Full Program
THURSDAY, APRIL 11
(All times are in Pacific Time Zone)
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund Golf Outing Lunch
NEW LOCATION! Wildhorse Golf Club, 2100 W. Warm Springs Road, Henderson
1:00 p.m.: SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund Golf Outing Shotgun Start
NEW LOCATION! Wildhorse Golf Club, 2100 W. Warm Springs Road, Henderson
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.: Welcome Reception
Green Valley Ranch, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson
LOCATION: El Cielo
FRIDAY, APRIL 12
(All times are in Pacific Time Zone)
7:30 – 9:30 a.m.: Networking Breakfast (LOCATION: Del Mar 1 & 2)
9:30 – 10:50 a.m.: Free Time
* GENERAL SESSIONS LOCATION: Grand Ballroom 1 & 2 *
10:50 a.m.: Welcoming Remarks
Presented by: Mike Davies, Fox Sports, EVP, Technical and Field Operations; SVG, U.S. Chairman
10:50 – 11:15 a.m.: Opening Keynote Conversation: Inside the PGA TOUR’s Big Plans for 2024/2025
The PGA TOUR’s new season saw a new set of production trucks hit the road. With nine production trailers, it’s a massive caravan that is reshaping the way the PGA TOUR produces golf coverage and next year it will be linked closely with PGA TOUR Studios, a brand new production facility that will take things to a whole new level for the PGA TOUR, its partners, and its rights holders around the globe. PGA TOUR executives discuss this year’s efforts and give us an update on the new facility which will open next January.
Interviewer: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial
Speaker: Michael Raimondo, PGA TOUR Entertainment, VP, Broadcast Technology
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Sports Tech Leadership Roundtable: What’s Next?
There has never been a greater amount of technological change occurring at once in the sports production industry. Public/private cloud, generative Ai, expanded use of AR, and even VR are changing the way the industry produces sports content, engages with sports fans, and builds ratings and brands. SVG advisory board leaders discuss the current technology and economic climate, global and local trends, and much more.
Speakers:
Mike Davies, Fox Sports, EVP, Technical and Field Operations; SVG, U.S. Chairman
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial
Dan Miodownik, HBS, CEO
Alessandro Reitano, Sky Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG, SVP, Continental Production Operations; SVG Europe Chairman
12:00 – 12:15 p.m.: Net Insight Case Study: Transitioning from Satellite to Terrestrial Networks: A Streamlined Approach
Astound, a leading telecommunications giant in North America, unveils its transformative journey from satellite-based to terrestrial network. This case study delves into the utilization of diverse protocols to forge a flexible and robust network infrastructure, marking a significant evolution in contribution and distribution.
Presenters:
Adam Nilsson, Net Insight, Product Manager
Sean Sullivan, Astound Business Solutions, Senior Director, Media Network Architecture
12:15 – 1:00 p.m.: Getting Serious About Sustainability
Governments are getting more serious about sustainability and corporate entities are increasingly requiring production partners to proactively make a difference. Is your company ready to get serious about sustainability? We’ll discuss how you can get involved, steps that can really make a difference, and why it makes good business sense. Barbara Lange, principal and CEO of Kibo121, a consultancy firm focused on guiding media tech organizations on their path to sustainability, will moderate.
PART ONE: Tech Provider Perspective
Explore the developing landscape of sustainability in sports video production. From reducing carbon footprints in live event coverage to implementing eco-friendly production practices, this panel will discuss innovative strategies that are already driving sustainability efforts. Whether you’re a broadcaster, production company, or technology provider, this mini-session offers valuable insights for greening your operations, while also addressing the inherent challenges.
Moderator: Barbara Lange, Kibo121, Principal and CEO
Panelists:
Aaron Frye, Filmwerks Power, Director of Production Power
Serge Van Herck, EVS, CEO
Paul Hines, Aggreko, Director of Business Development, Events
Chris Lennon, Ross Video, Office of the CTO: Director, Standards Strategy
PART TWO: A Content Creator Perspective
Discover the content creator’s approach to sustainability in sports production. From pioneering renewable energy solutions for stadium broadcasts to minimizing waste in production workflows, we’ll explore how productions are leading the charge towards a greener future. Gain practical insights and inspiration for implementing sustainable practices in your own production workflows, and be part of the movement towards a more environmentally conscious industry.
