SPORTS GRAPHICS FORUM

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Agenda

9:00 a.m. REGISTRATION OPENS

9:30 – 9:40 a.m. WELCOMING REMARKS PRESENTED BY PRESENTERS:

Andy Blondin, Unreal Engine, Director of Product Management, Broadcast

Tim O’Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director; 2023 SVG Graphics Committee Chair

9:40 – 10:10 a.m. SPORTS GRAPHICS SPOTLIGHT: How ESPN Pulled Off the NHL Big City Greens Classic Animated Broadcast

ESPN and the NHL presented the next chapter in kids-focused sports broadcasts: ESPN’s Big City Greens NHL Classic, the first-ever fully animated game telecast.

PRESENTERS:

Charlie Collin, ESPN Creative Services, Senior Manager, Motion Graphics and Production Enhancements

David Lehanski, NHL, EVP, Business Development and Innovation

Zack Malet, ESPN, Director, Business Development & Innovation

Amy Nelson, ESPN Creative Studio, Manager, Graphics Innovation

David “Sparky” Sparrgrove, ESPN Creative Studio, Senior Creative Director, Animation, Graphics Innovation and Production Design

Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN Creative Studio, Senior Director –Animation, Graphics Innovation, & Production Design

10:10 – 10:45 a.m.

WHAT’S NEXT IN SPORTS-GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGY?

Today’s Cutting Edge and Tomorrow’s New Reality

The sports-graphics sector has more powerful technology and creative tools than ever. Hear from industry leaders on what how the products are evolving and how they see the industry advancing in the years to come.

MODERATOR: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial

PANELISTS:

Gabriel Baños, Flowics by Vizrt, CEO & Co-Founder

Gideon Ferber, Pixotope, Senior Product Director, Motion and Production Graphics

Mark Friedman, Chyron, VP, Strategic Accounts

Steve Hart, RT Software, Development Director

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. CASE STUDY:

SPONSORED BY

MLS: Delivering Data Visualization GFXs for Apple

Major League Soccer continues to be at the forefront of utilizing data and technology to positively enhance the fan experience by providing unique insights that bring fans closer to the game. By partnering with Sportec Solutions and Deltatre, MLS continues to push the envelope with what is possible.

PRESENTERS:

Chris Schlosser, MLS, SVP, Emerging Ventures Thom Stevens, Deltatre, Senior Director of Solution Engineering, Sports

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. NETWORKING BREAK

SPONSORED BY Zero Density

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. SPORTS GRAPHICS SPOTLIGHT: Inside ESPN’s Colossal NBA Rebrand Project

Prior to the 2022-23 NBA season, ESPN’s graphics team was tasked with overhauling the look and feel of its hardcourt broadcasts. Get an inside look at how they pulled it off, the unique workflows used to get it done, and how this package sets the tone for ESPN’s NBA coverage for years to come.

PRESENTERS:

Isa Bristol, ESPN Creative Studio, Manager, Animation, Graphics Innovation & Production Design

Dale Harney, ESPN, Art Director Lucas Nickerson, ESPN, Creative Director

12:00 – 12:45 p.m. WHAT’S

NEXT IN SPORTS-GRAPHICS DESIGN?

Creative leaders from major sports broadcasters offer up their perspectives on what’s next in the realm of sports graphics. Presenters from different spheres will discuss their competing and complementing priorities.

MODERATOR: Tim O’Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director; 2023 SVG Graphics Committee Chair

PANELISTS:

Nick DiNapoli, |drive| Studio, Founder and Executive Creative Director

Phil Guthrie, Two Fresh Creative, Executive Creative Director / Founder

Gil Haslam, CAA Sports, Global Brand Consulting, Executive Lucas Nickerson, ESPN, Creative Director

12:45 – 1:45 p.m. NETWORKING LUNCH

1:45 – 2:15 p.m. SPORTS GRAPHICS SPOTLIGHT: Behind the Scenes of the ‘Nickmas’ Broadcast With CBS Sports and Nickelodeon

Since launching with the NFL Wild Card Game in 2021, Nickelodeon’s NFL-game coverage has evolved from a madcap slime-filled experiment to a multi-Emmy Award-winning must-see annual celebration of the sport. This year, CBS Sports and Nickelodeon’s “Nickmas” broadcast took it to yet another level with plenty of ARfueled visuals aimed at drawing in the next generation of NFL fans.

PRESENTERS:

Kurt Hartman, Nickelodeon Marketing, VP, Motion Graphics & Animation

JP LoMonaco, CBS Sports, VP, On-Air Graphics & Design

Dan Pack, Silver Spoon, Founding Partner and Managing Director

Shawn Robbins, Nickelodeon, Executive Producer / Showrunner / Writer

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. IN-GAME AR GRAPHICS: The Future Is Virtual

No technology has shaken up the broadcast-graphics business more in recent years than the arrival of real-time augmented-reality graphics. Hear from technology and creative leaders on how AR and data visualization have evolved and what to expect.

