Adrenaline rush – Part 1: TNT Sports senior production manager Umo Glover talks excitement and being hyper organised

TNT Sports’ Umo Glover at Wembley stadium in 2024 with the UEFA Champions League trophy

TNT Sports senior production manager Umo Glover works across a wide range of sports, including Champions League football. She has spent years honing her craft that requires an incredibly intense focus on the details, the technology and the people. Split into two parts, part one explores how Glover got into her role in sports broadcasting, and what draws her to a career in live production.

What draws you to your career in live sport?

The dynamic and excitement of live sports production really draw me in. There’s nothing like the adrenaline rush of a live broadcast, where every second counts, and our work directly impacts the audience’s experience. The fast-paced environment keeps me alert and ready to adapt to any situation.

Working with talented and dedicated professionals is incredibly rewarding. There’s always something new to learn, whether it’s innovative techniques or creative problem-solving strategies. Knowing that our work creates unforgettable experiences for viewers keeps me passionate and engaged in my career.

How did you first find out about TV broadcasting as a career? What was your inspiration?

I first discovered TV broadcasting as a career through a combination of personal passion and early exposure to media production. At 14 or 15, I participated in Westminster Summer Action projects with other students, where we were tasked with photography, filming short segments, writing articles, conducting interviews, and learning basic editing skills. This hands-on experience sparked my interest in media and mass communication.

Growing up, I was quite good in athletics, particularly track races, I also played hockey and basketball. I studied PE for my GCSEs and spent some time researching and analysing different sports. As I watched more live broadcasts, I became fascinated by how sports were presented, the excitement of live coverage, and was intrigued by the production techniques that made viewers feel immersed in the action.

My inspiration came from watching major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics, where storytelling through sports evoked such powerful emotions. I realised I wanted to be part of the team that brings those moments to life. The blend of creativity, technology, and high-pressure execution was exactly what drew me into sports broadcasting.

What got you from further education into broadcast?

I studied Media & Film Production in college, then pursued a BA at the University of East London and an MA at Westminster University, where I focused on both theoretical and practical aspects of media production. My coursework combined media business, live event production, and hands-on technical skills, giving me a strong foundation in the industry.

Through my studies, I developed essential skills in production management, including scheduling, resource allocation, and team coordination. I also gained technical experience in video editing, sound design, graphics overlays, and visual effects, which helped me understand the broader scope of media production and effectively support my peers in content creation.

As part of my course, I had the opportunity to gain work experience as a production assistant on BBC4 documentaries and on set with Disney, where I worked on children’s programmes. These experiences gave me a deeper understanding of professional media production environments.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey has been the opportunity to work in both paid and unpaid projects. Beyond academics, I actively participated in student-led film projects and drama productions, further developing my hands-on production experience before stepping into the professional world. These experiences fostered a sense of teamwork which has stayed with me throughout my career.

Umo Glover, senior production manager at TNT Sports at the UEFA Champions League Final 2023 in Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul

What happened next? What was your first job in TV?

After completing my studies, I began my professional journey as a facilities coordinator at BT Media & Broadcast within sport television services. In this role, I managed post production facilities, booked freelance teams, and scheduled production requirements using systems like ScheduAll.

Working closely with production management teams exposed me to logistical planning and live televised events such as Carling Cup and EFL matches. Initially, the fast-paced nature of live sports broadcasting felt overwhelming, but I embraced every challenge and quickly adapted. The thrill of working behind the scenes, ensuring all elements came together seamlessly solidified my passion for live sports production.

On what is challenging about being a senior production manager at TNT Sports, Glover says: 

