, where the team will be broadcasting from 75 stadiums across 45 states, requiring quick and effective communication and coordination among the production teams.
The True Control 2.0 protocol, which supports extensive remote control and scaling, is a key factor in BTV's ability to manage this extensive schedule. It enables the team to maintain consistent audio quality and production standards, even as they expand their operations. Webster explains, "The True Control 2.0 protocol allows us to scale our operations seamlessly. Whether we're in a small stadium or a large one, we can adapt and ensure that our audio mix is always on point." This capability is essential for the Banana Ball Championship League, where the team must deliver a high-quality broadcast experience to fans regardless of the venue.
News submitted by: Jump