MODERATOR: Brandon Costa, SVG, Director of Digital

PANELISTS:

Komal Bhukhanwala, CBS Sports, Senior Art Director

Andy Blondin, Unreal Engine, Director of Product Management, Broadcast Zac Fields, Fox Sports, SVP, Graphic Technology and Integration

Laura Herzing, Silver Spoon, Executive Producer

Chris Mollomo, Ross Video, Business Development Manager, Virtual Production Solutions

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.

CASE STUDY: ESPN’s Use of Unreal Engine as an End-to-End Live Graphics Tool at the Rose Parade

Over the past half decade, Epic Games’ Unreal Engine game-rendering technology has brought an entirely new level of realism to live sports broadcasts — primarily through the use of real-time AR and virtual graphics. Hear how the technology took a major leap forward during the Rose Parade production on ABC earlier this year.

PRESENTERS:

Andy Blondin, Unreal Engine, Director of Product Management, Broadcast Dana Drezek, ESPN, Supervisor, Motion Graphics

Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN Creative Studio, Senior Director – Animation, Graphics Innovation, & Production Design

3:15 – 3:30 p.m. NETWORKING BREAK

3:30 – 4:00 p.m.

SPORTS GRAPHICS SPOTLIGHT: Fox Sports’ Whirlwind Year of Innovation

During one of the busiest periods for any sports broadcaster in history, Fox launched of the state-of-the-art Studio A in Los Angeles and a groundbreaking open-air set at the FIFA World Cup, while also creating iconic graphics packages.

MODERATOR: Tim O’Shaughnessy, ESPN, Creative Director; 2023 SVG Graphics Committee Chair

PANELISTS:

Zac Fields, Fox Sports, SVP, Graphic Technology and Integration

Gary Hartley, Fox Sports, EVP, Graphics

4:00 – 4:45 p.m.

VIRTUAL SETS AND AR IN THE STUDIO: Expanding Beyond the Physical World

The latest generation of virtual-studio technology has allowed sports-content creators to rethink what is possible on the set. Hear from creative and tech leaders on what is spurring this revolution and how it’s changing production strategies.

MODERATOR: Jason Dachman, SVG, Chief Editor; SVG Sports Graphics Program Director

PANELISTS:

Lorenzo Lamadrid, ESPN, Coordinating Director

Ruben Ruiz, Brainstorm, EVP, Sales, U.S. & Canada

Brad Rumler, Zero Density, VP of Sales & Business Development, U.S. & Canada

Alexis Salinas, Univision Deportes, Senior Director, Technical Creative Services

Miguel Yabrudes, disguise, Chief Creative Officer, Broadcast

4:45 – 5:30 p.m. NETWORKING RECEPTION

Speaker Bios

2023 Svg Graphics Committee Chair

✶ TIM O’SHAUGHNESSY, ESPN, Creative Director

O’Shaughnessy is a creative director in the Visual Storytelling division of ESPN. In his current role, he focuses on combining creative strategy, process, and direction within his team. O’Shaughnessy is primarily responsible for guiding teams of creatives through large-scale animation and insert design projects. In his 16 years at ESPN, O’Shaughnessy has garnered numerous Emmy nominations and several Promax BDA awards.

✶ KOMAL BHUKHANWALA, CBS Sports, Senior Art Director

Bhukhanwala has spent the past 12 years designing show packages and on-air graphics for all CBS Sports properties. As an art director, Bhukhanwala oversees the on-air graphic look for the department’s game and studio broadcasts, which included the redesign of Super Bowl 53. During her time at CBS, she has expanded the use of AR in The NFL Today studio show and has art-directed the Augmented Game Open and halftime stats, as well as the QB comparison during Super Bowl 53.

ANDY BLONDIN, Unreal Engine, Director of Product Management, Broadcast

Blondin is a seasoned veteran of the broadcast industry, specializing in realtime computer graphics and augmented reality. During his tenure at Fox Sports in Los Angeles, he lead a team of real-time designers that helped Fox to earn six Emmy nominations and one Emmy Award for Outstanding Studio Design/Art Direction FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015. Blondin has a strong background in augmented reality and in blending traditional media with live computer graphics. Several years ago, he joined Epic Games to build the tools necessary for pioneering the next generation of television and gaming. This led to virtual production becoming a mainstream approach to filmmaking. Blondin is passionate about combining both gaming and live production to bring new and exciting technology to the broadcasting world.

ISA BRISTOL, ESPN Creative Studio, Manager, Animation, Graphics Innovation & Production Design

Bristol is a manager for the graphics innovation team at ESPN where she has worked for 11 years. She has been a key contributor to some of the latest rebrands at ESPN such as College Basketball, Monday Night Football, NHL, and NBA. Bristol’s expertise include real-time graphics development, project management, and motion graphics. Her work at ESPN has led to two Emmy awards, a nomination for WICT’s Up-and-Coming Leader in 2019, and most recently the co-lead of ESPN’s Content Operations and Creative Surround DEI Council. Before joining ESPN, Bristol worked for QVC and the Paleontology Museum of Guadalajara, Mexico.

