Sports Emmys 2017 Red Carpet Roundup: Video Interviews With the Night’s Big Winners

Conversations with receipients from Fox Sports, NBC Olympics, MLB Network, ESPN, Telemundo, Univision, and more

It was another memorable night at the Sports Emmy Awards on Tuesday, when Fox Sports Media Group led the pack with 11 awards, including Outstanding Sports Special for the 112th World Series and Outstanding Playoff Coverage for the NFC Divisional Playoff (Packers-Cowboys). NBC earned nine statues, including four for its 2016 Rio Olympics coverage — the most for any single program — and the Outstanding Live Sports Series award for NBC Sunday Night Football. The 38th-annual Sports Emmy Awards, which took place at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City, also saw ESPN take home six, HBO Sports five, CBS Sports four, MLB Media four, NFL Media four, and Turner Sports three. SVG was on hand at the Sports Emmys Red Carpet to catch up with many of the night’s big winners:

THE GEORGE WENSEL TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: MLB Network Showcase 4K/HD Dualcast, MLB Network/DirecTV
MLB Network and DirecTV have pioneered 4K production and distribution in the U.S. At the 2017 Sports Emmys, the two entities shared the coveted George Wensel Technical Achievement Award for their 4K work. SVG caught up with Susan Stone, SVP, operations and engineering, MLB Network, and John Ward, SVP, content operations, AT&T Entertainment Group, moments after they accepted their award.

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM REMOTE: Games of the XXXI Olympiad, NBC
If it’s the Olympic Games, you can be certain it’s one of the most robust and impressive productions in sports television that year. Even in a highly competitive category, NBC Olympics won a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Technical Team Remote for its coverage of Rio 2016. NBC Olympics VP, Venue Engineering, Chip Adams stopped to talk about the mega event after his network’s big honor.

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO: MLB Tonight, MLB Network
MLB Network took home the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Technical Team Studio for the second time in four years. The award adds yet another Emmy to the shelf for MLB Tonight and MLB Network’s other studio programming. MLB Network VP, Studio and Broadcast Operation, Bob Mincieli and Senior Director, Studio Operations, Karen Whritner joined SVG on the red carpet to discuss MLB Network’s studio-programming legacy and how proud they are to be a part of it.

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL: 112th World Series, Fox
The final award of the night, for Outstanding Live Sports Special, was a highly competitive battle with the Rio Olympic Games, Super Bowl LI, and the College Football Playoff National Championship receiving nominations. It was Fox Sports’ coverage of a World Series for the ages that ultimately came away the champ. Senior Producer Pete Macheska talked with SVG about his network’s win for its production of the Chicago Cubs’ epic victory over the Cleveland Indians.

OUTSTANDING PLAYOFF COVERAGE: NFC Divisional Playoff, Fox
Fox Sports hit it big with numerous wins, including the statue for Outstanding Playoff Coverage for its production of the NFC Divisional Round classic between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. Coordinating Director Rich Russo chatted with SVG following the network’s big win.

OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT AUDIO/SOUND: MLB on Fox, Fox/FS1/MLB Network
There are lasting memories from the Chicago Cubs’ historic win in the 2016 World Series, including many on the audio end. Few will forget when fans serenaded Wrigley Field with a rousing rendition of “Go Cubs Go” moments after the team’s MLCS clinching win. At the 2017 Sports Emmys, the audio team at Fox Sports took home an award for their work on the 2016 MLB Postseason. Audio guru Joe Carpenter shared his memories of the event and dedicated the award to the late, great director Bill Webb.

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY: College GameDay, ESPN
College GameDay won its fourth consecutive Sports Emmy (and seventh overall) in the Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly category. On the road each week during the college football season, College GameDay has set the bar for live studio shows. At the Sports Emmy Awards, producers Jim Gaiero, Drew Gallagher, and Chris “The Bear” Fallica explained how honored they were to receive the award for a fourth straight year.

OUTSTANDING DIGITAL INNOVATION: Follow My Lead: The Story of the 2016 NBA Finals, Oculus/m ss ng p ec es/NBA Entertainment
During last year’s NBA Finals, NBA Entertainment teamed up with independent production company m ss ng p eces to develop a captivating re-creation of the finals in virtual reality for the Oculus platform. The effort was celebrated with the award for Outstanding Digital Innovation. Dion Cocoros from the NBA and Executive Producer Ari Kuschnir of m ss ng p eces stopped to talk about the project.

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW IN SPANISH: Games of the XXXI Olympiad, Telemundo/NBC Universo
Telemundo Deportes scored a big win, taking home the trophy for Outstanding Studio Show In Spanish for its coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. Telemundo EVP Eli Valezquez chatted about the epic project with SVG.

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE IN SPANISH: 2016 Copa America Centenario, Univision Deportes
Univision Deportes took home its third consecutive Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Coverage In Spanish, winning for its production of the 2016 Copa America Centenario Final. Univision Deportes VP, Live Events, Miguel Angel Garcia discussed the challenges of the massive Copa America production and how proud he is of the award.

OUTSTANDING LIVE GRAPHIC DESIGN: World Cup of Hockey, ESPN
OUTSTANDING POST-PRODUCED GRAPHIC DESIGN: Monday Night Football, ESPN
ESPN took home two awards for graphic design: Outstanding Live Graphic Design for World Cup of Hockey and Outstanding Post-Produced Graphic Design for Monday Night Football. On the red carpet, ESPN Senior Director, Motion Graphics, Michael “Spike” Szykowny addressed the challenges involved in the Monday Night Football graphics redesign this season.

OUTSTANDING SOCIAL TV EXPERIENCE: 100,000 Cameras: The Daytona 500, FS1 and NASCAR Productions
For coverage of the Daytona 500, Fox Sports and NASCAR Productions teamed up on a social-video experience dubbed “100,000 Cameras.” Encouraging fans from around the globe to submit videos of them watching “The Great American Race,” the broadcast brought together NASCAR fans from far and wide. At the 2017 Sports Emmy Awards, the project was celebrated with an award for Outstanding Social TV Experience. Fox Sports’ Steve Craddock and NASCAR Productions’ Tally Hair chatted with SVG following their big win.

For a full recap and list of winners from the 2017 Sports Emmy Awards, CLICK HERE.

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