SVG’s RSN Summit 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. Today, regional sports networks are being challenged to produce more events and content at lower costs while also navigating new pandemic-era realities and building beyond the linear-distribution model. Join key production, technology, and business leaders in the industry to hear how they are confronting these challenges and opportunities head on.
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
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.: SVG RSN Summit Dinner Presented by ProCrewz and Program Productions
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: Cloud Control, GCV Anywhere, RAPs, and the Future of Remote Production
9:45 – 10:15 a.m.: The State of Labor: How RSNs Are Managing a Shrinking Workforce and What’s Ahead for the Freelance Market
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.: Matrox ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.: Networking Break in Exhibits Area
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: The ‘BetCast’ and Beyond: Inside RSNs’ Plans for Betting and Gamification
12:00– 12:15 p.m.: Sportradar ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.: Networking Lunch in Exhibits Area
1:15 – 2:00 p.m.: DTC and Authenticated Streaming: Delivering Live Games to Local Fans on Every Screen
2:00 – 2:15 p.m.: Imagine Communications ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study
2:15 – 2:45 p.m.: Networking Break in Exhibits Area
2:45 – 3:15 p.m.: At-Home and in the Studio: From Announcers to Editors, How RSNs Are Embracing Remote Workflows
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.: RSN Production Tech Roundup: Facilities Providers and Tech Vendors Sound Off
Featured Speakers
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.: SVG RSN Summit Dinner Presented by ProCrewz and Program Productions
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
Presented by: Scott West, Program Productions, CEO
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.: New Production Models for a New Normal: Cloud Control, GCV Anywhere, RAPs, and the Future of Remote Production
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 new 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 like Cloud Control, GCV Anywhere, and Remote Access Productions (RAPs)? And what does that mean for the future?
Confirmed Panelists:
Kendall Burgess, Bally Sports, VP of Technical Operations
Jeff Fillipi, MSG Networks, SVP Programming & Production, Executive Producer
Devon Fox, NBC Sports Bay Area/California, Senior Director, Live Events
9:45 – 10:15 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.
Confirmed Panelists:
Bob Carzoli, ProCrewz, Chairman of the Board and CEO
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.: Matrox ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.: Networking Break in Exhibits Area
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: The ‘BetCast’ and Beyond: Inside RSNs’ Plans for Betting and Gamification
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 wagering content into their broadcasts, how they’re using gamification to engage viewers, and what the future holds for sports betting at the RSN level.
Confirmed Panelists:
Danielle Cranin, NBC Sports, Director of Content Integration & Partnerships, Betting & Gaming
12:00– 12:15 p.m.: Sportradar ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.: Networking Lunch in Exhibits Area
1:15 – 2:00 p.m.: DTC and Authenticated 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. Some have launched their own DTC streaming platforms — or have announced plans to do so — in order to reach fans directly while others launched dedicated apps and streaming experiences for authenticated cable subscribers. 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.
Confirmed Panelists:
Scott Young, Transmit, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer
2:00 – 2:15 p.m.: Imagine Communications ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study
2:15 – 2:45 p.m.: Networking Break in Exhibits Area
2:45 – 3:15 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?
Confirmed Panelists:
Matt Krol, Altitude Sports and Entertainment, VP, GM, and Executive Producer
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.: RSN Production Tech Roundup: Facilities Providers and Tech Vendors Sound Off
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.
Confirmed Panelists:
Nick Garvin, Mobile TV Group, COO
(All times are in Central Time Zone)
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Opening-Night Reception in Exhibits Area
(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
Presented by: Scott West, Program Productions, CEO
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.: New Production Models for a New Normal: Cloud Control, GCV Anywhere, RAPs, and the Future of Remote Production
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 new 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 like Cloud Control, GCV Anywhere, and Remote Access Productions (RAPs)? And what does that mean for the future?
Confirmed Panelists:
Devon Fox, NBC Sports Bay Area/California, Senior Director, Live Events
Debby Schneider, Marquee Sports Network, SVP, Technical Operations
9:45 – 10:15 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.
Confirmed Panelists:
Bob Carzoli, ProCrewz, Chairman of the Board and CEO
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.: ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.: Networking Break in Exhibits Area
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: The ‘BetCast’ and Beyond: Inside RSNs’ Plans for Betting and Gamification
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 wagering content into their broadcasts, how they’re using gamification to engage viewers, and what the future holds for sports betting at the RSN level.
Confirmed Panelists:
Danielle Cranin, NBC Sports, Director of Content Integration & Partnerships, Betting & Gaming
12:00– 12:15 p.m.: ‘Technology in Action’ Case Study
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.: Networking Lunch in Exhibits Area
1:15 – 2:00 p.m.: DTC and Authenticated 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. Some have launched their own DTC streaming platforms — or have announced plans to do so — in order to reach fans directly while others launched dedicated apps and streaming experiences for authenticated cable subscribers. 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.
Confirmed Panelists:
Scott Young, Transmit, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer
2:00 – 2:30 p.m.: Networking Break in Exhibits Area
2:30 – 3:15 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?
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.: RSN Production Tech Roundup: Facilities Providers and Tech Vendors Sound Off
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.
Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
1 W Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
Book your hotel room using our room block rate of $241/night HERE.
The host facility for the SVG RSN Forum has no published Covid vaccination or mask policies at this time. These policies are rapidly and frequently changing and SVG will notify you of any developments as they occur.
* Due to the unpredictable nature of the current health situation, SVG cannot be held responsible for any last minute inconveniences and/or cancellation costs caused by the change of a facility’s COVID policy.
Bob Carzoli, ProCrewz, Chairman of the Board and CEO
For over two full decades, Robert Carzoli has overseen the astronomical growth of Program Productions, XLT Management Services, and ProCrewz. Today, these entities make up the industry’s largest labor management group.
A consecutive thirteen year run on Inc. Magazine’s “500/5000 List of the Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies” put Program Productions in rarified air as only 12 other companies in the history of the list have had similar track records. In 2022, when XLT Management Services becomes eligible for the list, it’s certain that it will begin a run of its own. This a testament to the outstanding customer service, technology platforms, and employer-of-choice status that these companies have enjoyed under Carzoli’s leadership.
Carzoli brings over 30 years of diverse labor management experience to his companies and their customers. His expertise in managing union relationships, developing employer-side liability and risk-management platforms, and extensive knowledge of navigating complex federal and state labor laws has helped his organizations become unique in the history of sports broadcasting. Under his leadership, the companies reach across North America and are actively building an international platform that will service Europe and Asia.
Carzoli’s foresight and understanding of the industry led him to develop and launch the ProCrewz technology platform. By combining a cutting-edge, client-facing technology with the industry’s premier employee-based mobile application, ProCrewz has rewritten how events are managed in an ever-changing production environment. Now, over 10,000 field technicians and their supervisors rely on ProCrewz to deliver real-time information and capture on-location data every day.
Carzoli continuously seeks out and retains the best and brightest personnel in the industry. The companies’ management, accounting, crewing, client support, and legal units are universally acknowledged for their excellence, dedication to client satisfaction, and the passion they bring to their jobs.
Carzoli is active in a number of national and local charities including the Sports Broadcasting Fund, Merging Vets and Players, and most recently, has worked with industry Hall-of-Famers Geoffery Mason and Jerry Steinberg to lead the efforts of the Sports Video Group’s Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation initiative to ensure that broadcast technicians and their families have access to today’s most-trusted addiction and mental health care resources.
Today, Carzolii and his wife split their time between their homes in Scottsdale, AZ and the Chicagoland area.
Jeff Fillipi, MSG Networks, SVP Programming & Production, Executive Producer
At MSG Networks, Jeff Filippi oversees more than 300 live telecasts each year for six professional teams: the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Red Bulls, and the Westchester Knicks. He also oversees pre- and post-game coverage, MSG Networks’ live studio shows, and manages over 30 on-air talent, in addition to all production personnel. Filippi joined MSG Networks in 2005.
Prior to joining MSG Networks, Filippi held roles at every major network including ABC, NBC, CBS, and ESPN. He produced seven US Open Tennis Championships for USA Network and worked as a producer on four Winter Olympic Games. He was also an original hire at Classic Sports Network where he served as vice president and executive producer through the network’s sale to ESPN.
Filippi has won two national and seventeen New York area Emmy Awards.
A longtime New York sports fan, Filippi was born in Manhattan, raised in Queens, and currently resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Nick Garvin, Mobile TV Group, COO
Nick Garvin is the chief operating officer for Mobile TV Group (MTVG). This includes all strategic partnerships, management of all day-to-day operations for its mobile unit fleet covering over 4,000 live events annually, and its audio/video manufacturing facility called Colorado Studios. MTVG has led live 4K HDR productions in the U.S. covering the PGA Tour, NBA, NHL, UFC, college football, entertainment, and corporate events for many of the top Fortune 500 companies.
Garvin is also the founder of Stackup, an education technology company that uses artificial intelligence to deliver metrics on students reading and learning on the web to K-12 school districts around the United States. Stackup is among few certified Google partners, and his work on this technology put him into the Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2018.
Garvin holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the Eller College of Management, along with an executive education from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Scott West, Program Productions, CEO
Scott West has been involved in the industry for nearly 26 years, providing both technical facilities and labor management services to the broadcast television industry. He was named president and chief operating officer of Program Productions in 2019 and is currently responsible for oversight and management of business operations for Program Productions, its sister company XLT Management Services, a payroll and human resources management firm, and Event Software Partners, which develops and manages the proprietary ProCrewz labor management software and mobile application platform.
Prior to his work with Program Productions, West served on the facilities side of the business as vice president of engineering operations for NEP Group where he provided senior level direction for television facility maintenance engineering, six national field shops, the fiber-optic department, the operations and travel departments, and 1st-tier technical support. West also served as president and general manager of Corplex. At Corplex, he helped build a small, local mobile production truck company into a national player that provided HD facilities to some of the sports industry’s highest profile events prior to its acquisition by NEP Group.
Scott Young, Transmit, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer
Scott Young is the co-founder and chief product officer of Transmit. He has been active in video technology for over a decade with a proven track record of product innovation and early stage startup growth. Prior to founding Transmit.Live, Young built revenue and product operations for SET media, which was acquired by Conversant/ Epsilon in 2014. Prior to that, he led video solutions at Alloy, and video ad platform YuMe prior to a 2013 IPO, and was a key growth driver for CBS Interactive as they launched streaming on demand.