Students from Manchester Met have had the chance to develop skills in filming, production, editing, audio and presenting as part of Matchday Live, a new live sports broadcasting project.

Matchday Live is a flagship live sports broadcasting project ran by Technical Services at Manchester Met, giving students from across the university the opportunity to step into real production roles covering university sports fixtures. From operating cameras and directing multi-camera setups to delivering live commentary and vision mixing, students gain hands-on experience using industry-standard equipment and workflows including IP video, Dante audio networks, and virtual production tools like Unreal Engine.

Sam Heitzman, who runs Matchday Live, explained why he felt it was an important project to set up: “Senior Journalism Lecturer, Vince Hunt and I saw an opportunity to create something that felt like the missing link between theory and industry. Matchday Live was born out of the idea that students could develop broadcast skills in a real-world environment but without needing to leave the university. I wanted to build something that was collaborative where students take the lead and learn by doing. It was also important to make it inclusive and accessible, with low barriers to entry, and a strong focus on community not just in terms of who takes part, but in how we represent the university to the wider world”.

Maxine Douglas-Morgan, a BA (Hons) Marketing Student who has taken part in Matchday Live commented on her experience stating: “Being on the Matchday Live team has been amazing for further developing my marketing skills. Learning to put different hats on to communicate with different audiences based on the sport we’re broadcasting  that week has been really interesting in putting into practice what I’ve learnt on my course (Marketing). It’s also super rewarding and satisfying seeing everything come together on the broadcast and getting positive interactions and feedback about the social media page”

Joseph McKnight, who has also been involved in the project added: “I absolutely love Matchday Live. The experience I’ve been able to get was like no other in terms of quality and availability. You can’t do what I did at Matchday Live anywhere else”.

A key part of the Matchday Live project is having expert Manchester Met staff on hand to share their skills with the participating students and act as mentors throughout the process. Sam Heitzman explained how his background allows him to support students via Matchday Live: “My background is in technical A/V production, live streaming, and studio operations so I bring a lot of hands-on technical experience but beyond that, I think the most important thing I bring is the ability to create an environment where students feel supported but empowered. I’m there to help them run the show, and to provide the tools, structure, and confidence they need to make it their own. I also work across departments and faculties, so I’ve been able to build links and partnerships that have helped the project grow into something much bigger than just a set of broadcasts”.

Verity Marchant, another student involved in Matchday Live commented that: “One of my favourite parts of being involved with Matchday Live was working with the team. Everyone’s voluntarily given up their spare time to be there so everyone’s trying their best, pulling in the same direction and it’s just a really fun, motivating team to be part of. Sam works really hard to make sure everyone feels welcome and comfortable. Everyone gets the opportunity to try as many skills as they want, you don’t have to be perfect at them and it’s okay if you make mistakes because it’s such a supportive and welcoming environment where everything is just viewed as a good learning opportunity and experience. And I’m sure you could ask anyone involved and they’d say they feel incredibly well supported and that’s a credit to Sam and all the hard work he puts in for us.”

This support and inclusive environment is a key part of Matchday Live. Allowing students to experiment, make mistakes and learn in high-paced yet friendly environment helps to build the confidence of students throughout the process.

Sam Heitzman said that he has noticed many students who have taken part becoming much more self-assured during their time at Matchday Live: “You see students arrive feeling unsure of where they might fit, and then a few weeks later they’re leading productions, briefing camera teams, or delivering live commentary in front of thousands of viewers. Their technical skills grow but so does their ability to collaborate, communicate under pressure and believe in their own creative decisions. I’ve had students tell me that this project gave them the confidence to apply for roles they never would have considered before. It’s a place where they’re treated like professionals, and they respond to it incredibly well”.

Joe McKnight also commented that: “I had amazing people like Sam and Vince push me to learn new things and be more confident. It’s the closest thing to working in a real-life broadcast that I will get to, apart from the job itself, and I think that is something you cannot undervalue”.

The project also has a strong focus on employability, helping students build practical, job-ready skills that align with careers in broadcasting, media, and live events. It also champions inclusivity, with an open, voluntary model that welcomes students from all backgrounds and disciplines. Matchday Live also has a growing focus on industry partnerships through it’s recent work with professional basketball team Manchester Basketball in the elite Women’s Super League Basketball.

Maxine Douglas-Morgan explained that Matchday Live has helped her career prospects stating that: “It’s been a big factor in getting internships, my placement year and interviews for grad roles”.

Furthermore, Verity Marchant explained that: “Matchday Live helps me learn in a realistic broadcast environment which has filled me with confidence going forward and looking for a job in the industry because I have experience working in a quick, live environment where you have to think on your feet and work in a team. It’s such a fun thing to be involved in and I find it very rewarding, I now present for Manchester Basketball’s women’s team and just this weekend I presented 3 NBL playoff finals for Basketball England, and these are all really exciting experiences that I wouldn’t have achieved without the experience and confidence that Matchday Live has given me”.

Keep up to date with Matchday Live on their Instagram page or email them at matchdaylive@mmu.ac.uk to get involved!