Despite blizzard conditions outside, SVG’s Sports Graphics Forum heated up the Microsoft Conference Center in New York City on Wednesday, spotlighting the latest in sports graphics creation and technology – and the industry leaders responsible for bringing those graphics to air – in front of 180 attendees.
The fourth-annual Sports Graphics Forum, which expanded to a full day this year, kicked off with a morning of informative panel discussions that addressed the latest technological advances and creative achievements in broadcast graphics. The afternoon program split into two workshop tracks that offered a deeper dive into Graphics Design/Creation plus Graphics Technology and Augmented Reality.
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
GENERAL SESSIONS
9:30 – 9:45 a.m.: Welcoming Remarks presented by ChyronHego
9:45 – 10:30 a.m.: State of the Arts: Where Creative and Tech Collide
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.: Keynote Presentation: ELEAGUE – The Design Revolution of Esports
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Networking Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: SVGW Presents: Paths To Success in Sports Graphics
12:00 – 12:15 p.m.: Avid Case Study: A VR Experience, Working in Today’s Reality
12:15 – 1:00 p.m.: Augmented Reality: The Wave of the Future Has Arrived
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.: Networking Lunch
1:45 ‐ 4:45 p.m.: Workshop Breakouts (Design Workshop and Technology Workshop)
4:45 – 5:45 p.m.: Networking Reception
DESIGN WORKSHOP:
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.: Year in Review: Highlights in Sports Graphics Design
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.: Case Study: ESPN’s College Basketball Graphics Redesign
2:45 – 3:15 p.m.: The Evolving Role of the Operator: More Than Just a Button-Pusher
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.: Networking Break
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.: HBO Sports Case Study: Bringing Sunday Night to Saturday
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.: Insert Graphics: Yesterday and Today — and the Future
TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.: 4K HDR Q&A: What Does It Mean for Graphics?
2:30 – 3:15 p.m.: Cloud-Based Collaborative Tools: Creating Anywhere, Anytime
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.: Networking Break
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.: Case Study: Bringing Advanced Volumetric AR to NBC’s Live Super Bowl LII Broadcast
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.: Graphics Storage and Infrastructure: Building a Foundation for Success
4:45 – 5:45 p.m.: Networking Reception
Speakers
9:45 ‐ 1:45 p.m.: General Sessions
LOCATION: Central Park West
9:30 – 9:45 a.m.: Welcoming Remarks presented by ChyronHego
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9:45 – 10:30 a.m.: State of the Arts: Where Creative and Tech Collide
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How can graphics creators work with their engineering and IT teams to better communicate ideas and bring those ideas to the screen? And how can engineer/IT become more aware of creative development and find ways to accommodate the creative team? With technology progressing at an ultra-fast pace, no graphics producer can be creative in a vacuum anymore and, during the creative process, must factor in the technology platform being used on each project. Learn how an art director’s best friends can be the engineering and IT departments, as well as how industry leaders are embracing technology to create the best graphics package possible.
Moderator: JP LoMonaco, CBS Sports, VP, On-Air Graphics and Design
Panelists:
Gary Hartley, Fox Sports Networks, EVP, Graphics and Creative Director
Gil Haslam, Troika, Executive Creative Director
Jocelyne Meinert, Big Studios, Owner/Director
Timothy O’Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.: Keynote Presentation: ELEAGUE – The Design Revolution of Esports
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Join Turner Sports creatives as they take a deep dive into the design and development of the ELEAGUE brand. They’ll showcase the broadcast look and how it transcends typical sports packaging. Turner and The Future Group will also discuss how AR has begun to revolutionize the esports viewing experience.
Presenters:
Zach Bell, Turner Studios, Senior CG Artist
Lawrence Jones, The Future Group, VP and Head of Operations, North America
Sabrina Llenza, Turner Sports, Design Director
Jordan Shorthouse, Turner Sports, Creative Director
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Networking Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: SVGW Presents: Paths To Success in Sports Graphics
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Sports graphics may appear to be a male-dominated industry, but finding success in this industry isn’t just for the guys. Hear from several leading women in sports graphics as they discuss their career trajectories and goals, their creative and technical challenges, and their ideas for how the sports-graphics industry can further diversify its ranks.
Moderator: Karen Hogan Ketchum, SVG, Senior Editor and Director, SVGW
Panelists:
Komal Bhukhanwala, CBS Sports, Art Director
Carol Boyle, ESPN, Senior Creative Director
Camille Maratchi, HBO Sports, Associate Creative Director
Jocelyne Meinert, Big Studios, Owner/Director
12:00 – 12:15 p.m.: Avid Case Study: A VR Experience, Working in Today’s Reality
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The Media & Entertainment industry is changing rapidly when it comes to live events with virtual and augmented reality. As the industry becomes more focused on immersive content, Twizted Design CEO and Co-Founder Jan Umansky is at forefront of this movement. Learn how he is creating dynamic visual environments being driven by real-time data during Live Events such as Super Bowl LI, Roland Garros, and MLS.
Presenters:
Glen Maxheleau, Avid, Business Development, Graphics
Jan Umansky, Twizted Design, CEO and Co-Founder
12:15 – 1:00 p.m.: Augmented Reality: The Wave of the Future Has Arrived
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Although augmented reality is nothing new to sports production — the 1st and Ten line celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2018 — AR has taken a giant leap in the past three years and is dramatically changing the way stories are told, both on the field and in the studio. What are the best use cases, platforms, and workflows for AR? Is it really all just another delivery system for 2D graphics like player stats and matchups, or can AR truly add another dimension to sports coverage?
