David Brinkley is beginning his 12th year as the Executive Producer of the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network (HSSN) at Western Kentucky University. He is also the Senior Producer/Director for the campus PBS affiliate, WKYU-TV in Bowling Green.
HSSN, managed by WKYU-TV, is responsible for live regional broadcast production of 25 to 30 men’s and women’s basketball games each season, coaches’ shows, football, basketball, and volleyball video board production, promotional video production, and all video streaming (football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and baseball). The HSSN staff works closely with the WKU Athletics Department and IMG to provide content and coverage of WKU Athletic events. HSSN utilizes a combination of student and some professional staff labor to fill all requests from WKU Athletics and IMG. Students are mentored into production positions after an extensive interview/audition process and semester-long volunteer period. As many as twenty students are utilized during each live satellite broadcast. HSSN and WKYU-TV are in the process of building an HD mobile unit and upgrading satellite facilities to further expand offerings for WKU Athletics.
Prior to co-founding the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network, David spent ten years as an independent contractor for ESPN and ABC Sports, including eight seasons with ESPN’s College GameDay. He has also maintained a position as a full-time public television producer throughout most of his career. He began in sports production at the University of Kentucky Athletics Department in 1988 under, then Athletic Director C. M Newton.
Brinkley graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1990 with a BS in Telecommunications.