SVG TranSPORT 2020: CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and Sinclair Talk Return of Live Sports, Sept. 23-24 Broadcasters will address new transmission schemes in the age of coronavirus By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - 11:45 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
After a months-long shutdown, major sports leagues suddenly snapped back into live action over the summer with MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and others resuming live play for the first time since the pandemic began. At the SVG's TranSPORT Virtual Series (Sept. 23-24), top transmission leaders from CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and Sinclair provide an inside look inside look at how they were able to develop new tactics on the fly and create new transmission schemes to bring live sports back to the masses. CLICK HERE to register now for the panel featuring Fox Sports' Brad Cheney, NBC Sports Group's Chris Connolly, ViacomCBS's Ken Fuller, Sinclair Broadcast Group's Paul Spinelli, and ESPN's Adam Whitlock.
Whitlock will also kick off TranSPORT with an Opening Keynote detailing how ESPN has been able to deliver hundreds of live events since sports resumed despite a myriad pandemic-related challenges.
In addition to the Broadcasters Go Inside the Return of Live Sports panel on Day 1, this quintet of transmission-focused execs will return on Day 2 for the TranSPORT's annual State of the Industry panel to discuss the most pressing issues facing the industry today and how the connectivity needs for live-sports-content creators are evolving in the age of coronavirus.
Other TranSPORT sessions will include:
The Rise of IP Backhaul: How the Contribution Game Is Changing
Transmission 2020: 5G, HEVC, JPEG XS, SRT, and Beyond
Net Insight Case Study: Efficient Remote Live Sports Media Production
Video-Transport Infrastructure Tech Focus: Encoders, Decoders, and Transmission Equipment
Video-Transport Services Tech Focus: Fiber Networks, CDNs, and Satellite Services
A Live Speaker Q&A and Networking Zoom Room at the end of each day
Check out the full program below:
Day 1: September 23 Program 2:00 - 2:05 p.m.: Welcoming Remarks Presented by Telstra
Presenter: Adam Day, Telstra Broadcast Services, VP and Head of Technology and Media Sales, Americas
2:05 - 2:20 p.m.: Opening Keynote: Inside ESPN's Transmission Plan for the Return of Live Sports
After a months-long shutdown, major sports leagues suddenly snapped back into live action in July with MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and others resuming live play for the first time since the pandemic began. As the largest sports rightsholder in North America, ESPN was suddenly forced to deliver hundreds of live events from new venues with myriad new challenges. Get an inside look at how ESPN's remote traffic operations department was able to develop new tactics on the fly and create a new transmission scheme to bring live sports back to the masses.
Presenter: Adam Whitlock, ESPN, Associate Director, Remote Traffic Operations
2:20 - 3:00 p.m.: Broadcasters Go Inside the Return of Live Sports
Following on the heels of the Opening Keynote from ESPN, major sports broadcasters go behind the scenes on how they created new transmission schemes to bring live sports back to the masses.
Moderator: Jason Dachman, SVG, Chief Editor and TranSPORT Program Director
Panelists:
Brad Cheney, Fox Sports, VP, Field Operations and Engineering
Chris Connolly, NBC Sports Group, Senior Director, Transmission Engineering and Operations
Ken Fuller, ViacomCBS, VP, Distribution and Technology
Paul Spinelli, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Director of Engineering
Adam Whitlock, ESPN, Associate Director, Remote Traffic Operations
3:00 - 3:15 p.m.: Net Insight Case Study: Efficient Remote Live Sports Media Production
Mobilelinks, one of Northern Europe's leading partners in the delivery of broadcast media, will share exciting experiences of different at-home production scenarios - from 100-Gbps uncompressed live feeds to remote commentary working from home.
Presenters:
Andreas Langell, Mobilelinks, CEO
Per Lindgren, Net Insight, CTO and Co-Founder
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.: The Rise of IP Backhaul: How the Contribution Game Is Changing
The use of IP networks to backhaul live sports events has skyrocketed in recent years as broadcasters look to find more efficient and flexible means for contribution. In addition, with more connectivity needed for remote/decentralized productions, public and private IP networks are playing a bigger role than ever in connecting the stadium to the broadcast center. Technology leaders discuss how IP has dramatically altered the contribution landscape in recent years - and in the wake of the pandemic - as well as how they expect the use of IP transmission to evolve in the coming years.
Moderator: Brandon Costa, SVG, Director of Digital
Panelists:
Steven Dargham, Telstra Broadcast Services, Business Development Executive - Major Events
Mo Goyal, Evertz, Senior Director, International Business Development, Live Media Production
Daniel Maloney, Matrox, Daniel Maloney
Dan Pisarski, LiveU, VP of Engineering
Marcus Schioler, Haivision, Vice President of Product Marketing
4:00 - 4:30 p.m.: Video-Transport Infrastructure Tech Focus: Encoders, Decoders, and Transmission Equipment
Live sports broadcasts simply can't exist without a solid layer of backend transmission infrastructure. Leading technology providers of encoders/decoders and other transmission gear discuss their latest offerings and how they see the market evolving in the age of coronavirus.
Moderator: Kristian Hernandez, SVG, Associate Editor and Social Media Manager
Panelists:
Brandon Baker, Sencore, Strategic Account Manager
John Dale, Media Links, Director, Chief Marketing Officer
Matthew Goldman, MediaKind, SVP of Technology
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.: Live Speaker Q&