Moderator: Lawrence Jones, The Future Group, VP, North America- Business and Content Development
Panelists:
Zach Bell, Turner Studios, Senior CG Artist
Zac Fields, Fox Sports, SVP, Graphic Technology and Innovation
Isaac Hersly, Vizrt, Director, Business Development
John Howell, SMT, Creative Strategist
Bradley Wasilition, ChyronHego, Director, Sports Analysis and Lead Sports Analyst
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.: Networking Lunch
1:45 ‐ 4:45 p.m.: Workshop Breakouts
DESIGN WORKSHOP
LOCATION: Central Park West
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.: Year in Review: Highlights in Sports Graphics Design
This can’t‐miss session will examine the latest achievements in graphic design. Panelists from leading sports broadcasters and production houses present their most notable work from the past 12 months.
Moderator: JP LoMonaco, CBS Sports, VP, On-Air Graphics and Design
Panelists:
Michael Dolan, Fox Sports, SVP, Design
Paul Jamieson, BT Sport, Director of Creative and On Air
Timothy O’Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director
Jordan Shorthouse, Turner Sports, Creative Director
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.: Case Study: ESPN’s College Basketball Graphics Redesign
College Basketball on ESPN was inspired by one thing: FANITUDE. Fanitude is the energy and mindset created when combining Fandom, Attitude and most importantly, Fun. ESPN surveyed sports design and chose to go in the opposite direction of everyone else, celebrating teams’ mascots and fight songs. The network’s graphics team designed around the live shot to showcase the game’s beauty, while also drawing flames on basketballs because “the animation package is straight FIRE! Game on!” Learn how ESPN and Troika worked together to revolutionize the on-air look of college hoops with this graphics package revamp.
Presenters:
Michael Arcangeli, Troika, Art Director
Dale Harney, ESPN, Senior Concept Designer
Gil Haslam, Troika, Executive Creative Director
Timothy O’Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director
2:45 – 3:15 p.m.: The Evolving Role of the Operator: More Than Just a Button-Pusher
Can anyone be just an operator anymore? Or does every operator’s skill set need to evolve in order to navigate today’s rapidly changing production world? This panel will address how operators must be capable of understanding both creative and technological aspects of graphics creation.
Moderator: JP LoMonaco, CBS Sports, VP, On-Air Graphics and Design
Panelists:
Andy Brill, Freelance TV Producer/Director/Graphics Operator/Graphics Coordinator
Mark DeFrancesco, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network, Director, Graphics
David Melfi, NBC Sports and Olympics, Senior Integration Designer
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.: Networking Break
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.: HBO Sports Case Study: Bringing Sunday Night to Saturday
How does an entertainment network approach the look and sound of sports content? How does a sport over 100-years-old reconcile its past with its present? HBO Sports creatives take you inside the process of rebranding HBO Boxing, illustrating how fresh approaches in cinematography, music and graphics result in an experience that is able to straddle worlds and engage audiences new and old.
Presenters:
Camille Maratchi, HBO Sports, Associate Creative Director
Christian Winters, HBO Sports, Creative Director
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.: Insert Graphics: Yesterday and Today — and the Future
Insert graphics continue to be the informational axis on which a graphics package spins. However, we can’t know where we are going until we examine where we’ve been. Industry leaders look at graphics over the past four decades and engage in an open discussion of what is to come. These experts will also address the latest developments in insert systems, execution, template-based graphics, studio vs. game environments, multichannel graphics creation, and the developing use of ‘live’ viewer-inserted graphics on streaming platforms.
Moderator: Brandon Costa, SVG, Director of Digital
Panelists:
Gary Hartley, Fox Sports Networks, EVP, Graphics and Creative Director
Jason Joly, MSG Networks, Director, Broadcast Graphics
Camille Maratchi, HBO Sports, Associate Creative Director
Glenn White, Reality Check Systems, Producer
TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
LOCATION: Central Park East
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.: 4K HDR Q&A: What Does It Mean for Graphics?
When it comes to creating graphics for 4K and HDR sports productions, it’s not just about resolution; it’s also about color space. And, as the growth in live 1080p HDR sports productions continues to accelerate, what part will graphics play in the production ecosystem? Learn about the new opportunities and potential pitfalls when it comes to this bleeding-edge sector of the industry.
Featuring: Zac Fields, Fox Sports, SVP, Graphic Technology and Innovation
Interviewed by: Jason Dachman, SVG, Chief Editor & Sports Graphics Program Director
2:30 – 3:15 p.m.: Cloud-Based Collaborative Tools: Creating Anywhere, Anytime
Graphics design and creation is no longer a single-site affair. Today’s live sports shows demand that creatives be enabled to collaborate from multiple locations, from the stadium to the broadcast center and even a producer’s hotel room. Discover the latest cloud-based platforms and tools that are breaking down collaborative walls in graphics creation.
Moderator: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial Services
Panelists:
Sören Kjellin, ChyronHego, Chief Technology Officer
Casey Miller, Grabyo, Director, Client Services and Operations
Jan Umansky, Twizted Design, CEO and Co-Founder
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.: Networking Break
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.: Case Study: Bringing Advanced Volumetric AR to NBC’s Live Super Bowl LII Broadcast
Earlier this year, Ross Video worked with a host of other vendors to help create advanced-AR elements that were utilized in NBC Sports’ Super Bowl LII production. In addition to their regular compliment of Sunday Night Football augmented reality components, Ross Video used 3D scans of individual players to create volumetric player animations that were integrated into the telecast. Get an inside look at the planning process for creating and delivering dazzling AR on multiple platforms using multiple vendors.