CHARLIE COLLIN, ESPN Creative Services, Senior Manager, Motion Graphics and Production Enhancements

Collin’s responsibilities include product development, implementing new graphics technologies within the live production environment, and providing sustainable solutions that enhance the storytelling experience. In other words, he finds ways to leverage the skills and expertise of the many outstanding designers, animators, and engineers at ESPN who are involved with real-time graphics systems. From the early days of virtual studio production in New York to being at ESPN for the past 10 years working on AR, virtual, mixed reality, and interactive graphics projects, Collin is passionate about and grateful to be involved in the ever-changing landscape of opportunities that persist for real-time graphics executions.

✶ NICK DiNAPOLI, |drive| Studio, Founder and Executive Creative Director

DiNapoli is the executive creative director and co-founder of |drive| studio, with offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Nashville. Since founding |drive| along with partner Marco Bacich, DiNapoli now oversees the design, direction, and on-air branding of some of the world’s most watched events for clients including Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime, Turner Sports, Showtime Sports, YES, Big Ten Network, Formula 1, and Bally Sports — among many others.

DANA DREZEK, ESPN, Supervisor, Motion Graphics

Drezek is a senior manager of graphics innovation at ESPN, where he has worked for the last 25+ years. His expertise includes project management, motion graphics, and graphics playout with an overall focus on real-time graphics software. Drezek is a four-time Emmy winner with experience working on hundreds of events ranging from The Masters to the Running of the Bulls and on marquee shows such as SportsCenter and College GameDay. Prior to ESPN, he worked at other outlets in radio and television, and was a writer for multiple newspapers and magazines.

GIDEON FERBER, Pixotope, Senior Product Director, Motion and Production Graphics

Ferber delivers broadcast workflow solutions that are accessible, easy to use, and fast to adopt. Before joining Pixotope, Ferber was the broadcast product director at disguise. He has been instrumental in bringing XR productions into the studios of major broadcasters across the globe. Prior to his time with disguise, Ferber was the director of marketing product management and business development for virtual solutions at Ross Video. He started his broadcast career as a product manager and product specialist in Orad Hi-Tech systems (now part of Avid).

MARK FRIEDMAN, Chyron, VP, Strategic Accounts

Friedman has an extensive background across various roles in the sports broadcast industry. Prior to leading Chyron’s creative services group for the past three years, Friedman worked at NBC Sports Washington for 10 years fulfilling duties as a creative director using a mix of innovation and design. He was instrumental in creating innovative viewer experiences using Chyron’s PRIME and Paint Graphics Platforms.

✶ PHIL GUTHRIE, Two Fresh Creative, Executive Creative Director / Founder

As founder and ECD of Two Fresh, Guthrie has had the opportunity to lead a variety of projects that range from music videos, film, installations, sports rebrands, and network broadcast packages. Over the years, the hard work by Guthrie and his team have earned MTV Music, People’s Choice, Clio, and multiple Promax BDA and Webby awards, while also being nominated for multiple Sports Emmys and a Grammy. The vision for Two Fresh is to produce projects that everyone is proud of, and to create a work environment where people not only have fun, but also grow their skills at the same time.

STEVE HART,

RT Software, Development Director

Hart is the development director at RT Software. He has 30 years of experience in software/hardware development and has been in the broadcast industry for 20 years.

KURT HARTMAN, Nickelodeon Marketing, VP, Motion Graphics & Animation

Hartman is VP of motion graphics and animation for Nickelodeon’s Creative Marketing Department, based in NYC. He has nearly 25 years of experience in the industry. Hartman started as a motion graphics animator at Nickelodeon shortly after graduating from college. He went on to work for multiple brands over the years, as well as starting his own company before coming back home to Nickelodeon in 2016. At Nickelodeon, Hartman leads a team of animators/designers responsible for all marketing and brand endeavors across the company’s various brands and channels. In 2020, he and his team at Nickelodeon were awarded a Sports Emmy for Best Live Graphics in a playoff game for their work in that year’s Wildcard Game that was simulcast on Nickelodeon.

Gary

HARTLEY,

Fox Sports, EVP, Graphics

Since 1995, Hartley has been responsible for conveying Fox Sports’ signature irreverent attitude through its on-screen innovation. Currently, as executive vice president, graphics, creative director, Hartley oversees the make, model and feel for nearly every on-screen graphic, across Fox, FS1, and FS2. A seven-time Emmy award-winner, Hartley has been behind some of the greatest innovations for Fox Sports including its design approach for presenting real-time race information for its inaugural season of NASCAR coverage in 2001 — a style and feel that informed hardcore race fans simultaneously enlightening casual viewers.