SVG Summit 2025 Preview: FIFA, NBC Olympics, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, Netflix, NFL, NBA, MLB, USTA Power Dec. 16 Conversations
Story Highlights
The 2025 SVG Summit is only three weeks away and the day two sessions, set for Dec. 16 on the third floor of the New York Hilton Hotel, will feature some of the biggest organizations in the sports world. Among the highlights? A preview of the 2026 World Cup featuring Oscar Sanchez, FIFA, Head of Host Broadcast Production, a panel diving deep into how NBC Sports will pull off the Winter Games, Super Bowl, and NBA All-Start Game in a three-week span, and panel discussions focused on national networks and streamers, the remote production business, and top leagues discussing the evolution of their relationships with rights holders.
In addition, there will be two sessions focused on the money side of things with a panel featuring representatives of the investment community as well Devoncroft Partners’ Josh Stinehour delivering his annual address.
10:00-10:30: Opening Keynote Conversation: Inside the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Oscar Sanchez
The 20th SVG Summit kicks off (pun intended) with an overview of FIFA’s operations for the 2026 Men’s World Cup which will take over the U.S. next summer. Oscar Sanchez, FIFA’s Head of Host Broadcast Operations joins us to discuss how FIFA, HBS, and rights holders around the globe will cover what will be a massive event for everyone involved.
Keynote Speaker:
Oscar Sanchez, FIFA, Head of Host Broadcast Production
10:30-11:00: Follow the Money: How Sports TV Tech Can Benefit from Sports Investors
We read the headlines everyday about massive investments that are fueling athlete performance technology, next-gen digital apps, sports leagues and franchises, and more. So, the question is…is there a way for those who create broadcast technology to become part of those investment conversations? How can the traditional tech industry get closer to investors who believe that sports is an important catalyst for growth and technology?
Moderator:
Sam McCleery, G3DVU, Head of Sales
Panelists:
Lori Bistis, PWC, Deals Partner
John Kosner, Kosner Media, President
Serge Van Herck, EVS, CEO
11:15-12:00: National Perspectives: What to Expect in Production in 2026
2026 is an even year and historically that means one thing: a very busy time for the world of sports. And next year, arguably, will be the biggest year ever as there is not only a Winter Olympics but the largest World Cup ever. Toss in new rights deals, new technology, and new demands and it all adds up to new challenges and opportunities. Leaders from the national networks discuss their plans for 2026 and much more.
Moderator:
Jeff Jacobs, NEP Group, SVP and Head of Production
Panelists:
Chris Brown, WBD, VP, Technology and Operations
Dennis Cleary Jr., ESPN, Senior Director, Remote Production Operations
Jason Cohen, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network, SVP, Remote Technical Operations
Mike Davies, Fox Sports, EVP, Technical and Field Operations; SVG U.S. Chairman
Jonathan Mussman, Netflix, VP of Production
1:00-1:45: What’s Happening in Remote Production?
Producing a live sports event begins with great on-site facilities, technology, and production crews. We’ll spend some time with key executives who face the challenge every day of an industry which is in a state of constant change as it evolves to meet the needs of broadcasters across the country.
Moderator:
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial Services
Panelists:
Mary Ellen Carlyle, Dome Productions, SVP and GM
Bob Carzoli, Program Productions, Executive Chairman
Nick Garvin, Mobile TV Group, CEO
Patrick Sullivan, Game Creek Video, President
Mike Werteen, NEP Americas, President, and Global Chief Commercial Officer
1:45-2:00: Full Throttle to IP: Indy Motor Sports Productions’ Fast-Track Transformation for IndyCar Coverage
Join Jason King, Sr Director of Engineering at IMS Productions and Paul Nijak, VP, General Manager & Managing Partner at BeckTV, as they share how Indy Motor Sports Productions completed a rapid IP transition of five mobile production trucks ahead of the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series. Learn how the system architecture, and IP workflows are redefining live motorsports coverage.
Moderator:
Jimbo Haneklau, Imagine Communications, VP of Sales, Sports and Live Events
Panelists:
Jason King, IMS Productions , Sr. Director of Engineering
Paul Nijak, BeckTV, VP, General Manager and Managing Partner
2:00-2:30: The State of the Sports Industry with Devoncroft’s Josh Stinehour
It’s officially a tradition for the SVG Summit as Devoncroft Partners Principal Analyst Josh Stinehour gets to the heart of the matter: the financial health of the broadcast technology industry, revenue trends for the world’s biggest media companies.
Presenter:
Josh Stinehour, Devoncroft Partners, Principal Analyst
2:30-3:10: Inside the Evolution of League/Rights Holder Relationships
There have been a number of transformative moves in the past 12 months that are indicative of a tighter relationship on the production side between sports leagues and their rights holders. More than ever both sides see the need for high-quality productions that go deeper on the field of play and even go deeper off the field of play. Leaders from sports leagues discuss the changing ecosystem, its impact on relationships with rights holders, and what it means to fans around the globe.
Panelists:
Barney Carleton, NBA, Associate Vice President, Broadcast Planning and Strategy
Patti Fallick, USTA, Managing Director, Broadcast
Blake Jones, NFL, Senior Director of Broadcasting
Ryan Zander, MLB, SVP, Broadcasting
3:10-3:45: Inside NBC Sports: Prepping for a Massive February 2026
Next February NBC Sports will be at the center of the U.S. sports world when it broadcasts the Winter Olympics, Super Bowl LX, and the NBA All-Star Game all within a 10-day period. Join us as NBC Sports executives discuss the planning and productions of those events, making the jump to 1080p HDR as a house format in Stamford, and much more.
Introduction by:
Jason Power, Dolby Laboratories, Vice President, AV Ecosystem
Moderator:
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial Services
Panelists:
Craig Bernstein, NBC Sports, VP, Remote Technical Operations
Amy Rosenfeld, NBC Sports, SVP, Olympics & Paralympics Production
Molly Solomon, NBC Sports, Executive Producer & President, NBC Olympics Production
