17th-Annual SVG College Summit Unites Video-Production Community as Industry Undergoes Seismic Change 500+ attendees discover budget-friendly tech, network with industry-leading vendors By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S. Friday, May 30, 2025 - 9:00 am
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College sports are evolving faster than ever, and, with the industry landscape shifting, it's more important than ever for college athletics programs to strengthen video-production strategies, staffs, and workflows. The 17th-annual SVG College Summit brought more than 500 college sports-video-production professionals together in Atlanta for two days of dynamic presentations, expert panel discussions, technology-driven case studies, behind-the-scenes facility tours, and invaluable networking opportunities.
At the SVG College Summit in Atlanta, ESPN director Jimmy Platt (right) was interviewed about the art of storytelling in the live game by event chairman, Dennis Trapani, Associate AD, Creative Services from the University of Wyoming. (Photos: Jerrold Daniels for SVG)
Chaired by Dennis Trapani, associate AD, creative services, University of Wyoming, and spearheaded by the SVG College Sports Advisory Committee, this year's Summit (May 28-29 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta) offered attendees the opportunity to check out some of the industry's best work; connect with top producers, editors, and engineers; and exchange ideas on critical topics like live-production innovations, creative-content workflows, and staffing strategies for full-time and student crews.
Day 1: HBCUGo, NIL Effect, Iconic Director Jimmy Platt, College Sports Media Awards New this year at the Summit, SVG and HBCUGo partnered to host the half-day HBCUGo Sports Workshop, with athletic directors, sports information directors, and students at HBCUs coming together to discuss how to grow HBCU sports properties and exposure, improve the quality of on-campus sports productions, and more.
Following Welcoming Remarks from Title Sponsor Ross Video, the Day 1 General Sessions kicked off with a look at one of the most pressing topics in all of college sports: name, image, and likeness (NIL). There's no denying that college athletics is being dramatically altered by the NIL Effect, but what does it mean for video production and distribution? Representatives from LSU Athletics, Penn State, University of North Carolina, and Tata Communications discussed how internal content-creation departments are evolving to better support the athletic department and its student-athletes, as well as how content creation has become critical to recruiting, best practices for content sharing between athletic departments and student-athletes, and the impact on live broadcasts and in-venue shows.
Next up, a case study from the University of Nebraska and Lawo detailed the IP-based audio network that HuskerVision built two years ago and the IP-based UHD video ecosystem it built this year, both deploying a variety of Lawo technologies.
The Day 1 program also featured a Keynote Conversation with ESPN director Jimmy Platt, one of the sports-media industry's most accomplished directors and lead director for ESPN's coverage of college football (including the CFP and the National Championship Game) and the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament (including the Final Four and National Championship).
A highlight of Day 1 was the presentation of the 17th-annual SVG College Sports Media Awards in association with NACDA. Hosted by Maria Trivelpiece, director, video communications/reporter, American Athletic Conference, the ceremony celebrated the best content from across the college-sports landscape. CLICK HERE for the full list of winners.
The evening of Day 1 featured a variety of networking opportunities, including the SVG College Welcoming Networking Reception, SVG Industry Meetup: Atlanta, and SVGW Meetup.
Day 2: Virtual Production, Mental Health, Industry Legend Mike Bilbow Day 2 General Sessions led off with Blurring Reality: Is Virtual Production What's Next in College Content Creation? which delved into the growth of augmented-reality graphics and virtual-production technologies. Leaders from Drexel University, Notre Dame Studios, University of Florida, and Matrox Video discussed how schools are beginning to immerse themselves in such technologies as green screen, LED walls, and elaborate full-LED volumes, as well as the technology and training required to capitalize on these tools.
The University of Texas then took the stage to explore how SMPTE ST 2110 enables high-quality, IP-based media transport across its campus. UT worked with Imagine Communications to find new ways of interconnectivity to enhance live production, streamline resource sharing, and support a scalable, future-ready infrastructure.
In today's hyperactive media-production age, the topic of mental health has taken center stage. How are you taking care of yourself and your team's mental well-being? Is it getting better out there? Day 2 General Sessions closed with a panel tackling this important topic of how the industry can be made better today and for future generations.
Also on Day 2, Mike Bilbow, director, digital and production, University of Georgia Athletics, was honored posthumously with the 2025 SVG College Pioneer Award, which celebrates those who have innovated in the fields of video production and technology at the university level and have advanced the industry at large. Bilbow, who died last month following a battle with cancer, was an industry pioneer, a storyteller, an innovative creator of fan experiences in the stadium or arena, and a leader across the business. He had been a fixture on the college video scene and beloved member of the community since the 1990s.
Breakout Sessions: Power Programs, Mid-Major/Small Program