Presenters:
Bryan Bray, Ross Video, Project Manager and ARVS Production Specialist
Matt Celli, NBC Sports and Olympics, Head of Production Technology, Innovation and Data
Terry Daily, Ross Video, Augmented Reality/Virtual Set Designer
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.: Graphics Storage and Infrastructure: Building a Foundation for Success
Today’s graphics-production ecosystems require robust storage and networking systems that make it possible to create, manage, and distribute sophisticated elements at lightning-fast speeds. And just as important – what is your backup strategy if all doesn’t go according to plan? Leading content-creators and vendors take the stage to discuss how the storage and MAM tools for graphics are evolving to meet market demands.
Moderator: Nick Gold, Chesapeake Systems, Chief Revenue Officer
Panelists:
Jeff Blakeman, Dell EMC, Senior Systems Engineer
Jason Coari, Quantum, Director, Scale-Out Storage Solutions
Matt Miller, Vizrt, Director, Technical Pre-Sales
4:45 – 5:45 p.m.: Networking Reception
Microsoft Technology Center
11 Times Square (between 41st & 42nd Streets on 8th Ave.)
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212)-245-2100
Map
Zach Bell, Turner Studios, Senior CG Artist
Zach Bell is a senior CG artist for Turner Studios. He has spent the past 11 years creating dynamic graphics packages, visual effects, concept designs, and real-time graphics for all of the Turner networks. His specialty is in augmented reality.
Bell’s work is featured on Eleague, Inside the NBA on TNT, the MLB Postseason on TBS, and throughout the NCAA March Madness/Final Four coverage on TNT, TBS, TruTV, and CBS.
Lawrence Jones, The Future Group, VP and Head of Operations, North America
Lawrence Jones is a 25 year industry veteran with experience in the interactive, motion graphics, visual effects (VFX), realtime gaming, and augmented/mixed reality fields. He specialized in real-time VFX advertising for a decade as a leader at ESPN and led the group responsible for creating revenue-generating branded content formats. He has numerous honors, including a Disney Imagineering Award, an Emmy Award and nine nominations, a BDA Award, and a New York Film Festival Award.
Sabrina Llenza, Turner Sports, Design Director
Sabrina Llenza is an award-winning design director for Turner Sports. She helps oversee the on-air broadcast graphics for entities such as the NBA, NCAA, and ELEAGUE, among others. Recent success with Eleague’s Rocket League, Street Fighter V Invitational, Injustice 2, and the 2018 Boston Major is what resonates most in her one year of experience thus far with Turner Sports.
Llenza is a multidisciplinary artist whose main outlet is animation. She graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunication from the University of Sacred Heart, and continued her studies at TAI, Escuela Universitaria de Cine en Madrid with a master’s degree in film and TV production. Llenza’s experience includes designing award-winning broadcast graphics for CNN en Español and CNN International, short-film writing, and practicing photography under the renown and late photographer, Clay Humphrey.
Currently, Llenza focuses on helping advance broadcast capabilities by incorporating new technology and ideas geared towards using these new technologies, to help break down pre-existing barriers in real-time broadcast.
Jordan Shorthouse, Turner Sports, Creative Director
Jordan Shorthouse is a 3-time Emmy award-winning creative director for Turner Sports where he oversees the sports print marketing department and on-air broadcast graphics departments that support all sports telecasts. He is currently in his 20th year with Turner Sports. Shorthouse reports to Drew Watkins, vice-president, CSSU Creative and Content.
While at Turner, Shorthouse has overseen award-winning print and on-air campaigns for Turner’s tent-pole events including NBA on TNT (regular season, playoffs, All-Star), MLB on TBS (regular season, postseason), the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, eleague, and the PGA Championship. Some of his work includes on-air graphics packaging, print campaigns, and location takeovers for Turner Sports Roadshow Activations. Most recently, Shorthouse oversaw graphics for the inaugural 2017 NBA Awards Show in New York and the look for NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. This included desk and set design, as well as animation packaging to tie it all together. Shorthouse studied graphic design at Georgia State University.
Michael Arcangeli, Troika, Art Director
Michael Arcangeli is an award-winning art director at Troika. He has extensive experience leading high-profile branding and marketing initiatives for entertainment and sports media companies including ESPN, PGA Tour, CBS Sports, and UFC, among many others. Arcangeli’s passion is bringing clarity and personality to sports graphics through identity and information design.
Zach Bell, Turner Studios, Senior CG Artist
Zach Bell is a senior CG artist for Turner Studios. He has spent the past 11 years creating dynamic graphics packages, visual effects, concept designs, and real-time graphics for all of the Turner networks. His specialty is in augmented reality.
Bell’s work is featured on Eleague, Inside the NBA on TNT, the MLB Postseason on TBS, and throughout the NCAA March Madness/Final Four coverage on TNT, TBS, TruTV, and CBS.
Komal Bhukhanwala, CBS Sports, Art Director
Komal Bhukhanwala is an art director with CBS sports. A two-time Sports Emmy Award winner, she has spent the past 11 years creating show packages and concept designs for all of the CBS Sports properties. As an art director, she oversees the on-air graphic look for the department’s game and studio broadcasts, her most recent project being the redesign of the PGA Championship.
During her time at CBS, Bhukhanwala has expanded the use of AR in The NFL Today studio show. She has also won a Promax Silver for her art direction of the Final Four Team Runouts.
Komal is passionate about her chosen field. She believes that sports graphics has a key role in enriching the viewer’s experience and the promotion of the underlying event.
