2020-21 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame by Sports Video Group

Class of 2020-21

Hugo Gaggioni

Fred Gaudelli

Phyllis George

Tom Sahara

INDUCTION CEREMONY

December 14, 2021

The New York Hilton Midtown, Trianon Ballroom

www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

SPORTS BROADCASTING FUND It’s. What. We. Do. Supporting our own in times of need...

Since 2012, the SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund has been making a difference in people’s lives, day in day out, week after week. Created especially for those involved in sports production, the Fund is dedicated to providing aid to industry professionals and their families in times of need. Our goal is simple: to be available as a “first responder” and to quickly help those we serve pay bills, enabling recipients to stretch their own cash reserves so that stress related to financial challenges is not piled onto an already stressful situation.

On October 2, 2020, 11-yearold Cassidy Stocker (center) was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund stepped in to assist with everything from living expenses to insurance premiums and treatments. She continues to inspire friends, family, and even strangers via her “Candid with Cassidy” YouTube channel that has more than 2,000 subscribers.

The SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund exists thanks to the generous financial support of those in our industry. As you or your company lay out charitable contributions, please make sure to include the SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund in your plans! All ticket sales to the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Ceremony directly support the SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity. TIN: 84-2588096 NYS Reg: 48-15-35.

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CELEBRATING THOSE WHO INSPIRED A GENERATION AND TRANSFORMED TECHNOLOGY

hen we turned off the lights and closed the doors on the 2019 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Ceremony, little did we know what lay ahead. Celebrating the Class of 2020 in 2020 was a foregone conclusion. By the time we got to the voting for this year’s class in June of 2020, however, we knew full well just how bad the pandemic was and the risk it posed to holding the ceremony in person. At the time, we discussed the idea of holding the ceremony virtually, but that discussion ended in less than a minute because a Hall of Fame Ceremony without family members, friends, and colleagues coming together in person was simply a non-starter. And that gets us to tonight: December 14, 2021. Nearly 18 months after we announced the Class of 2020, we finally gather together to celebrate their achievements, honor their excellence, and create new memories that were born out of decades of hard work. All of tonight’s inductees have left an indelible mark on our industry. And this program offers a change from years past, as instead of being filled with biographical information, it is filled with thoughts from colleagues about why tonight’s Hall of Famers mattered; not only as game changers, mentors, and trailblazers professionally, but also as great humanitarians. If anyone has any doubts as to why tonight’s inductees are being honored, the comments from their colleagues in this program will quickly dispel them. It’s only fitting that tonight’s class has so many inductees who have spent so much of their careers (and post careers) helping others in need. Fitting, because for nearly two years we have seen the entire sports production community rise and work together to overcome challenging circumstances. None of the efforts to keep sports production moving forward would have been possible without a true sense of community and professionalism, from the runner in the compound to the network president. So, tonight, we celebrate those who have inspired a generation, opened doors, and transformed technology. Tonight, we honor the Class of 2020-21: Charles Barkley, James Brown, Don Cornelli, John Filippelli, Tim Finchem, Hugo Gaggioni, Fred Gaudelli, Phyllis George, and Tom Sahara.

PRODUCED BY

19 West 21st Street, Suite 301 New York, NY 10010 Tel: 646-205-1810 Fax: 212-696-1783 www.sportsvideo.org Executive Producer Ken Aagaard Show Producer Michael Goldman Producer Ken Kerschbaumer Stage Manager Greg Fox Video Producer/Coordinator David Beld Director of Engineering Jon Campbell Bexel / NEP Project Managers Andrea Rosenkrans and Nick Teti Graphics Operator Thom Paris Prompting Operator Meghan Prendergast Tyler VO Talent Colin Cosell Talent Coordinator/PA Alyssa Goldman Registration & Table Sales Carrie Bowden Editorial Support Ken Kerschbaumer, Jason Dachman, Brandon Costa, Kristian Hernandez, and Susan Qualtrough Production Support Karen Hogan Ketchum and Katie Champion Art Direction Riva Danzig Sponsorship Rob Payne, Andrew Gabel, and Dylan Davidson Event Operations Director Cris Ernst Meetings and Events Manager Alicia Montanaro Membership Services Andrew Lippe

