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NEP Group
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NEP Group, Inc. also known as NEP Supershooters LP [5](formerly NEP Broadcasting LLC) is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based and privately owned international production company that provides outsourced teleproduction services for major events throughout the world.
Key Information
Its facilities are used to produce television broadcasts of the Indian Premier League, Cricket World Cup, Super Bowl, Academy Awards, Premier League, Eurovision Song Contest, Emmy Awards, The Daily Show, UEFA Champions League, Olympic Games, NASCAR, Asian Games, WWE Wrestling, FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon and French Open, Grammy Awards, U.S. Open, British Open, The People's Court, Sesame Street, The Rolling Stones, Page Six TV and Love Island (franchise).
History
[edit]The company was founded by Tom Shelburne in 1984[6] and was part of Scranton, Pennsylvania television station WNEP-TV (which stood for North East Pennsylvania). It was spun off after The New York Times Company bought the station in 1986 from Shelburne. The company took off after it acquired the failing New Kensington, Pennsylvania-based TCS after the companies jointly produced the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, Indiana.
From 2007 to 2012 it was primarily owned by American Securities. In 2012 it NEP was sold to Crestview Partners.[7]
On September 25, 2015, NEP appointed Keith Andrews (formerly CEO and managing director of NEP Australia) as Chief Operations officer of NEP Group, Inc.[8]
On June 24, 2016, The Carlyle Group made a significant minority investment in NEP alongside existing shareholders Crestview and NEP management.[9]
In August 2018, it was announced that Crestview were to exit NEP with The Carlyle Group purchasing their stake,[10] giving them a majority interest as of October 19, 2018.[11]
In August 2020, NEP Group announced that Brian Sullivan will join the company as the new CEO starting August 31.[12]
Acquisitions
[edit]

This list of acquisitions is not complete.
| Acquisition date | Company | Facilities | Country | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 5, 2005 | NMT: National Mobile Television | Outside broadcasting | [13] | |
| January 31, 2005 | Visions | Outside broadcasting | [14] | |
| April 12, 2006 | Roll to Record | Outside broadcasting | [14] | |
| January 9, 2008 | NCP: New Century Productions | Outside broadcasting | [15] | |
| March 22, 2012 | Trio Video | Outside broadcasting | [16] | |
| May 2, 2012 | Bow Tie Television | Managed service provider (capture, broadcast, stream, archive) for Parliaments and Government Authorities in the UK | [17] | |
| November 20, 2012 | Corplex | Outside broadcasting | [18] | |
| January 24, 2014 | Global Television | 9 outside broadcasting trucks and flyaway units, studio production, host broadcasting | [19] | |
| September 2, 2014 | MIRA Mobile Television | Outside broadcasting | [20] | |
| December 22, 2014 | Faber Audiovisuals | Video display, audiovisual rental & operation | [21] | |
| January 31, 2015 | Screen Scene Group | Outside broadcasting, post-production, VFX, audio production | [22] | |
| March 26, 2015 | Mediatec Group | Outside broadcasting, studio production, video display, master control, post-production, wireless, AV integration | [23] | |
| April 30, 2015 | Outside Broadcast | Outside broadcasting, studio production, ENG, post-production, audio. Now branded as NEP Belgium. | [24] | |
| July 10, 2015 | Consolidated Media Industries | Outside broadcasting, studio production, post-production, audio production, master control, wireless, event management, VFX, ENG, streaming, live playout. Now branded as NEP The Netherlands. | [25] | |
| December 23, 2015 | Mediatec Asia Pacific | Audiovisual solutions provider for event and television productions | [26] | |
| June 17, 2016 | Broadcast Solutions Group | Provider of outside broadcast flypacks | [27] | |
| July 14, 2016 | DBlux | Outside broadcasting, sound, lighting and audiovisual production | [28] | |
| January 4, 2017 | Creative Technology Ltd | Outside broadcasting and live events services | [29] | |
| August 2, 2017 | Bexel Global Broadcast Solutions | Outsourced broadcast solutions and flypacks | [30] | |
| April 17, 2018 | NZ Live | Independent playout, outside broadcast and studio provider | [31] | |
| June 15, 2018 | Telerecord | Outside broadcasting solutions across southern Europe | [32] | |
| July 11, 2018 | Big Picture | Video production and equipment for concert tours, music festivals, broadcast, corporate and special events | [33] | |
| October 1, 2018 | Fletcher Group | Ultra-slow motion and robotic camera specialist | [34] | |
| October 9, 2018 | SIS Live | Global connectivity services, uplink vehicles and operations centres | [35] | |
| February 5, 2019 | Facility House Broadcast Group | ENG, OB and post-production services | [36][37] | |
| September 9, 2019 | Aerial Video Systems | Wireless camera technology, aerial production and RF control | [38] | |
| October 15, 2019 | SOS Global Express | Logistics and freight forwarding | [39] | |
| October 17, 2019 | HDR Group | Full-service production partner with studios, outside broadcast, post-production etc. | [40][41] | |
| August 12, 2020 | Outside Broadcasting | Outside-broadcast provider with 6 trucks, formerly part of Sky New Zealand. Merged with NEP New Zealand. Offer was completed on 5 February 2021.
