ASG Helps Space City Home Network Execute an Audio System Upgrade

On a Live Sports Clock

ASG helped Space City Home Network complete an audio system upgrade—swapping the core production console to a Solid State Logic System T platform—during a narrow mid-season window, without interrupting live sports broadcasts. For a live sports broadcaster, there is never a good time to take a core production system offline. There are only brief windows when it’s possible, and even then, the margin for error is narrow.

That was the reality facing Space City Home Network (SCHN) when the Houston-based regional sports network decided to replace the audio console at the heart of its production facility with a Solid State Logic System T platform. SCHN broadcasts about 250 Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association games annually via satellite, cable, and OTT platforms, serving viewers across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and eastern New Mexico. Any disruption during the season was simply not an option.

To plan and execute the transition to System T, SCHN turned to Advanced Systems Group (ASG), a long-time partner with deep experience supporting live sports environments and broadcast audio workflows. “When it came time to address audio at Space City, there was no learning curve with ASG,” says Chris Frazier, Chief Broadcast Engineer at SCHN. “They already understood how we operate, what our schedules look like, and what we can and can’t afford to risk during the season.”

A Relationship Built Over Time

The relationship between ASG and Chris Frazier dates back more than a decade to his time overseeing audio systems for AT&T SportsNet facilities in multiple markets. That history helped accelerate early planning conversations.

While the System T platform would ultimately anchor the upgrade, the project scope extended well beyond a console replacement. The upgrade was designed to support SCHN’s broader move toward IP-based audio and expanded Dante networking across its facility and connected venues.

“System T wasn’t just about getting a new platform,” Frazier explains. “It was about putting the right foundation in place so we could keep building out Dante in a controlled way.”

A Live Sports Environment with Fixed Deadlines

SCHN’s production environment presents a demanding integration scenario. The network’s facility is connected via dark fiber to local venues, allowing audio and video feeds to be transported directly from venue to studio. Road games are also produced from the SCHN studio, keeping the control room in near-constant use during the season.

The Systems T installation had to be completed during a narrow window around the MLB All-Star break, with a firm deadline to be fully operational before the next scheduled game.

“This wasn’t an off-season project,” says Tyler Berry, Sale Director, Central Region at ASG. “It was a mid-season upgrade with a hard air date.”

“There was no flexibility in the schedule,” Frazier adds. “We had a very specific window, and we had to be ready to go live immediately afterward.”

Preparation Made it Possible

Ahead of the installation, ASG conducted advance site visits, documented existing cabling and termination points, and planned the decommissioning of SCHN’s legacy console. The scope extended well beyond installing the System T surface and engine; it included pulling out old cabling, running new CAT6 infrastructure for IP audio, and maintaining compatibility with existing systems.

“There are always unknowns when you start pulling cables and introducing new systems into an active facility,” Berry explains. “The risk is missing a connection or underestimating complexity. Our focus was to reduce that risk as much as possible through prep work.”

To support the effort, ASG assembled a multi-disciplinary project team. Collyer Spreen, ASG’s Professional Audio Sales Engineer & Technology Enabler, supported early diagnostics and planning, while Michele Ferreira, ASG’s Vice President, Systems Integration, and her team led the system build-out and on-site installation.

“This was a great example of ASG working holistically as one team,” Ferreira adds. “Knowing who to bring in, when to bring them in, and how to keep everyone aligned. That’s where experience really shows.”

Coordinating a Complex Ecosystem

ASG also served as the central coordinator between Solid State Logic, SCHN’s engineering team, and the broadcast audio professionals supporting live game production.

“System T checked all the boxes for us – Dante integration, scalability, and reliability,” Frazier notes. “But technology is only one part of it. The real question was whether we could transition without disrupting our schedule.”

Working closely with SSL’s support team and SCHN engineers, ASG managed the move from decommissioning to commissioning on an accelerated timeline. When installation began at the start of the All-Star break, the project moved quickly from removal to configuration, testing, and training.

“ASG kept everything moving,” Frazier added. “They coordinated the vendors, stayed on top of the details, and made sure we were ready when it was time to go live.”

From Power-Up to Live Broadcast

The timeline was tight. Decommissioning began on a Saturday. Configuration started Monday morning. By Wednesday, SCHN was producing complete shows on the new system. By Thursday afternoon, the team was trained and fully operational.

With the System T in place, SCHN can manage its Dante routing directly from the console while supporting continued expansion to additional venues and remote productions workflows.

A Model for How ASG Supports Live Sports Broadcasters

Beyond the technology, the project reinforced why sports broadcasters rely on ASG for core production systems.

Pictured: Jason Martin - Remote Audio Engineer, Chris Rutledge - SCHN Broadcast Engineer, Richard Wand - Solid State Logic, Herminio Quiroz Jr. - SCHN Broadcast Director

“This was about more than installing a console,” Berry concludes. “It was about showing up prepared, bringing the right people together, and delivering under tough conditions that live sports can throw at you. That’s what ASG does.”

As regional sports networks continue to evolve amid changing ownership models and production demands, projects like this one highlight the importance of experienced integration partners – especially when the clock is ticking.

For Further Reading: Check out how ASG helped PAC 12 Networks design and build new broadcast and production studios, ready for over 850 live events per month. All in a 12 month time-frame. Pac-12 Networks’ New Studio by ASG.

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