Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

SVG All-Stars: Pete Toma, Freelance Director

18/03/2025

SVG All-Stars: Pete Toma, Freelance Director The award-winning baseball director has shifted to golf By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - 12:55 pm

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

In an era when sports production is evolving faster than ever, a new generation of leaders is beginning to make its mark on the industry. Our SVG All-Stars series explores the journey of the industry's rising executives, showcasing their experiences and career highlights in the business, overarching philosophy and leadership strategy, technological and creative innovation, and where they see the industry headed. Join us as we uncover the story behind their ascent and the impact they are having in an ever-evolving industry.

Think of a meaningful sports moment you watched on live TV. That image in your head? It's there because a director picked a camera, called a number out, and put that image there.

A tremendous responsibility comes with being a sports-television director: you're truly a memory-maker. One man who has been filling that role for decades is Pete Toma.

The Temple grad got his start in live sports TV in Philly in the '90s as a camera operator, graphics coordinator, and associate producer on Flyers and Phillies games. In 1998, he made a big move to Chicago to take over as producer of Cubs Baseball on WGN in the heart of the historic home-run chase.

Pete Toma is a veteran sports-television director, having called shots for more than three decades.

From there, his career took off. He has won multiple Emmy Awards as a director of MLB broadcasts, including Pittsburgh Pirates telecasts for nearly two decades. Along the way, he has done it all: NBA, NHL, college basketball, MLB International, World Baseball Classic broadcasts. In the past year or so, his career has taken an abrupt shift: when his time in Pittsburgh came to an end, he quickly signed on as a director for golf on PGA TOUR Live.

In this week's edition of SVG All-Stars, Toma shares his career journey, noting that, in an industry full of technology, it's still all about people and why, in this industry, you need to make your own breaks.

What are the key responsibilities of your current role?

After 30+ years working in MLB broadcasting as a producer and director, my career took a turn to the fairways. In March of last year, I began directing PGA TOUR golf events for PGA TOUR Entertainment and PGA TOUR Live and even got to work the U.S. Open from Pinehurst, directing Feature Group coverage on NBC/Peacock. It has been a full-circle move, after having started in golf TV.

I learned so much from some of the legends in the industry, some of whom re-opened doors for me this past year with the PGA TOUR and beyond. I'm so grateful and re-energized to learn something completely new.

I always thought producing/directing baseball was the most difficult, but my eyes have been opened. Even having run camera for golf events in my 20s didn't prepare me for how difficult the front bench of a golf telecast is.

What is one key industry trend that you believe is having a major impact on the industry right now?

I've always felt that sports broadcasting and production is about people first. You can have the best technology, the most tools and support from your network, the best preparation going into a show or game, but, without the talented men and women working together and giving everything they have to their respective roles, great broadcasts and special, unforgettable moments are impossible.

Toma and Los Angeles Dodgers radio announcer Charley Steiner, with whom he worked when directing games at the 2013 World Baseball Classic

I grew up in the business at a time when the success of the production was all that mattered, not necessarily how you got there. Thankfully, that philosophy (and mine) has changed. Yelling and reacting poorly to mistakes is no longer tolerated by many companies' production executives. Nothing makes the shows or game broadcasts better than a positive, inclusive, and collaborative environment. In fact, PGA TOUR Entertainment, which produces and distributes PGA TOUR Live is upfront about their no a__holes policy. It's the best place I've ever worked, for the best people I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

I bring up the people and relationships facet because so much has changed with the evolution of REMI and crewing. In the post-COVID days, many of us only hear or know someone's name or voice, and, with the crewing shortage and so many having left the business, very often we are working with crews for the first time. I believe communication, trust, respect, and our tone and behavior are more important than ever. It's our job to motivate and get the best out of everyone by being professional and a good human.

What one core philosophy do you try to live by when managing your team/operation?

