Behind The Scenes: Television Producer

Teamwork is an element that exists on all successful athletic teams. Organizing a successful broadcast of a sporting event is no different, just take a look at Bobcats Television Producer Todd Minhinnett and crew in action on game days.

Instant replays, statistics, highlights and screen shots from every camera angle in Charlotte Bobcats Arena are all things that Minhinnett compiles into a broadcast for the viewing pleasure of every diehard basketball fan.

“As producer I manage the entire television truck,” Minhinnett said. “I’m just sort of like a traffic cop as far as taking ideas in and making sure they get turned around and put out on the air.”

The television truck is where Minhinnett can be found working while the game is in progress. Wearing a headset, he communicates with all broadcast team members stationed inside the truck, as well as the reporters inside the arena. If an outsider was to walk into the truck and listen to Minhinnett communicating with his crewmembers, it might seem as if they were talking in a language incomprehensible to outsiders.

“Organized chaos is what I refer to it as,” Minhinnett explains. “You have 10 cameras you have to monitor, seven or eight people back in the tape room talking to you, while five to six people are talking to you at the same time over the headset. You have to be able to perform under pressure.”

Minhinnett will eventually satisfy each and every request to keep the broadcast moving along smoothly.

“Everyone is doing their job to create the overall product,” he states. “It’s organized chaos because you’ve got 20 different people going in 20 different directions. It’s my job as producer to reel everyone back in and streamline the material they give me.”

Prioritizing the requests coming in over his headset -- from the tape room and inside the television truck -- is routine for Minhinnett. The Bobcats television broadcast team consisting of play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin, color analyst Adrian Branch and sideline reporter Stephanie Ready are the first people Minhinnett responds to.

“You can’t leave them high and dry while they’re on live television,” Minhinnett says. “It is extra important to be on the same page as our television crew; we both help one another out during broadcasts.”

Growing up in Tennessee, Minhinnett dreamed of one day being the voice of the Tennessee Volunteers. Unfortunately he was told he would never make it on the air with his country accent. Instead, he was sent to work in the Tennessee football program’s video department. Through that job, he made the proper contacts to land a job with Jefferson Pilot Sports, where he spent nine years producing SEC football and basketball games before he moved on to his current position as senior producer for the Bobcats.

Working alongside Minhinnett in the television truck are director Johnny Tyous and graphics coordinator Carole Narcomey. The three have developed a chemistry from working alongside one another over the years, and it all makes for a successful broadcast.

“We all have to know what the other one is going to do before they do it,” Minhinnett states. “Working together and the teamwork we have between the three of us and the announcers is what makes our job easier. Johnny can pick up on what I am going to do before I tell actually tell him. Carole knows what I am thinking, as well. There must always be a clear path between Carole and I. All I have to do is turn around and look at her and she will know what I want before I even tell her.”

Producing a pregame show is another responsibility of Minhinnett’s on selected game days.

“The pregame to us is more of an extended window, because when the game opens you have certain timing limitations that are imposed by the NBA,” Minhinnett explains. “If the game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., the tipoff will occur no later than 7:40 p.m. in most cases. There are commercials that we run between that time, but in a normal game we are limited as far as the amount of information we can display to the viewers, such as comparing player’s statistics over the last five games. The lack of time forces us to really whip through it. The pregame show allows us to expand and really break down the Bobcats and their opponent in depth.”

Minhinnett extends some advice as to how he has been so successful in his role as producer with the Bobcats.

“Organization is the key,” Minhinnett shares. “You have to be completely organized, because at any point during the game, the hard work that you see up on the television monitor just doesn’t come from us arriving at the (television) truck just before the game. It’s the preparation and the work prior to each game that is the key. We prepare for each game like it is the NBA Finals and that’s what we want to show to our fans.”

If all the hard work and preparation is accomplished throughout the day, you may catch Minhinnett relaxing in the television truck prior to a game talking about the latest episode of The Sopranos with Vice President of Broadcasting John Guagliano and Associate Producer Kevin Tolbert.

“That time is kind of like the calm before the storm,” Minhinnett comments. “It’s our time to kick back before game begins.”

Through all the preparation and planning, Minhinnett understands the importance of his position and couldn’t be happier in it.

“For me personally it’s the fact that I am able to showcase the Bobcats and show that we are an up-and-coming team in the NBA,” he proudly states. “I am excited about the direction the Bobcats are heading in and consider it a privilege to play a part in enabling people from all over to follow along with the action.”