SVG All-Stars: Pete Toma, Freelance Director

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

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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...
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