Conference Program

December 14
Remote Production Engineering Workshop
Murray Hill Suite – 2nd Floor
1:oo-4:30
Join leading remote production professionals, production truck vendors, and equipment manufacturers for a lively afternoon of discussion centered on the top engineering and truck design issues of the day. What are today’s remote production professionals looking for in terms of features and capabilities? What is the current product landscape? And how are the products being future proofed to meet future needs?

December 15
Trianon Ballroom
8:30-9:00
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Sports TV 2010: The End of Normal
By Neal Pilson, Pilson Communications, President
The Sports Television industry is entering a new era of dynamic change, whether through mergers, new rights deals that reflect new economic realities, continuing advertising challenges, and new opportunities for distribution via the Internet and mobile devices. Neal Pilson, former CBS Sports President and expert on rights deals and the sports TV industry, offers his unique perspective on where the industry is headed, how it can take advantage of new opportunities, and the ripple effect on production budgets and technical buildouts.

9:00-10:00
Remote Sports Production 2010: A Return to Normalcy
The year 2010 promises to be a year of recovery for the broader economy and TV network revenues. But there are promising new opportunities as video delivery over the Internet and mobile devices, and even 3D, open up new potential revenues. Leading executives from TV networks and remote production unit vendors discuss how they weathered 2009, the current state of the sports production industry, and where it is headed in 2010.
Moderator:
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG Editorial Director
Panelists:
Ken Aagaard, CBS Sports, EVP Operations and Production Services
Tom Cox, Turner Sports, Director Remote Operations
Barry Johnstone, Euro Media Group, COO
Jon Slobotkin, Comcast SportsNet, VP, Executive Producer
Patrick Sullivan, Game Creek Video, President
Mike Werteen, NEP Broadcasting, SVP, Sales and Client Services

10:00-10:45
Sports Venue Design: Meeting the Needs of Broadcasters
A number of professional and college sports venues for the NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball are in the midst of rebuilds, whether completely new buildings or renovations. New buildings, however, mean new challenges for broadcasters as there are new camera positions, new parking areas, and new infrastructures. How can broadcasters and venue owners and designers work more closely to prevent costly retrofits and alterations? And what technologies can venues deploy to ensure they are future proofed to meet the needs of broadcasters and new media professionals?
Moderator:
Russell Gabay, MLB International, VP and Executive Producer
Panelists:
Claude Delorme, Florida Marlins, SVP, Stadium Development
Curt Gowdy, Jr., SportsNet New York, SVP, Production and Executive Producer
Robert D. Jordan, New Meadowlands Stadium LLC, CFE, VP Design and Construction
Peter Skrodelis, NBA, VP of Broadcast Operations
Chris Williams, Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams (WJHW), VP

10:45-11:00: Networking Break

11:00-11:45
Inside Look: World Cup Global Production Workflows
In 2010 broadcasters from around the world will once again use cutting-edge technology to bring soccer fans around the globe closer to the action than ever. Leading broadcasters from around the world discuss their plans for covering the World Cup in a cost-effective manner without cutting the quality of the broadcast.
Moderator:
Michael Cohen, MLS, Executive Producer
Panelists:
Tim Scanlan, ESPN, Vice President, Event Production
Emory Strilkauskas, ESPN, Lead Engineer, Transport and Special Projects
Francis Tellier, Host Broadcast Services (HBS), CEO

11:45-12:30
Lost in Translation: The Convergence of IT and Broadcast Operations
IT and broadcast engineering were once two distinct sciences that attracted two distinct personalities. But the two fields are converging at broadcast and new media facilities across the country, creating a challenge for management and personnel alike as they attempt to understand each other’s needs and approach to problem solving. What are the differences between the two workforces and how can they come together holistically and with minimal conflict? What are the biggest potential pitfalls in forming a single IT-centric broadcast department? And how can the industry attract new talent to the industry and promote career opportunities?
Moderator:
Mark Haden, MLB Network, VP, Engineering and IT
Panelists:
Cindy Cortell, MLB Network, Director of IT
David Dukes, PGA Tour, Director of IT
Steve Hellmuth, NBA, EVP, Operations and Technology
John Leland, Origin Digital, VP of Global Media Operations
Chuck Pagano, ESPN, EVP of Technology, Engineering, and Operations

12:30-1:30: Lunch

1:30-2:15
Remote Sports Production and the IT-Based Future
Today’s remote production units increasingly resemble massive computers on wheels, with video servers, software, and computer chips at the center of their operations. How are these technologies changing workflows and impacting the design of remote production vehicles? How can industry professionals take advantage of these technologies to more easily move video and audio signals to scoreboards, the Internet, mobile devices, and broadcast partners? And what are the risks and benefits of relying on IT-based technologies for live remote broadcasts?
Moderator:
Michael Davies, Fox Sports, VP, Technical Operations
Panelists:
Jason Cohen, HBO Sports, Director of East Coast Productions
Don Colantonio, ESPN, Senior Director, Original Entertainment-Media Packaging
Tom Sahara, Turner Sports, Senior Director, IT and Remote Operations
Bruce Shapiro, SPEED, Coordinating Technical Producer
Susan Stone, MLB Network, VP, Operations

2:15-3:00
3D Sports: How to Develop and Implement a Successful Strategy
Live sports has entered the third dimension but the big question is how will it need to be produced and directed differently to satisfy a 3D audience? And how closely aligned can the production be with the 2D production to minimize costs and effort?
Moderator:
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG Editorial Director
Panelists:
Anthony Bailey, ESPN, VP of Emerging Technologies
Phil Orlins, ESPN, X Games, Co-ordinating Producer
Joe Signorino, NEP Broadcasting, Senior Project Engineer
Jerry Steinberg, Fox Sports, SVP, Field Operations

3:00-3:30: Networking Break

3:30-4:30
View from the Front Bench: New Tools for Producers, Directors
The front bench continues to be the hot spot for any sporting event production and directors are always on the hunt for new toys and techniques to add sizzle that keeps viewers coming back. A panel of top producers and directors discusses how they approach their craft and what techniques and technologies are changing the look of today’s sports broadcasts.
Moderator:
Harold Bryant, CBS Sports, VP, Production
Panelists:
Bob Fishman, CBS Sports, Director
Sam Flood, NBC Sports, Producer
Artie Kempner, Fox Sports, NFL/NASCAR Director
John Moore, YES Network, EVP, Director

4:30-5:30: Networking Reception