FNC Builds OB Truck for Full Control of MMA Content Production
New 4K OB truck powers FNC’s direct to consumer broadcast model and event production control.
The Fight Nation Championship (FNC) has rapidly grown into southeastern Europe’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. With a strong focus on emerging regional talent, the company hosts events across major arenas in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia. Each fight night is delivered via its direct to consumer (DTC) platform, FNC.tv, with additional distribution on Voyo and RTL 2 through CME media group.
As part of a long term strategy to expand its creative and commercial control, FNC debuted a new OB truck at the FNC 23 event in Belgrade, with further deployments during FNC 24. The truck is an end to end production platform built around Blackmagic Design technology.
“Our priority has always been to deliver the best possible experience, both for the live audience and those watching at home,” said Martin Čehulić, CTO and head of production at FNC. “That’s what drove this investment.”
The truck is a purpose built mobile control room designed for 4K in house production. Its backbone is a 10G Ethernet network built around the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation 4K live production switcher, chosen for its input and output capacity.
“If we’d relied on hiring OB crews and trucks from the start, our growth as a sport wouldn’t have been financially sustainable,” he noted. “This investment gives us the professional tools we need, but keeps us agile.”
The camera system is based on Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 cameras deployed in a mix of fixed and handheld positions around the cage, supported by Canon 4.3 wide angle and telephoto lenses. Remote control and shading are managed inside the truck using two ATEM Camera Control panels. “Without that, it’s impossible to deliver a serious event,” said Čehulić. “You need consistent color, exposure and image balance across every camera.”
All camera feeds are ISO recorded on HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro broadcast decks, writing directly to a Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini 16TB network storage solution, and passed into Blackmagic Replay for fast turnaround and highlight packages. Produced using a DaVinci Resolve Replay Editor control panel, operators could tag and cut replays as the action unfolded.
“Footage is recorded directly to the Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini, giving the team instant access to growing files for highlights or social clips,” said Čehulić. “You can be halfway through the match and already have the best takedown clip edited and online.”
Routing and ingest is handled by a Blackmagic Videohub 40×40 12G router, SmartScope Duo 4K monitor and a mix of DeckLink and UltraStudio capture and playback devices. “We used to rebuild everything on site with gear in cases,” said Čehulić. “Now, we roll up, pull the fiber, and we’re ready to go.”
The truck’s power system includes a 63A three phase feed with UPS backups, along with dedicated cooling units for both the control area and server rack. Redundancy includes dual ATEM Constellation switchers running in parallel and multiple internet connections, including bonded Starlink, to ensure broadcast stability.
“There are always challenges. Event production is one of the most stressful industries in the world,” Čehulić noted. “But with this system, everything just works.”
FNC’s hybrid broadcast and direct to consumer model reflects a broader shift toward content owners and rights holders seeking more control over both production and distribution. “We believe DTC is the future,” Čehulić said. “It gives us full ownership of how our content is produced, where it’s seen and how it connects with our audience. That control is crucial as we grow.”
Looking ahead, FNC plans to continue investing in scalable systems that support faster delivery, improved creative control and expansion into new markets.
“The integration of Blackmagic Design systems just simplifies everything,” Čehulić concluded. “Having a cohesive system minimizes compatibility issues and operational delays.”
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