SVG College Sports Summit Q&A: Chairman Tom Buffolano

While under a slightly new moniker this time around, the SVG College Sports Summit is celebrating its fifth year as the preeminent home for networking and knowledge sharing for the college athletics video-production industry.

Tom Buffolano, SVG College Sports Summit

Leading up to the two-day event, SVG is checking in with key members of the program to discuss their involvement and what they hope the Summit will accomplish, as well as to impart some initial pieces of advice.

Summit Chairman Tom Buffolano has been a major part of the event since its inception. With a career that includes stops at CSTV (now CBS Sports Network) and VH1, Buffolano offers his unique perspective on how the SVG College Sports Summit has impacted athletic departments and networks across the country.

What would you say the overall theme of this year’s SVG College Sports Summit is?
Our tag line is “More Than a Game.” We believe that college sports video is the most valuable asset that a university has, in all of its forms. It’s the most effective way to reach all of the university’s constituents. It drives revenue both directly and indirectly for the entire university. It has to be approached as a business.

How can attendees make sure they get the most out of their trip and their experience at the Summit?
Listen, learn, share. Our panelists are experts in their respective fields. Listen to what they have to say. I learn something new from the panelists every year, and this year will be our best program yet. Learn from our exhibitors who are on the leading edge of production equipment and services. Share your own experience with your peers during the networking sessions. When you get back to your office, share your experience at the SVG College Sports Summit with your colleagues.

What has been the biggest change that you’ve seen since you started working on this Summit five years ago?
Volume and quality of production. Networks, production companies, universities. They all have increased their production of college sports significantly. Digital networks, and mobile in particular, have been a major contributor. Five years ago, HD was only being produced by the networks. Today, a majority of the universities produce in HD, so it has become the standard. The level of sophistication in video production has risen tremendously across the board.

The SVG College Sports Summit (May 29-30, Hyatt Regency, Atlanta) is the top professional-networking event for learning about anything and everything in collegiate sports production.