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Groundbreaking, literally!  Watch below as dignitaries at the University of South Florida turned the soil on the campus’ new football stadium.  Gemstone Media and our embedded crew at USF covered the entire event.

“What an honor to provide live streaming support to the University of South Florida’s historic groundbreaking of the on-campus football stadium!” says George Birnbaum, Gemstone Media CEO and Founder.  “Our staff made this complex remote event–-which was a constant moving target of activity–-appear seamless, as we revealed to the world the beginning of a bold new era.”    

David Hall, Gemstone Media Operations Manager, adds, “What a fantastic event to be a part of:  perfect weather, a great crowd, and excitement everywhere. First-class event and first-class coverage. I’m very proud of the Gemstone Media team that live streamed the entire event to ESPN+. Great job, everyone!”    

Not only are we thrilled about the groundbreaking and coverage you see here, Gemstone Media looks forward to working in this new venue, as we are currently consulting on the in-stadium broadcast facilities.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to design an optimal setup from the ground to air, including cable routing and connectivity, video and audio layout, and many more details that will enhance and define USF’s broadcasts for years to come.

Stay tuned, as we say, for more on that!

Read more about the stadium here.

Gemstone Media had a blast capturing the electrifying energy of the Varsity 4 high school football games of the week this season for News4Jax+. 

And below, a tip of the headset to the JU student workers who freelanced on our crew during the 2024 finale. 

Watch the Creekside at Ponte Vedra highlights here.

Gemstone Media takes pride in its live streaming partnership with University of South Florida Athletics.  Read about it here, and check out these behind-the-broadcast shots!

It’s “revolutionizing the game…delivering an immersive, game-changing experience for viewers,” declares Kauri Black, Associate Commissioner, Broadcasting and Digital Programming of The American Athletic Conference.

He’s referring to the Megalodon look:  Mirrorless Gyro-stabilized Lightweight DSLR Nano-rig, to be exact.  No sharks–rather, a sly, slick, and sharp view from a special sideline camera.

Megalodon consists of a Sony a7S III DSLR camera shooting 4K, through a 28mm fixed local length prime lens at f2.8 aperture, which is mounted on a DJI Ronin 4 gimbal, and transmitted to the production truck via a Hollyland Cosmo C1 Wireless System, then converted to ESPN specifications and added to the broadcast.  The result is a pristine cinematic look with very shallow depth of field.

“But it’s not just about the equipment,” George Birnbaum, CEO/Founder of Gemstone Media, adds. 

“Our Megalodon camera operator, Dez March, plays a crucial role in capturing the raw energy and emotion of the players. His skill in framing shots, timing moments, and anticipating reactions can elevate the entire viewing experience.  It’s about how the operator connects with the action and conveys the players’ passion and excitement to the audience. This emotional storytelling is what truly resonates with fans and makes each moment memorable!”

Gemstone Media first deployed Megalodon for The American at the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at South Florida Bulls football broadcast on ESPN+, followed the next week by FIU Panthers at Florida Atlantic Owls.

Kauri Black concluded:  “I believe we’re sitting at the future of communication and connection. Through our partnership with Gemstone, we’ve reimagined how our games are presented, with the addition of Megalodon enhancing the consumer experience through interactive storytelling that elicits deeper engagement.”

George Birnbaum, our Founder & CEO at Gemstone Media, was recently named the U.S. Small Business Administration 2024 North Florida District Veteran Business Owner of The Year.  He was honored at the 32nd Annual Small Business Week Celebration at the University of North Florida.

“Thank you to the Small Business Development Center for presenting me with the 2024 North Florida District Veteran Business Owner of The Year award.  The SBDC has been a valuable resource for Gemstone Media for many years.” George commented. “It was a privilege to have served our country in the Air Force, and now to acquire this distinguished honor for our business!”

Among his many accomplishments while leading the Gemstone Media team, George was commended for how he kept the lights on and kept employees and freelancers working after Gemstone lost nearly $250,000 in canceled live sports and events within the first two days of the pandemic.  

Since few people could travel, and even more were not gathering out of home, the timing was perfect for George to revisit an idea he’d been mulling over in the past.  He contacted a major funeral services company with the proposal, “Why not live stream celebrations of life, funerals, and graveside services for families who cannot attend in person?”  

This became an immediate hit with the funeral directors and their client families throughout the region, and a profit center for Gemstone and its personnel.  (George even appeared on CNBC, talking about this success.)  Even now, several years later, people are amenable to streaming services for family and friends who are unable or unwilling to travel.  

Since 2020, many of George’s clients in the sports and events sectors have returned, along with new ones.  Today, Gemstone continues to grow in projects, people, equipment, and space–with George Birnbaum in the corner office, making connections and designing custom video solutions for clients’ challenges.  As George tells them, “We make it easier, we make it better, and we make it matter!”

David Hall comes to Gemstone Media with over 30 years in the television industry, including most recently serving as the Creative Services Director for WCWJ, and Local Programming and Production Manager for WJXT. 

He served in the US Air Force and was qualified in electronics and satellite communication. After the Air Force, Dave started his career in TV running a satellite truck, doing live shots all around the country.

Dave is a Jacksonville native, and graduate of Jacksonville University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Development and Leadership. He is married and has 3 children and 3 grandchildren. In his spare time, Dave enjoys traveling and time on his boat.

Jamil Taveras is a Tampa native, born and raised. He attended the prestigious University of South Florida where he received a BA in Mass Communications with a focus in Broadcast and Production.

While attending USF, Jamil had the opportunity to work an internship through Gemstone Media, where he learned the ropes of live sports broadcasting. On top of his busy academic schedule, Jamil held leadership titles in multiple activities including The Herd of Thunder Marching Band, Rumble Pep Band, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Since he was a kid, Jamil has been an avid Tampa Bay sports fan following the Buccaneers, Lightning, and the Bulls. On days off, Jamil enjoys spending his free time fishing, playing video games, and hanging with family and friends.

Jamil looks forward to beginning his career with Gemstone at his Alma Mater.  Go Bulls!