EVENT PROGRAM
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EVENT SPONSORS
9:00 a.m. REGISTRATION OPENS
9:30 – 9:40 a.m. WELCOMING REMARKS
PRESENTERS:
PRESENTED BY
Tehseen Akhtar, Ross Video, Senior Director, Product Management - Graphics
Jason Dachman, SVG, Editorial Director, U.S.; SVG GFX Program Director
Tim O’Shaughnessy, Netflix, Manager - On Air Graphics; SVG GFX Committee Chair
9:40 – 10:10 a.m. GFX FEATURED PRESENTATION: Data-centric Storytelling and ESPN’s MNF Playbook With Next Gen Stats Altcast
ESPN’s MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats altcast delivers real-time data, advanced metrics and analytics-driven commentary. Hear how ESPN is bringing the meeting room to fans’ living rooms, using NFL Next Gen Stats, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
MODERATOR: Jason Dachman, SVG, Editorial Director, U.S. PANELISTS:
Casey Huke, Adrenaline, CEO
Andy Jacobson, ESPN, Producer II
10:10 – 10:50 a.m. BEYOND THE BROADCAST: How Streaming Viewership Is Changing Graphics-Package Design
As audiences shift to streaming platforms, both traditional sports broadcasters and streamers new to the sports-media market are dramatically rethinking graphics packages for live events. Industry leaders discuss how device-first consumption, crossplatform storytelling, and the rise of new streaming services are reshaping inserts, animations, and overall design.
MODERATOR: Nick DiNapoli, |drive| Studio, Founder & Executive Creative Director PANELISTS:
Phil Guthrie, Two Fresh Creative, Founder and Executive Creative Director
Lauren Hartstone, Sibling Rivalry, Partner and Executive Creative Director
Stefanie Toigo, Netflix, Multimedia Design Lead, Live Graphics - Emerging Creative
10:50 – 11:05 a.m. NETWORKING BREAK
11:05 – 11:35 a.m. GFX FEATURED PRESENTATION:
Inside ESPN’s Sprawling College Football Package
1:20 – 1:50 p.m. GFX FEATURED PRESENTATION: The Return of the NBA on NBC
Last year, when the NBA returned to NBC after more than two decades away, the network took a NEWstalgia approach to creating the new on-air look. By combining familiar, old-school imagery with a modern, cutting-edge design and technology, the NBC Sports creative team was able to appeal to fans across multiple generations.
PRESENTERS:
Patrick Coffey, Tendril Studio, Founder / Executive Creative Director
Joe Fuller, loyalkaspar, Associate Creative Director
Chad Hudson, NBC Sports, Senior Art Director
Alex Suarez, NBC Sports, Senior Graphic Designer
1:50 – 2:05 p.m. GFX QUICK HITS: The Evolution of the NFL on CBS ‘Big Head’ — Where Human Creativity Meets AI
For the 2025-26 NFL season, CBS Sports set out to bridge the gap between elite athleticism and relatable whimsy. The result was the “Big Head” initiative, a season long journey in character development that redefined their storytelling toolkit.
PRESENTERS:
Hasani Jones, CBS Sports, Freelance Graphic Designer
Andrew Sherman, CBS Sports, Art Director
2:05 – 2:45 p.m. CLOCK & SCORE DESIGN: Bugs, Boards, and Best Practices
The clock-and-score bug is the most essential — and most scrutinized — element of any live sports broadcast. Hear the latest design trends, data-integration workflows, operational challenges, and best practices shaping today’s scoreboards and graphics.
MODERATOR: Komal Bhukhanwala, CBS Sports, VP, Graphics Innovation and Design
PANELISTS:
Nick DiNapoli, |drive| Studio, Founder & Executive Creative Director
Gary Hartley, Fox Sports, EVP / Creative Director
Chad Hudson, NBC Sports, Senior Art Director
Jacob LaPlante, Art Director / Motion Designer
2:45 – 3:10 p.m. NETWORKING BREAK
3:10 – 3:50 p.m. IN-GAME TECHNOLOGY: Tips and Tricks for AR Graphics and Data Visualization
ESPN’s 2025-26 college football season kicked off with a fresh visual identity, including fully redesigned insert graphics, animations, clock-and-score, and College GameDay look. Get an inside look at the cross-departmental collaboration and strategic planning, as well as how ESPN’s new graphics package sets the stage for a visually elevated college football experience that’s built to evolve and endure.
