Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

HPA Tech Retreat Offers Deep Look at Current - and Future - State of Esports Market

14/02/2019

HPA Tech Retreat Offers Deep Look at Current - and Future - State of Esports Market SVG collaborated with HPA on opening-day TR-X event focused on esports By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor

Wednesday, February 13, 2019 - 11:03 am

Print This Story

Story Highlights

Kicking off the 2019 HPA Tech Retreat on Monday, the annual HPA TR-X event was dedicated to the rapidly growing esports sector. As part of the TR-X festivities at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, CA, SVG partnered with the HPA to produce a pair of sessions: Esports Pipeline of the Future and Are You Ready for the Challenge?

Chaired by Mobile TV Group Director, Business Development, Mark Chiolis and Amazon Web Services Senior Consultant, M&E Professional Services, Craig German, TR-X brought together industry leaders to discuss how videogame publishers, esports leagues, esports venues, and live-streaming services are transforming live sports production.

Keynote: ESL's Martinez Stresses Complexity of Esports Production

In an opening keynote presentation, ESL North America CEO Yvette Martinez detailed how the esports organizer/producer became the world's largest esports company and offered a comprehensive overview of the entire esports ecosystem. She spoke to the broad spectrum of esports events - from 1v1 to 5v5 to battle royale with hundreds of players - and the challenges created on the production side.

Keynote presenter ESL's Yvette Martinez: [With esports,] we are dealing with multiple different sports within a sport. Every single game is a dramatically different community of fans.

I've always said that esports is more like track and field than a sport like basketball: we are dealing with multiple different sports within a sport, she said. Every single game is a dramatically different community of fans. The Counterstrike fan is a dramatically different fan than a Hearthstone fan.

You have to serve each of these different communities very differently, she continued. Putting on a Hearthstone tournament - a card game - is very different from putting on a [Player Unknown's Battlegrounds] tournament, where you have 100 players in the room. That is the complexity that we face, not only from a production perspective. How do you market and deliver the content? How do you speak to the fan and serve their needs? It gets very complicated very quickly.

Digging Deeper: Toughest Operational and Technical Challenges

Esports Pipeline of the Future and Are You Ready for the Challenge? - companion panels co-produced by HPA and SVG and moderated by SVG Chief Editor Jason Dachman - addressed both the greatest operational and technical challenges and opportunities facing live-esports-production entities today.

The Esports Pipeline of the Future panel: (from left) SVG's Jason Dachman, Turner Sports' Tom Sahara, Riot Games' Mitch Rosenthal, Simplynew's Marc Scarpa, and Gearhouse Broadcast's Marc Genin

First, in Esports Pipeline of the Future: Could Esports Unseat America's Biggest Sports Event?, top-ranked esports-operations executives discussed today's live-production workflows and how they are evolving. The panel featured organizations representing different pieces of the esports-production ecosystem: esports broadcaster Turner Sports (which operates ELEAGUE events), game publisher Riot Sports (which operates the League of Legends Championship Series), esports-venue specialist Simplynew (which served as media-solutions integrator for Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas), and remote-production-facilities provider Gearhouse Broadcast (which has provided trucks and equipment for dozens of esports events). On the panel were Tom Sahara, VP, operations and technology, Turner Sports (and SVG Advisory Board Chairman); Mitch Rosenthal, head of production and operations, Riot Games; Marc Scarpa, co-founder, Simplynew; and Marc Genin, managing director, Gearhouse Broadcast.

Are You Ready for the Challenge? panel: (from left) SVG's Jason Dachman, Riot Games' Ray Panahon, LJK Consult's Lowell Kay, ESL's Mike Ulaky, and esports-production veteran Shawn Hendrix

The more technology-focused Are You Ready for the Challenge? panel provided an insider's look at the next-gen technologies being used today for esports productions and those currently in development. Workflows and infrastructure were outlined by Riot Games Technical Lead Ray Panahon, discussing the League of Legends Championship Series, and by ESL Senior Solutions Engineer Mike Ulaky, covering dozens of productions across North America. In addition, Shawn Hendrix, a two-decade veteran of the esports-production industry, detailed how live workflows have evolved and the tools he's using to produce events today. And LJK Consult's Lowell Kay, who led technical integration for the recently opened Esports Stadium Arlington, provided a behind-the-scenes look at the technology inside North America's largest esports venue.

More From TR-X: Beat the Clock, Technical Enablement, Collegiate Esports

In addition, TR-X offered a pair of Beat the Clock sessions, which provided five speakers 2 minutes apiece to address key issues facing the esports industry: Sahara, CBT Systems' Darrell Wenhardt, Artistic Resources Corp.'s Michael Little, Unity's Adam Myhill, and UCLA's Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports' Jay Tucker.

A session titled The Metal Behind the Medal focused on the technical enablement required to create esports-production workflows and featured Dell EMC's Thomas Burns, Microsoft's Eliot Sakhartov, industry expert Josh Rizzo, and Myhill.

