BROADCAST SPOTLIGHT: NBA ON AMAZON PRIME

SMT expands NBA on Prime with new OPTICS and Jumbo features

Thanks to Brian Frattini, Product Manager, and Naomi Pridgen, Remote Op Tech II, for contributing to this report and to Shaun Bales for the highlight reel.

When Amazon Prime Video tipped off its first NBA broadcast in October 2025, it marked the start of a historic 11-year global rights deal and a new era of innovation powered in part by SMT. At launch, SMT delivered a combination of SportsCG, Stats Prompter, and live OPTICS virtual graphics, laying a technical foundation for Amazon’s in-house NBA production.

From the beginning, SMT committed to expanding Prime Vision throughout the season, bringing more data, more storytelling tools and more visual integration into the broadcast.

For the Feb. 19 doubleheader, SMT rolled out the newest evolution of NBA Prime Vision, incorporating enhanced live OPTICS and an expanded SportsCG package to accent two NBA games in one night with advanced metrics, creative stat presentations and continuous tracking-driven visuals.

Supported remotely from Amazon’s Culver City studio, along with on-site calibration support, SMT operators ran OPTICS Live throughout game action. Similar to SMT’s ROOSTER model for NHL, operators inserted player-tracking graphics in real time, coordinating closely with production for precise timing and execution.

“Amazing week from Culver City,” said Remote Op Tech II Naomi Pridgen. “Set was smooth as we communicated exact timing needs for virtual graphics and OPTICS. On site, Brian Frattini was able to get timing data very quickly for both games and communicated to production. This helped greatly starting with a clean show.”

Prime Vision now utilizes three SMT-enhanced cameras per game—the primary game camera and two above-the-rim robo cams—with six total Camera Tracker instances across the doubleheader.

With OPTICS continuously on-air, the show featured:

• Possession Discs tracking the ball handler
• Auto-Scoring Tags automatically highlighting scorers with updated point totals
• Automated Shot Trails following each shot’s arc
• Shot Distance markers displayed at release
• OPTICS Live UI, a point-and-click interface enabling operators to deploy player tags, discs, and trails at production’s direction

These OPTICS elements worked in tandem with SportsCG storytelling, visually accenting the player or stat driving the broadcast conversation.

SportsCG Evolution: Introducing the Jumbotron bug

A major enhancement to Prime Vision was the debut of the new Jumbo bug feature within SportsCG. The animated lower-third expands from the base clock and score to display all 10 players on the court with headshots and integrated stats from Pave.

Operators can layer in:

• Rotating stat panels for all players
• Individual player highlights
• Live stats dropdowns
• Operator-driven player notes
• Advanced metrics including Effective Field Goal Percentage and True Shooting Percentage

Additionally, “auto points” debuted off the bug, showing individual stat updates while live.

Not originally requested but developed proactively by the SMT team was a “free edit” feature, allowing the bug operator to manually insert dropdown highlights for any player. Production championed the capability, using it extensively to support in-game storylines.

“Absolutely fantastic night last night. Thanks to everyone for all the work between January till now to get us where we landed. We have a show!! Now we are keen to build on that show.”
Alex Strand, Coordinating Producer, Amazon NBA

"Both shows went really well from an execution standpoint and the communication between all teams was a key factor. Just as exciting, the debut of Jumbotron!! We’re buzzing with ideas on how to grow it and we’re excited about its potential.”
Scott Karpen, Lead Producer

As Account Manager Taelor Sanders noted, “Prime Vision will be evolving, so hopefully many more cool things to come.”

What began as a successful launch in October has quickly evolved into a dynamic, data-driven Prime Vision experience. From domestic broadcasts to international games in London and Berlin, SMT continues to expand both the creative and technical scope of Amazon’s NBA coverage.

Next up: Player mismatch indicators and Bug Hug functionality already in development for March. Stay tuned! 

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: GENESIS INVITATIONAL

SMT’s new 10’ x 30’ Monsterboard on 18 Green delivered live camera production, real-time graphics and enhanced storytelling, bringing fans closer to the action at Riviera.

SMT returns to Riviera for The Genesis Invitational's 100th year

Thanks to Cam Djamoos, EPM, for contributing to this report and providing photos.

SMT was back in Pacific Palisades last weekend to support the 2026 Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour Signature Event celebrating its 100th year. First played in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open, the tournament returned to Riviera Country Club after last year’s relocation to Torrey Pines Golf Course due to the California wildfires.

Hosted by Tiger Woods and managed by the TGR Foundation, the Genesis Invitational is one of the PGA Tour's limited-field Signature Events, featuring approximately 70 players competing in two-somes off a single tee. This year, American Jacob Bridgeman captured his first PGA Tour victory, holding off Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama to secure the $4 million winner’s check.

For SMT, 2026 marked the final year of our three-year agreement with the Genesis Invitational, presenting a strong opportunity to build on momentum following a successful 2024 and the flexibility shown during the 2025 relocation.

New in 2026: 18 Green Monsterboard with Live Camera Production

New this year was a Monsterboard on 18 Green, enhancing the fan experience with immersive live production.

• 10’ x 30’ LED display

• Live camera production produced by SMT

• Manually operated fairway camera (golfer’s right)

• Two remote-controlled greenside cameras

Genesis requested live video coverage beginning with players’ second shots from the fairway. SMT’s fairway camera operator captured players as they prepared for and struck their approach shots, while our graphics operator applied lower-third player graphics including name, score relative to par and position in the field. When possible, production cut to a ball-in-flight shot from the greenside camera before returning to the second player, delivering a broadcast-style presentation for spectators.

With the addition of the Monsterboard, SMT transitioned away from providing the ribbon boards, centering the fan-facing experience around this premier display.

In addition to the 18 Green activation, SMT delivered a full suite of LED display and production solutions throughout the venue:

• Promenade: 8’ x 20’ Spectator Board

• Two 3-sided InfoTowers

• Enhanced Channel: Genesis

• Production for Indoor Display at Genesis Lounge

• Digital Media Center (production only)

SMT also provided Tournament IPTV Platform and Service (TIPS), including a three-day site visit for reliable cable deployment across the course.

SMT provided production for the 2026 Digital Media Center, delivering our HTML-based platform via laptop/OptiSign to power the tournament’s in-house display with real-time scoring and event information.

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Events and Remote Teams

We are staffing 64 events this week. Safe travels to all!

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