Happy Holidays,

Ken Aagaard Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Chairman

Thank you to these partners for providing video-footage support: CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NBA, NBC Sports, PGA Tour Entertainment, Sony, Turner Sports, and YES Network

...EXTENDS ITS THANKS TO TO THIS YEAR’S SPONSORS BENEFACTOR

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CHARLES BARKLEY There is no one like Charles and there never will be. He is one of the most influential figures in sports history, with a personality and voice that has transcended the entire media industry. His basketball IQ, quick wit, unfiltered opinions and self-deprecating demeanor have informed, entertained and endeared him to countless fans. He is so deserving of this prestigious honor. – Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports

“Sir Charles” is in his 21st season as an analyst on TNT’s Emmy Award-winning studio show Inside the NBA. Over his career, Barkley has earned a reputation as a straight shooter who offers solid insights along with plenty of humor and laughs. Since 2011, he has served as a studio analyst for CBS and Turner’s NCAA Division I Men’s Championship coverage.

Charles is one of the smartest, most entertaining and influential commentators in all of sports. With a larger-than-life personality and unique perspective on the game, Charles has endeared himself to generations of NBA fans as he did throughout his Hall of Fame playing career. – Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner Charles is a game changer because he is completely authentic. Off the air, Charles is one of the most gracious and loyal people you will come across and is revered in the halls of Turner Sports because he treats everyone like they are part of his family. – David Levy Charles is great because there’s nobody else like Charles. And he gets away with saying things that would get other people in trouble, or would not go down as appealingly if somebody else said it. – Bob Costas, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer In the history of the business, there’s three people who you watch regardless what the score is because you have no idea what they’re going to do. The first one was Howard Cosell, the second was John Madden, and now its Chuck. – Shawn Gerchicoff, Turner Sports He would’ve been a viral sensation back then, but we didn’t have the technology. But I used to talk about how he was kind of like our King Midas — whatever he spoke about turned to gold. – Albert “Scooter” Vertino, Turner Sports I think our willingness to talk about things other than basketball and things that are socially important. I think a lot of that stems from Charles being on the show. – Ernie Johnson, Turner Sports

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

SPORTS BROADCASTING HALL OF FAME CEREMONY HOST

LESLEY VISSER

ith so many “firsts” attributed to Lesley Visser throughout her storied career in sports broadcasting, it’s fair to say that she didn’t just blaze the trail for female sportscasters: she created it. When Visser was growing up in the 1960s, she says, “women were only three things: they were teachers, nurses, or homemakers. So, when I said I wanted to be a sportswriter, it was like saying, I want to go to the moon.” But Visser, through a combination of talent, perseverance, and a great deal of humor, accomplished her goal of becoming a sportswriter. Indeed, she would go on to become the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time, the first and only woman inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the first sportscaster — male or female — to work on network broadcasts of the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Triple Crown, Olympic Games, U.S. Open golf, and World Figure Skating Championship. In 1983, after more than a decade writing for the Boston Globe, Visser began to split her time with CBS Sports. And, although sportswriting would always be her first love, she transitioned to television full-time in 1987.

During her first stint at CBS Sports, which would last until the network lost its NFL rights following the 1993 season, Visser covered a wide variety of sports, including the NBA, MLB, college basketball, and college football. She joined Greg Gumbel, Terry Bradshaw, and Pat O’Brien on CBS Sports’ The NFL Today in 1990 and, two years later, became the first — and only — woman to handle the Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl presentation. Visser then transitioned to ABC Sports for nearly seven years, extending her string of notable “firsts”: she became the first woman assigned to Monday Night Football and also to report from the sidelines during a Super Bowl. She also served as a reporter for ABC Sports’ NFL playoff games, college-football bowl games, Triple Crown horseracing, and more. In 2000, Visser returned to CBS Sports and The NFL Todayand played an integral role in The Eye’s Super Bowl XXXV, XXXVIII, XLI, and XLIV broadcasts. Beginning in 2004, she teamed up with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, becoming lead reporter on CBS Sports’ No. 1 NFL announce team. That same year, she was honored to carry the Olympic Torch, the first female sportscaster to do so.

