SVG Summit 2017: Fox Sports’ David Neal, Kevin Callahan Offer Inside Peek at Their FIFA World Cup Production Plans

How Red Square, the IBC, and connectivity via IP through the venues will shape this summer’s event

While much has been made in the press as to what might happen with Fox Sports’ coverage of the FIFA World Cup following the untimely qualification exit of the U.S. Men’s National Team, it was clear during a keynote conversation at this week’s SVG Summit that there’s no taking the foot off the gas for this summer’s massive soccer party.

Fox’s FIFA World Cup Executive Producer David Neal and VP, Field Operations/Engineering, Kevin Callahan took the stage at The SVG Summit in an interview with SVG’s Ken Kerschbaumer to discuss everything from how Fox Sports will program around the event, their technical operations in Moscow at the IBC and across Russia, and much more.

Watch the entire conversation in its entirety:

Here are some highlights from the talk:

Callahan and Neal recently returned from a series of broadcaster meetings held with FIFA and its Host Broadcast Services to lay out further plans for this summer’s World Cup. Neal offered a peek inside some of what was discussed there:

Host Broadcast Services (HBS), which produces all live coverage of every World Cup match, has a policy with all of its rights holders that their cut of the game will always be used. Neal says he completely understands why:

With a dramatic geographical footprint to face, Callahan outlined how IP will play a key role in connecting the IBC with all of the World Cup venues across Russia:

Callahan and Neal break down how many FIFA World Cup matches will be delivered in various forms and flavors, be it on broadcast, cable, in UHD, in Dolby Atmos, etc.:

For more coverage of the SVG Summit, including stories, panel highlights, and video interviews from the show floor, CLICK HERE.