SVG All-Stars: Odair Auger, Tech Project Manager, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises

The native of S o Paulo, Brazil, will play a crucial role in the broadcaster's domestic Spanish-language coverage of the FIFA World Cup

The sports-production industry continues to evolve at a remarkable pace, fueled by new technology, new workflows, and a new generation of leaders pushing the craft forward. Now in Season 3, our SVG All-Stars series highlights the innovators and decision-makers driving that progress. Through each conversation, we explore their career paths, leadership philosophies, creative and technical breakthroughs, and the ideas shaping the future of live sports production.

Everyone's journey into the live sports television industry is a unique one. And then there's Odair Auger.

Long before this native of S o Paulo, Brazil, was helping drive major technical initiatives for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, he entered the broadcast industry at just 15 years old through a government program pairing formal education and hands-on experience. That early start at Globo, Brazil's largest television network, immersed him in large-scale live production and built the foundation for a career that would take him from real-time graphics and live data visualization to the vendor side of the business and, ultimately, to Telemundo's Operations & Technology team in Miami.

Today, as Tech Project Manager, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, Auger leads complex technical projects across major sports, high-profile events, and strategic initiatives. His role places him at the center of engineering, production, operations, IT, finance, vendors, and senior leadership, where he helps clarify complex workflows, align stakeholders, manage risk, and keep projects moving from planning through execution.

That blend of technical fluency, creative understanding, and global-production experience has proved especially valuable as Telemundo continues to evolve in a streaming-first media landscape. Auger has played a key role in projects tied to the company's FAST-channel strategy, including the 2022 World Cup virtual channel on Peacock and the launches of Noticias Telemundo Ahora and Telemundo Deportes Ahora. Now, with FIFA World Cup 2026 on the horizon, he is involved in the planning and execution for what will be one of the largest sports events in history.

Telemundo is a critical player in the growth of the domestic Spanish-language-television market in the U.S. Here, Auger sets up a shoot in one of the production-control rooms at Telemundo's facility in Miami earlier this year.In this edition of SVG All-Stars, Auger discusses his journey from Brazil to the U.S. sports-production industry, the importance of simplifying complexity, how flexible systems can help broadcasters innovate under cost pressure, and why kindness and curiosity remain essential leadership skills in a technology-driven business.

What are the key responsibilities of your current role?

I lead complex technical initiatives across NBCUniversal Telemundo's organization, focusing on major sports, high-profile events, and strategic projects. My primary responsibility is to keep all stakeholders moving in-sync from planning through execution. To do that, I focus on bringing clarity amid chaos - making sense of requirements, breaking down complex workflows, dependencies, and risks into actionable steps for teams and leadership. I often act as a mediator and facilitator, making sure nothing slips through the cracks and everyone has what they need to succeed.

I collaborate closely with groups like engineering, production, operations, IT, finance, HR, vendors, and senior leadership to align on goals, clarify ownership, set realistic timelines, and manage budgets. My background in real-time graphics and live production helps me bridge the technical and creative sides, translating needs and priorities in both directions. My responsibilities range from scoping new projects and facilitating cross-team communication to troubleshooting bottlenecks and tracking deliverables. Ultimately, my job is to simplify complexity, reduce risk, and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget - while keeping everyone informed and engaged along the way.

In addition to major live sports productions, Auger plays a key role behind the scenes on Telemundo's studio shows hosted from its Miami facility. On the set of sports show El Pelotazo in Telemundo Center's Studio L, Auger is joined by Telemundo colleagues Director, Strategic Portfolio Management, Francis Montes de Oca (left) and Project Manager Brenda Fajardo.What is one key industry trend that you believe is having a major impact on your organization right now?

I believe a key trend is the shift toward streaming-first thinking under intense cost pressure. The cost of - and competition for - media rights continues to rise, audiences are fragmenting, and there is less tolerance for expensive, single-use workflows.

That's forcing broadcasters to rethink everything: how infrastructure is shared, how formats scale across linear and streaming, how quickly content can be repurposed, and how to justify innovation with real operational value. Technologies like REMI, hybrid and cloud architecture, efficient XR workflows, and, of course, AI and automation are important. But what truly matters is building flexible systems and teams that can adapt quickly without blowing up budgets.

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

I believe that combining transparency, intentional collaboration, and a strong sense of ownership - while keeping our egos in check - is essential for fostering innovation, creativity, and a healthy environment where both the teams and the company can thrive and achieve sustainable success. Ideas are stronger when they're shared, not the opposite.

What is your favorite event(s) you'

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