CONGRATULATIONS

AND THE CLASS OF 2020-21 FOR YOUR INDUCTION INTO THE SVG HALL OF FAME

JAMES BROWN

Three-time Emmy Awardwinner “JB” serves as host for the CBS Television Network’s NFL pregame show, The NFL Today. He has hosted the network’s pregame show for its coverage of Super Bowl LV (2021), Super Bowl 50 (2016), Super Bowl XLVII (2013), Super Bowl XLIV (2010), and Super Bowl XLI (2007). He served as host of Fox NFL Sunday for 12 years prior to returning to CBS Sports in 2006 as host of The NFL Today and play-by-play announcer for the network’s coverage of college basketball, including the NCAA Tournament.

Throughout JB’s award-winning career, he not only has distinguished himself as the quintessential studio host, but also a versatile broadcaster and, in some instances, the conscience of the industry. JB’s work on THE NFL TODAY is without peer and solidifies him as a Hall of Famer. His versatility has shown as he has anchored the CBS EVENING NEWS, and is often called upon to contribute reports and stories for CBS News, as well as contribute to 60 MINUTES and CBS MORNINGS. Apart from his professional accomplishments, JB is a wonderful human being, a man of faith and as good a friend and colleague as one could ever have. – Sean McManus, CBS Sports and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer It’s a joy to have JB as a valued teammate. It’s even better to be able to call him a trusted friend. Simply put, he is one of the finest men I’ve ever known. A giant television talent. An all-world human being. – Jim Nantz, CBS Sports and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer JB has been a Hall of Famer ever since he first sat in front of a camera. He has this authentic charisma which makes every viewer feel that JB is speaking exclusively to that individual. It’s a rare gift. – David Hill, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer JB is a man of integrity and thoughtfulness. He can reflect on any subject and put it in its proper perspective. He is humble, funny and, not only a Hall of Fame broadcaster, an even better colleague, friend, and person. – Bill Cowher, CBS Sports First off, he’s a Hall of Fame person. He treats everybody the same, and that’s with great respect. To say he is tremendous at his job is an understatement. He does it with great knowledge of each and every subject he speaks, and always with a smile on his face. – Phil Simms, CBS Sports JB is not only a Hall of Fame broadcaster, but first and foremost, a Hall of Fame human being. His unselfishness, guidance, and mentorship since we first met when I was in the NFL Broadcast Boot Camp has been a driving force in helping me to achieve and succeed in becoming the broadcaster I am today. – Nate Burleson, CBS Sports JB is simply the kindest, most prepared colleague with whom I’ve ever worked. He brings out the best in everyone. His egoless nature, along with his self-deprecating sense of humor, brings harmony and professionalism to all of our broadcasts. Throughout his entire career, he has carried himself with dignity, grace, and substance. – Boomer Esiason, CBS Sports

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

THE MONTAG GROUP TALENT • STRATEGY • MEDIA

The Montag Group is proud to champion the SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund as they financially support sports production professionals who may need assistance.

We celebrate all 2021 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame honorees, including our friends & clients, James Brown, and Fred Gaudelli.

DON CORNELLI Nobody sees the world more clearly through a viewfinder than Cornelli, and the world is better for it. – Eric Shanks, Fox Sports

Cornelli has worked as a camera operator on 20 World Cups, 20 Super Bowls, and 34 straight NFC Championship Games, as well as a large number of other sports: NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, PGA, NASCAR, and the Olympics. Known for his handheld-camera work, Cornelli endeavors to get viewers as close as possible to the action and is a mainstay on the sidelines of some of the NFL’s biggest games.

Donnie is the GOAT of handheld operators. His thought process, attention to detail, and shot-making are what has always made him special. Add that to his tenacity and hustle, and you have a combination that every director and producer marvel at! He puts himself in the right position with great preparation and anticipation. It has been a privilege, and the ultimate directorial pleasure, to have done so many NFL games with him. He should have a bust in Canton! – Artie Kempner, Fox Sports Don’s body of work speaks for itself… a consummate pro who makes every broadcast better with his creative eye for the perfect shot, as well as his unparalleled work ethic. He is a credit to every camera crew he has ever worked on. – Bob Fishman, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer One of his best qualities is his demeanor. He’s one of the nicest and most loyal people in the business. Along with his camera work, his honesty and integrity are second to none. – Fred Aldous, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer From the very beginning of Don’s long, successful career in network television, he has always possessed the wonderful, natural gift of a “great eye” for shot composition and framing. His camerawork excels because he knows what to shoot, when to shoot, and how to position himself to achieve the best possible shot on any sport he covers. Don’s talent has certainly positioned him in the very top tier of great cameramen! – Davey Finch, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Don is a true professional — the on-air talent, the production team, and his peers all respect and love working with him. He is always a welcome addition onto any show and that’s a testament to both his talent and his attitude. – Judy Boyd, Fox Sports Don is one of those people that makes everyone around him look better. It doesn’t matter the field of play, he’ll always have the shot. And it will always be good. But even more than a great cameraman, he’s a great person. – Steve Beim, Fox Sports Don is incredibly talented. He has a keen eye and is always in the right place at the right time, consistently delivering incredible pictures. He is, without a doubt, one of the top handheld operators in the history of sports television and has proven that time and time again from the sidelines of some of the biggest sporting events in history. – Rich Russo, Fox Sports.

