Covering the Track

By Todd Fuqua

Race day begins very early for Kevin Sublette (BS 84) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Typically, he’s up by 3:30 in the morning, double-checking countless details his company – IMS Productions – has in place for the broadcast of the single largest sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500.

The big race tops the list of numerous events IMS Productions is involved with throughout the year, including all Indy races, commercials and the Professional Bullriders Global Cup.

NBC may broadcast the Indy 500, but it’s Kevin’s job as IMS Productions president to make sure all cameras, equipment and people are in place for things to roll smoothly.

“IMS Productions provides all the broadcast facilities to support the Indy 500 to include working with vendors for onboard cameras, helicopters for aerials, 250-plus production crewmembers and yes, even Porta Potties,” Sublette said. “We provide a nice package for NBC to come in and produce a broadcast.”

Kevin got his start in broadcasting as a student at KENW-TV, working as the master control operator. He was also in the ROTC Program and later served as a logistical operations officer during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in 1991. He says those experiences went a long way to preparing him for his current position.

Kevin said his time at ENMU was wonderful but he has some advice for the recent graduate that wants to make a career in mass media. “KENW is a great base. Every student gets a chance to work on the equipment. But in the real world, you have to have the drive to get what you want,” he said.

“I’ve worked in nine different states in my career. You have to be willing to move and be aggressive to get the experience where you can find it.”