Jeff Blakeman, Dell EMC, Senior Systems Engineer
Jeff Blakeman is a senior systems engineer for Dell EMC’s Unstructured Data Solutions Division, which includes the Isilon (Scale-Out-NAS) and ECS (Private Exascale Object storage). In his three and 1/2 years at Dell EMC, he has maintained a strategic focus on large enterprise and global sports, communications, media, entertainment, and telco customer accounts. Blakeman combines his brilliance and expertise with technology with his passion for media and entertainment to find smart and creative technology solutions for customers. He also maintains a second role as a consulting subject matter expert for Dell EMC’s content creation, broadcast, and delivery workflow projects across the country.
Prior to his time at Dell EMC, Blakeman spent seven years as a strategic account manager and solution architect at Tekserve, an M&E strategic value-added reseller and provider of full-stack hardware, software, and network solutions leveraging dozens of technology partners. While at Tekserve, he worked with facilities from small four-person video post-production houses to global broadcasters to develop, enhance, and reinvent content workflows from acquisition and backhaul through post production, delivery, and content lifecycle management.
Carol Boyle, ESPN, Senior Creative Director, Creative and Studio Direction
In September of 2013, Carol Boyle was named senior creative director of concept design, a division of Creative and Studio Direction. In her role, Boyle oversees and forecasts the creation and execution of multiple on-air animation and informational graphic projects. Her team consists of creative directors, concept designers, and art directors. Boyle also heads up both the Los Angeles and New York creative design groups. In her role, she works very closely with multiple ESPN departments to plan, strategize, and maintain the network’s numerous brands across all platforms.
Throughout Boyle’s 23 years at ESPN, she has received four Emmys for her creative work on Sportscenter. In addition, she has received four Broadcast Designer Association awards and a New York Festival’s Gold World Medal for her art direction on Sportscenter’s My Wish campaign. Boyle’s career highlight was her role as senior creative director and project manager on the 2014 SportsCenter graphics package and DC2 studio launch.
Boyle is an active member of WICT and an alumnus of the WICT Rising Leaders and Mentoring programs. She is also a member of the Promax Broadcast Designer Association and SVG.
Bryan Bray, Ross Video, Project Manager and ARVS Production Specialist
Bryan Bray is a live sports and entertainment production specialist in the collegiate sports market and live music industries. Bray is also recognized nationally as a moderator and industry expert in the live production field with a proven track record of successful events. He has led production teams internationally, nationally, and locally with a broad connection with the other professionals in the industry.
For the last three NFL seasons, Bray was on the road with NBC’s Sunday Night Football as the producer of augmented reality content. He traveled to the game each week, set up the needed gear, and provided content as needed during the broadcast. His hard work culminated in leading the team for Ross’ participation in the NBC Sports production for Super Bowl LII.
Bray has been at the forefront of collegiate sports production for the past 27 years, holding positions of leadership at both the University of Houston and Baylor University before joining Blue Scout Media at its inception in 2013. He has produced and directed coaches shows, nationally televised commercials, sports specials, live collegiate football/basketball/baseball games, and special university events during this tenure. Bray has won many awards for his work, served on the boards of several National Organizations (SVG, IDEA, CSVA), and is one of the founding fathers of the Collegiate Sports Video Association. Bray has also freelanced for many organizations: ESPN, Fox Sports, Van Wagner, IOC, HSE, the NFL, NCAA, SWC, Big 12, BSN, CBS, NBC, and PBS.
Andy Brill, Freelance TV Producer/Director/Graphics Operator/Graphics Coordinator
Andy Brill started as a production intern at MSG Network in the fall of 1994, and then in 1995 began to work primarily as a freelance font coordinator on various sporting events, including the Olympics, Grand Slam Tennis events, NCAA Final Fours, and hundreds of other games/events. Brill began working as a graphics operator in 2005. Over the years, he has worked numerous sports and entertainment shows as both an operator and coordinator on Chyron, Viz, and Ross Xpression platforms. It is a huge asset in this ever-changing industry to be able to easily transition between working as a producer/director or a graphics coordinator/operator, and having the ability to handle these responsibilities has proven to be invaluable to Brill.
Matt Celli, NBC Sports and Olympics, Head of Production Technology, Innovation and Data
Matt Celli is responsible for all production technology, innovation, and broadcast data for NBC Sports and NBC Olympics.
Jason Coari, Quantum, Director, Scale-Out Storage Solutions
Jason Coari is a veteran in the technical computing industry, having a 15 year career in senior sales and marketing positions across the globe at both hardware and software organizations. Currently, he is the director of scale-out storage solutions at Quantum.
Coari is responsible for leading the company’s commercial strategy for scale-out storage across all industries. Prior to Quantum Storage, he worked in a variety of global roles at SGI, most notably directing HPC product marketing strategy and leading the European and APAC marketing organizations.
Jason Dachman, SVG, Chief Editor & Graphics Forum Program Director
Jason Dachman oversees all aspects of SVG’s North American editorial operations, including the thrice-weekly SVG Insider newsletter and SVG’s annual print publications. A member of the SVG team since 2009, Dachman also serves as program director for SVG’s Sports Content Management & Storage (SCMS) Forum, Sports Graphics Forum, and TranSPORT event. Prior to joining SVG, he spent three years covering local sports for The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, MA, and two years on the production staff of SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s The Ron & Fez Show. Dachman began his career in the Sports Information Department at Northeastern University in Boston, where he also earned a B.A. in media communications and cinema studies.