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THIS YEAR’S SPORTS BROADCASTING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES WE SALUTE YOUR HARD WORK AND INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENTS

11/30/21 1:20 PM

JOHN FILIPPELLI Flip has had an immeasurable impact on countless on-air talent and production personnel who have had the good fortune to work alongside him over his storied career. I count myself as one of those lucky ones as I first met Flip almost 30 years ago, and he has always been a Hall of Famer to me. – Jon Litner, YES Network

YES Network President, Production & Programming, and Executive Producer, Filippelli — or “Flip” — is one of the most respected and innovative executives in all of sports television and has left an indelible mark on both the national and RSN stages. For nearly half a century, Flip has been a gamechanger in production, original programming, and as an architect, leaving a legacy of sustained excellence and consistency at NBC, FOX, ABC/ESPN, The Baseball Network, and the YES Network.

Colin Powell said one of the greatest talents of all is the ability to recognize and to develop talent in others. John J. Filippelli is a Hall of Famer because he has the innate ability to recognize and develop talent. You see it in the gold-standard staff he built at YES Network, both in front of and behind the camera... It is one of the great honors of my career to represent the network that Flip built. – Howard Levinson, YES Network Flip is an innovator who thinks outside the box. He sees things that others don’t see through a prism of inventiveness and attention to detail. He built an entire network in a few months, and when the YES Network got up and running, it was immediately the gold standard of RSNs. Only a Hall of Famer could have done that. Most important, he’s a Hall of Famer in the way he treats his people... All workers in all walks of life should experience working with a leader like Flip. – Michael Kay, YES Network Flip has an innate ability to understand storylines and weave them seamlessly in the fabric of every production. In my opinion, Flip is a Hall of Famer because instinctually he knows how to connect the audience with each event he is associated with and surrounds himself with talent in front and behind the camera that rise to the challenge. – Jared Boshnack, YES Network Flip has been a one-of a-kind mentor, colleague, and loyal friend for more than three decades. He has inspired and guided not only me but the entire team that launched YES. Under Flip’s leadership, a culture of excellence was created at YES, making it the standard by which all other RSNs are measured. – Woody Freiman, YES Network Flip was already a Hall of Famer for the many ways he revolutionized baseball coverage as a producer, and for the Hall of Fame roster of broadcasters he discovered and mentored as a producer and executive. He cemented his place in this distinguished class by reinventing the definition of “Regional Sports Network” over 20 years at YES. – Mike Webb, YES Network Many of the production enhancements commonplace on baseball telecasts today... are all things that Flip implemented. And although Flip’s accomplishments are prodigious, they are eclipsed by his compassion, generosity and wondrous spirit. At the end of the day, the sports broadcasting industry is a better place because of Flip’s remarkable contributions.” – Ed Delaney

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

CONGRATULATIONS to the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class of 2020-21.

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TIM FINCHEM Tim Finchem’s vision and leadership have made an indelible impact on the game of golf over the past 25 years with his tireless dedication and contributions, but more importantly, the countless lives impacted by his life’s work. – Jay Monaghan, PGA TOUR

Under Finchem’s 22-year tenure as the PGA TOUR Commissioner from 1994 through 2016, prize money skyrocketed, moving from under $100 million on three tours in 1994 to more than $400 million on six tours when he retired in 2017. He created signature events in today’s game, including the FedExCup and the FedExCup Playoffs, the Presidents Cup, and the World Golf Championships. He also spearheaded efforts to coordinate the bid for golf’s return to the Olympics, which became a reality in the 2016 Games after a 112-year absence.

