‘Game On’ wins NRB’s ‘Best Creative TV Programming’ award

Liberty University’s “Game On”, a 30-minute weekly sports show produced by the Liberty Flames Sports Network (LFSN), was recently selected as winner of the “Best Creative Television Programming” category of the 2016 National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Media Awards.

The award recognizes “Game On” for its “highest standards of quality, creativity, and innovation” and for demonstrating “a unique vision and perspective of an important current issue and/or theme.”

Based on its 10-minute compilation video submitted by Russ Martin, Liberty’s executive producer of broadcast communications, “Game On” segments — aired on regional LFSN affiliate stations around the nation — “demonstrate a compelling use of the medium from artistic and technical standpoints” while also managing to “engage the culture as an effective witness from a Christian perspective.”

“In the Christian television marketplace, ‘Game On’ provides an innovative way to communicate the values that are central to Liberty University,” Martin said. “One of the program’s goals is to inform, entertain, and inspire viewers. We are committed to taking the time to research and find compelling stories, create network quality graphics, and shoot video with great craftsmanship.”

The LFSN broadcast team consists of trained professionals who have worked for most of the nation’s major sporting networks, including ESPN, ABC Sports, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and NASCAR. Liberty School of Communication & Creative Arts students work alongside the professional team, gaining firsthand experience.

Besides anchoring the program, Matt Warner serves as senior producer of “Game On,” which he hosts alongside Rett McGibbon and Britton Lynn with regular contributions from LFSN reporters, including Nick Pierce and Alan York.

The show, launched in early 2014 as a daily program, is available to over 50 million households in North America through a variety of networks. Regular features delve deeply into — and provide a spiritual point-of-view on — the important issues facing collegiate and professional sports, with an emphasis on Liberty student-athletes.

“‘Game On’ incorporates news reports, in-studio interviews, feature stories shot around the nation, and live on-location reports,” Martin said, noting that LFSN maintains high-end production value through its modern technical equipment and studio set, engaging graphics packages, and fun and informative storytelling. “The production staff develop a program with a wide variety of elements. Creativity comes as a result of talented staff and students working together to move their ideas from discussion to reality.”

Last May, LFSN’s “Game On” Signing Day Special was the Collegiate Athletics winner of the “Outstanding Studio/Remote Hosted Programming” category at the College Sports Media Awards in Atlanta.

“For a program, in its second year of production, to win a national-level award is a great honor,” Martin said. “It speaks of the commitment to excellence by everyone on the production team and to the university leadership for providing the resources to do so. We follow in the footsteps of the broadcast tradition of Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. who is quoted as saying, ‘If it’s Christian, it ought to be better.’”

“Game On” will be honored during NRB’s International Christian Media Convention, Feb. 23-26, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

• View current and archived “Game On” features on LFSN’s website, which also provides a list of affiliated television stations where LFSN’s programming may be watched live.