BT Sport and Channel 5 commentator, Sam Roberts (85-96), recently entertained the BSA (Bedford School Association) community with an online talk entitled ‘Commentary and Communication’. Sam, who is well known for his commentaries on Gallagher Premiership Rugby, spoke about the skillsets a top sports media broadcast team needs to be successful, the importance of pre-match preparation and the use of analytics, which provide a myriad of statistics for use during a game.
A normal live broadcast involves a multi-disciplined team of at least 70 people, all of whom play a vital part in creating an entertaining programme. Sam shared fascinating behind-the-scenes footage of a premiership game, focussing on how the commentator needs to concentrate on what he hears in his headset, whist simultaneously having to commentate on the game, not an easy feat!
Sam rounded off an enjoyable and informative evening by answering a host of varied questions from the online audience.
“Sam provided a unique insight into the world of professional sports commentary. Whilst it may sound easy to listen and talk at the same time, the reality is somewhat different. His talk highlighted how both sports and business teams can perform more effectively through mastering the art of communication. Sam has recently delivered his fascinating talk to several high-profile blue-chip companies and sport governing bodies, with rave reviews. If you think your company could benefit from Sam’s insightful views, I’m sure he’d love to hear from you.”