Tim’s leadership was invaluable for the growth of the game and his thoughtful decision making helped the PGA Tour soar to incredible heights. He led his global partners in promoting and implementing a World Golf Championship series and, here at home, he brought life to the PGA Tour’s end of the season. He was instrumental in designing golf’s first postseason playoffs for the FedEx Cup and saw the value of nurturing and respecting his television relationships. – Jim Nantz, CBS Sports and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer

Tim Finchem supercharged the PGA Tour during his tenure as commissioner by adding World Golf Championships, the Presidents Cup, and the FedEx Playoffs. What the PGA Tour looks like today is due in large part to his big ideas and creative leadership. – Molly Solomon, NBC Sports

He gave us the ability to put a camera six feet away from Tiger Woods when he was about to execute a magical, game-winning shot and the ability to put microphones three feet away from Phil Mickelson and [caddie] Bones when they were discussing the execution of a great shot. – Tommy Roy, NBC Sports

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

SPORTS BROADCASTING COMMITEE CHAIRMAN Ken Aagaard, HOF VOTING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Ken Aagaard, HOF Rick Abbott, TENFOLD Adam Acone, NFL Glenn Adamo, Ivanhoe Productions Fred Aldous, Fox Sports and HOF Steve Anderson, HOF Rick Anderson, PGA Tour Mike Arnold, CBS Sports Katina Arnold, ESPN Lance Barrow Bob Basche, Connect Sports & Entertainment Steve Beim, Fox Sports Chris Berman, ESPN and HOF Andrea Berry, Telemundo and HOF Dave Berson, CBS George Bodenheimer, HOF Steve Bornstein, Genius Sports and HOF Onnie Bose, NFL Tim Brosnan, PrimeSport James Brown, CBS Sports Garrett Brown, HOF Harold Bryant, CBS Sports Dick Button, HOF Chris Calcinari, ESPN Kevin Callahan, Fox Sports Mary Carillo, NBC Sports Group and HOF Leonard Chapman, HOF Brad Cheney, Fox Sports Jason Cohen, CBS Sports Joe Cohen, The Switch and HOF Don Colantonio Greg Coppa, CBS Bruce Cornblatt, CBS Rob Correa, CBS Sports Bob Costas, HOF Morris Davenport, ESPN Michael Davies, Fox Sports Scott Davis, CBS Jim DeFilippis Ed Delaney Donna Devarona Jed Drake Michael Drazin, NBC Sports Stephanie Druley, ESPN Dave Dukes, PGA TOUR Entertainment Dick Ebersol, HOF John Entz, Fox Sports Drew Esocoff, NBC Sports Group Patti Fallick, USTA

John Filippelli, YES Network Davey Finch, HOF Bob Fishman, CBS Sports and HOF Lee Fitting, CBS Sam Flood, NBC Sports Group Jon Freedman, PGA TOUR Entertainment Woody Freiman, YES Network Rosa Gatti Fred Gaudelli, NBC Sports Group Jerry Gepner, CP Communications Bruce Goldfeder, NFL Network John Gonzalez, NBC Sports Group Ed Goren, HOF Steve Gorsuch Ken Goss, NBC Sports Group Curt Gowdy Jr., SNY New York Mark Grant, CBS Sports Ross Greenburg Mark Haden, NHL Network Gordon Hall, Showtime Eric Handler, YES Network Steve Hellmuth, NBA Entertainment David Hill, HOF Barry Hogenauer Stan Honey, HOF Deb Honkus, NEP and HOF George Hoover, HOF Charlie Jablonski, OnLive Craig Janoff Barry Johnstone, CTV OB and HOF Howard Katz, NFL and HOF Artie Kempner, Fox Sports Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG Chris Laplaca, ESPN Mark Lazarus, NBC Sports Group John Leland, PSL International David Levy, Raine Group Mark Loomis, Fox Sports Verne Lundquist, CBS Sports and HOF Jodi Markley Geoff Mason, HOF David Mazza, NBC Olympics and HOF Mike McCarley John McCrae Robert McGlarry, MLB Network Bill McKechney Sean McManus, CBS Sports and HOF Tom McShane, CBS Sports Mike Meehan, NBC Sports Group Johnny Miller Steve Milton, CBS Sports Group Mike Muriano, NFL Jim Nantz, CBS Sports and HOF