With a growing number of top universities and colleges establishing esports programs, TR-X also offered a session addressing the esports curriculum of the future, featuring Yellowpike Media's Dakota
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/02/13/hpa-tech-retreat-offers-deep-lo...
See more stories from svg

More from Sports Video Group

28/03/2024

TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio

TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio Marching bands, crowds make up for lack of court FX and wired players By Dan Daley, Audio Editor ...

28/03/2024

Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Shared Reality' Venues

Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Share...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2024 Home Games

MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production

MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production The league's production arm marks 15th-anniversary season with packed schedule By ...

28/03/2024

MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volumetric Replays, Win Probability' in Scorebug

MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volume...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans

MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans More player and field sound will be on tap By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Thursday, March 28, 202...

27/03/2024

Program Productions Partners With Investment Firm Integrum, Eyes Expansion Into New Markets

Program Productions Partners With Investment Firm Integrum, Eyes Expansion Into ...

26/03/2024

Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on Creating a Content Strategy That Makes a Difference

Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on C...

26/03/2024

WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group

WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group Managing content teams with New York Jets Jessica Ciccone, Washington Commanders Rae...

26/03/2024

Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer

Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - 1:01 pm Print This Story |...

26/03/2024

NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 So Paulo Game, Prime Video Adds NFL Wild Card Game

NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 S o Paulo Game, Prime Vid...

25/03/2024

The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Breaks Down the Complexities

The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Break...

25/03/2024

Rising Star: Checking Out Strategic Sports Goals With TikTok's Global Head of Sports Partnerships Rollo Goldstaub

Rising star: Checking out strategic sports goals with TikTok's global head o...

25/03/2024

TV Skyline Completes Record Winter Sports Season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalbach

TV Skyline completes record winter sports season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalb...

25/03/2024

Sports Innovation 2024: New Viewing Experiences and Tracking Systems Provide a Glimpse Into the Future

Sports Innovation 2024: New viewing experiences and tracking systems provide a g...

25/03/2024

Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and Warnings in Equal Measure as AI Dominates Dsseldorf Event

Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and warnings in equal measure as AI dominates...

25/03/2024

NAB 2024: EVS Sets Out Plans for NAB and Highlights Industry Tech Trends

EVS sets out plans for NAB and highlights industry tech trends By George Bevir Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 16:34 Print This Story Left to right: Lisa Coll...

25/03/2024

ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Live Sports Broadcast

ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Liv...

25/03/2024

NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Broadcast

NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time...

22/03/2024

Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Production

Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Producti...

22/03/2024

SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Landscape

SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Lan...

22/03/2024

Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consumer, OTT Platforms

Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consum...

22/03/2024

With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women's March Madness From All Angles

With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women'...

21/03/2024

Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics

Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics Tech leaders from FIFA, Sky Sports, and Genius Sports discussed the opportunities at SVG Euro...

21/03/2024

March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center for 20-Camera Productions

March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center ...

21/03/2024

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Activating Content Via AI Tools

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Act...

21/03/2024

Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A National-Network Feel at DC's New RSN

Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A Nation...

21/03/2024

SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27

SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27 By SVG Staff Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 1:47 pm Print This Story | Subscribe Story...

20/03/2024

Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Production

Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Produ...

20/03/2024

The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimpse Into the Past and the Future

The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimps...

20/03/2024

MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate in South Korea

MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate i...

20/03/2024

Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX

Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX 52FLEX seats over 20 on-site crew members and features a first-of-its-kind Visitor Mobile Un...

20/03/2024

Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65

Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65 He led regional broadcasts for both the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals duri...

19/03/2024

Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want

Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want Sky Sports Sarah Cheadle, Telenet Play Sports Serge Bellens spoke at SVG Europes Football Summit l...

19/03/2024

Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With iPhones

Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With...

19/03/2024

Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level

Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 10:40 am Print ...

19/03/2024

Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broadcast Studios

Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broa...

19/03/2024

NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emBET Integration

NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emB...

19/03/2024

ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Through 2031-32 Season

ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Throug...

18/03/2024

Major League Soccer: IMG on Capturing Fan Rituals and Delivering Consistent Coverage

Major League Soccer: IMG on capturing fan rituals and delivering consistent cove...

18/03/2024

Smashing Padel: Inside Aurora's Innovative Production of the Inaugural Hexagon Cup

Smashing padel: Inside Aurora's innovative production of the inaugural Hexag...

18/03/2024

Airspeeder Teams Up With EMG for World's First Live Broadcast of Flying Car Series

Airspeeder teams up with EMG for world's first live broadcast of flying car ...

15/03/2024

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mix for NBC Sports; Coverage Goes HDR

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mi...

15/03/2024

SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video Systems Dissect the FAST Boom

SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video...

15/03/2024

Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming JV

Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming ...

15/03/2024

Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Drones for Second Year in a Row

Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Dro...

15/03/2024

After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partners, Free DTC Platform

After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partn...

14/03/2024

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facility

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facil...

14/03/2024

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, Coverage

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, C...