How Midland Road Studios powered Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s new vodcast
Many cricketing outsiders may hold an unfair assumption that the sport can be slow at keeping up with the times. In early 2024, however, Worcestershire County Cricket Club (WCCC) shattered this stereotype by launching a new way to build meaningful relationships with its increasingly digital audience and connect with cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
This initiative took the form of the “Three Pears Chat” – a modern twist on the traditional pitch-side Member’s Forum, aiming to bring fans closer to the action and insights of cricket. The team knew that they needed to bring in expert support if they were going to deliver a professional, high-quality project, and so reached out to Midland Road Studios, which had both the expertise and equipment needed to make it a success.
Unveiling the Spirit of Cricket: Three Pears Chat and WCCC
The Three Pears Chat was designed to be a dynamic roundtable discussion that gave fans an insight into the working of the club and offered a sneak preview of the upcoming cricket season.
The first episode featured an expert panel including Worcestershire CEO and former England cricketer Ashley Giles, Men’s Head Coach Alan Richardson, and Head of Commercial & Partnerships Joe Tromans, with the BBC’s Qasa Alom steering the conversation. Over the course of an hour, the panel responded to questions from fans, discussed the team’s prospects for 2024, and showed their willingness to listen to feedback from their membership.
From Vision to Reality: Midland Road Studios’ Pivotal Role
The journey from concept to screen was led by the capable hands at Midland Road Studios. It was vital that the club projected a confident, professional appearance, and success depended on delivering quick turnaround between filming and delivery. This meant the planning needed to be precise and on point.
To provide the roundtable setup required for the show, the studio team crafted an engaging backdrop using the built-in LED wall. This allowed the roundtable to have a vibrant backdrop without the need for any greenscreen or processing adding a polished look that complemented the show’s vibe.
A quick media briefing ensured that the lineup of distinguished guests would give their best performance on screen. The studio used its four 6K cameras to deliver detailed close-ups without disrupting the natural flow of conversation, allowing the entire show to be filmed in a single take.
National Interest: The Echo of Three Pears Chat
Despite lasting over an hour from end-to-end, the show was edited, polished, and ready for delivery in less than 24 hours. This rapid turnaround allowed WCCC to quickly respond to fan questions and ensure that every topic they discussed was up-to-date.
The video was an immediate success, generating positive feedback and more than 13,000 views over the first two weeks. On LinkedIn, Joe Tromans publicly thanked Midland Road Studios for providing “the perfect setting for our discussions.”
Not only did the show generate attention from loyal Worcestershire fans, Ashley Giles’ comments on the club’s future at their current (rather flood-prone) New Road ground generated huge amounts of media attention. Within days, the discussion had been picked up by specialist press such as The Cricketer as well as national news outlets including the BBC and the Times.
Watch the video here: