(All times are in Eastern Time Zone)
9:00 a.m.: Registration Opens
9:30 – 9:40 a.m.: Welcoming Remarks
Presented by: Tim O’Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director; SVG Graphics Committee Chair
9:40 – 10:10 a.m.: Sports Graphics Spotlight: How ESPN Pulled Off the Big City Greens NHL Classic Animated Broadcast
ESPN and the NHL presented the next chapter in kids-focused sports broadcasts: ESPN’s Big City Greens NHL Classic, which was first-ever fully animated game telecast. Besides live, real-time volumetric animation of players on the ice, ESPN Creative Studio created motion-captured animated versions of the ESPN commentators calling the game, as well live interviews with characters from Disney’s Emmy Award-winning animated series using live facial-capture technology.
Confirmed Panelists:
Zack Malet, ESPN, Director, Content Business Development & Innovation
Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN Creative Studio, Senior Director, Motion Graphics and Production Planning
10:10 – 10:45 a.m.: What’s Next in Sports-Graphics Technology? Today’s Cutting Edge and Tomorrow’s New Reality
The sports-graphics sector has more powerful technology and creative tools than ever. However, with all that innovation, it can be tough to keep up with the rapid evolution of graphics-creation and -playout systems. Hear from industry leaders on what how the products are evolving and how they see the industry advancing in the years to come.
10:45 – 11:00 a.m.: Case Study
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Networking Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Sports Graphics Spotlight: Inside ESPN’s Colossal NBA Rebrand Project
Confirmed Panelists:
Dale Harney, ESPN, Art Director
Lucas Nickerson, ESPN, Creative Director
12:00 – 12:45 p.m.: What’s Next in Sports-Graphics Design?
In this annual riveting discussion, creative leaders from major sports broadcasters offer up their perspectives on what’s next in the realm of sports graphics. Presenters from different spheres will discuss their competing and complementing priorities, offering a crystal-ball look into the future of sports-graphics design.
Moderator: Tim O’Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director; SVG Graphics Committee Chair
12:45 – 1:00 p.m.: Case Study
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.: Networking Lunch
1:45 – 2:15 p.m.: Sports Graphics Spotlight: Behind the Scenes of the ‘Nickmas’ Broadcast With CBS Sports and Nickelodeon
Since launching with the NFL Wild Card Game in 2021, Nickelodeon’s NFL-game coverage has evolved from a madcap slime-filled experiment to a multi-Emmy Award-winning must-see annual celebration of the sport. This year, CBS Sports and Nickelodeon’s “Nickmas” broadcast took it to yet another level with plenty of AR-fueled visuals aimed at drawing in the next generation of NFL fans.
Confirmed Panelists:
Komal Bhukhanwala, CBS Sports, Senior Art Director
JP LoMonaco, CBS Sports, VP, On-Air Graphics & Design
2:15 – 3:00 p.m.: In-Game AR Graphics: The Future Is Virtual
No technology has shaken up the broadcast-graphics business more in recent years than the arrival of real-time augmented-reality graphics. From Unreal Engine to real-time tracking to fully immersive experiences, creatives have a bevy of new tools at their fingertips to tell the in-game story. Hear from technology and creative leaders on how AR and data visualization have evolved and what to expect in the coming years.
Confirmed Panelists:
Chris Mollomo, Ross Video, Business Development Manager, Virtual Production Solutions
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.: Closing Keynote: ESPN’s Use of Unreal Engine as an End-to-End Live Graphics Tool at the Rose Parade
Confirmed Panelists:
Dana Drezek, ESPN, Supervisor, Motion Graphics
Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN Creative Studio, Senior Director, Motion Graphics and Production Planning
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.: Networking Break
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.: Sports Graphics Spotlight: Fox Sports’ Whirlwind Year of Innovation
The past year has been a masterclass in technical innovation for the Fox Sports Creative Services. During on of the busiest periods for any sports broadcaster in history, Fox launched of the state of the art Studio A in Los Angeles and a groundbreaking open-air set at the FIFA World Cup, while also creating iconic graphics packages for its coverage of MLB Postseason, FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LVII, Daytona 500, and much more.
Confirmed Panelists:
Gary Hartley, Fox Sports Creative Services, EVP/Creative Director
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.: Virtual Sets and AR in the Studio: Expanding Beyond the Physical World
The latest generation of virtual-studio technology has allowed sports-content creators to rethink what is possible on the set. Virtual studios have gone from a simple green screen behind a desk to fully immersive environments that are just as realistic as a fully fabricated physical set. Hear from creative and technology leaders on what is spurring this revolution and how it’s changing studio-production strategies.
4:45 – 5:30 p.m.: Networking Reception