University of Oklahoma Athletics
SoonerVision Wins Big Screen Award, Again
July 23, 2015 | Athletics
NORMAN — For the second straight year, the Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA) recognized the University of Oklahoma at its annual Golden Matrix Awards (GMAs) in Seattle on July 17 by awarding it the Best Overall Big Screen Display in the college division. The award has been issued since 2001, and OU leads all universities with four honors, each of them coming in the last six years (2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015).
The Best Overall Big Screen Display Award is a national competition open to all universities. Voting is based on a five-minute compilation of each department's best content of the year. It is judged on by peer institutions and a single winner is decided.
The purpose of the GMAs is to recognize artistic and technical excellence in the programming of large screen video and matrix displays located at stadiums, arenas, racetracks, convention centers and other public assembly facilities.
Creating quality video content that entertains, informs and inspires is the number one goal of our SoonerVision department. This award is special because it is voted on by our peers in the industry and in recent years the content submitted by other universities has been elevated to a whole new level.
Brandon Meier
"Creating quality video content that entertains, informs and inspires is the number one goal of our SoonerVision department," said Brandon Meier, OU Athletics' Executive Director of Video Production. "This award is special because it is voted on by our peers in the industry and in recent years the content submitted by other universities has been elevated to a whole new level."
The in-house video production arm of Oklahoma Athletics, SoonerVision began work in the big screen industry in 1997 when the first board was installed in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, home of the university's football team. The basketball venue, Lloyd Noble Center, also installed a four-sided board the same year.
Today, SoonerVision provides big-screen support for 12 varsity sports, including football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's track and field, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball and wrestling. Through the seven LED boards across campus, the department created an impressive 140 big-screen productions during the 2014-15 academic year.
In addition, SoonerVision produces all of the content on Sooner Sports TV, OU's multi-platform network. Sooner Sports TV programming is delivered on a variety of FOX outlets, including FOX Sports Southwest, FOX Sports Oklahoma and FOX College Sports, in addition to SoonerSports.tv.
"Our athletics director, Joe Castiglione, has given us the tools and support to build one of the best departments in all of college and professional athletics," added Meier. "I am proud to lead such an outstanding team of creative and talented individuals."
Centered in a pair of control rooms in the bowels of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sooner Sports TV produces more than 200 live events annually. Oklahoma's commitment to video production and education is unrivaled by an impressive crew that features 17 full-time employees and more than 100 students.
For more information on SoonerVision, click here.