NEP acquired the following vehicles from OSB along with its two original OB units:
|
[42][43] | |
| March 1, 2021 | Vista Worldlink | Centralized live television production | [44] |
References
[edit]- ^ "MARTIN STEWART". NEP Group. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "JULIE BELLANI". NEP Group. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "DEB HONKUS". NEP Group. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "About". NEP Group. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "Supershooters". Bloomberg.
- ^ "Tom Shelburne". Sports Broadcasting HOF. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "Crestview Partners Acquires NEP from American Securities". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP Group Appoints President and COO, and President of Australian Business". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ LLC, NEP Broadcasting. "The Carlyle Group Makes Significant Minority Investment in NEP Group". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
- ^ "Crestview to exit NEP with sale to Carlyle". PE Hub Network. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "The Carlyle Group Assumes Majority Interest in NEP Group". Live Production. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ August 2020, Terry Scutt 13 (13 August 2020). "NEP Group Names Brian Sullivan New CEO". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "NEP Broadcasting and National Mobile Television Announce Asset". Bloomberg.
- ^ a b O'Neal, James E. (23 January 2019). "NEP: 35 Years of Live Television Production". TvTechnology. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ "NEP acquires NCP; Werteen promoted to SVP and GM as NCP operates independently : Sports Video Group". 9 January 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP Acquires Trio Video". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP acquires UK-based Bow Tie TV Limited : SVG Europe". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP To Buy Corplex, Retain Engineering and Support Staff : Sports Video Group". 20 November 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP Finalizes Acquisition of Global Television". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP Closes Mira Acquisition". TV Technology. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ NEP (22 December 2014). "NEP Acquires Faber Audiovisuals" (Press release). Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ NEP Group Inc. (2 February 2015). "NEP Acquires The Screen Scene Group" (Press release). Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP Group set to snap up OB company Mediatec". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP Acquires Outside Broadcast and RecordLab". TV Technology. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP adds Dutch facilities firm to ever-expanding group". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEP to acquire Mediatec Group". AV Magazine. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP ACQUIRES BROADCAST SOLUTIONS GROUP". NEP Group. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP ACQUIRES DANISH OB FIRM DBLUX". NEP Group. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP Completes Acquisition of Avesco Group". Creative Technology. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP acquires California production". 2017.