Terry Daily, Ross Video, Augmented Reality/Virtual Set Designer
Terry Daily joined Ross Video in 2015 as an augmented reality and virtual set design specialist within Rocket Surgery, the creative services arm of Ross. Daily leads the technical and creative efforts for the managed service deployment of live augmented reality graphics for NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football, as well as with Super Bowl LII this season. A seasoned 3D/2D designer, Daily works with a wide range of clients throughout the year to help fully leverage the capability of their Ross Xpression and Frontier systems for traditional CG usage, in addition to highly advanced AR/VS applications. Over the past several seasons, Daily has constructed a unique and flexible workflow to create/control dynamic AR graphics for fast-paced and dynamic live-production environments.
Prior to his time at Ross, Daily held various roles in mobile/live and post-production. He managed graphics and post-production at Earl Miller Productions, and worked with clients like The University of Texas, LHN, ESPN, and CBS Sports. Daily also previously worked on award-winning teams in stadium entertainment. He produced and executed cutting-edge in-arena motion graphics and video content at Baylor University and the Houston Astros.
Mark DeFrancesco, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network, Director, Graphics
Mark DeFrancesco is the director of graphics for CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network. He and his team oversee the creation of the insert graphic packages for all CBS remote and studio properties including the NFL, PGA, SEC Football, 200+ college basketball games, MQB, Boomer and Gio, We Need to Talk, and NFL Today.
An Air Force veteran, DeFrancesco started his career in television at ESPN in Bristol in 1997. In 1999, he became a freelance graphics operator with clients such as Speedvision, OLN, MTV, NBA, VH1, ABC, CNN, and MSG. After moving from Connecticut to Manhattan, he began working with CSTV in 2003 as the sole member of the insert graphics department and aided in it’s almost decade long development to become CBS College Sports and finally CBS Sports Network. Beginning with Super Bowl 50 in 2016, DeFrancesco and his team have undertaken the complete ground-up redesign and reorganization of CBS Sports insert graphics, as the network celebrates its first complete re-brand in almost 40 years.
DeFrancesco has worked on and overseen the utilization of multiple graphic platforms over the past 20 years. He has spearheaded over 10 network redesigns and continues to use his decades of experience to carry all of the CBS Sports properties into an ever-evolving technological future.
Michael Dolan, Fox Sports, SVP, Design
Michael Dolan serves as senior vice president of design for Fox Sports, overseeing all design across all live-event and studio production airing on Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and the Fox Sports regional networks.
A veteran executive with over 15 years of experience in the television industry, Dolan has designed and implemented Fox Sports’ on-air presentation since 2008. He leads the Fox Sports Creative Services Design Team, which is responsible for all facets of the onscreen presentation from concept to execution in both traditional animation, as well as live real-time graphics.
Dolan has worked across Fox Sports’ many properties and marquee events, including the NFL, MLB, NASCAR, USGA, NHL, and NBA, as well as the Super Bowl, World Series, Daytona 500, and U.S. Open Championship. He also is responsible for the design of the network’s studio shows, including Fox NFL Sunday, television’s number one NFL pregame show for 24 years.
In 2013, Dolan was integral to the launch and branding of FS1 and FS2, creating the design elements implemented in the marketing and production of the new channels. Since 2002, he helped oversee the design and rebrand of the Speed Channel.
Dolan graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Fine and Applied Arts in 1999.
Zac Fields, Fox Sports, SVP, Graphic Technology and Innovation
Zac Fields oversees Fox Sports’ real-time graphic development and integration, software development, and new technology. This team provides design, implementation, and support for all of the Fox Sports Media Group. Along with the daily workflows across all FSMG networks, this group provides high-end graphic design with new ways to display information for large events such as the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, MLB World Series, the U.S. Open, and the FIFA World Cup.
Nick Gold, Chesapeake Systems, Chief Revenue Officer
Nick Gold is the chief revenue officer for Chesapeake Systems, an East Coast-based IT-centric media systems integrator. Chesapeake Systems specializes in working with large media entities to design, install, and maintain video post-production, archive, media asset management, storage, ingest/playout, and program delivery systems. Gold brings to his consultant role an extensive technical knowledge base and his intense curiosity drives him to stay current with the latest developments in the media and IT fields. He is recognized as a leading expert within the realm of media asset management (MAM) and related archive and storage workflows.
Gold has moderated New York City-based symposia concerning MAM and presented a MAM primer to SMPTE DC’s Bits By The Bay conference. As video delivery has become synonymous with the internet, Gold has been interested in exploring the burgeoning role of over-the-top internet broadcasting. He has given presentations on the topic to the SMPTE sections of DC, Philadelphia, and New York City.
Gold is also a co-host of the popular audio podcast series, The Workflow Show. The episodes address overarching trends and specific tech topics to help guide listeners through these challenging yet exciting times of unprecedented change within the realm of digital media workflows.
Dale Harney, ESPN, Senior Concept Designer
Dale Harney is a senior concept designer at ESPN who has crafted the creative behind a multitude of properties such as Monday Night Football, NFL Studio, SportsCenter, the College Football Playoffs, the X-Games, and College Basketball. Harney wears many hats throughout the creative process as an art director, animator, and general curious person. He tows the line between directing and remaining hands-on in all aspects of his projects. Harney enjoys pushing the technical limitations of design tools and finding applications for new ones in the sports landscape.
Over the past eleven years at ESPN, Harney has won 4 Emmy awards and several Promax BDA golds. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute and Syracuse University.
