Nebraska’s $12M Bet on Multimedia

When college sports invest like pro franchises, the numbers matter. Nebraska just dropped $12 million into a multimedia fortress that rivals broadcast networks — not just to tell stories, but to own the future of fan engagement, student development, and athletic branding.

The Data Behind the Facility

Price Tag & Scale

• Cost: $12M

• Size: 25,200 sq ft (renovated football offices, North Stadium)

• Student Workforce: 100+ paid students operating real-world media tech

Technology Infrastructure

• 3 4K/HDR control rooms with SMPTE 2110 IP broadcast backbone

• 12 4K HDR camera systems + 10 POV cameras

• 20 replay/record channels

• 2–51 Tb switching capacity (depending on system config)

• 132 Dante audio endpoints + 3 LAWO consoles

• 34 operator seats + 30+ student workstations

• 2,617 sq ft LED-lit production studio + green screen cyclorama

Connectivity & Reach

• Fiber links across 8 venues (Memorial Stadium → Pinnacle Bank Arena → Bob Devaney Center → Hawks Field, etc.)

• Centralized Huskers Radio HQ: feeds 52 affiliates statewide

• Immediate B1G+ streaming integration

Content Velocity

• Creative & Emerging Media generates ~100 TB of new photos + video annually — equal to 25,000 movies or 170,000 hours of music

• Archive footprint intact back to 1994 → the largest continuous college athletics video library in the nation

Why This Matters: Analytics & Impact

1. Future-Proofing Through IP Infrastructure

   • By deploying SMPTE 2110 + LAWO routing, Nebraska is positioned for seamless expansion into 8K, VR, and real-time cloud editing. This isn’t a 2025 play — it’s a 2050 backbone.

2. ROI on Talent Pipelines

   • 100+ students annually cycle through elite broadcast training. Alumni already land in Big Ten Network, ESPN, NFL, NBA. This facility is both a content hub and a career accelerator.

3. Operational Synergy

   • Creative, HuskerVision, Radio, and Photography — once scattered, now consolidated. That’s a measurable gain in content speed and campaign integration.

4. Fan Monetization

   • Every in-venue replay, every B1G+ broadcast, every podcast → commercializable touchpoints. Expect increases in fan dwell time, streaming subs, sponsorship integration value.

5. Benchmarking Advantage

   • Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen calls it “the best production facility in college athletics.” Translation: Nebraska just reset the bar for media in NCAA competition.

Key Stat Snapshot

Bottom Line

This isn’t just Nebraska building a shiny toy. It’s a data-backed strategic investment that:

• Scales infrastructure for decades.

• Turns students into broadcast pros.

• Enhances fan monetization across platforms.

• Positions Nebraska as the benchmark in sports multimedia.

The message is blunt: Facilities arms races are no longer about weight rooms. They’re about media power.

The next evolution in college athletics isn’t on the field — it’s behind the camera. Nebraska is betting $12M that content is the new scoreboard.

👉 How long before every Power Five program follows?

Men lie. Women lie. The numbers never do.