Adrenaline rush – Part 2: From cool events to challenges and tech with TNT Sports’ Umo Glover

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

Umo Glover, senior production manager at TNT Sports, has worked on a lot of cool events over the course of her extensive career in making productions work, but she has also faced many challenges, from the technology being used, to the logistics of making events happen, to the people she has to keep happy. In part two, we explore the challenges that Glover faces in sports broadcasting, and her advice to others thinking of following in her footsteps.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve worked on in the course of your career?

One of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my career was managing the host broadcast for the UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium. As one of the biggest sporting events in the world, it was a massive undertaking, both a challenge and an incredible opportunity.

Our team was responsible for delivering the world feed to millions of viewers across the globe, ensuring seamless coverage from every possible angle. This meant overseeing a complex operation that involved coordinating with UEFA, multiple international broadcasters, and a vast crew of technical, editorial, and operational professionals. Every second of the broadcast had to be meticulously planned, yet flexible enough to adapt to the unpredictability of live sports. We had to manage multiple simultaneous live feeds, ensuring that the main production remained unaffected while accommodating customised content for various markets.

Beyond the technical and logistical aspects, the collaboration was just as critical. The success of the production was a true team effort from production management, producers, directors, creative, talent and digital teams, OB partners, engineers, and the technical and operational teams all working in sync to deliver a world-class broadcast. Seeing it all come together, from the opening ceremony to the final whistle, was an unforgettable moment.

Being part of the team that delivered the Champions League Final broadcast was a defining experience in my career. It not only showcased my ability to manage large-scale live productions but also reinforced my ability to adapt, lead under pressure, and ensure excellence in live television.

What advice would you give to other women looking to move into a role in sports broadcasting like your own?

Well, first and foremost be persistent, be confident, and don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. The sports broadcasting industry can be fast-paced and competitive, but there is absolutely space for women to thrive, lead, and make an impact. You have to back yourself and keep pushing forward.

Build a strong foundation of skills, whether in production, live broadcasting, technical operations, or storytelling. Know your craft inside and out. If you’re on the production side, understand scheduling, logistics, and problem-solving under pressure. If you’re more technical, stay on top of the latest software, cameras, editing tools, and emerging broadcast technology, because this industry evolves constantly, and the more adaptable you are, the more valuable you become.

Relationships are everything. This industry is built on teamwork, trust, and collaboration. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, learn from those ahead of you, and don’t be afraid to reach out to others in the field. Whether it’s a mentor, a peer, or someone you admire from afar, connections will keep you relevant, informed, and open doors you never expected.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of simply being present. Show up to industry events, networking sessions, and live broadcasts. Make sure people know who you are and what you bring to the table. And if you’re ever in a room where you feel like you don’t belong, stay there anyway. You absolutely do belong, and your voice, perspective, and skills matter.

Finally, never lose sight of why you wanted to do this in the first place. Sports broadcasting is about passion, energy, and capturing the moments that bring people together. Hold onto that, stay hungry, and keep going.

What challenges have you faced over the course of your career and how did you get you get past those challenges?

Early on, I faced the challenge of proving myself, not just as a woman in sports broadcasting, but also as a young professional working in the industry. In the beginning, it was tough to find my voice in rooms filled with more experienced colleagues. I’d have ideas but I would second-guess whether I should speak up. Over time, I realised that confidence isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about backing yourself, trusting your expertise, and not letting imposter syndrome get in the way.

Like many people breaking into this industry, I also had to navigate the lack of opportunities at times. Getting that first foot in the door can be hard, and early on, I had to take on roles that weren’t exactly what I wanted just to gain experience. Every job, no matter how small taught me something. I learned to take every opportunity as a stepping stone, building my skills and proving my reliability until I was trusted with bigger roles.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the power of relationships. Having the right people around you, mentors who guide you, colleagues who support you, and teams that respect each other, makes all the difference. I’ve been fortunate to have people who believed in me and gave me opportunities, and now, I make it a point to do the same for others. The industry is tough, but when you surround yourself with the right network and stay open to learning, you’ll keep moving forward.

