John Howard - Technical Director, NBC Sunday Night Football

Episode description

• 1:30 - What is a Technical Director? John describes the front bench of the tv production truck as similar to being on the USS Enterprise from the Start Trek franchise.
• 4:00 - The role, responsibilities and procedures of a technical director for NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
• 7:30 - What technical aspects the TD is responsible for.
• 8:20 - What’s the routine on game day during Sunday Night Football.
• 11:00 - How the production crew goes through scenarios for an unusual scenario during a show.
• 12:45 - The level of attention to detail on a show like Sunday Night Football, spearheaded by NBC Executive Producer, Fred Gaudelli.
• 14:30 - How John got his start in the industry. He talks about his early mentors, how an early, behind-the-scenes video of the Emmys gave him the passion to pursue television production, getting a job at a radio station and and how he moved over to television.
• 22:20 - What it was like being in the technical director chair on a game for the first time.
• 27:50 - The minutes before counting down to the start of a broadcast.
• 29:20 - What the most challenging event he’s ever worked on — the Super Bowl pre-game show.
• 34:15 - The caliber of events John’s worked on, plus what the differences are between a director and a technical director.
• 36:05 - How he directed the NASCAR pre-race show during Kid Rock’s performance.
• 39:20 - How it’s more challenging directing a world-feed production such as the Boston Marathon, versus a production in which you have complete control.
• 41:30 - He discusses how he oversaw the production for the American Alliance of Football (AAF).
• 46:55 - What makes a good TD and director combination?
• 50:55 - How a TD and a director find synergy.
• 53:55 - How would you describe the communication that happens in a tv truck?
• 56:55 - What he would like for you to know if you are watching the Super Bowl in 2020.
• 59:25 - What the best advice he’s ever gotten working in the broadcast industry.
• 1:02:05 - How he views the sports broadcast industry as a sisterhood and brotherhood of people who care about each other, and how this is a fun career and industry to work in.