Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/479389
50 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2014 Film, TV & Digital Media Industry sPOtLIGHt › By John A. Lahtinen W hile ESPN has long called Connecti- cut home, a new player in the televi- sion sports arena has established itself as a leader in the digital media and television industry in the state. In 2013, the NBC Sports Group re- located four offices — Landmark Square and Harbor Drive in Stamford, Rockefeller Center in New York City and the Comcast Center in Philadelphia — to one 32-acre campus in Stamford. e campus is located in the former Clairol headquarters. Chel- sea Piers of New York City fame also has a 770,000-square-foot athletic complex on the same property. e new NBC Sports Group International Broadcast Center is now home to more than 500 employees who work for NBC Sports, NBCSN, NBC Olympics, NBC Sports Digital and NBC Sports Regional Networks. e 300,000-square-foot, state-of-the- art facility features a newsroom, six on-air studios, six control rooms, 50 graphics suites, more than 50 edit rooms, and more than 1,200 miles — yes, MILES — of broadcast and network cable. e construction and system integration process took roughly a year to complete at a cost of more than $100 million. Collaborative spaces e consolidation in Stamford and the development of the new facility was de- signed to bring staff together under one roof, maximize production, increase teamwork, enhance creativity and prepare for anticipat- ed future growth, according to Rob Landau, senior vice president for NBC Sports Group. "Having a majority of our employees under one roof allows us to be much more efficient," Landau said. "We are now able to develop and turn around projects faster than ever before." NBC Sports Group is rapidly expand- ing its coverage having reached a major deal with NASCAR last summer. e comprehensive agreement grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content beginning next year. In addition to NASCAR, NBC Sports Group possesses an impressive collection of television rights' agreements and partner- ships with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world, including the International and U.S. Olympic committees, the NFL, NHL, the PGA, the Tour de France and IndyCar racing. Landau said the expansion initiative would not have been possible without the financial support from the state as well as the local support provided by former Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia and current Game Changer NBC Sports is poised for growth at its 32-acre campus in Stamford NBC Sports Group international Broadcast Center in Stamford includes six on-air studios like the one pictured. ' We are excited to be here, and we look forward to being a part of the continued growth in the state and the sports media industry. ' — Rob Landau, senior vice president of human resources for NBC Sports Group PHOTO/COurTESY