Lights. Camera. Emmy.

Just five years after graduating from Central Michigan University, Zach Newhouse, '21, has reached a crowning achievement in the television industry.

The College of the Arts and Media broadcast journalism alumnus recently earned a Sports Emmy Award as part of the production team behind the groundbreaking “NBA on Prime” studio show, helping deliver one of the first major live NBA broadcasts produced exclusively for a streaming platform.

For Newhouse, the recognition was a reward for his years of hard work and countless hours behind the scenes.

"It still feels surreal," he said. “I was fortunate to receive two nominations this year, so to see one of them turn into an Emmy was pretty incredible. My fiancé and I watched the awards together, and we both knew how much work and dedication went into the project. It was a really proud moment.”

During production, Newhouse spent nearly a year commuting from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, often flying across the country for five- or six-day work weeks before returning home for just over a day and doing it all again.

As a broadcast engineer, he helped oversee the mobile production infrastructure that connected the studio, production trucks and broadcasts from NBA arenas across the country. His responsibilities included ensuring cameras, graphics systems, networking and transmission workflows operated seamlessly throughout each production.

"It was technically one of the most challenging projects I've worked on," Newhouse said. "Being part of one of the first streaming-only NBA pregame, postgame, and live game productions—and then having that work recognized with an Emmy—was an incredible accomplishment for our entire team.”

While the Emmy represents a career milestone, Newhouse says the foundation for his success was built in Mount Pleasant.

At CMU, he immersed himself in every opportunity he could find, producing “Sports Central” (a student-produced sports television show), working with Moore Hall Television, contributing to Grand Central Magazine and helping produce live broadcasts of CMU athletic events.

He also spent three years performing with the Chippewa Marching Band, initially arriving on campus with interests in both music and broadcasting before ultimately discovering his passion for television production.

"Central helped me tremendously," Newhouse said. "There were endless opportunities to get involved. I tried a little bit of everything, and that helped me build the experience and resume I needed before I even graduated."

Unlike many media programs at other universities, Newhouse said CMU students don't have to wait years before gaining meaningful experience.

"My second week on campus I was already running a camera for sports broadcasts," he said. "There was never a lack of opportunities. If you were willing to show up and put in the work, there was always something new to learn. I'm incredibly grateful for that experience."

Among the faculty members who influenced Newhouse during his time in the School of Communication, Journalism and Media was Kevin Campbell, who oversaw “Sports Central” and taught New Media Technologies.

“It is great to see Zach's Emmy success,” Campbell said. “Emmys are not easy to achieve. His award speaks to his understanding of working with a team and applying technology to achieve a creative goal. All of those are skills I watched him develop while here in the Media Arts Program.”

After graduation, Newhouse joined Game Creek Video, one of the nation's premier mobile television production companies, where he worked on some of the biggest events in sports, including the Super Bowl, Thursday Night Football and the NBA on Prime project that ultimately earned an Emmy.

Earlier this year, he accepted a position with Comcast at the company's global headquarters in Philadelphia, where he now helps support the organization's internal broadcast and production infrastructure. The move also allowed him to spend more time at home after years of constant travel.

Winning an Emmy wasn't something Newhouse envisioned when he graduated from CMU.

"If you had asked me even eight months ago, I never would have imagined winning an Emmy," he said. "I'm just grateful for all the people I've met, the mentors I've had and the opportunities I've been given. I'm proud of the work we've done, and I'm excited to see where my career goes from here."

For current CMU students dreaming of careers in media, Newhouse hopes his story serves as proof that those opportunities are within reach.

"I didn't come into college with a lot of experience," he said. "CMU gave me the chance to learn by doing. If you're willing to work hard and take advantage of those opportunities, amazing things can happen."