If I can bring [what I've said] down to one core philosophy, it would be to let everyone know to not be afraid to make a mistake. While it's important to have structure and assignments, some of the most amazing moments in sports broadcasting have happened because a technician in the field or studio has gone with their instincts and taken a chance on creating that long-lasting memorable moment. That doesn't happen by accident; they need to know that they are trusted to use their talent and experience to go for it. This is something it took me longer to learn as a producer and director than I'm proud of but something I hope the men and women on my crews know they can count on. Live only happens once.

Toma now directs golf for PGA Tour Studios. Here he calls shots on the WM Phoenix Open in February.

What is your favorite event(s) you've ever worked?

This one is hard, because I've been so lucky to have exp
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/03/18/svg-all-stars-pete-toma-freelan...
See more stories from svg

More from Sports Video Group

25/04/2025

Super Bowl Streaming Success: A Conversation with Tubi's Chief Product & Technology Officer Mike Bidgoli

Super Bowl Streaming Success: A Conversation with Tubi's Chief Product & Tec...

25/04/2025

Tariff Turmoil: Trump's Trade Policy Sparks Uncertainty at NAB and Increases Focus on Software Adoption

Tariff Turmoil: Trump's Trade Policy Sparks Uncertainty at NAB and Increases...

24/04/2025

Live From NFL Draft 2025: NFL Media Splits Sprawling Production Between Green Bay and L.A.

Live From NFL Draft 2025: NFL Media Splits Sprawling Production Between Green Ba...

24/04/2025

Live From NFL Draft 2025: Van Wagner Turns Titletown Into Center of Fan Entertainment Outside Lambeau Field

Live From NFL Draft 2025: Van Wagner Turns Titletown Into Center of Fan Entertai...

24/04/2025

Live From the NFL Draft: NFL Media Splits Massive Production Between Green Bay and L.A.

Live From the NFL Draft: NFL Media Splits Massive Production Between Green Bay a...

24/04/2025

Comcast Fills SpinCo Sports Executive Ranks With Matt Hong as President, Jeff Behnke as SVP of Production

Comcast Fills SpinCo Sports Executive Ranks With Matt Hong as President, Jeff Be...

23/04/2025

Audio Helps Chess.com Checkmate Cheating

Audio Helps Chess.com Checkmate Cheating Matches are produced using REMI workflows By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - 7:00 am Print Th...

23/04/2025

Tech Focus: Intercoms, Part 1 - Key to Onsite, REMI, Hybrid Operations

Tech Focus: Intercoms, Part 1 - Key to Onsite, REMI, Hybrid Operations Intercoms keep increasingly disparate production locations together By Dan Daley, Audio ...

23/04/2025

Speaking My Language: Bringing AI to the Fore With Real Time Audio Translation for French football

Speaking my language: Bringing AI to the fore with real time audio translation f...

22/04/2025

Pushing the Game: Growing the Popularity of the 2025 Women's Six Nations Through Collaboration and Ever More Broadcast Coverage

Pushing the game: Growing the popularity of the 2025 Women's Six Nations thr...

22/04/2025

New Sponsor Spotlight: RedFlag AI CEO Max Eisendrath on Creating a One-Stop Shop for Sports Content Protection

New Sponsor Spotlight: RedFlag AI CEO Max Eisendrath on Creating a One-Stop Shop...

22/04/2025

Live From The Crucible: BBC Sport's Phil Bigwood Discusses Transitioning the Triple Crown of Snooker to Sunset+Vine

Live from The Crucible: BBC Sport's Phil Bigwood discusses transitioning the...

22/04/2025

You Are There': FOX Sports, Sony, Hawk-Eye Innovations Break Down the Latest Trends in NFL Camera Coverage

You Are There': FOX Sports, Sony, Hawk-Eye Innovations Break Down the Latest...

21/04/2025

Award-Winning Producer/Director Don Mischer Dead at 85

Award-Winning Producer/Director Don Mischer Dead at 85 He directed Olympic Opening Ceremonies and Super Bowl Halftime Shows By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Dire...

