Long after the stills photographers had packed up their cameras, heading for the Bar, and the tv crews had switched off their lights, teams of audio sport specialists were still working, feeding match interviews and summaries to their live radio outlets and capturing long form analytical interviews about the game for their podcasts.
For live events such as big sporting matches, radio and tv are still the media choice for audiences and advertisers.
When important footy finals or cricket tests are in progress, audiences don’t want to be behind the play, they want to experience each exciting moment live, at the same time as their friends do. Broadcast media is still a primary medium for this sort of coverage. This was ably demonstrated today, the last day of the final Australia v India text match at the SCG, as I watched the other media pack up and and adjourn to the Members Bar, leaving the radio teams to continue working.
ABC Radio’s Andrew Moore in his trademark pink Hawaiian shirt rolled through the team captains and big hitters across the ABC’s local radio network, bringing news of the win live to living rooms with the tv on but the sound turned down, to commuters on public transport and to holiday makers driving back home to start work again tomorrow.
For the Triple M network, former Australian captain Mark Taylor was supported by a co-commentator and a team of three producers who were doing multiple jobs on their mobile devices from the field.
One producer was reading listener text messages on his screen and selecting the best ones to show the commentators so they could react to listener messages, the other was doing a live feed to social media and the third was gathering player talent such as Steve Smith and Glenn McGrath for interviews.
The Triple M team is one group making the running on using new technology to take them beyond the typical soundproof commentary box full of standard production and mixing equipment, to a new style of untethered broadcasting using wireless mics, smart cameras, production apps and phone data.
SEN was on the field with a wireless mic set up and multimedia support from a digital video SLR camera, for their live feed and podcasts.
SBS Radio was there, harnessing the passion of its South Asian audience of cricket lovers to produce news and podcast content that is attracting interest beyond Australia.
The Ashes may hold the weight of tradition, but could the Border-Gavaskar Trophy be cricket’s next crown jewel? On SBS Podcast’s Pace, Spin, and Spice, renowned journalist Bharat Sundaresan explored the Australia-India rivalry and the shifting power dynamics in the cricketing world. Sponsored by Kayo, SBS Spice is breaking new ground with English language content for young South Asian Australians.
Some of the current best cricket podcasts are:
Australia won the 2024/5 test series by 6 wickets, gaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy from India, who had held it since 2016.
SCG Members Bar, spectators… and media
Reporting: Steve Ahern at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
This story first appeared on RadioInfo.asia