SVG's RSN Summit Draws 200+ to Chicago, Delves into Key Issues Facing Changing Industry By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Tuesday, July 5, 2022 - 3:54 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
SVG's RSN Summit returned in person last week to reunite the regional sports industry for the first time since the summer of 2019. At the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel on June 29-30, the event brought together RSN leaders and content creators to network and exchange ideas about the pertinent issues facing the regional sports sector as the business undergoes seismic change on multiple fronts. These leaders addressed how RSNs are being challenged to produce more events and content at lower costs while also navigating new pandemic-era realities and building beyond the linear-distribution model.
The event kicked off on June 29 with an opening-night reception along with a dinner presented by ProCrewz and Program Productions, which also served as title sponsor for the event.
Day 2 opened with a panel on New Production Models for a New Normal , which addressed how the pandemic dramatically transformed regional sports networks' live-production operations over the past two-plus years. To limit crew travel for safety and cost-saving reasons, RSNs have increasingly relied on enhanced world feeds and new REMI production workflows that leverage their broadcast facilities at home. As the RSN world returns to something resembling normalcy, Kendall Burgess, Bally Sports, VP of Technical Operations; Kenny Elcock, NESN, VP of Engineering; Jeff Filippi, MSG Networks, SVP of Programming & Production, Executive Producer; Devon Fox, NBC Sports Bay Area & California, Senior Director of Live Events & Special Projects; and Doug Johnson, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, VP and Executive Producer discussed how they are mixing established pre-pandemic production models with the new at-home workflows like MTVG's Cloud Control, Game Creek's GCV Anywhere, and Remote Access Productions (RAPs).
Next up was the hottest topic of the moment for the industry: The state of labor and how RSNs are managing a shrinking freelance workforce. ProCrewz Chairman of the Board and CEO Bob Carzoli addressed the exodus of sports-production professionals during the pandemic when many industry veterans opted to retire or find new career paths. As a result, RSNs find themselves searching desperately for talented engineers and production crew to work the thousands of regional broadcasts they deliver each year. Carzoli presented an overview of the state of the current market, how it has evolved, and what to expect in the future.
Next up, Imagine Communications' Bob Bolson talked with NESN VP of Engineering Kenny Elcock during a case study Q&A on planning and implementing the innovative technology behind the RSN's successful broadcasts in native 4K/HDR. Later in the day, Sportradar's Director of Broadcast Sales Patrick Murphy chatted with Marquee Sports Network graphics and EVS operator Nick Helling on enhanced storytelling through automated statistics.
As RSNs look to capitalize on the expected revenue boost offered by legalized sports betting in their respective states, several have launched BetCast alternative presentations of games, wagering-focused studio shows and original programming, predictive-gaming contests for fans, and more. A panel at the event addressed how RSNs are incorporating wagering content into their broadcasts, how they're using gamification to engage viewers, and what the future holds for sports betting at the RSN level. The discussion featured Danielle Cranin, NBC Sports, Director of Content Integration & Partnerships, Betting & Gaming; Talaya Gaines, MSG Networks, VP, Content Strategy and Original Programming; Mike McCarthy, Marquee Sports Network, General Manager; and Howard Zalkowitz, NESN, Executive Producer.
The first session of the afternoon focused on DTC and Authenticated Streaming and featured Ahmed Darwish, NESN, Chief Marketing Officer; Amy DesLauriers, Midco Sports, Senior Associate Product Manager - Sports/Advertising; Michael Schneider, Bally Sports, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager; and Scott Young, Transmit, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer. As consumer viewing habits evolve and carriage disputes become more frequent, RSNs are looking for new ways to deliver live games and original content directly to consumers. Some - including Bally Sports and NESN - have launched their own DTC streaming platforms - or have announced plans to do so - in order to reach fans directly while others launched dedicated apps and streaming experiences for authenticated cable subscribers. RSN leaders discuss best practices in designing a live-streaming app, avoiding potential pitfalls, enhancing fan interactivity, differentiating the digital experience, and leveraging non-game content for streaming/OTT outlets.
The topic of REMI/remote production echoed throughout the entire days sessions and took center stage during a panel entitled At-Home and in the Studio: From Announcers to Editors, How RSNs Are Embracing Remote Workflows . In the midst of the pandemic, RSNs were forced to shift production almost entirely to remote operation - from announcers calling games off monitors to editors creating content from their homes. Although staffers have gradually returned to onsite broadcast, many RSNs have opted to keep some crew and on-air talent at home. Pac-12 Networks EVP of Content Larry Meyers moderated a session featuring Jared Boshnack, YES Network, VP, Production; Brett Opdyke, Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun, Executive Producer; AJ Ponsiglione, Spectrum SportsNet and SportsNet LA, Senior Coordinating Producer, Studio and Live Events; and Mike Santini, Marquee Sports Network, SVP, Programming and Production.
The day closed with an RSN production tech roundu
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced its return as a sponsor of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the company will serve as the Official Connectivity ...
08/05/2026
For the second straight year, Miri Technologies Inc. has been honored with a pair of coveted awards at the broadcast, media and entertainment industry's pre...
08/05/2026
Nine Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards More than 20 alumni contributed to this year's Tony-nominated productions.
May 7, 2026
By
Tori Donahue
Boston Co...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Liberty University on why broadcast technology isn't just a technical invest...
08/05/2026
COW Jobs: UGC, On-Camera Video Content
Brie Clayton May 7, 2026
0 Comments
UGC, On-Camera Video Content
April 17, 2026Documentary Editor - US,......
08/05/2026
Over the past ten years, Thames Water, in partnership with Arqiva, has installed more than 1.2 million smart meters, creating one of the most extensive advanced...
07/05/2026
Journalists reporting on Sudan are working in one of the most complex and fast-m...
07/05/2026
Multi-year partnership positions Victory+ as a free home for Dallas Cowboys orig...
07/05/2026
From sideline reporting to directing and producing, the talented sophomore is building a well-rounded foundation for a career in live sports production
In the ...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital has received two Future Best of Show awards at NAB Show 2026. The COBALT blueCORE platform was recognized by TV Tech, and the COBALT PACIFIC ULL-...
07/05/2026
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the televised semifinals and finals of the 202...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI, the global film streaming platform, has selected Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner. Bitmovin's encoding infrastru...
07/05/2026
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and the U.S. Soccer Federation have announced...
07/05/2026
Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and Victory have announced a regional broadcast partnership bringing live match coverage to fans across the greater Los Angeles...
07/05/2026
Spiideo has announced the launch of AI Highlights inside Spiideo Play, its automated sports production platform. AI Highlights combines video, event data, audio...
07/05/2026
Leostream Corporation has announced a unified remote access ecosystem for high-p...
07/05/2026
The Atlanta Dream has partnered with Victory to stream all locally broadcast Dream games for free, expanding the team's digital distribution strategy and g...
07/05/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the appointment of Marc Engroff as Chief Fin...
07/05/2026
SES and ARD, Germany's largest public broadcasting network, have announced a long-term extension of their satellite distribution partnership through 2039. U...
07/05/2026
UpLight Technologies delivers a flexible video and lighting system for a new televised sportLaunching the Pro Cheer League required more than creating a compell...
07/05/2026
Full Day Productions and GSE Worldwide have announced Spikes Under the Lights, a...
07/05/2026
Seit dem Start im Jahr 2023 hat DJ (Beta) das personalisierte H rerlebnis von 94...
07/05/2026
Da quando stata presentata nel 2023, DJ (beta) ha aiutato a definire un'esperienza d'ascolto pi personalizzata per 94 milioni di utenti Spotify Premi...
07/05/2026
Since launching in 2023, DJ (beta) has helped shape a more personalized listenin...
07/05/2026
Desde o lan amento em 2023, o DJ (beta) j ajudou a deixar a experi ncia de ouvi...
07/05/2026
From our earliest days, Spotify has been built on a simple principle: Great audio should be easy to reach. It's what's driven us to expand from music to...
07/05/2026
Asian and Pacific Islander artists continue to shape the global soundscape, pushing creative boundaries and connecting with fans worldwide. This Asian & Pacific...
07/05/2026
Company announce long-requested choir instrument
In the latest expansion of their Symphonic Elements series, UJAM have introduced an all-new vocal instrumen...
07/05/2026
Modular-inspired sound generation with digital control
Buchla have introduced Ziggy, a new compact synthesizer built around the company's complex oscill...
07/05/2026
Combines analogue voices with digital synthesis and sequencing
Polyend have announced Drums, a new hybrid analogue and digital drum machine that combines sy...
07/05/2026
Control surface now officially supports four DAWs
When Nektar launched the Panorama CS12 control surface, it worked exclusively with Apple's Logic Pro, ...
07/05/2026
In the first quarter 2026, SGL Carbon generated consolidated sales of 184.5 million, which was 49.8 million, or 21.3%, lower than in the prior year (Q1 2025: ...
07/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Greenerwave achieve precise and fast ESA antenna characteriz...
07/05/2026
Two multi-role L3Harris products - the Red Wolf launched effects vehicle and SK...
07/05/2026
L3Harris will be developing key features of a secure and resilient digital infra...
07/05/2026
Alysa Liu and Shohei Ohtani Help Drive Viewership as 91 of the Top 100 Broadcast...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital Wins Two Future Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show
Manufacturer Recognized by TV Tech and TVBEurope for Innovation in signal processing
Cobal...
07/05/2026
Software and hardware platforms, AI power and user-friendliness on show...
07/05/2026
Intinor will demonstrate its latest technical enhancements for the Direkt series at BroadcastAsia 2026. With a continued focus on reliable contribution and remo...
SVG's RSN Summit Draws 200+ to Chicago, Delves into Key Issues Facing Changing Industry By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