Moderator: Barbara Lange, Kibo121, Principal and CEO
Panelists:
Andrea Berry, Telemundo Enterprises, EVP, Operations & Technology
Nick Garvin, Mobile TV Group, COO
Bart Lucassen, HBS, Director of Engineering
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.: Networking Lunch (LOCATION: Grand Ballroom 3 & 4)
2:30 – 3:15 p.m.: Inside the Numbers with Devoncroft
Prior to this year’s Forum all attendees were sent a survey that was created by Devoncroft Partners and designed to gauge current and future trends in the sports production industry. Join us for a discussion of the results and an interactive discussion with Devoncroft’s Josh Stinehour and Joe Zaller and SVG Chairman Mike Davies and SVG’s Ken Kerschbaumer.
Speakers:
Mike Davies, Fox Sports, EVP, Technical and Field Operations; SVG, U.S. Chairman
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial
Josh Stinehour, Devoncroft Partners, Principal Analyst
Joe Zaller, Devoncroft Partners, Founder
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.: Networking Break
3:45 – 4:30 p.m.: Afternoon Keynote: How OBS Is Embracing Software Defined Broadcasting for Olympic Games Production
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will mark a significant shift in the production and delivery of the event to media rights holders. Instead of using traditional fixed appliances, OBS will use software applications running on Intel-based commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware for live coverage of several sports. This move signifies a crucial step towards a more sustainable production model. Executives from Olympic Broadcasting Services, Intel, NEP, and their application vendors take to the stage to discuss how they are working together to create a software defined broadcasting platform applicable across the entire workflow.
Moderator: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial
Panelists:
Ayuta Onishi, Panasonic Entertainment & Communication Company, Manager, Broadcast System Engineering
Nagesh Puppala, Intel, General Manager, Edge and Cloud Video Division
Alex Redfern, EVS, Chief Technology Officer
Sotiris Salamouris, OBS, Chief Technology Officer
Geert Thoelen, NEP Belgium, Director of Technology
4:30 – 5:15 p.m.: AI on the Air: The Impact and Challenges of Generative AI Across Sports Production and Operations
In this thought-provoking panel discussion, our experts will delve into the transformative and profound impact of Generative AI on the sports production industry. From content creation to audience engagement and personalization, we will explore how AI technologies are reshaping the way we produce, distribute, monetize, and consume media. The discussion will also tackle the ethical considerations, deployment challenges, and the future of employment within the sector, offering insights into developing AI strategies. Join us as we unravel the hurdles and opportunities posed by Generative AI, and what it means for the future of broadcasting.
Introduction by: Jere Hanks, Magnifi, Head of Sales – North America
Moderator: Jason Dachman, SVG, Editorial Director, U.S.
Panelists:
Rick Champagne, NVIDIA, Director, Media & Entertainment Industry Strategy and Marketing
Gregg Katano, Cosmos Collab, CEO / Founder
5:15 – 5:30 p.m.: Golf Awards
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.: Networking Reception
6:30 – 9:00 p.m.: SVG Chairman’s Forum Dinner (LOCATION: Grand Ballroom 1 & 2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 13
(All times are in Pacific Time Zone)
7:00 – 9:00 a.m.: Networking Breakfast (LOCATION: Grand Ballroom 3 & 4)
9:00 – 9:20 a.m.: Keynote Conversation: Amazon Prime Video, NWSL, and a New Era of Production (LOCATION: Grand Ballroom 1 & 2)
Amazon Prime Video is increasingly adding more and more sports to its portfolio and the most recent, NWSL, signals a new era of production for the company. We’ll spend some time with Amazon Prime Video executives John Ward and Ken Miller discussing why the NWSL production efforts are important, the wide variety of production philosophies Amazon Prime Video have embraced, how the team expects to change and evolve in the future, and their thoughts on key industry trends like HDR, data-driven productions, and more.
Moderator: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial
Speakers:
Ken Miller, Prime Video, Director, Production & Technical Operations
John Ward, Prime Video, Senior Manager, Technical Operations & Engineering
9:25 – 11:45 a.m.: Workshop Tracks (see below)
>> TRACK ONE – Live Sports Production Workshop (LOCATION: Grand Ballroom 1 & 2)
Leaders from the industry take to the stage to discuss some of the key trends in the industry, pain and pressure points, and how they are looking to enhance the viewing experience for sports fans around the globe.
Spotlight Presentation
Presented by TAG Video Systems: Robert Erickson, TAG Video Systems, Vice President of Sales, Americas
Part One: NAB Hit List: What Do You Want?