• Breaking into senior roles in sports broadcasting isn’t easy. There’s a small pool of opportunities, and you have to constantly prove that you can handle the pressure and make the right decisions when it matters most.
• Managing multiple rights holders is a huge challenge. Broadcasters all have different needs and expectations, and my job is to make sure every single one of them gets what they need, while keeping the production smooth and efficient. That means negotiating contracts, overseeing massive teams, and solving operational issues on the fly.
• The sheer scale of Champions League production is intense. We’re talking dozens of cameras, multiple feeds (VAR, VBR, international, unilateral), global distribution, and constant coordination across different countries. It’s logistically demanding.
• Things can go wrong. A camera feed drops seconds before a key goal. A satellite uplink fails. An unexpected storm throws off the schedule. You have to stay calm, react instantly, and find solutions on the spot. There’s no second take in live sports.
• Managing people can be just as challenging as managing production. The team is full of incredibly talented, creative individuals but with that comes big personalities, strong opinions, and moments of tension. Sometimes, it’s about balancing egos, diffusing conflicts, and making sure everyone stays focused on the bigger picture. One minute, you’re solving a technical issue; the next, you’re mediating between a frustrated colleague and a stressed rights holder. Learning how to manage a team through high-pressure situations while keeping morale up is a skill I’ve had to learn and refine over the years.
• The relentless schedule. The games don’t stop, and neither does the work. The travel, the late nights, longs hours, it’s all part of the job, but it can be exhausting.
• The pressure of live production. You don’t get a second chance. If something goes wrong, you have to fix it immediately, the audience can’t know there was ever a problem.
• Trying to balance creativity and logistics. Production teams have incredible ideas, but not everything is possible within the constraints of time, budget, or broadcast rules. Managing expectations while keeping everyone happy is an ongoing challenge.

What other jobs have you had that moved you along into sports broadcasting?

My career progression in sports broadcasting has been a journey through various roles, each adding valuable experience and skills that have shaped my expertise and understanding of the industry. From studio productions to large scale outside broadcasts, I have developed the skills needed to deliver high quality sports coverage to both domestic and international audiences.

I worked on BT Vision as a production coordinator within On-Air and Creative Services, where I coordinated promotional campaigns, booked crews, and ensured the seamless delivery of programme.

I then transitioned to BT Sport as a production coordinator, focusing on live studio programming for shows such as Life’s A Pitch, Boxing Tonight, The Football’s On, and SportsHUB. Here, I gained hands-on experience in live broadcasting, managing studio logistics, contracting freelance crews, and coordinating location shoots. I also played a key role in delivering LiveU feeds from various stadiums across the UK, ensuring seamless transmission for BT Sport’s news updates.

Building on this experience, I took on the role of production manager at BT Sport, overseeing various football competitions like the Vanarama National League, FA Cup, Women’s Super League, Premier League, England U21 matches, as well as the FIH Hockey Pro League and the UEFA Champions League. I managed the operational, technical, and logistical aspects of outside broadcasts, live studio productions, facilitated editorial plans and supported digital streaming services, working with a cross-section of teams.

Additionally, my role as broadcast venue manager at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with Sunset+Vine gave me valuable experience managing host broadcast operations at a major multi-sport event. Handling venue broadcast logistics for hockey and squash, liaising with media, rights holders, and international press teams, and overseeing technical installations further strengthened my skills in large scale event production. Moreover, my expertise extends to managing multi-million-pound budgets, negotiating supplier contracts, and leading teams to deliver top tier sports programming.

These experiences positioned me well for the senior production manager role, which I took on in 2022.

Umo Glover, senior production manager at TNT Sports, at the UCL Final 2023 Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul

How did you get your current job role?

I progressed into my current role as senior production manager after years of experience and proven ability to manage large scale productions under pressure, and developing a deep understanding of sports broadcasting operations. The industry is highly competitive,

It takes years of building a solid reputation, showing that you can handle live events at the highest level, and forming the right relationships along the way.

My previous work as host broadcast production manager for the UEFA Super Cup Final 2021 demonstrated my ability to manage global broadcast operations, negotiate with rights holders, and oversee live event production at the highest level. I had also built strong relationships within the company, demonstrated my ability to handle live productions on a plethora of sporting  and football competitions. These experiences made me a natural fit for the role.

Why did you go for it?

Managing live sports broadcast requires a keen eye for detail, highly organised, quick decision making, and the ability to foresee and troubleshoot potential issues before they arise. The challenge of executing high profile live events was something I wanted to experience at a higher level.

The UEFA Champions League is one of the most-watched sporting events, and with that comes a level of responsibility and excitement.

I was also drawn to the challenge. Managing live sports production at this scale means working with cutting edge technology, collaborating with a multitude of stakeholder, and a non-stop schedule where anything can happen. It’s the kind of job where you need to be thinking five steps ahead while also being ready to react at any point. Being part of the team that delivers iconic moments, whether it’s a last-minute goal, a dramatic penalty shootout, a controversial VAR decision, or the final trophy lift is incredibly rewarding.

Read the second part of this profile: https://www.svgeurope.org/blog/headlines/adrenaline-rush-part-2-from-cool-events-to-challenges-and-tech-with-tnt-sports-umo-glover/

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