Basketball Live Streaming System Case Study
The Ultimate Multi-Camera Basketball Streaming Setup at Salesianum High School
Sports live streaming has become an essential part of high school athletics, connecting students, parents, and alumni to the action like never before. At Salesianum High School in Wilmington, Delaware, a student-run broadcast team is taking live sports streaming to the next level with a professional-grade multi-camera system. In this blog post, we’ll explore how their setup—powered by PTZOptics cameras, vMix software, and professional-grade accessories—delivers an immersive viewing experience while offering students hands-on experience with live production technology.
A Learning Experience with Real-World Impact
The live streaming system at Salesianum High School is more than just a tool for broadcasting games—it’s a hands-on learning opportunity for students interested in audiovisual technology. The system is built around vMix, a powerful video production software running on a high-performance Windows PC. Using NDI (Network Device Interface), each camera transmits high-quality video to vMix over a single Ethernet cable, providing smooth video switching and instant replay functionality.
To enhance the broadcast with dynamic graphics, the school also incorporates NewBlue FX, a specialized graphics software that allows students to add real-time scorekeeping and player-specific graphics. This includes lower thirds displaying players’ names and photos, bringing a professional touch to the broadcast
PTZOptics Cameras: A Game-Changer for Sports Broadcasting
A key component of this setup is the use of multiple PTZOptics Move 4K PTZ cameras, strategically positioned around the gymnasium. These cameras provide pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities, enabling a single operator to control multiple angles from a central location. The school’s athletic director and student broadcast team can remotely manage the cameras, ensuring smooth, dynamic coverage for basketball games, wrestling tournaments, and other sports events.
In addition to the Move 4K cameras, a PTZOptics Studio 4K camera is dedicated to capturing high-resolution highlight reels. Recording in 4K resolution allows for digital zooming in post-production, making it possible to spotlight key moments and specific players without losing image quality. This feature is especially valuable for creating athlete highlight reels, an increasingly important tool for college recruiting.
Seamless Camera Control with the PTZOptics SuperJoy
To ensure professional-grade camera operation, the team utilizes the PTZOptics SuperJoy controller. This device allows students to smoothly follow the fast-paced action of basketball games, mirroring the techniques used by professional sports broadcasters. The SuperJoy’s HDMI video output enables operators to monitor the live camera feed on an external LCD screen, ensuring precise control at all times.
While the Move 4K cameras are capable of full 4K streaming, many broadcasters choose to operate them in 1080p at 60 frames per second. The higher frame rate ensures ultra-smooth motion, making it ideal for capturing the rapid movements of athletes and providing crisp slow-motion replays.
NDI Connectivity: Simplicity and Efficiency
One of the standout features of the PTZOptics Move 4K cameras is their NDI connectivity, which streamlines installation by combining power, video transmission, and remote control into a single Ethernet cable. This eliminates the need for complex wiring and keeps the setup clean and efficient, reducing tripping hazards in the gymnasium.
For production control, the students utilize vMix along with a StreamDeck controller, which they have customized to streamline video switching, graphics control, and replay functionality. During my visit, I also introduced them to the xKeys Instant Replay controller, which enables smooth, professional-style replay sequences at the push of a button.
Highlight Reels: Bringing the Game to Life
While PTZ cameras provide incredible flexibility, sometimes a static camera angle is necessary for capturing key moments, such as a basketball hoop or goal line. The Studio 4K camera ensures that every important play is recorded with crystal-clear 4K resolution.
Post-production editing using Adobe Premiere allows students to further enhance the footage by adding spotlights on specific players, creating a television-quality presentation. The ability to highlight individual athletes is particularly valuable for college recruiting, as professional-quality highlight reels help student-athletes stand out to scouts and coaches.
For the highest quality recordings, the team records footage in 4K at 60fps using an ATOMOS Ninja external recorder. This ensures pristine image quality, which is then refined in Adobe Premiere for post-game analysis and highlight compilation.
Empowering Students with Cutting-Edge Technology
By integrating PTZOptics cameras, vMix software, and professional controllers, Salesianum High School has created a state-of-the-art live streaming system that not only enhances the viewing experience for fans but also provides students with real-world skills in broadcast production, camera operation, and live event management. This hands-on training equips them for future careers in media, broadcasting, and technology.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to set up your own professional-grade sports video production system, check out my new book, Sports Video, available for free download below.
Final Thoughts
With easy installation, remote operation, and exceptional image quality, PTZOptics cameras stand out as one of the best choices for sports broadcasting. Whether you’re live streaming games or crafting stunning highlight reels, this technology empowers schools, teams, and broadcasters to deliver professional sports coverage with ease.
Stay tuned for more insights into sports video production and how you can elevate your broadcasts to the next level!