Gary Hartley, Fox Sports Networks, EVP, Graphics and Creative Director
Since 1995, Gary Hartley has been responsible for conveying Fox Sports’ signature irreverent attitude through its on-screen innovation. Currently, as EVP of graphics and creative director, Hartley oversees the make, model, and feel for nearly every on-screen graphic across FOX, FS1, and FS2.
An eight-time Emmy Award-winner, Hartley is behind some of the greatest Fox Sports innovations, including its design approach for presenting real-time race information for its inaugural Fox NASCAR season in 2001 – a style and feel that informed hardcore race fans, while simultaneously enlightening casual viewers. Hartley and his team have also constructed some of the most recognizable on-screen graphics, including updates to its original “Fox Box,” an on-screen graphic that shows the score and clock. This innovation has become the industry standard for televising sporting events. As technology has improved throughout the years, Hartley has had to balance the urge of cramming too much information into the “Fox Box” with a sleek yet informative look.
One of Hartley’s best-known creations, Cleatus the football-playing robot, is now the unofficial mascot and symbol of Fox Sports’ NFL coverage since debuting during the 2005 – 2006 season.
Hartley graduated from Central Michigan University in 1983 with a B.A. in graphic design.
Gil Haslam, Troika, Executive Creative Director
Gil Haslam is the executive creative director at Troika. A two-time Sports Emmy Award winner, he is the creative force behind some of the biggest brands in sports, including ESPN, UFC, PGA TOUR, AT&T SportsNet, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and HBO Sports, among many others. Haslam is recognized industry-wide for his experience leading major, high-profile brand launches and redesigns from positioning through packaging, as well as innovative broadcast and in-stadium fan experiences.
Isaac Hersly, Vizrt, Director, Business Development
Isaac Hersly is director of business development for Vizrt. The company is wholly owned by Nordic Capital, a private equity firm based in Sweden. With R&D facilities in Norway, Austria, Sweden, and Switzerland, Vizrt develops, markets, and supports globally: real time 3D graphics and control systems, media asset management systems, content management systems, and video transcoding software for broadcast, cable, interactive, internet, and mobile device delivery mediums.
Hersly established Vizrt in the Americas and was its president through 2015. He was also president and COO of Chyron. Hersly spent his earlier career years at the ABC Television Network Engineering Group, as VP of engineering of the ABC Owned Television Stations.
Hersly holds a degree in electrical engineering and an MBA.
John Howell, SMT, Creative Strategist
John Howell is a digital designer specializing in developing innovative content for live sports and entertainment. He currently serves as the director of creative strategy for SMT’s Creative Studio.
Since joining SMT, Howell has developed virtual set and augmented graphics solutions for the Golf Channel, UFC, Revolt TV, Inside Edition, and the Tennis Channel. Howell led the creation of realtime 3D graphics for Wimbledon, the Crossfit Games, the US Open, and UFC PPV broadcasts (for starters). Focusing more on the live event guest experience, he has worked to blend sports data, live entertainment, and social media content on large and small screens at the US Open, British Open, Players Championship, Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup, Nike US Open of Surfing, the NHL Draft, and the CrossFit Games.
Howell’s work has been featured in Step Into Design Magazine, Post Magazine, and has been recognized by the LIAA, Addys, and Tellys. He was profiled in the book Real World Video Compression, and has served as a featured speaker at the aTV Fest, the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, and the QuickTime Live Conference.
Paul Jamieson, BT Sport, Director of Creative and On Air
Paul Jamieson is the director of creative and on air at BT Sport, working as part of the launch team since 2013. Jamieson leads the creative direction, strategy, and execution for all promotional content; design elements including on air graphic packages and sets; on air navigational media planning; music direction; and brand guardianship.
While in this role, Jamieson has launched the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League; introduced boxing and cricket; re-shaped the channels’ on air look and program presentation packages; and led the team to multi Promax BDA Awards, including a full sweep in the Funniest Promo category in 2017. Jamieson is dedicated to developing both the team and the technology to produce an innovative creative experience,
Jamieson’s career began as a radio presenter and voiceover artist. He has worked with brands including the BBC, ITV, Discovery Networks, Setanta Sports, and ESPN.
Jason Joly, MSG Networks, Director, Broadcast Graphics
Jason Joly is the director of broadcast graphics for MSG Networks. He and his team are responsible for the creative direction for MSG Networks’ live event packages for the Knicks, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, Sabres, Red Bulls, and Liberty. They also oversee the packaging for all on-air promotion, social media, studio shows, and original programming.
Joly is a seven-time Emmy Award winner with nearly 20 years experience in sports television and design. Joly previously served as a producer at boutique creative agency Nth Degree, working for clients such as ABC, Bravo, CBS, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, History, and Yahoo. He is a graduate of Syracuse University.
Lawrence Jones, The Future Group, VP and Head of Operations, North America
Lawrence Jones is a 25 year industry veteran with experience in the interactive, motion graphics, visual effects (VFX), realtime gaming, and augmented/mixed reality fields. He specialized in real-time VFX advertising for a decade as a leader at ESPN and led the group responsible for creating revenue-generating branded content formats. He has numerous honors, including a Disney Imagineering Award, an Emmy Award and nine nominations, a BDA Award, and a New York Film Festival Award.
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial Services
Ken Kerschbaumer is co-executive director of editorial services for the Sports Video Group and SVG Europe. He was a co-founder of SVG along with Paul Gallo and Marty Porter in 2005 and has been writing about how sports networks and leagues use video and audio technology to deliver a quality TV experience since 1991. Kerschbaumer began his career in 1991 at Television Broadcast magazine before joining Cahners where he was founding editor of Digital Broadcasting magazine. In 2000, he joined Broadcasting & Cable magazine as senior editor of technology where he covered all aspects of broadcasting, cable, and Internet content creation and distribution.
