Sound Assistant
End Client: Premier League Productions | Technical Provider: Gravity Media
I Worked as a Sound Assistant on the Premier League Final 2024 at the Etihad Stadium (55,000+ capacity), supporting EMG / Gravity Media and Premier League Productions within a large-scale international broadcast environment.
Reporting to the Sound Supervisor and Guarantee, I worked closely with floor managers to ensure we was in the right place at the right time pitch-side ready for that last minute interview. The role required constant awareness of live production flow, ensuring microphones and IFB systems were in position precisely when required.
I was responsible for deploying and maintaining pitch-side audio using Sennheiser MD42 handheld microphones, alongside simple but critical IFB and interview setups using Behringer “pot box” systems (single XLR input with local volume control and mini-jack output). Signal paths were routed via copper multicore and digital stage boxes back to the OB truck, with redundant runs maintained behind camera positions to ensure broadcast resilience.
Communication was handled via Riedel Bolero comms systems, allowing coordination between on-site crews and the truck-based audio gallery. Working across a multi-broadcaster international environment, I supported the allocation and management of designated interview and media zones, ensuring each rights holder received reliable access within tightly scheduled broadcast windows.
The role required strong on-the-ground judgement, anticipating production requirements, mitigating issues before they escalated, and acting as the eyes and ears of the sound department for truck-based engineers. Despite the fast-paced and often last-minute nature of live sports broadcasting, the technical setup remained straightforward — placing emphasis on accuracy, consistency, and disciplined checks across all deployed systems.
Alongside this event, I regularly support EMG / Gravity Media on live broadcast productions on a freelance basis, contributing as part of wider sound teams depending on production schedules.