Tim_Ceravolo

Tim Ceravolo

The ball is rolling and the first full year for the Bethel Sports Network is well underway. The network was founded by Tim Ceravolo, director of student media and assistant professor of communication, to showcase Bethel sports and provide students with opportunities to gain experience in sports broadcasting.

Ceravolo worked as a journalist in TV broadcasting for 24 years before beginning his full-time teaching career at Bethel in 2006. He envisioned the program and worked hard to make it a reality.

“I thought it was a need,” says Ceravolo. “Also, in terms of education, it’s an area of growth. While other areas of broadcasting and journalism are contracting, sports broadcasting is actually growing, so I felt the program had potential for growth. Plus, Bethel is very sports-oriented, so it just seemed like a good match.”

In the spring of 2014, the student media department received a $40,000 grant from Eli Lilly, which provided for new equipment, including four new high definition cameras, lighting, a switcher, a virtual set and a tricaster. The tricaster is the jewel of the equipment purchased and allows the network to stream, record and produce multi-camera live broadcasts.

Ceravolo supervises the network, which provides information on all Bethel sports, as well as interviews with coaches, talk shows and live coverage of various sporting events.

Bethel Sports Network reporting in action

Bethel Sports Network reporting in action

Students in Ceravolo’s media classes are major contributors to the content, but other students who have an interest in sports are encouraged to get involved. Students serve as play-by-play announcers, analysts, sideline reporters, videographers, producers and directors.

“We’re just getting it started, but hopefully it will give students who have an interest in sports broadcasting an opportunity to come to school, jump in and get hands-on experience,” says Ceravolo. “Students can get experience right away.”

With his seasoned experience in broadcast journalism and a passion for sports broadcasting, Ceravolo hopes to pass on the skills and experience students will need to be prepared for their future careers in broadcasting, journalism and public relations. He also wants to impart to students the ethics he has developed through his years of experience.

“God gave us this technology, and we should certainly take advantage of it,” he says. “The media has so much influence, but what if we had more Christians working in it, not to push our agenda but to have our agenda represented?”

Check out the Bethel Sports Network now.