TD Ameritrade Network

Broadcast Management Group provides ongoing production staffing and technical operations support for the TD Ameritrade Network. With technical facilities in Chicago and New York, and remote studios through the country, the TD Ameritrade Network produces 9.5 hours of live content, Monday through Friday.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many media organizations were forced to overhaul their operations almost overnight. The TD Ameritrade Network was no different. Broadcast Management Group was tasked with keeping the network on-air while developing a REMI workflow that would keep network talent and technical crew safe. Due to the volatility of the financial markets during the pandemic, TD Ameritrade’s content was crucial for its customers.

With just 3-days’ notice, Broadcast Management Group was tasked with converting TDAN to a remote network operation. Our first focus was network talent. Our system integration team developed at-home production kits for each main anchor and key contributor. Talent kits consisted of a PTZ camera, teleprompter, program monitor, IFB, lav mic, green screen, and basic lighting kit. Each talent kit was pre-built and configured by our in-house engineering team and shipped to the talent’s residence.

Once all network talent was safely working from home, we shifted our focus to our editorial crew. Show producers were all set up with at-home solutions that allowed them to monitor each program. They could make real-time changes to prompter copy and show rundowns, and talk directly to talent and technical staff.

Following a successful at-home transition for our editorial team, next, we focused on our creative staff. Our integration division developed at-home solutions for editors, graphics operators, and playback operators. Editors were set up with remote access to a network server, allowing them to edit remotely and push/pull content to the remote server. Graphics and playback operators were all set up with technical capabilities to perform their functions using an at-home workflow.

Lastly, we focused on shifting our Director/TD’s to remote solutions. Directors for the network received multi-view monitoring, IFB capabilities, comms capabilities, and the ability to switch the show remotely.

By prioritizing our remote network operation transition and breaking the project into phases, we were able to focus on specific sectors of the network systematically. This ensured that each group had a completely functional at-home setup before transitioning to the next phase.

While many major networks had interruptions due to the pandemic, Broadcast Management Group was able to continue programming without any on-air interruptions. TD Ameritrade viewers continue to receive the same level of production value that they’re accustomed to.