If you’ve attended an NC State event, conference or graduation, there’s a good chance WolfBytes Video Services was working behind the scenes. Last spring, the team produced, livestreamed and managed AV for 20 commencement ceremonies — streaming as many as six at once.

Part of the Office of Information Technology, WolfBytes offers a wide range of video production and conference support services. They also have a long history of showcasing club and intramural sports.

Growing With the Icepack

After years of broadcasting NC State Icepack games on the PackTV channel, WolfBytes helped the club hockey team transition its home games to ESPN+ during the fall 2024 season. The team became one of the first in the American Collegiate Hockey Association to broadcast on the platform.

“We are the production crew for it,” said BJ Attarian, WolfBytes program manager. “Cameras, audio, switching, graphics, play-by-play, color commentary — we do it all and we upload it to ESPN+.”

According to Coach Tim Healy, the move ties the Icepack to a bigger brand and puts the games in more homes.

“So much of our growth as a program goes to what WolfBytes does. As I’ve seen them grow, it’s coincided with our growth,” he said. “I think we’re both aspirational, and it makes us both want to be better. They’re constantly trying to push their production. It’s this healthy symbiotic relationship that’s pushing us forward.”

Supporting Conferences

As for conference support, the WolfBytes team has adapted its services to fit changing needs in recent years — first during the COVID pandemic and then in a post-pandemic digital era.

“What we saw is a shift from just online to a lot of hybrid and we still have a lot of hybrid conferences,” said Attarian. “The work has changed, the clients have changed, the way we do it has changed. We are more flexible now as technology has also evolved.”

PowerAmerica has partnered with WolfBytes for several of its annual conferences and summer workshops, which bring hundreds of wide bandgap semiconductor manufacturing professionals to campus with speakers often joining virtually.

With a background in television, Heather Carroll, PowerAmerica program specialist, said she treats their conferences as a live production and having support from WolfBytes makes it all possible.

“I take the event as seriously as a live television show,” said Carroll. “It’s a one-shot, you don’t get to do it over kind of thing. And I appreciate that they take it very seriously as well.”

From speaker rehearsals to day-of AV management, she said the WolfBytes team is prepared with backup plans for every scenario and takes all the moving parts in stride.

“Having WolfBytes already on campus, so familiar with the locations — whether it be McKimmon or Hunt Library. It’s just been great to work with them,” said Carroll.

On Air and On Campus

The WolfBytes team can also be found on air. WolfBytes Radio is a dance station that broadcasts on 88.1 HD-3 and online. For nearly two decades, the station has engaged with students at RecFest, Wellness and Recreation’s annual academic year kickoff.

“It started out as them just providing music and things to just liven up the event and they’ve transformed that into doing live broadcasts,” said Jason Spivey, Wellness and Recreation associate director. “They’re a great team to work with. What they’ve done and incorporated over the years has really just made the event better.”

Attarian said RecFest is one of the highlights of the year for his team.

“We line our speakers literally the length of Miller Fields, and then we bring the station out there and the DJs are live from there,” he said. “It’s exposure for the radio station, but it’s also exposure for our department. We get a lot of our new student employees from that.”

WolfBytes has nearly 40 student employees who work alongside experienced professionals to learn what it takes to run a radio station, juggle conference logistics and broadcast an event.

“It’s students doing it. It’s students behind the camera. We tie a professional commentator with a student commentator,” said Healy. “This is about educational opportunities for the students involved with WolfBytes.”

Learn more about WolfBytes or request services, and tune in to WolfBytes Radio — where the Triangle comes to dance.