Karen Hogan Ketchum, SVG, Senior Editor and Director, SVGW
Joining the SVG team in 2011, Karen Hogan Ketchum manages SVG’s print publications, including the semiannual SportsTech Journal, the annual Mobile Sports Production Yearbook, and all event print programs. She drives the company’s Venue Initiative, writing about the sports venue production industry and coordinating the agenda for the annual Sports Venue Production Summit and Venue Production Seminars. In addition, Hogan Ketchum is the director of SVGW (formerly SVG’s Women’s Sports Media Initiative). Hogan Ketchum began her career in sports at Fordham University with WFUV Sports, serving as Supervising Producer of “One on One,” WFUV Sports’ weekly call-in show. After graduating in 2009, she spent the 2009-10 season in the public relations department of the Trenton Devils (ECHL) before taking on a freelance copy editor assignment with Professional Sports Publications.
Sören Kjellin, ChyronHego, Chief Technology Officer
Sören Kjellin is chief technology officer at ChyronHego, a position he has held since the merger of Chyron Corporation and Hego AB in May 2013. In this role, Kjellin leads the company’s global engineering and technology initiatives. From July 2011 to May 2013, he served as director of product management at Hego AB, guiding the global development teams and product management.
Prior, Kjellin served as chief technology officer at Svenska Tracab AB, having led the company’s development teams from January 2009 to July 2011. He previously served as director of business development.
Sabrina Llenza, Turner Sports, Design Director
Sabrina Llenza is an award-winning design director for Turner Sports. She helps oversee the on-air broadcast graphics for entities such as the NBA, NCAA, and ELEAGUE, among others. Recent success with Eleague’s Rocket League, Street Fighter V Invitational, Injustice 2, and the 2018 Boston Major is what resonates most in her one year of experience thus far with Turner Sports.
Llenza is a multidisciplinary artist whose main outlet is animation. She graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunication from the University of Sacred Heart, and continued her studies at TAI, Escuela Universitaria de Cine en Madrid with a master’s degree in film and TV production. Llenza’s experience includes designing award-winning broadcast graphics for CNN en Español and CNN International, short-film writing, and practicing photography under the renown and late photographer, Clay Humphrey.
Currently, Llenza focuses on helping advance broadcast capabilities by incorporating new technology and ideas geared towards using these new technologies, to help break down pre-existing barriers in real-time broadcast.
JP LoMonaco, CBS Sports, VP, On-Air Graphics and Design
As VP of on-air graphics and design, JP LoMonaco oversees all of the design, production, and execution of graphics for the largest sporting events on CBS Sports Broadcast and CBS Sports Network – including the SEC, NFL, Thursday Night Football, Super Bowl 50, the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the March Madness Tournament.
With 23 years of motion graphics leadership and graphics production under his belt, the Parsons School of Design graduate has accumulated a skill set that puts him at ease either animating or designing at a workstation, or delivering concepts, pitching, and planning his team’s next big project in a board room. An Emmy Award winning art director, LoMonaco has lead creative teams for the likes of UPN, FOX, and CBS over the past two decades. He has also directed and mentored many great designers in that time.
As an ever-curious student of the industry, LoMonaco brings passion and excitement to every project, big or small. He always tries to stay on the forefront of what is possible while pushing himself and his team forward.
Camille Maratchi, HBO Sports, Associate Creative Director
Camille Maratchi is a producer and associate creative director at HBO Sports where she oversees the on-air graphic look for the department’s live telecasts, studio shows, and documentaries.
While in this role, Maratchi has helped create the on-air look for HBO Sports’ flagship telecasts – World Championship Boxing, HBO Pay-Per-View, and Boxing After Dark. In addition, she was instrumental in the rebrand of two of its other properties, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel and The Fight Game with Jim Lampley, which included a seamless integration of new set designs and complimentary insert graphic packages.
Glen Maxheleau, Avid, Business Development, Graphics
Glen Maxheleau has more than 20 years of experience in business and accounts management. He has a strong technical background in software development and is responsible for business development for graphics at Avid in North America. Maxheleau joined the Avid team in this role in September 2017. Prior, he was a senior workflow specialist for ChyronHego and business development manager, Canada and the U.S., for Ross Video. At Ross Video, he managed all aspects of business development and sales for the company’s graphics systems products.
Jocelyne Meinert, Big Studios, Owner/Director
7-time Emmy Award winner and 20-time nominee, Jocelyne Meinert has been pioneering CG animation and design since the industry’s inception in 1982, receiving several national and international awards in the first five years of her career. Meinert started Bigstudios in 1991, completing large scale design and animation projects for clients such as ABC News & Sports, HBO, MTV, Oprah, CTV, CBC, ESPN, CBS, and NBC.
Bigstudios is now one of the most established design and animation studios in North America. 2D or 3D animation, VFX, live action, graphic design, or all the above, Meinert continues to direct and manage large-scale projects such as ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Turner Ignite, and CBS March Madness. She also works on stadium packages for major league and college teams and puts the push on E-Sports, AR/VR, and original content development.
David Melfi, NBC Sports and Olympics, Senior Integration Designer
David Melfi is the senior integration designer for NBC Sports and Olympics. Since joining the company in 2013, he has served as the bridge between the Design, Production, and Engineering teams to integrate and support the insert graphics for all NBC Sports properties. Working with internal teams and outside vendors, Melfi has developed and designed software feature sets to help advance the functionality of insert graphics for NBC Sports and its Regional Networks.