Grant Nodine, NHL Dean O’Toole, CBS George Orgera, F&F Productions and HOF Chuck Pagano, HOF Phil Parlante Tony Petitti Neal Pilson, Pilson Communications and HOF Patty Power, CBS Sports Jamie Reynolds, ESPN Linda Rheinstein, HOF Scott Rinehart, University of Notre Dame Jimmy Roberts, NBC Sports John Roché, NEP and HOF Larry Rogers, First in TV Mike Rokosa, NHRA Amy Rosenfeld, ESPN Jennifer Sabatelle, CBS Sports Tom Sahara, HOF Jeremy Schaap, ESPN Chuck Scoggins Ted Shaker Eric Shanks, Fox Sports Bruce Shapiro, NFL Network Dave Shaw, NFL Tom Shelburne, HOF Jack Simmons, HOF John Skipper, DAZN Suzanne Smith, CBS Sports Molly Solomon, NBC Olympics Charlie Steinberg, HOF Jerry Steinberg, HOF Bob Stenner Susan Stone, MLB Network Pat Sullivan, Game Creek Video and HOF Garrett Sullivan Larry Thorpe, HOF Bob Toms, ESPN Lesley Visser, CBS Sports and HOF Leslie Anne Wade, White Tee Partners John Ward, Friend MTS Mike Webb, YES Network Eric Weinberger, NFL Michael Weisman, HOF Darrell Wenhardt, CBT Systems Mike Werteen, NEP John Wildhack, Syracuse University Mike Wimberley Richard Wolf, The Switch Ken Woo, HOF Cathy Yancy, NFL Gary Zenkel, NBC Sports Group

HUGO GAGGIONI

Gaggioni, currently CTO of Sony Electronics, joined Sony in 1988 and since then has been a key force in the company’s efforts around next-generation formats like the move to digital recording formats, HDTV, UHD, and more. He holds several patents and has authored more than 40 technical publications in the areas of video compression, digital filter banks, HDTV, and UHDTV devices and systems.

When Hugo began working for Sony, he closely collaborated with the engineers in our R&D group in Atsugi. I clearly remember the first time I met him and he tried to passionately absorb all of the technology details from my presentation. He quickly became an international ally and a trusted resource on compression, helping shape Sony’s industry-leading capabilities. His expertise also ushered in transformations that drastically advanced broadcasting — standards which we continue to build upon to this day. Hugo’s an all-star within the Sony organization and also a very good friend for over 30 years, so we’re thrilled to see the industry take note of his significant achievements. – Mikio Kita, Sony In addition to being an indispensable and highly respected colleague, Hugo is a technological pioneer whose contributions have helped propel the industry forward. His knowledge of video processing and compression and his expertise in HDR have had an indelible impact on sports broadcasting. The innovations and advancements he’s supported have changed the way broadcasters capture live sporting events and ultimately, enriched the viewers’ experience. – Theresa Alesso, Sony Electronics, Pro Division Hugo Gaggioni is known the world over. His more than 40-year participation in many international standardization activities, his command of the Spanish language, his role as the CTO of Sony Broadcast — all combine with his gregarious nature to make him the icon of the Broadcast television and Cinema industries that we see today. Hugo has mastered digital technologies and every compression algorithm and is renowned for sharing this knowledge at multiple international conferences and meetings. He has been central to the Sony team in refining HDR and 4K imaging to further enhance that sports broadcast viewing experience. Today, Hugo’s immersion in IP and cloud technologies continue to extend worldwide distribution capabilities for sports broadcasting. – Larry Thorpe, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Hugo has been an instrumental leader and visionary throughout the HDTV development process in the industry. He’s an engineer, a thought leader, and has consistently been a futurist. – Chuck Pagano, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

SPORTS BROADCASTING HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2020-21 INDUCTEES Charles Barkley James Brown Don Cornelli John Filippelli Tim Finchem Hugo Gaggioni Fred Gaudelli Phyllis George Tom Sahara © 2021 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Sony and the Sony logo are trademarks of Sony.

