SVG Students To Watch: Teddy Batkin, Rochester Institute of Technology

The latest product of the outstanding RIT Sports Network program, this recent grad from Long Island is carving out a promising path in broadcast engineering

In the live-sports-video industry, the future is bright. Our series SVG Students To Watch highlights the next generation of live-sports-production professionals. Across campuses nationwide, students are playing a pivotal role in bringing their schools' games to fans - from running cameras and graphics to sitting in the producer's or director's chair and everything in between. This series shines a light on the young talent making an impact today and preparing to shape the future of sports-video production.

Teddy Batkin

College: Rochester Institute of Technology

Academic Year: May 2026 Graduate

Hometown: Rockville Centre, NY

Roles: Engineer, Replay Operator

What drew you to live sports production, and how did you get started?

I was drawn to live sports production through my middle and high school, where we were fortunate to have a well-developed AV program led by Bob Kroeger, Robert Lichter, Gary Sliva, and Lynn Voltaggio. Through that program, we produced a wide range of events for our school's cable and YouTube channels, including sports, concerts, plays, and our annual Red and Blue event.

Batkin, a recent graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, already has valuable experience on professional broadcasts. Here, he works on a Game Creek Video truck, routing cameras for the away broadcast of a New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat game at Madison Square Garden.That experience gave me early exposure to every role within a live broadcast and set me on the path I'm on today. I spent as much time as I could in the TV studio. When I wasn't in class, I was editing or helping prepare for upcoming productions.

When I started at RIT, my goal was to get involved in live broadcasting as quickly as possible. During my first week, I asked anyone I could about the school's broadcasting group, which led me to RIT Sports Network. There, I was introduced to a much higher level of sports production and gained experience with new technologies and workflows.

Under the guidance of directors Rachel Conidaris, Mark Fragale, and Kevin Roche, I rotated through a variety of roles early on, which helped me develop a strong understanding of the full broadcast workflow. Through that process, I found that I really connected with replay. I've since become the primary replay operator for RIT Sports Network's Division I hockey broadcasts, which has been an incredibly rewarding role.

Were there any aha moments when you realized you really loved a particular role, like directing, replay or graphics?

A major aha moment for me came when I joined Game Creek Video as an intern this past summer. I had been interested in becoming a mobile-unit engineer since my freshman year. I was introduced to the company by my professor, Ricardo Figueroa, who connected me with alumnus Nathan Ostrander [deployment engineer, Game Creek Video]. After two years of speaking with him, I reached out to Game Creek to see if I could intern. Through that, I was connected to [Director, Engineering] Bryan Rule, who gave me the opportunity.

During my internship, I was able to see more of the technical side of broadcast production at a completely different level. I was taught a lot about the backend of the production (the routing, gear, problem-solving), and it gave me a much deeper understanding of how everything comes together. That experience confirmed that engineering was the path I wanted to pursue.

Batkin has worked on pro broadcasts in various capacities. Here, he builds multiviewers for NBC Sports Bay Area on a road broadcast at Barclays Center for a Golden State Warriors game against the Brooklyn Nets.I returned during winter break to continue working, but on a different truck, where I gained even more hands-on experience and built my first show, with assistance from the crew. That moment solidified my confidence in pursuing a career as a mobile-unit engineer.

What has been your favorite project or game that you've worked on, and why?

One of my favorite projects was helping design and build the broadcast setup and workflow for RIT's new lacrosse and soccer venue, Judson Stadium. I worked alongside our engineer Jon Sheehan and fellow students Ethan Parillo and Adam Gilbert to develop a system that could support live streaming while remaining simple and reliable for student operators.

With only a few weeks before the first games, we built the entire workflow using a mix of existing equipment and a few key additions. The goal was to create a streamlined setup that balanced functionality with ease of use. We implemented a switcher-based workflow using ATEM Software Control, integrated graphics and scoring through laptops, and incorporated a HyperDeck for playback elements.

One of the more creative solutions we explored was capturing additional content on the field using mobile devices, which we could then bring into the production for replay or feature elements. This allowed us to expand the production value without significantly increasing complexity or cost.

What made this project especially rewarding was seeing it all come together under real game conditions. It was a great experience in designing a system from the ground up and working within the constraints. It was also incredibly rewarding to train other students to operate the setup and ensure the workflow could continue successfully beyond our involvement.

What's the most challenging aspect of working in live sports production as a student?

For me, the most challenging aspect is also the most exciting: the pressure of key moments. As a replay operator, the role requires constant multitasking and quick decision-making. In addition to rolling replays during live gameplay

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/06/11/svg-students-to-watch-teddy-bat...
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