When the NAB show floor opens its doors it will offer up a wealth of new concepts, products, workflows, and enhancements. SVG advisory board leaders discuss the what they are hoping to see on the show floor, what they are hoping to NOT see on the show floor, and what they think manufacturers need to do to make their products and services stand out.
Moderator: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial
Panelists:
Kevin Callahan, Fox Sports, VP, Field Operations and Engineering
Darren Long, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sports Technology Integration Project Lead
Oscar Sanchez, CONCACAF, Director, Broadcast Operations and Executive Producer
Stefan Wistuba, HBS, Project Director FWC26
Spotlight Presentation
Presented by InSync Technology: James Taylor, InSync Technology, Managing Director
Part Two: Remote Production Service Perspectives
Remote production facility providers close out the 2024 Chairman’s Forum with a discussion about the state of the remote production business, what they are hoping to see on the show floor, and how the industry can continue to work together during an era of unrivaled growth in the number of, and scale of, sports productions.
Moderator: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial
Panelists:
Nick Garvin, Mobile TV Group, COO
Wolfgang Reeh, TV Skyline, Owner and CEO
Scott Rothenberg, NEP Group, SVP, Technology & Capital Planning
Jason Taubman, Game Creek Video, SVP, Technology
>> TRACK TWO – Sports Content Management Workshop: MAM, Storage, AI, and Cloud-Based Workflows (LOCATION: Del Mar 1)
This intimate roundtable workshop is designed as an open forum for individuals responsible for managing, archiving, and protecting sports content. Led by SVG’s Sports Content Management Advisory Committee, this off the-record roundtable discussion will provide media-management leaders from broadcasters, leagues, teams, digital outlets, and vendors with an opportunity to address a variety of hot-button issues currently facing the industry.
TOPIC 1: AI Today and Tomorrow: Implementation, Impact, and Content Security
What are the best media-management applications for both traditional-AI and generative-AI (GenAI) technologies and can these tools push automation? What are the implications of OpenAI’s Sora text-to-video generation model within the sports-media space (for example, seamlessly upscaling HD to 4K)? And, as we begin to see how GenAI can be abused by deep fakes, how can you protect your content from being used as a basis for these fakes?
** Spotlight by Comcast Technology Solutions **
TOPIC 2: Is Your Content Merger-Proof?: Preparing Your Content for M&E’s M&A Craze
With a slew of mergers and acquisitions taking place in Media & Entertainment (and, likely, more on the horizon), how are sports-media organizations preparing their systems, storage, and workflows to merge with other companies? Or are they just hoping it won’t happen? Let’s have a frank discussion about preparing for the unknown in a rapidly changing industry.
** Spotlight by Imagen from Reuters **
TOPIC 3: Building MAM Bridges in the Cloud: How To Align Disparate League and Team Systems
As pro teams’ MAM systems become more sophisticated with each passing year, how can leagues extend their systems to the teams (and their broadcast partners) to create a more seamless workflow? Several leagues are exploring building a bridge between their in-house MAM system and those of their clubs. What are the potential synergies and pitfalls?
** Spotlight by Seagate Technology **
TOPIC 4: Flash vs. Spinning Disc: Is Flash Finally Affordable Enough, and What’s Next in Storage?
With oncoming tidal wave of media content expected in the coming years, the perennial debate between flash and spinning-disc technologies rages on. With flash becoming increasingly affordable and offering superior performance, many organizations are re- evaluating their storage strategies. Meanwhile, tape continues to be the best option for total cost of ownership. We take a pragmatic look at today’s media-storage landscape.
** Spotlight by Wasabi Technologies **
TOPIC 5: MAM Trek: The Next Generation — Recruiting, Mentoring, and Preparing New Media Managers
How are today’s media managers preparing for their successors and setting their organizations up for the future? Where are they looking for new people and how are they training them? How can you develop new people when AI and ML are taking over many of the industry’s entry-level tasks? In a departure from tech talk, the roundtable will discuss strategies and best practices for cultivating the next generation of talent.
CLOSING TOPIC: Crystal-Ball Predictions: Five Years, 10 Years, and 20 Years Ahead
In what has become an annual tradition at the roundtable, the day will close with an interactive exercise in which each roundtable participant will write three predictions on colored sticky notes — a different color for five years, for 10 years, and for 20 years in the future. The predictions will be assembled on a whiteboard and reviewed by the entire group, providing a glimpse into the future of media-asset management and storage — and garnering a few laughs in the process.
12:00 p.m.: Shuttle Service to Las Vegas Strip
- The shuttle will make stops at Horseshoe /Paris and Westgate
- Space is limited
