<\/p>\n
More than 250 leaders from across the live\u2013event-production ecosystem gathered for a full day of insight, inspiration, and forward-looking discussion at the inaugural SVG LIVE! Sports & Entertainment Production Conference<\/strong>. A packed audience of producers, technologists, and creatives explored how the lines between sports and entertainment are blurring and how innovation in live production is shaping the next generation of audience engagement.<\/p>\n Moderator Jeff Jacobs (NEP Group and SVG LIVE! Conference Chair) at the SVG LIVE! conference in L.A. with (L to R): Melanie Fletcher (Done+Dusted), Linda Gierahn (Silent House Productions), Craig Lazarus (ESPN), Josh Mark (SoFi Stadium), and Jonathan Mussman ( Netflix).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Held at the Luxe Sunset Blvd Hotel in Los Angeles, the new SVG event was chaired by industry veteran NEP Group SVP\/Head of Production <\/strong>Jeff Jacobs<\/strong>,<\/strong> a 30-year veteran of the sports-entertainment-production industry. Speakers took the stage from Done+Dusted, ESPN, FOX Sports, Funicular Goats, Global Citizen Organization, L2 Productions, LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, NEP Sweetwater, Netflix, NHL, NWSL, Savannah Bananas, Silent House Productions, SoFi Stadium\/Hollywood Park, and WWE.<\/p>\n The day kicked off with a Coffee Talk presentation by Crakes Media principal Patrick Crakes<\/strong>, offering a look at how live programming continues to thrive in a fragmented, on-demand media landscape. He set the table for the day by highlighting the enduring value of appointment viewing \u2014 from live sports coverage to awards shows and other cultural tentpoles \u2014 and how real-time engagement remains a critical driver of audience growth and ad revenue.<\/p>\n Few individuals embody the connection between sports and entertainment more than Jim Bell, SVP, media, LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games<\/strong>. In a candid and wide-ranging keynote presentation, he reflected on his career overseeing some of television\u2019s most iconic properties \u2014 from NBC Olympics to The Tonight Show<\/em> \u2014 and shared insights into LA28\u2019s media vision. He emphasized the importance of innovation, collaboration, and storytelling that connects global audiences through live moments.<\/p>\n Jacobs then led the \u201cMastering Ceremonies: Bringing Awards, Festivals, and Other Tentpole Events\u201d panel with top producers: Done+Dusted\u2019s Melanie Fletcher<\/strong>, Silent House\u2019s Linda Gierahn<\/strong>, ESPN\u2019s Craig Lazarus<\/strong>, SoFi Stadium\/YouTube Theater\u2019s Josh Mark<\/strong>, and Netflix\u2019s Jonathan Mussman<\/strong>. Together, they revealed the intricate planning, creative collaboration, and technological precision that power the award shows, fan festivals, and large-scale events that define modern entertainment.<\/p>\n In a joint presentation, Sony\u2019s Jaime Raffone<\/strong> and WWE\u2019s Joseph Solari<\/strong> demonstrated how virtual production is transforming the creative process, enabling greater flexibility and efficiency in studio environments. The session showcased how tools like LED volumes and real-time rendering are bridging cinematic and live-broadcast workflows.<\/p>\n The next panel \u2014 \u201cThe Future Is Live: Tech Innovations Driving Sports & Entertainment Production\u201d \u2014 explored the innovations shaping live-content creation. Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer and innovator Deena Sheldon<\/strong> joined Riedel Communications\u2019 Pino Barile<\/strong>, Blackmagic Design\u2019s J. David Hoffman<\/strong>, Canon\u2019s Jamon Lomax<\/strong>, and NEP Sweetwater\u2019s Jason Newman<\/strong> to discuss the rise of AI automation, cloud workflows, and cine-broadcast cameras\/lenses, underscoring how technology continues to elevate both efficiency and storytelling.<\/p>\n In an afternoon Fireside Chat with Jacobs, Global Citizen\u2019s Lee Rolontz<\/strong> offered an exclusive look at the 2024 FIFA Club World Cup Halftime Show, a collaboration of FIFA and Global Citizen designed to merge entertainment and advocacy on a global scale. In addition, Rolontz previewed the effort for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show, intended to inspire action through the power of live performance and storytelling.<\/p>\n The panel \u201cConvergence of Sports and Entertainment: Producing Studio Shows and Live Events on the Field and in The Arena\u201d brought together Done+Dusted\u2019s Guy Carrington<\/strong>, NHL\u2019s Bob Chesterman<\/strong>, Funicular Goats\u2019 Aaron Cooke<\/strong>, NBA\/Unrivaled\/MSG\u2019s Kevin Dobstaff<\/strong>, and NWSL\u2019s Brian Gordon<\/strong> to discuss how broadcasters are reinventing halftime shows and incorporating musical performances at sports events.<\/p>\n In an afternoon presentation, Ateme\u2019s Micka\u00ebl Raulet<\/strong> explored how the company\u2019s end-to-end video solutions are empowering federations and leagues to deliver immersive, next-generation fan experiences \u2014 from 360\u00b0 video to direct-to-consumer streaming platforms.<\/p>\n Next up, \u201cReality, Reimagined: The Role of AR, XR, and Virtual Production in Live Event Production\u201d featured Disguise\u2019s Dan Baum<\/strong>, FOX Sports\u2019 Zac Fields<\/strong>, Silver Spoon\u2019s Dan Pack<\/strong>, and The Famous Group\u2019s Jon Slusser<\/strong>. The panel showcased how AR, XR, and virtual-production tools are revolutionizing the look and feel of live coverage of sports and entertainment, creating hybrid experiences that engage both in-person and remote audiences.<\/p>\n In the day\u2019s closing session, TVU Networks\u2019 Tom Brown<\/strong>, L2 Productions\u2019 Scott Rehling<\/strong>, Savannah Bananas\u2019 Mitch Rubenstein<\/strong>, and Verizon\u2019s Tim Stevens<\/strong> examined the evolution of remote and cloud-based production models. The panel, titled \u201cNo More Boundaries: The Evolution of Onsite, REMI, and Cloud Production,\u201d highlighted how flexibility, scalability, and connectivity are redefining how \u2014 and where \u2014 live coverage is produced.<\/p>\n SVG LIVE! was made possible by Diamond Sponsor Riedel; Case Study Sponsors Sony and Ateme; Gold Sponsors The Studio \u2013 B&D, Disguise, Evertz, and Quantum; Event Sponsors AE LIVE, Blackmagic Design, The Famous Group, MASV, NEP, TAG VS, and TVU Networks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.sportsvideo.org \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discussion focused on how innovation is shaping the future of audience engagement More than 250 leaders from across the live\u2013event-production ecosystem gathered for a full day of insight, inspiration, and forward-looking discussion at the inaugural SVG LIVE! Sports & Entertainment Production Conference. 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