Grace Media Group – NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM, 93.1 FM & WNWS.COM – visited with Paul Schulze – founder and executive producer Worthy Road Studios – BallGame Blitz Sports Network – for a Question & Answer session. He discusses how he developed the idea of ‘Worthy Road Studios,’ and the growing demand for live streaming.

Question: First, a little background information. Where are you originally from, family, education, and career?

Answer: I am originally from central Ohio and moved to Trenton in 2008. I have a degree in mechanical engineering and spent many years working in the plastic industry.

Both my daughters graduated from Peabody High School.

Question: Would you tell us what encouraged you to pursue a career in media?

Answer: I started as a cameraman for a hunting show, and I started filming Peabody football in 2009 and wanted to do more.

I joined up with NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM when live streaming began and wanted to do more than the one camera radio broadcasts.

My hobby soon became a career.

Question: Tell us about Worthy Road Studios. Where is the company located, and how did you come up with the name ‘Worthy Road Studios?’

Answer: Worthy Road Studios is now in Jackson. The name “Worthy” was from our hunting show “Trigger Worthy Outdoors” which was based on quality and respect of the hunt.

“Road Studios” means that we do not work out of our own studio, but pack in and out to create our studio on the road.

Question: How many games or events will you televise on average in a year’s time, and how many people are involved in the averaged televised event?

Answer: In the past year we have live broadcasted over 500 events – Around 137 at USJ, 80 at Union University, 70 at Jackson Christian, 50 at TCA, 15 at Peabody, 30 Rockabilly Baseball games, 110 church services, and 20 funerals.

We are adding Bethel University this fall and we will be working with South Gibson County High School as well. Last year we had a crew of 51.

Question: Telecasting and broadcasting at different sites – especially on Friday nights – takes a lot of coordinating the broadcasters and the equipment. What is an average Friday like for Worthy Road Studios?

Answer: There is a lot of prep time before games. Everything has to be checked out and packed.

Visiting press boxes need to be figured out. We usually start setting up for one game at 10 a.m., then get some lunch and head to the next field to set up.

Then I head over to the remaining field where I will be working and get it set up.

After the games, our crews deliver equipment back to me. I start uploading all the games to YouTube.

Any problems need to be edited. Any marching bands need to also be edited and uploaded to YouTube.

All communication, wireless, and camera batteries need to be recharged.

Question: What are some of your thoughts on how live streaming has changed the landscape in radio, and what are some of the biggest challenges or major issues you face on a weekly basis?

Answer: At first, I felt like it was “Radio with Video,” because we were live streaming and on the radio at the same time. Now, we produce all our broadcasts like live TV, which is much different. We are no longer live on radio, so our announcers don’t have to “paint the picture” like in radio.

Instead we focus a lot with on-screen graphics, slow motion instant replay, sideline or floor cameras, and specialty camera shots. This gives the viewer a full experience, like they are right there with us!

Working around individual crew members schedules is challenging. On the bright side, our crew members get along with each other so well, and sometimes we have too much fun doing broadcasts!

Also, all of our sports broadcasts can be watched on WNWS.COM.

(PHOTO: Paul Schulze, founder/executive producer Worthy Road Studios, front, with Christopher Reasons, a broadcast director with Worthy Road Studios)