21/04/2025

The Strength of Kindness: Collaborative Effort Helps Special Olympics World Winter Games Reach a Wider Audience

The strength of kindness: Collaborative effort helps Special Olympics World Wint...

21/04/2025

Nashville Juggles A Cornucopia Of Sports With Its Star on the Rise

Nashville Juggles A Cornucopia Of Sports With Its Star on the Rise NFL, NHL, MLS, MLB AAA, NASCAR want a place in Music City By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Monda...

21/04/2025

SVG Sit-Down: Telstra Broadcast Services CEO Karen Clark on the Challenge of Live Global Distribution

SVG Sit-Down: Telstra Broadcast Services CEO Karen Clark on the Challenge of Liv...

21/04/2025

Award Winning Producer/Director Don Mischer Dead at 85

Award Winning Producer/Director Don Mischer Dead at 85 By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Monday, April 21, 2025 - 12:30 pm Print This Story | Subscr...

21/04/2025

The Fox Sports Way: How AR Graphics, XR Tech, and LED Displays Have Become Centerpieces of FOX Sports' Biggest Events

The Fox Sports Way: How AR Graphics, XR Tech, and LED Displays Have Become Cente...

18/04/2025

NHL Playoffs 2025: TNT Sports Hits the Road for Onsite Productions With Mobile Units from NEP Group, Game Creek Video

NHL Playoffs 2025: TNT Sports Hits the Road for Onsite Productions With Mobile U...

18/04/2025

EVS's Sbastien Verlaine on U.S. Expansion, Next-Generation Products

EVSs S bastien Verlaine on U.S. Expansion, Next-Generation Products Beyond replay, offerings also target asset management and media infrastructure By Ken Kersc...

18/04/2025

ESPN Unleashes 4DREPLAY as NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships Hit ABC

ESPN Unleashes 4DREPLAY as NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships Hit ABC Men's championships to follow Saturday night on ESPN2 By Brandon Costa, Direct...

18/04/2025

Visualizing Victory: The Latest in AR, XR, and Virtual Production in Live Sports

Visualizing Victory: The Latest in AR, XR, and Virtual Production in Live Sports This panel discussion featured leaders from ESPN, CBS Sports, Warner Bros. Disc...

18/04/2025

NHL Playoffs 2025: With 16 Games in First Six Days, ESPN Deploys Variety of Remote-Production Models in U.S., Canada

NHL Playoffs 2025: With 16 Games in First Six Days, ESPN Deploys Variety of Remo...

17/04/2025

The Curling Group Puts On Inaugural Curling All-Star Game in Nashville

The Curling Group Puts On Inaugural Curling All-Star Game in Nashville The location in Music City is intended to broaden the sport's appeal By Dan Daley, ...

17/04/2025

SVG Sit-Down: Cisco's Bryan Bedford on Providing End-to-End Support for Clients, How Industry Trends Impact Workflows

SVG Sit-Down: Cisco's Bryan Bedford on Providing End-to-End Support for Clie...

17/04/2025

FIFA's Oscar Sanchez on the Task of Producing a North American World Cup

FIFA's Oscar Sanchez on the Task of Producing a North American World Cup The head of host broadcast production spoke during SVG Europe's Football Summit...

17/04/2025

NBA Playoffs 2025: As Play-In Tourney Continues, TNT Sports Preps Escalated Game-Day Tech for Postseason

NBA Playoffs 2025: As Play-In Tourney Continues, TNT Sports Preps Escalated Game...

17/04/2025

NBA Playoffs 2025: ESPN's Postseason Run Highlighted by New Cameras, Player Mics, Flagship Mobile Unit

NBA Playoffs 2025: ESPN's Postseason Run Highlighted by New Cameras, Player ...

16/04/2025

SVG Digital Engagement Forum 2025: All Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Digital Engagement Forum 2025: All Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PL...

16/04/2025

SVG College Sports Media Awards 2025: Today is the Final Deadline to Enter!

SVG College Sports Media Awards 2025: Today is the Final Deadline to Enter! All entries must be received by end-of-day April 16 By Brandon Costa, Director of D...

