Students Gets Peek Inside World of Sports Production at SVG College: Los Angeles

Many students dream of being a television star, but most are unaware of the career opportunities that exist behind the camera as producer, director, or engineering or operations professional. Yesterday provided an opportunity to open those doors in the latest edition of the SVG College regional forum series, SVG College: Los Angeles.

Fox Sports’ Michael Connelly spoke candidly about his career and the sports television industry to those in attendance at yesterday’s SVG College: Los Angeles regional forum.

Hosted by SVG and the UCLA Athletics Department at the Pavilion Club inside historic Pauley Pavilion, the event brought together more than 30 college athletic department personnel and UCLA students for idea-sharing and professional networking. The program offered informative panel discussions and hands-on opportunities to interact and play with innovative video-production equipment.

The event was supported by the SVG College Initiative Sponsors: Bexel, LTN Global Communications, Panasonic, Quantum, and Sony.

“What a great opportunity to hear how best to coach and educate our students for careers in sports television,” said Jessica Conley, M.A.Ed, associate director, partnership, UCLA College of Letters and Science. “I actually shared many of the tips covered later yesterday afternoon in an interview-coaching workshop.”

The day began with an in-depth presentation on the technology deployed by the Big West Conference to produce cost-effective live-streaming productions for digital distribution. Speakers Steve Chen and Dave Valles, both of Cal State Fullerton, broke down the steps they take to producing a top-flight production with limited resources.

Vag Wagner Big Screen Network Productions’ Kevin Kowta gave an exclusive look inside Pauley Pavilion’s in-venue control room.

Later, the forum shifted gears with a special guest appearance by Michael Connelly, SVP/executive producer, Fox Sports Networks. He offered advice and answered students’ questions on how to make moves in the sports-television business and the value of building professional relationships throughout their careers.

The event’s host, UCLA, opened the doors of its in-venue control room at Pauley Pavilion for an exclusive tour and presentation from Kevin Kowta, VP, Van Wagner Big Screen Network Productions. Attendees had the opportunity to see and interact with the gear used to put on a show at UCLA men’s and women’s basketball games and volleyball matches. The venue uses Ross Video’s Carbonite production switcher, a Grass Valley Dyno for replay, and Click Effects for various interactive interstitials.

For more information on the SVG College initiative and future SVG College regional forums, e-mail SVG Senior Editor Brandon Costa at [email protected].