- ^ "NZ Live Rebrands Local Operation as NEP New Zealand". Live Production. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP completes acquisition of Telerecord". Private Equity Wire. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP strengthens in Australia and New Zealand with Big Picture acquisition". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP Group acquires camera specialist Fletcher Group". Broadcast. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP Group acquires SIS Live". Broadcast. Broadcast Now. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "NEP Group: NEP The Netherlands Acquires Facility House Broadcast Group". FinanzNachrichten.de (in German). 2019-05-02. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ "NEP The Netherlands Acquires Facility House Broadcast Group". www.nepgroup.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ Dams, Tim (2019-09-09). "NEP Group acquires Aerial Video Systems". Broadcast. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ "Technical Production Partner NEP Group Acquires SOS Global Express". Trade Show News Network. 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ Ringrose, Fergal (2019-11-01). "NEP Group Closes Deal to Acquire HDR Sweden". Sports Video Group Europe. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ "NEP Sweden AB och HDR Sweden AB". www.konkurrensverket.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
- ^ "Sky TV sells its outside broadcast subsidiary to NEP". Radio New Zealand. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "NEP seeks clearance to acquire Sky's outside broadcasting assets". comcom.govt.nz. 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ Balderston, Michael (2021-03-02). "NEP Buys VISTA Worldlink to Boost Centralized Production Capabilities". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
External links
[edit]NEP Group
View on GrokipediaOverview
Company profile
NEP Group is a global media technology company specializing in outsourced teleproduction services for live sports, entertainment, and corporate events.[1] It serves as a leading provider of end-to-end production solutions, empowering content creators and rights holders through innovative technology and a worldwide network.[1] Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company employs over 5,000 people across 25 countries.[1] Its core business focuses on remote production, studio services, virtual production, and advanced technology solutions to enable seamless live content delivery.[1] In October 2025, NEP Group secured a $700 million equity investment led by 26North Partners, with The Carlyle Group participating and remaining the largest shareholder, to fuel growth in global operations and product innovation.[4]Leadership and ownership
NEP Group's leadership is headed by Chief Executive Officer Martin Stewart, who was appointed to the role in June 2023 and brings over 30 years of experience in the media and telecommunications sectors, including prior positions as CEO of Sky New Zealand and Orbit Showtime Network (OSN).[5] Under Stewart's guidance, the company has focused on technological innovation and global expansion in live event production.[6] Key executives include regional presidents overseeing major divisions, such as Waleed Isaac, appointed President of NEP Middle East and Asia in August 2025, with more than 30 years in events, energy, and infrastructure sectors to drive growth in high-potential markets like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India.[7] Other notable leaders encompass Doug Kovach as Chief Financial Officer, Julie Bellani as Chief Human Resources Officer, and Mike Werteen as President of Media Operations, supporting the company's worldwide operations across media services and technology solutions.[8] Ownership of NEP Group has been shaped by private equity investments since 2012, when Crestview Partners acquired the company, followed by a minority stake from The Carlyle Group in 2016 and Carlyle's assumption of majority control in 2018 after purchasing Crestview's remaining interest.[9][10] In October 2025, 26North Partners led a $700 million equity investment to fuel growth and innovation, with Carlyle participating and retaining its position as the largest shareholder.[11] The board of directors features representatives from Carlyle, including David Nathanson, alongside independent members such as Chairman Debra Honkus and Venus Williams, fostering a governance structure oriented toward strategic expansion in the media technology landscape.[12][10] NEP Group mourned the passing of its founder, Tom Shelburne, in August 2023 at age 81; Shelburne pioneered remote television production through NEP Supershooters, established in 1987, revolutionizing live event broadcasting on a global scale.[13][14]History
Founding and early development
NEP Group was founded in 1984 by Tom Shelburne as NEP Broadcasting, originating from the mobile production assets of WNEP-TV, an ABC affiliate based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where Shelburne's family had established the station.[13][15][16] Shelburne, recognized as a pioneer in remote television production, built the company's initial production truck in 1978 for WNEP and expanded the fleet to three trucks by the time the New York Times Company acquired the station in 1985, allowing him to retain and formalize the mobile division as an independent entity.[13] In 1987, NEP launched Supershooters through a joint venture and subsequent merger with TCS (Television Cable Service), marking the creation of the world's first dedicated remote production truck company and revolutionizing live sports broadcasting by enabling high-quality, on-location production without reliance on network-owned facilities.[17][13] This innovation allowed for flexible, specialized mobile units that supported major broadcasters in delivering live events efficiently.