Tom Shelburne, NEP Founder, Dies at 81

The father of the modern remote–TV-production business began it all in 1978

Tom Shelburne, founder of NEP in 1984 and arguably the father of the modern remote–TV-production business, died this week at the age of 81. Born in Bristol, TN, in 1942, he is survived by his wife, LeeAnn Shelburne; daughter, Sally Newhall; son, Tommy Shelburne; stepdaughter, Jill Marziale; sister, Trina English; and seven grandchildren.

“Tom Shelburne was special,” Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Chairman Ken Aagaard says of Shelburne, who was the first inductee into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, in 2007. “Tom was not only a pioneer of sports TV but a cowboy who knew how to get whatever done.”

Shelburne grew up with TV in his blood. His family founded WNEP Scranton, PA, which became the highest-rated ABC affiliate in the country. In 1978, he built a production truck for the station, ushering in a new era in remote production. For him, it began a decades-long career capturing and telling stories from even the most secluded events because WNEP soon launched a remote-production company. That truck would expand to a fleet of three.

“There was no show too small or too big for Tom to take on,” says Aagaard, “and he was the type of owner who would be found in the back of the racks of a distressed truck or would take over a camera assignment if needed. He loved working on the frontlines of sports broadcasts. There was nobody better, nobody more fun to be around.”

In 1984, New York Times Co. acquired WNEP-TV, but Shelburne retained the mobile-production company, and NEP Broadcasting was born. Though playing a big part in running the business from the top, he found plenty of joy in doing whatever needed to be done for the client.

In 1987, NEP Broadcasting took a major leap when it formed a joint venture with Pittsburgh-based TCS to broadcast the Pan American Games from Indianapolis for CBS Television. With the production a success, Shelburne spearheaded a merger between the two entities. NEP Supershooters was formed, capitalizing on the strengths of its parts: TCS was the management center while NEP Broadcasting provided the technical brawn.

“Tom was always about the people,” notes Aagaard. “As the seed of NEP, Tom recognized from the beginning that he needed the best. He bought TCS because they had two people he knew would grow his business. Those two people, George Wensel and Deb Honkus, would also become Hall of Famers.”

In 1994, NBC offered NEP Supershooters an exclusive contract to provide mobile units for all NBC Sports events, marking the first time a major network had outsourced all its remote production. Within five years, all the major networks were outsourcing, and Shelburne started it all.

Today, NEP has more than 4,000 employees in 25 countries. NEP Group released a statement on Shelburne’s death: “NEP Group mourns the passing of co-founder Tom Shelburne. Known as the father of remote television production, Shelburne founded NEP Supershooters in 1987, becoming the world’s leading mobile-broadcast-production company.

“Shelburne’s vision of what a mobile production truck could do,” the statement continues, “launched the remote-production industry that is today so essential to live broadcasting. Our hearts are with Tom’s family and loved ones.”

For more on his life and career, visit Tom Shelburne’s profile page at the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame website.

Shelburne loved skydiving, waterskiing, walking his dog, and being with his family and friends. His family asks that, in lieu of flowers, industry friends make a donation to Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, a no-kill shelter in Pennsylvania. Donations can be made by clicking here or sending a check to 730 Church St., New Kensington, PA 15068.