Big Ten Network's programming boon for MSU grad

Sarah Teremi is a graduate of Lansing Eastern High, Michigan State and a Big Ten Network experiment with a $1 million price tag and a variety of beneficiaries.

The "Student U" initiative - introduced a year ago - was designed to give exposure to league sports and events that wouldn't otherwise be on the network, and to give some TV production experience to Big Ten students.

Teremi took full advantage as an MSU senior in the 2009-10 school year. Such advantage that she'll help produce live events for the network in 2010-11.

"It's been great for me," said Teremi, 21, who received her telecommunication degree in May. "A lot of people who graduated before me didn't have a chance to do this."

More will get the chance in the future. More than 200 students participated in the first year, during which 177 events - live-streamed on the network's website and often aired later - were produced by "Student U." More than 400 events are planned in 2010-11.

They are produced with $100,000 portable TV kits called "fly packs," which include high-definition cameras and a mobile broadcast unit.

"Your TV truck in 10 little cases," Teremi said.

The school just needs to supply students to produce, direct, work the cameras and provide play-by-play, commentary and sideline reporting. The pay is around $8 an hour for the technical jobs, but the real value is in the experience gained.

Teremi was "one of the stars of the program," said network spokesman Mike Vest, and by the end of the school year she got a chance to work on live network programs.

She acted as "technical director" for the U-M spring football game, then worked in the production truck as an associate director for an MSU baseball series and softball game in May.

Teremi already is lined up to work on volleyball and soccer events in the fall for the network. As a freelancer, she'll also be able to do some camera work for ESPN and ABC.

The former Eastern basketball and volleyball player's goal is to produce live events on a full-time basis.

"I want to try," said Teremi, who worked for the MSU athletic department's broadcasting department for three years. "If I go broke doing it, at least I tried."

"It's kind of a thrill, there's excitement. If a great play happens, you can't ask them to do it again, you have one chance. You're telling a story and the story is always changing."