WAY TO GO, HUGO! Congratulations on this well-deserved honor. Your technical achievements in compression and High Definition are legendary. Your leadership in 4K and HDR is inspiring. We at Sony congratulate you on your induction into the Hall of Fame with such esteemed company.

congratulates the SPORTS BROADCASTING

Class of 2020-21 Charles Barkley

James Brown

Hugo Gaggioni

Don Cornelli

Fred Gaudelli

John Filippelli

Phyllis George

Tim Finchem

Tom Sahara

Thank You for Your Years of Dedication to the Sports Broadcasting Industry.

FRED GAUDELLI

Gaudelli is executive producer of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, recently completing his 32nd season as the lead producer for an NFL primetime game and his 16th season producing SNF. A 24-time Emmy Award winner, Gaudelli has produced six Super Bowls and, prior to joining Sunday Night Football, Gaudelli spent five seasons as producer of ABC’s Monday Night Football. He was named senior coordinating producer at ESPN in November 1996.

Fred has the respect of the League, the coaches, the players, and the production team. SNF is the number one show in Primetime for more than a decade due to Fred’s strong leadership, dedication, preparation, and relationships. – Mark Lazarus, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming It is an honor to be a part of the same team as Fred Gaudelli and to see someone in action on a day-to-day business who is truly the very best at what he does. Fred has a tangible passion for his work and I am constantly amazed how each off-season, as opposed to resting on his laurels and decades of experiences, he is tirelessly striving to be better and looking for ways to elevate his teammates and Sunday Night Football. Fred improves each year and, as a result of that, we do too. – Pete Bevacqua, NBC Sports Fred has the most brilliant eye for telling a three-hour story. Like the most talented filmmakers, he introduces the characters, hooks you on intimate storylines, and artfully rides those storylines to unpredictable conclusions. The difference is, Fred is doing it in real time without a script. There will not be another one like him, so enjoy his artistry while you still can. – Cris Collinsworth, NBC Sports His work ethic and dedication to the profession has been a driving force not just for himself but for his peers and those that follow. I benefited as much as anyone! – Drew Esocoff, NBC Sports Fred should do a Master Class on sports television production so every aspiring young producer could get a big head start. – Al Michaels, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer I was extremely fortunate to work closely with Fred from the very beginning of his career at ESPN. Right from the start, he was the most talented, hardest working, and best prepared producer I have ever known. He always set incredibly high standards for himself and for everyone on his team. In my opinion, during his years at ABC and NBC Sports, Fred has developed into the best live event producer in the history of television sports. – Steve Anderson, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Watching a game that Gaudelli produces is unbelievable. Listening to the conversation back and forth between Fred Gaudelli and [SNF director] Drew Esocoff, [it’s as if] their language was almost without words as decisions got made in the truck. – Dick Ebersol, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer In my opinion, Fred Gaudelli is quite simply the best NFL game producer of all time. Fred’s leadership role for over 30 years running his network’s most important franchise, first at ESPN, then at ABC and for the past 16 years at NBC, makes him a true Hall of Famer in every sense of the word. – Howard Katz, NFL and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer There’s no one better than Fred Gaudelli. He’s the hardest working person in TV and he’s a great coach. – John Madden, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

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PHYLLIS GEORGE

George broke through as a sportscaster in 1974 and, the following year, joined the team of The NFL Today. She played a key part of the show for the next three years, and again from 1980-84. She was an inspiration to a generation of women who followed her on air, changing sports broadcasting forever.

Phyllis George was special. Her smile lit up millions of homes for The NFL Today. Folks — men and women — were comfortable with her talking about their favorite sport. And in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, they loved Phyllis despite her Dallas Cowboys bias! – Brent Musburger, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer

Phyllis was a true pioneer for women in Sports. She was admired and loved by all of us who worked with her, not just for her talent, but for her warmth, kindness, and a smile that lit up the TV screen. A true hall-of-famer, who left us far too soon. – Bob Fishman, CBS and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer

Phyllis was magic — warm and kind and authentic. She did stories that weren’t about the game but were about the people, and she did them as well as anyone ever has. Her legacy is that she didn’t just open the doors for other women, she rooted for them. It was in her DNA. – Lesley Visser, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame

She was the original natural. She was the most natural, open, delightful person and everyone adored her. She was the vanguard for women in televised sports and she didn’t break the mold, she was the mold. – Tommy O’Neill

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

Congratulations, Tom! Thank you for being our Chairman for five years, leading our association through its biggest growth period in the U.S. and abroad. Whether it was launching new initiatives (DTV Audio Group), new events (RSN Summit, Esports Production Summit), or new categories of technology focus (remote production, immersive audio), your leadership helped us be the organization we are today.

