
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&
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...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
13/04/2026
ToolsOnAir Composition Builder 2026 Boilerplate
More Details: The Composition Builder 2026 application for macOS enables TV stations and Live Event broadcast...
13/04/2026
ToolsOnAr just:live pro 2026 Boilerplate
More Details: just:live pro 2026 is a Multi-Channel Live Production Playout solution for video and static or real-ti...
13/04/2026
ToolsOnAr just:play pro 2026 Boilerplate
More Details: just:play pro 2026 is a Multi-Channel automated 24/7 Master Control playout solution with SD, HD and U...
13/04/2026
ToolsOnAr live:cut 2026 Boilerplate
More Details: live:cut is an option to just:in mac pro 2025 and enables multicamera production workflows for up to 16 cam...
13/04/2026
ToolsOnAir Just In Mac Lite NDI 2026 Boilerplate
More Details: The Just In Mac Lite NDI application is a streamlined media capture solution designed specific...
13/04/2026
ToolsOnAir Just In Mac Lite 2026 Boilerplate
More Details: The Just In Mac Lite application is a streamlined media capture solution designed specifically for...
13/04/2026
ToolsOnAir just:in mac pro 2026 Boilerplate
More Details: just:in mac pro is a macOS-based client-server multichannel capture solution to record SDI, HDMI, N...
13/04/2026
Telos Alliance has announced that J nger Audio has joined the EBU ADM Implementers Group (ADM-IG) as a founding member. The group is focused on advancing ADM an...
13/04/2026
Grass Valley will demonstrate its Alliance Partner ecosystem at NAB Show 2026 (Booth C2408, Central Hall, April 19-22), showing AMPP integrations across live pr...
13/04/2026
Media Links will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2033), demonstrating IP transport solutions for live production including hitless protection technology, Xscen...
13/04/2026
NBC Sports has announced a programming, distribution, and sales partnership with...
13/04/2026
FloSports has promoted Chief Operating Officer Jayar Donlan to President, effective immediately. In his new role, Donlan will lead the company's commercial,...
13/04/2026
PanCam Pictures, the documentary production company founded by Paul Camarata, us...
13/04/2026
Mimir will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (North Hall, Booth N2850), demonstrating its cloud-native media production platform with new capabilities including Mimir Cu...
13/04/2026
BBright has announced that its IP Gateway now supports the Reliable Internet Stream Transport (RIST) protocol. The addition will be introduced at NAB Show 2026 ...
13/04/2026
Net Insight has been awarded a development project through the European Space Agency's Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP), with co-funding f...
13/04/2026
intoPIX will exhibit at NAB Show 2026, marking the company's 20th anniversary. The company will demonstrate its JPEG XS compression portfolio and IPMX-appro...
13/04/2026
Starting from scratch, the team built an in-house content platform comprising ga...
13/04/2026
Here's a look at some of the new products and updates, along with audio-centric conferences, that attendees will find next week at the show
When the 2026 N...
13/04/2026
Avid will launch new integrated newsroom capabilities for Avid for News at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N2226, April 18-22), demonstrating how Avid Content Core connect...
13/04/2026
Synamedia has announced a new version of Quortex PowerVu, an IP-native, software...
13/04/2026
Mediaproxy has developed a suite of AI-powered tools for brand and advertisement tracking, integrated into its LogServer compliance logging and analysis platfor...
13/04/2026
Disguise will demonstrate its media servers and software at NAB Show 2026, appearing across five partner booths in Central Hall: MRMC, B&H, Planar, CarbonBlack,...
13/04/2026
OpenDrives is introducing OpenDrives Edge at NAB Show 2026, a hybrid cloud-edge performance accelerator for distributed video and rich media workflows. The prod...
13/04/2026
The show will deploy 18 cameras across two sets and the draft floor, including a...
13/04/2026
Intuitive EQ plug-in gets an upgrade
Following its official launch back in February 2026, Musik Hack's intuitive EQ plug-in has been treated to its firs...
13/04/2026
Flagship soft synth collection expanded
The latest version of UVI's flagship vintage-inspired soft synth collection has just arrived, expanding the suit...
13/04/2026
Free version of innovative string library arrives
Released in October 2025, Lux Orchestral Strings was said to be Sonuscore's most ambitious library to ...
13/04/2026
The Girls' Research Camp is part of the Technology - Future in Bavaria edu...
13/04/2026
Rohde & Schwarz transforms submarine communications for real time underwater dom...
13/04/2026
Rohde & Schwarz enables Pulsar signal simulation to support next-generation navi...
13/04/2026
L3Harris is accelerating the development of infrared payloads for Space Development Agency's Tranche 2 Tracking Layer, to help meet urgent national defense ...
13/04/2026
By leveraging cutting-edge unfilmed Gen III image intensifier technology, NOVA delivers unmatched clarity, range, and reliability in low-light environments - en...
13/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/04/2026
Explore new Disguise plugins, including Sony's VP integration; Listen to panels across partner booths at Sony and B&H
Disguise, the company powering everyt...
13/04/2026
TAG Video Systems, the leading IP-native Realtime Media Platform, has announced its participation in the Media Exchange Layer (MXL) interop initiative. TAG has ...
13/04/2026
Today, Chaos launched V-Ray for Blender Community Edition at BCON Austin 2026, making its production-proven 3D renderer free for all Blender users. The same Aca...
13/04/2026
Additions strengthen LTN's leadership as broadcasters scale satellite-to-IP transition
LTN today announced the appointments of Mark Romano as Vice Presiden...
13/04/2026
LEEDS, UK, APRIL 13, 2026 NUGEN Audio releases Halo Vision v1.2, a significant update to its real time, customizable audio analysis suite for 3D, surround and...
13/04/2026
Atomos today announced the acquisition of Flanders Scientific (FSI), one of the most respected names in professional reference monitoring. This strategic move r...
13/04/2026
How Mei Semones Built Her Sound from J-Pop, Jazz, and Bilingual Songwriting The indie-pop artist combines agile guitar lines, rhythmic shifts, and lyrics that...
13/04/2026
Cue the Change: Jonathon Heyward Is Making Classical Music More Relatable Nicknamed the Converse Conductor, the Boston Conservatory alum holds top conductin...
13/04/2026
Heat Wave: Inside Miamis Sizzling, Boundary-Blurring Latin Music Scene In a city shaped by migration and exchange, Berklee alumni are helping drive a Latin mu...