[18] During the late 1980s, NEP Supershooters achieved early milestones by producing high-profile events, including the 1987 Pan American Games for CBS and remote coverage of NFL games, as well as entertainment productions such as music awards shows.[13][19] By 1990, the company had expanded its fleet to multiple mobile production units, supporting a growing portfolio of live sports and entertainment broadcasts across the United States.[20] As a family-owned operation, NEP evolved into a specialized teleproduction firm by the mid-1990s, emphasizing technical innovations in remote production workflows that laid the foundation for industry-wide outsourcing of mobile units.[13] This period saw NEP secure landmark contracts, such as the 1994 exclusive agreement with NBC Sports for all its mobile production needs, solidifying its role as a leader in the sector.[20] The company's early focus on scalable, high-impact remote capabilities paved the way for further expansion in the following decades.Major milestones and ownership changes
In the 2000s, NEP expanded its operations beyond the United States into international markets, including Europe and Asia-Pacific, while advancing digital production workflows to support growing demand for live event broadcasting. This period laid the groundwork for global scalability, with early investments in fiber-optic and digital transmission technologies enhancing production efficiency. In 2000, Pamlico Capital made an initial investment in the company. In 2004, Apax Partners and Spectrum Equity Investors acquired NEP from Wachovia Capital Partners for $320 million.[21][22] In February 2007, American Securities acquired a majority stake from Apax and Spectrum, providing capital for further growth.[23][24] A key turning point came in December 2012 when Crestview Partners acquired NEP from American Securities, providing growth capital that facilitated a rebranding to NEP Group and accelerated international expansion from operations in two countries to 24 by the late 2010s. Under Crestview's ownership, NEP completed multiple strategic moves to broaden its service offerings and geographic footprint. In 2018, The Carlyle Group assumed majority ownership by acquiring Crestview's remaining stake for approximately $594 million, which enabled further global scaling, technology investments, and enhanced capabilities in live sports and entertainment production.[24][10][25] Entering the 2020s, NEP launched its virtual production division, NEP Virtual Studios, in August 2021 through targeted investments in in-camera visual effects (ICVFX) and real-time rendering technologies, positioning the company as a leader in immersive content creation for film, television, and live events. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, NEP adapted by rapidly scaling remote production technologies, including cloud-based editing, virtual commentary hubs, and IP-enabled home studios, which allowed clients to maintain operations with reduced on-site personnel and supported safer broadcasting workflows. In October 2025, NEP secured a $700 million equity infusion led by 26North Partners, alongside a comprehensive debt refinancing, to fuel ongoing innovation, infrastructure expansion, and market growth.[26][27][11] NEP pioneered advancements in IP-based remote production in 2022, launching production centers in major U.S. cities and debuting TFC Flow, an IP orchestration tool for streamlined live event control and monitoring, which set new standards for efficient, low-latency workflows in multi-site broadcasts. By 2024, the company integrated AI technologies into production and content management processes, exemplified by AI-powered camera systems and enhanced media asset tools like Mediabank for improved search and distribution during high-profile events such as Wimbledon.[28][29][30][31]Operations
Core services
NEP Group's core services encompass a wide array of broadcast and production offerings designed to facilitate live content creation for global broadcasters, networks, and event organizers. At the heart of these services is broadcast production, which includes the deployment of mobile production units, dedicated studios, and remote IP-based workflows to capture and transmit high-quality content in real time. These capabilities support major sports events such as NFL games and the Olympics, where NEP provides comprehensive technical infrastructure, including multi-camera setups and on-site engineering for seamless coverage. For entertainment productions like awards shows, including the Oscars, NEP delivers studio-based production solutions that integrate advanced video switching, graphics, and replay systems to enhance viewer engagement.[32][33][34] In addition to broadcast production, NEP offers robust live events support through audio-visual integration, lighting, and staging services tailored for diverse applications. These solutions enable the creation of immersive experiences for corporate events, music festivals, and tours, featuring high-fidelity audio mixing, LED video walls for dynamic visuals, and customizable rigging for lighting and set design. NEP's inventory includes state-of-the-art equipment such as automated camera systems and wireless microphone arrays, ensuring reliable performance across venues of varying scales. This integration allows clients to produce polished, broadcast-ready content without extensive in-house resources.[35][36][37] A key component of NEP's portfolio is virtual production, introduced in 2021 through the dedicated NEP Virtual Studios division, which specializes in LED walls, real-time rendering, and extended reality (XR) technologies. These services leverage tools like Unreal Engine for in-camera visual effects (ICVFX), enabling filmmakers and live broadcasters to generate photorealistic environments on set, reducing post-production timelines and costs. NEP's virtual stages, available across multiple continents, support applications from scripted series to live concerts, with integrated motion capture and augmented reality overlays for enhanced storytelling.