On behalf of all SVG members and sponsors, congratulations and enjoy this wonderful honor!

www.sportsvideo.com

TOM SAHARA

For 21 years, Sahara served as VP of Operations and Technology for Turner Sports where he oversaw the studio and remote broadcast facilities for Turner Sports’ live event coverage, as well as its online properties. He also played a key role in Turner’s production collaboration with CBS Sports on events like March Madness and the PGA Championship. Previously, he was host of technical operations of various venues for the 2000 Sydney Summer Games and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games. He served as Chairman of the SVG Advisory Board from 2013 to 2018.

In every sports media division, there are individuals behind the scenes who are the true hidden treasures, responsible for helping drive groundbreaking innovation and production. For more than 21 years at Turner Sports, that was Tom Sahara! He developed a well-earned reputation as a forward-thinking executive, and his vision and technical prowess helped transform Turner Sports’ remote and studio productions. Not only is Tom the consummate professional, who served as a mentor to many of his Turner Sports colleagues, but his warm and friendly personality is what sets him apart. – David Levy Tom Sahara was a fixture at Turner Sports. It is hard to think about Turner Sports, and not put Tom Sahara in the conversation. Although he was generally very quiet, his presence was quite prominent, and that not only permeated throughout the Turner Sports family, but also the industry. Not only was he good at his job, but he was also an amazing person — and that was often times more important that the tech that was rattling around in his mind. That personability is one of the many legacies that he has left us with at Turner Sports. – Chris Brown, Turner Sports Tom Sahara was a steady hand on the wheel of innovation for the NBA, always careful to hear any idea or concept out, and ready to apply expertise and engineering to make it work. In the area of audio, he was in the lead always, improving sounds from courtside year to year. – Steve Hellmuth, NBA Tom was a terrific partner and a true Hall of Famer. I am so proud of what CBS Sports and Turner Sports were able to accomplish on our co-production of the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. Tom is a big reason for our initial success and why the partnership continues to be so strong today. Tom’s leadership, creativity and collaboration helped our teams seamlessly blend into one operation across four networks, two studios and a multitude of remote sites each year. Turner Sports and CBS Sports developed one of the most unique relationships in sports television, and that doesn’t happen without Tom’s expertise, support, and most importantly, his friendship. – Patty Power, CBS Sports

For more on each of our Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org

SPORTS BROADCASTING

THE LEGACY CONTINUES

hall of famers from years past...learn mo

George Hoover

Chuck Howard

Keith Jackson

Barry Johnstone

Howard Katz

Peter Larsson

Jim McKay

Sean McManus

Al Michaels

Gene Mikell

Bob Mikkelson

Brent Musburger

John Porter

Bill Raftery

Linda Rheinstein

Robin Roberts

John Roché

Dan Rooney

Bud Selig

Tom Shelburne

Chet Simmons

Jack Simmons

Charles A. Steinberg

Jerry Steinberg

Lesley Visser

Dick Vitale

John A. Walsh

Jack Weir

Bill Webb

Michael Weisman

congratulations to the class of 2020-21

Brown

Cornelli

Filippelli

Finchem

Gaggioni

Gaudelli

George

Sahara

Curt Gowdy

Bud Greenspan

Cory Leible

Bob Ley

Verne Lundquist

John Madden

Geoffrey Mason

David Mazza

Tim McCarver

Ted Nathanson

Don Ohlmeyer

George Orgera

Chuck Pagano

Mike Pearl

Roger Penske

Neal Pilson

Ed Sabol

Steve Sabol

Craig Sager

Ron Scalise

Chris Schenkel

Joe Schiavo

Vin Scully

George Steinbrenner

David Stern

Pat Sullivan

Pat Summerall

Paul Tagliabue

Larry Thorpe

Jack Whitaker

Doug Wilson

Mickey Wittman

Ken Woo

WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021-2022 Charles Barkley James Brown Don Cornelli John Filippelli Tim Finchem Hugo Gaggioni Fred Gaudelli Phyllis George Tom Sahara

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