I also learned to be assertive, not in an aggressive way, but in a way that ensures I’m not often overlooked. I’ve seen first-hand how easy it is to be put in a box, to be given the responsibilities and roles over and over because you’re good at it. But I find that growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone. So, I started actively seeking out challenges, asking for opportunities beyond what I was given, and making sure I wasn’t being placed on projects that limited my progress.

No two productions are ever the same, and that unpredictability is both the beauty and the challenge of working in sports broadcasting. You have to be adaptable, quick-thinking, and confident in your decisions, especially when things go wrong (because they inevitably do). Whether it’s technical failures minutes before going live, last-minute changes from production, or managing high pressure situations on location, you learn to problem-solve on the spot and keep the show moving.

At the end of the day, success in this field comes down to resilience, adaptability, and relationships. If you’re passionate, prepared, and willing to learn, you’ll find ways to push through every challenge that comes your way.

What do you enjoy about your role?

• The enjoyment of live sports. The unpredictability, the energy, the feeling of being part of something that millions of people are watching, never gets old.
• Dealing with people – managing big personalities can be tough, but at the end of the day, I work with some of the most talented and passionate people in the industry. There’s a camaraderie in live production that you don’t find anywhere else.
• Problem-solving under pressure. It might sound strange, but I genuinely enjoy the challenge of solving problems when they arise, I learn so much that experience. When something goes wrong, and you figure out a solution on the spot, there’s an adrenaline rush like no other.
• Delivering moments that matter. Knowing that my work contributes to the moments fans will remember forever, the goals, the celebrations, the drama, makes all the stress worth it.

 What’s the most challenging thing about working in live sport today, or generally, and why?

I believe one of the biggest challenges in live sports production today is the relentless demand for instant content across multiple platforms. Broadcasters are no longer just delivering a traditional TV feeds, one of the biggest shifts in sports broadcasting has been adapting to how audiences consume content, as fans expect real-time highlights, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and social media clips almost the second something happens on the pitch. Working on Champions League, I see this first-hand. The teams have to ensure that everything we produce is high-quality, engaging, and adaptable for different formats, from legacy media to TikTok, You tube and Instagram. That means constantly balancing speed, accuracy, and storytelling under immense pressure.

Another major challenge is keeping up with innovation. Viewers want more than just a standard match feed, they expect AR graphics, multi-angle replays, immersive camera shots, and even AI-driven match insights. The bar keeps rising, and as a broadcaster, we have to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s using spider cams for dramatic aerial shots, drone footage for unique perspectives, or cloud-based workflows for remote production, we’re always adapting to new ways of working.

On top of that, the industry moves at lightning speed. If you’re not actively learning, networking, and attending industry events like IBC and NAB, you risk falling behind. Production isn’t just about getting the job done; it’s about constantly evolving, experimenting, and pushing boundaries to give fans the best possible experience.

The technologies used in sports broadcasting have evolved rapidly over recent years. What for you in your day to day job is the most exciting, and also what is the biggest gamechanger for this industry overall?

Sports broadcasting technology has advanced significantly over the years, and for me, remote production has been a gamechanger. It has transformed our workflows, making them more flexible and cost effective without compromising on broadcast quality.

We’ve integrated Appear solutions and Surface controls into our remote setups, allowing us to manage signal transmission, resources, and workflows more efficiently. Cloud operations have also been a major shift, enabling us to scale operations up or down as needed and collaborate in real-time across multiple locations. This allows teams to access and produce content from anywhere, without being tied to a physical production hub.

In the studio, we’ve embraced AR and VR to enhance our production output. For OBs, we’ve implemented low cost solutions to add value and enable our production and editorial teams to work more efficiently. We are using SRT streams to deliver low-latency feeds, with delays as low as 40ms. For example, we used them to bring live reporter hits from various locations across Europe into our Goals Show Xtra, ensuring seamless integration into our programming.

On Wednesday 19 March, SVG Europe Women is hosting A City United, a learning, inspiration and networking event taking place at the Hot House in MediaCity, Salford, in association with Dock10. Find out more and register here.