Full Agenda for SVG’s RSN Summit Now Available; Register Now for June 29-30 in Chicago

The full agenda is now available for SVG’s 2022 RSN Summit, which returns in person to reunite the regional sports industry on June 29-30 at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel. This annual event provides a gathering place for RSN leaders and content creators to network and exchange ideas about the pertinent issues facing the regional sports sector as the business undergoes seismic change on multiple fronts.

Check out the full agenda below:

Day 1: June 29 Program

(All times are in Central Time Zone)

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Opening-Night Reception in Exhibits Area

7:00 p.m.: Opening Night Networking Dinner Presented by ProCrewz

Day 2: June 30 Program

(All times are in Central Time Zone)

8:00 – 8:50 a.m.: Breakfast in Exhibits Area

8:50 – 9:00 a.m.: Day 2 Welcoming Remarks presented by ProCrewz

9:00 – 9:45 a.m.: New Production Models for a New Normal: How RSNs’ Live-Game Ops Have Evolved
The pandemic dramatically transformed regional sports networks’ live-production operations over the past two-plus years. To limit crew travel for safety and cost-saving reasons, RSNs have increasingly relied on enhanced world feeds and REMI production workflows that leverage their broadcast facilities at home. As the RSN world returns to something resembling normalcy, how are the established pre-pandemic production models mixing with the new at-home workflows? And what does that mean for the future?

9:45 – 10:00 a.m.: The State of Labor: How RSNs Are Managing a Shrinking Workforce and What’s Ahead for the Freelance Market
During the pandemic, the industry — on both the national and the regional level — saw an exodus of sports-production professionals when many industry veterans opted to retire or find new career paths. As a result, RSNs find themselves searching desperately for talented engineers and production crew to work the thousands of regional broadcasts they deliver each year. Broadcast-production-labor–services provider Program Productions presents an overview of the state of the current market, how it has evolved, and what to expect in the future.

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.: ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study

10:15 – 11:00 a.m.: Networking Break in Exhibits Area

11:00 – 11:45 a.m.: The ‘BetCast’ and Beyond: How RSNs Are Integrating Betting and Predictive Gaming Into Their Broadcasts
As RSNs look to capitalize on the expected revenue boost offered by legalized sports betting in their respective states, several have launched “BetCast” alternative presentations of games, wagering-focused studio shows and original programming, predictive-gaming contests for fans, and more. RSN leaders discuss how they incorporate betting content into their broadcasts, how that changes production strategy, and what the future holds for sports betting at the RSN level.

11:45 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.: ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Networking Lunch in Exhibits Area

1:00 – 1:45 p.m.: DTC and Streaming: Delivering Live Games to Local Fans on Every Screen
As consumer viewing habits evolve and carriage disputes become more frequent, RSNs are looking for new ways to deliver live games and original content directly to consumers. Many have launched their own streaming platforms and apps — or have announced plans to do so —in order to reach fans directly. RSN leaders discuss best practices in designing a live-streaming app, avoiding potential pitfalls, enhancing fan interactivity, differentiating the digital experience, and leveraging non-game content for streaming/OTT outlets.

1:45 – 2:15 p.m.: Networking Break in Exhibits Area

2:15 – 3:00 p.m.: At-Home and in the Studio: From Announcers to Editors, How RSNs Are Embracing Remote Workflows
In the midst of the pandemic, RSNs were forced to shift production almost entirely to remote operation — from announcers calling games off monitors to editors creating content from their homes. Although staffers have gradually returned to onsite broadcast, many RSNs have opted to keep some crew and on-air talent at home. What will stay remote, and what will return to the facility as we move forward? And, most important, what new technologies/workflows will be required to maintain high-quality programming and network operations?

3:00 – 3:45 p.m.: RSN Production Tech Roundup: Broadcasters and Vendors Sound Off on the Latest Tech Toys
Although the pandemic has forced RSNs to focus on efficiency and flexibility, they are still on the look-out for production tools that can offer that “wow” factor within a broadcast. From high-speed and shallow–depth-of-field cameras to augmented reality and virtual graphics to next-gen viewer-engagement tools, get a look at the most exciting tech toys being deployed by RSNs to enhance fans’ viewing experience.