Melfi has drawn on his extensive live remote experience to create insert systems that are dynamic and complex, but also highly practical for use in live remote, studio, and control room automation scenarios. He has overseen the launch of insert graphics packages for three Olympic Games, a Network redesign, Super Bowl XLIX and LII, Thursday Night Football, and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup for Telemundo. Melfi is currently working on the insert package for Telemundo’s coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Timothy O'Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director
Timothy O’Shaughnessy is the creative director of college football and college basketball at ESPN and has crafted the creative behind many ESPN properties. He is primarily responsible for guiding teams of creatives through large-scale animation and insert design projects. O’Shaughnessy believes in simultaneously investing in the employee and the project for a mutually beneficial result. His primary interests rest in finding ways to reinvent the traditional permutations of sports television.
In his decade at ESPN, O’Shaughnessy has garnered 15 Emmy nominations and several Promax BDA awards. Noteworthy projects include college football on ESPN/ABC, college basketball on ESPN, NBA on ESPN/ABC, World Cup 2010 and 2014, Euro 2012 and 2016, Outside the Lines, Olbermann, and Mike & Mike 2016. Upcoming projects include rebranding/repackaging the SEC network and starting up the aesthetic of the ACC network.
Before coming to ESPN, O’Shaughnessy worked at Ghostmilk Studios in Toronto, where he designed show title sequences for the CBC. He received a B.S. in psychology from Binghamton University and an M.F.A. in design from The Rochester Institute of Technology.
Jordan Shorthouse, Turner Sports, Creative Director
Jordan Shorthouse is a 3-time Emmy award-winning creative director for Turner Sports where he oversees the sports print marketing department and on-air broadcast graphics departments that support all sports telecasts. He is currently in his 20th year with Turner Sports. Shorthouse reports to Drew Watkins, vice-president, CSSU Creative and Content.
While at Turner, Shorthouse has overseen award-winning print and on-air campaigns for Turner’s tent-pole events including NBA on TNT (regular season, playoffs, All-Star), MLB on TBS (regular season, postseason), the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, eleague, and the PGA Championship. Some of his work includes on-air graphics packaging, print campaigns, and location takeovers for Turner Sports Roadshow Activations. Most recently, Shorthouse oversaw graphics for the inaugural 2017 NBA Awards Show in New York and the look for NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. This included desk and set design, as well as animation packaging to tie it all together. Shorthouse studied graphic design at Georgia State University.
Jan Umansky, Twizted Design, CEO and Co-Founder
Jan Umansky is the CEO and co-founder of Twizted Design, a tech-hub operating in the media and entertainment industry, providing solutions for media outlets in the production of live events, post production, and AR & VR. Prior to founding Twizted Design, Umansky worked in the industry for 10 years focusing on real-time graphics and data integration for Orad (later Avid). Over the course of his career, he led numerous strategic projects that involved on‐site installations, data integration, and graphics delivery. Some of Umansky’s past projects include the 2008 Olympics for CCTV China, 2012 Elections for MSNBC, 2015 MTV Movie Awards, The Daily Show, 2016 Rio Olympic games, and many others.
In 2016, Umansky extended his company offering to focus on cloud infrastructures and bringing the web technologies and approach to the broadcast industry, working with clients such as CBS Sports, NBC, MLB, and more.
Bradley Wasilition, ChyronHego, Director, Sports Analysis and Lead Sports Analyst
Bradley Wasilition is ChyronHego’s director of sports analysis and lead sports analyst. Wasilition’s previous experience includes roles in sports broadcast and statistical analysis at HEGO USA, as a research analyst for the NFL Network, a football personnel analyst for the Tennessee Titans, and a graduate assistant coach at the University of Florida.
Wasilition earned his MBA in sports management from the University of Massachusetts, and a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, in economics from the University of Virginia. Wasilition also studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Glenn White, Reality Check Systems, Producer
Glenn White has spent his entire 22 year career in sports television. Now a producer at Reality Check Systems, White oversees graphics development for clients like CBS Sports, NFL Network, UFC, Golf Channel, DirecTV, and Turner Sports. He is responsible for shaping and executing the specific graphics vision of each client from initial concept to launch, including the development of custom software applications, hardware systems, and graphic builds. As a multiple Sports Emmy Award-winning producer, he has worked on such high profile events as the Super Bowl, March Madness, US Open Tennis, the Golf Majors, the World Series, and the Daytona 500.
White previously served as the director of marketing for Fox Sports beginning in June 2000 and was responsible for the look and presentation of in-game promotions across Fox Sports Broadcast Network and the Fox Sports Net regional networks. He worked on marketing campaigns for all of the major Fox Sports properties including the NFL on CBS, MLB on FOX, NASCAR on FOX, and the college sports packages on Fox Sports Net. Before joining the Fox Sports Marketing group, he spent two years in the production department at Fox Sports Net. White began his career at ESPN in Bristol as a production assistant on Sportscenter, Baseball Tonight, and NFL Primetime after graduating from UCLA in 1995.
Christian Winters, HBO Sports, Creative Director
Before joining HBO in 2015, Christian Winters spent 10 years as a top producer and editor focused on creative work in network sports. His network credits include producing and editing feature stories and teases for several Super Bowls, Final Fours, and Olympic Games for NBC and CBS, in addition to long-form sports documentaries for HBO, FOX, and Showtime.
Winters currently serves as the creative director for HBO Sports where his duties include overseeing the design for on-air graphics, show titles and packaging, and promos/trailers. He also oversees production design for live programming.
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