16/04/2025

Ross Video's Kevin Cottam on Carbonite HyperMax, Other Innovations at NAB 2025

Ross Video's Kevin Cottam on Carbonite HyperMax, Other Innovations at NAB 20...

15/04/2025

From Homer to Mickey, How ESPN Is Blazing the Live Animated Broadcast Trail

From Homer to Mickey, How ESPN Is Blazing the Live Animated Broadcast Trail ESPNs Amy Nelson, Sparky Sparrgrove, and Spike Szykowny offer an inside look at the ...

15/04/2025

SVG College Sports Media Awards 2025: Final Deadline to Enter is Wednesday

SVG College Sports Media Awards 2025: Final Deadline to Enter is Wednesday All entries must be received by end-of-day April 16 By Brandon Costa, Director of Di...

15/04/2025

Football Summit 2025: BBC Sport and Sunset+Vine Share Plans for UEFA Women's Euro 2025

Football Summit 2025: BBC Sport and Sunset Vine share plans for UEFA Women's...

15/04/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: ScorePlay Cofounder and CEO Vic Tixier on Media Management Solutions For Sports People By Sports People

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: ScorePlay Cofounder and CEO Vic Tixier on Media Manag...

15/04/2025

Inside IOWN: Envisioning a High-Speed, High-Capacity Future for Live Productions

Inside IOWN: Envisioning a high-speed, high-capacity future for live productions By Joe OHalloran Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 09:38 Print This Story As dele...

15/04/2025

Neither Fair Nor Objective, Mediapro Reacts Strongly to LaLiga Decision to Award Production Contract to HBS

Neither fair nor objective , Mediapro reacts strongly to LaLiga decision to awar...

15/04/2025

HBS and NVP Take LaLiga Production and Distribution for First and Second Division Matches on Five-Year Contract

HBS and NVP take LaLiga production and distribution for first and second divisio...

15/04/2025

LA28 Details Venue Plans for 2028 Summer Games

LA28 Details Venue Plans for 2028 Summer Games By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 1:37 pm Print This Story | Subscribe St...

14/04/2025

NAB 2025 in Review: Broadcast Audio Faces a Future of Tariff-Induced Higher Costs

NAB 2025 in Review: Broadcast Audio Faces a Future of Tariff-Induced Higher Cost...

14/04/2025

Changing the World: Behind the Collaborative Production of the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games

Changing the world: Behind the collaborative production of the 2025 Special Olym...

14/04/2025

From Paris to Milano Cortina: The International Paralympic Committee on the Movement's French Triumph and Looking Ahead to Italian Success

From Paris to Milano Cortina: The International Paralympic Committee on the move...

14/04/2025

SVG College Summit 2025: Jimmy Platt, ESPN's College Football Playoff, Women's Basketball Final Four Director, to Keynote

SVG College Summit 2025: Jimmy Platt, ESPN's College Football Playoff, Women...

14/04/2025

NAB 2025 in Review: SVG Audio Roundtable Reflects On a Changing Industry

NAB 2025 in Review: SVG Audio Roundtable Reflects On a Changing Industry Global sports, speech intelligibility, digital microphones are on the table By Dan Dal...

14/04/2025

NAB 2025 in Review: The Pairing of AI and Audio Is Possible

NAB 2025 in Review: The Pairing of AI and Audio Is Possible But it won't necessarily happen tomorrow By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Monday, April 14, 2025 - ...

14/04/2025

WNBA Draft 2025: ESPN's Onsite Effort Fits Into NYC Grid for National Telecast From The Shed at Hudson Yards

WNBA Draft 2025: ESPN's Onsite Effort Fits Into NYC Grid for National Teleca...

11/04/2025

The Teeter Totter Podcast featuring Mario Zecca and Corey Alberty: Super Bowl LIX with Fox Sports Director Rich Russo

The Teeter Totter Podcast featuring Mario Zecca and Corey Alberty: Super Bowl LI...