[38][39][40] Complementing these production-focused services, NEP provides advanced technology solutions such as cloud-based editing platforms, global signal distribution networks, and wireless audio-visual systems to ensure efficient content delivery. The virtualized editing suite allows remote editors to access high-resolution footage via secure cloud connections, facilitating collaborative post-production from anywhere. Signal distribution utilizes IP fabrics for low-latency transmission of video, audio, and data across international boundaries, while wireless RF solutions handle comms, cameras, and microphones in challenging environments. These technologies enable scalable, end-to-end workflows that support NEP's global delivery capabilities.[41][42]Global presence and facilities
NEP Group's global headquarters is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, serving as the central hub for its worldwide operations. The company maintains major U.S. facilities in key media markets, including multiple studios and production centers in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, which support a range of broadcast and event productions across North America. As of August 2025, NEP expanded its U.S. connected solutions with two new production control rooms in South Florida and enhancements to its network operations center in Dallas.[43][44][45][46] With operations spanning 25 countries and over 110 office locations, NEP Group has established a robust international footprint, particularly in Europe (including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Sweden), the Asia-Pacific region (such as Australia and Singapore), and the Middle East (notably Dubai). In September 2025, NEP acquired Seven Production, further expanding its live production services, including outside broadcast trucks, in the Middle East. These regional presences enable localized logistics and rapid deployment of resources to meet diverse production demands. In Europe, for instance, facilities in the UK and Netherlands house advanced studios tailored for high-volume event coverage.[47][48][49][50][51] NEP Group's infrastructure includes a fleet of 205 outside broadcast (OB) trucks and over 90 broadcast flypack systems, facilitating mobile production capabilities worldwide. The company operates 83 studios and control rooms globally, complemented by 43 centralized production control rooms for remote operations. Specialized virtual production stages are available in Los Angeles and London, equipped for immersive content creation using LED walls and real-time rendering technologies.[47][52][53] To address regional market variations, NEP adapts its facilities and mobile units for prominent local events, such as cricket tournaments in the Asia-Pacific through Australian and Singapore-based operations, and football leagues in Europe via UK and Dutch studios. This geographic structuring ensures efficient support for culturally specific content without relying on extensive international travel.[54][55]Acquisitions and growth
Key acquisitions timeline
NEP Group's acquisition strategy began in the 2000s with purchases of production units from competitors to bolster its outside broadcasting capabilities, exemplified by the 2008 acquisition of New Century Productions, a Pennsylvania-based video production firm.[56] Initial international expansions included entries into European markets through acquisitions like Outside Broadcast in 2015 and into Australia via Global Television in 2014.[57][58] The 2010s saw accelerated growth through targeted deals enhancing global technical production services. In 2016, NEP acquired Broadcast Solutions Group, a provider of outside broadcast flypacks based in Singapore.[59] This was followed by the 2017 acquisition of Avesco Group, incorporating its Creative Technology brand for live event support.[60] In 2018, NEP acquired Fletcher Group for ultra-slow motion camera expertise and Broadcast Sports International for wireless audio-visual solutions.[61][62] The decade closed with the 2019 acquisition of HDR Group in the Nordics, adding full-service production facilities in Sweden.[63] Entering the 2020s, NEP focused on innovative technologies and regional expansion. Key deals included the 2020 acquisition of OSB assets in New Zealand for additional outside broadcast units.[64] In 2021, NEP acquired Prysm Collective, Lux Machina, and Halon Entertainment to build its virtual production segment.[39] The most recent major acquisition was Seven Production in September 2025, a Dubai-based firm enhancing Middle East operations.[65] As of September 2025, NEP had completed 21 acquisitions across seven countries, with 11 in the United States, six in Europe, and four in Asia and the Middle East.[66]| Year | Acquisition | Location | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | New Century Productions | USA | Outside broadcasting units |
| 2014 | Global Television | Australia | TV technical production |
| 2015 | Outside Broadcast | UK | Broadcast and media services |
| 2016 | Broadcast Solutions Group | Singapore | Outside broadcast flypacks |
| 2017 | Avesco Group (incl. Creative Technology) | UK | Live events and media services |
| 2018 | Fletcher Group | USA | Ultra-slow motion cameras |
| 2018 | Broadcast Sports International | USA | Wireless A/V solutions |
| 2019 | HDR Group | Sweden | Full-service production |
| 2020 | OSB Assets | New Zealand | Outside broadcast units |
| 2021 | Prysm Collective, Lux Machina, Halon Entertainment | USA | Virtual production |
| 2025 | Seven Production | UAE | Film and broadcasting production |
