NBC broadcasters say fans should have high expectations for Big Ten coverage

“Big Ten Saturday Night” represents a big investment for NBC and Peacock, nearly $350 million per year big, and those involved with the weekly college football broadcasts that begin Sept. 2 believe fans should have high expectations as well.

NBC produces “Sunday Night Football,” the Olympics and more. It’s a major network, with its on streaming service, Peacock, which will have several exclusive games as part of the multi-year deal. In addition, a sizable team of talent in front of the camera and behind the scenes are of focused on producing quality broadcasts.

So, resources are not an issue.

“If we’re doing NBC prime time college football in the Big Ten, I think the expectation should be high,” said Todd Blackledge, the veteran college football TV analyst who joined NBC from ESPN this season. “We’re going to hold ourselves to a high standard.”

While viewers will hear and see Blackledge’s efforts, it’s the team led by director Charlie Danmeyer and producer Matt Marvin that will put Blackledge, play-by-play man Noah Eagle and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen in a position to succeed.

Dammeyer, who has earned 12 Sports Emmy Awards since joining NBC Sports in 2005, has directed broadcasts of NASCAR, Notre Dame football and the NHL. He was previously an associate director on “Sunday Night Football” and had been a member of production teams for three Super Bowls and 10 Olympic Games.

He’s in charge of 25 to 30 different monitors during the game, ultimately selecting what images go to viewers. He hopes to take advantage of the available technology, combine it with some creativity and timely storytelling and give viewers a sense of the game — and college football in general.

College football stadiums provide one consistent challenge for broadcasters, and it comes in their inconsistency. Many of the sport’s more hallowed venues — such as Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, site of the season’s first broadcast on Sept. 2 — do not offer all the conveniences of NFL stadiums for broadcasters.

Specifically, Dammeyer would like to have a camera on the 50-yard line opposite the press box, where the main high camera exists. Without that “reverse-angle” he’ll get creative for other views, mixing some viewers have seen before and maybe finding others based on a summer visit to the stadium and even decisions the week of the game.

Marvin, who has six Sports Emmys to his credit and was the replay producer or “Thursday Night Football” last fall, has worked with Dammeyer on several different properties since joining NBC in 2000. He works to keep the broadcast on task, a head coach of sorts, ideally focused on the field while acknowledging the atmosphere of a college football game, especially on a Saturday night is a little different form an NFL game.

He knows little things can make a big difference in a broadcast.

“The more access you get, the cooler it gets,” Marvin said. “I’m not talking about crazy stuff, but coach interviews after the first quarter or third quarter or cameras into the locker room can provide something different.”

No matter what access the broadcasters get, efficiency is the most important factor, he said.

“Football has changed quite a bit — the pace of the game. Back in the ’80s it was pretty formatted. Run a play, get back in the huddle and there was plenty of time. Now you don’t always have that luxury.”

The TV sports industry is a small and well-connected community. As “Big Ten Saturday Night” launches, it does so amid abundant competition. The NBC team spent the time leading up to this season watching other broadcasts and then discussing ways and building a plan to make what they’re doing seem just a little different and special.

While teams on the field are competing each week, NBC itself knows it has competition.

“It’s not a direct competition,” Marvin said. “Of course we watch what Fox does and what CBS does, and I’m sure they do the same. Plus, much of our team has worked together before, so we can draw on that experience.

“With the nature of our game being on prime time, you’d, of course, believe our game is the main game. That’s how we’re treating it, and what fans should expect.”