Working Life

Live, up-to-the-minute graphic animations are a familiar and vital part of sports matches and events, and are also central to a wide range of entertainment formats.

Highly skilled Graphics Operators provide the creative and technical skills necessary for this integral component of broadcast TV.

Role and Responsibilities 

• Work on location in the OB Unit and liaise closely with the director and Vision Mixer.

• Create the on-screen graphics packages and sequences that have become a constant presence on the lower third of TV screens during live sports coverage. Their technical and creative skills are essential for displaying live scores, statistics, audience voting results, and other real-time information during sports events, live broadcasts, and studio-based entertainment shows.

• Produce full-screen graphics, including charts, graphs, and other visual representations of participant or competitor performance.

• Create video files that are shared with both the broadcaster and specialised third-party contractors, who use live data integration software to display real-time scores, statistics, and other key information for viewers. 

• The role requires equal levels of creative and technical skills. It also requires an aptitude for close focus, attention to detail, and the personality type to deal with intense pressure in a fully staffed OB Unit during a live show or event. 

Works with

• Unit Manager
• Director
• Vision Mixer
• Technical Supervisor
• Broadcaster

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Education Route: Graphic Operators are are likely to have at least completed a third level course in graphic design and computer animation.

Career Path to Graphics Operator: Graphics operators will have worked in the graphics departments of  broadcasters, in television or video production, possibly having entered these through internships.  

Career Path from Graphics Operator: Graphics Designer/Template Builder, Graphics Supervisor/Lead Operator, Creative Director, Technical Director.