SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Draws 250+ Attendees as Industry Faces Big Challenges, Opportunities

Established RSNs Altitude, Diamond Sports Group, NBC Sports Regionals, SNY, Spectrum SportsNet, YES joined newbies MLB Local Media, Monumental, Scripps Sports, SEG Media, Foley Entertainment Group

SVG’s Regional Sports Production Summit brought together more than 250 RSN and local-sports-media leaders in Denver yesterday to share ideas, learn from one another, and discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead for this rapidly changing sector of the industry. The annual event provided a gathering place for regional-sports leaders and content creators to address the pertinent issues facing their sector as the business undergoes seismic change on multiple fronts.

Key production, technology, and business leaders addressed latest developments in live-production workflows, DTC and authenticated streaming, sports betting and alternative telecasts, 4K HDR and other next-gen technologies, labor and crewing, league and team relationships, and what the future holds for the regional-sports media rights.

After an Opening Night reception on Wednesday, Day 2 opened with welcoming remarks by Title Sponsor Mobile TV Group CEO Nick Garvin.

The first session of the day, “The Evolution of Regional Sports Distribution and the Enduring Value of Local Sports,” featured sports-media veteran and strategic advisor Patrick Crakes. With the local-sports-media business going through a distributive evolution, he offered a look into the current state of the distribution and business landscape along with insights into a future that embraces multiple forms of distribution rather than just one.

Next up, production leaders from Altitude Sports & Entertainment, Monumental Sports Network, NBC Sports Bay Area & California, SNY, and YES Network took the stage for a Production Roundtable focused on serving the local fan in a changing marketplace. Despite the challenges currently facing RSNs, one thing was clear: the local fan is more passionate than ever about the teams they love. With that in mind, the panel dove into how RSNs serve local fans not only with high-quality live game broadcasts but also with innovative alternative telecasts, studio shows, original programming, and all-access content.

The first Fireside Chat of the day followed: “Inside the Launch of SEG Media and What’s Next for Utah Sports Fans.” When the RSN contract expired for the Utah Jazz following the 2022-23 NBA season, Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) launched SEG Media to create a broadcast-content–production and –distribution strategy for the team. The approach removed prior barriers to fan access to content, increased insider content to bring fans closer to the team, and gave SEG Media full autonomy in content distribution through a comprehensive, three-pronged strategy (over-the-air TV, Jazz+ streaming service, a broadcast footprint beyond Utah). Utah Jazz SVP, Broadcasting Travis Henderson and SEG Chief Communications Officer Caroline Klein discussed how the existing broadcast operation and infrastructure paved the way for a successful first season and what’s next for SEG Media as the NHL’s Utah Hockey Club arrives this fall.

MLB Local Media took attendees behind the scenes on efforts with Umpire Cam. Now that MLB is opening up the use of Umpire Cam at the local game level, MLB Local Media discussed how it was deployed last year during Arizona Diamondbacks coverage and what was learned from its use on replays and live shots.

As RSNs navigate the industry’s current headwinds, technical innovation has become the name of the game. In the session titled “The Changing Face of Live Game Production,” leaders from Diamond Sports Group, Mobile TV Group, Program Productions, and YES Network addressed the future of mobile units, the latest REMI workflows, the potential rise of 4K and HDR productions, ongoing crewing challenges, and where technology is headed in the coming years.

At the “State of Streaming: DTC, FAST, and the Next Era of Regional Sports” session, leaders from Foley Entertainment Group (owner of the Vegas Golden Knights), Spectrum SportsNet and SportsNet LA, Kiswe, and MediaKind discussed how, as consumer viewing habits and industry economics evolve, RSNs, leagues, and teams increasingly are launching DTC streaming platforms to reach fans directly. Meanwhile, more and more content is making its way onto FAST channels and other digital platforms. Panelists spoke about strategies driving successful RSN streaming services, new digital-monetization opportunities, and the tech advances shaping the next generation of regional-sports-content delivery.

The second Fireside Chat of the day went Inside Scripps Sports’ Regional Sports Roadmap. Since launching at the end of 2022, Scripps Sports has focused on enabling professional and college leagues, conferences, and teams to reach 100% of their fanbases via E. W. Scripps Co.’s 60+ local TV stations and Ion network. After inking local broadcast deals with the Vegas Golden Knights and Arizona Coyotes for the 2023-24 NHL season, Scripps is on the lookout for more regional-sports opportunities. Scripps Sports VP, Broadcast Operations, Quinn Pacini discussed how these local deals worked out, what’s on the company’s roadmap, and how broadcast provides a platform to reach more eyeballs.

A second Production Spotlight went behind the scenes on the recent real-time, animated Chicago Blackhawks telecast. The growing trend of alternative sports broadcasts hit the regional level in April, when NBC Sports Chicago and the NHL presented an animated alternative of the Chicago Blackhawks’ face-off with the Dallas Stars in celebration of “Tommy Hawk’s Birthday Party.” Attendees got an inside look at the strategy and technology behind the groundbreaking production, as well at how animated ventures could attract a whole new generation of local fans.

The day closed with a Tech in Action panel that delved into technological advances shaping regional sports production: innovations in camera technology, AR graphics, cloud-based production workflows, and more. Leaders from DEFY/Wirecam, Diversified, Matrox, NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and Tata Communications addressed the challenges and opportunities associated with adopting cutting-edge technologies, the impact on production costs and efficiencies, and trends that will continue to shape the regional-sports-production landscape.

This year’s SVG College Summit was made possible by Title Sponsor Mobile TV Group; Diamond Sponsors Canon, Matrox, Program Productions/ProCrewz, and The Switch; Gold Sponsors AI Media, ARRI, Audio-Technica, Evertz, EVS, Haivision, Hitachi, Kiswe, Leeward Software, and Sony; and Event Sponsors Comcast Technology Solutions, Diversified, MediaKind, Signiant, and VITAC.