Many businesses struggled and even failed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chad Bush bucked convention and launched The PreP Sports video production company in Royal Oak, even as many public activities were cancelled.
Bush, a Huntington Woods native, was laid off from his sports announcing job at Eastern Michigan University during the pandemic. He launched The PreP Sports when COVID-19 mitigation measures limited attendance at high school sporting events.
Since then, revenue has grown 450 percent year over year, and the company now has 30 clients from both the high school and professional ranks. The company broadcasts both live and on-demand competitions on its YouTube page. Bush’s first broadcast, an Orchard Lake St. Mary’s high school basketball game, aired in February 2021 and was shot with a bare-bones crew.
Today, The PreP Sports has grown to employ 50 people, including photographers, directors, producers, and more. So far, 140-plus games have aired — ranging from baseball to basketball, and lacrosse to soccer — with up to 6,000 viewers for each game.
“All of our talent is home-grown from southeast Michigan,” Bush says. “We’ve been fortunate to have people who are talented and team-oriented who want to work with us.”