PRESENTERS:
Lisa DiNello, ESPN, Design Supervisor
Curtis Doss, Compadre, Executive Creative Director
Brian Girardin, ESPN, Principal Creative Director
Phil Guthrie, Two Fresh Creative, Founder and Executive Creative Director
11:35 – 11:50 a.m. GFX QUICK HITS: How TNT Sports Debuted Four Graphics Packages in Four Months
It was a truly insane year for the TNT Sports creative team in 2025. Get an inside look at how they built and debuted four brand new graphics packages — for Roland Garros, NASCAR, College Football, and College Basketball — in a four month span.
PRESENTER: Chase Oliver, TNT Sports, Art Director
11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. UNDERLYING TECHNOLOGY: The Impact of Cloud, Remote, and AI on Today’s Graphics Workflows
As graphics teams embrace cloud platforms, remote-production models, and AI-driven tools, workflows are being rebuilt from the ground up. Hear how these technologies are accelerating asset creation, streamlining collaboration, enhancing real-time rendering, and reshaping the skills, speed, and scalability required for modern graphics production.
MODERATOR: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial Services PANELISTS:
Tehseen Akhtar, Ross Video, Senior Director, Product Management - Graphics Paul Jamieson, AE Live, GM North America, AE Live & VP Creative, Ignite Steve Papadakis, Chyron, SVP of Sales, Americas
Per von Rosen, Vizrt, VP, Sales Sports
12:30 – 1:20 p.m. NETWORKING LUNCH
SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY
From next-gen AR graphics to sophisticated data visualization, new technologies are reshaping how in-game stories are told on-screen. This session explores the latest tools, workflows, and strategies driving more immersive, informative, and visually compelling live game broadcasts.
MODERATOR: Kristian Hernández, SVG, Senior Editor
PANELISTS:
Brian Allen, Disguise, VP of Creative Services
Komal Bhukhanwala, CBS Sports, VP, Graphics Innovation and Design
Jim Doyle, Ross Video, VP, Creative Services
Amy Nelson, ESPN Creative Studio, Manager, Graphics Innovation
3:50 – 4:05 p.m. GFX QUICK HITS: Inside Fox Sports’ Next-Level XR Studios
Fox Sports continues to set the industry standard when it comes to XR technology and virtual production. Get a behind the scenes look at its pair of state-of-the-art LED volumes at the broadcaster’s LA headquarters and how its using these facilities to reimagine the way studios shows are produced for the modern fan.
PRESENTER: Zac Fields, Fox Sports, SVP, Graphics Technology and Integration
4:05 – 4:45 p.m. XR STUDIO TECHNOLOGY:
Tips and Tricks for the Move to Virtual Production
Explore the real-world journey from hard sets and green screens to XR studios and LED volumes. Industry leaders share hard-earned lessons, workflow challenges, and practical tips — emphasizing why successful XR adoption in sports broadcasting is a marathon, not a sprint.
MODERATOR: Jason Dachman, SVG, Editorial Director, U.S.
PANELISTS:
Zac Fields, Fox Sports, SVP, Graphics Technology and Integration
Matthew Houstle, Pixotope, Broadcast Solutions Architect
Emilio Incerto, CBS, Virtual Production Manager
John Murphy, BBC Sport, Design Director
Brie Smith, WBD, VP, Production Operations and Technology 4:45 – 5:30 p.m. NETWORKING RECEPTION
2026 SVG GFX COMMITTEE CHAIR
TIM O’SHAUGHNESSY,
Netflix, Manager - On Air Graphics
O’Shaughnessy leads a team focused on shaping the vision, development, and long-term strategy for live sports and entertainment graphics. His work centers on redefining how live sports are experienced by the next generation of fans by blending storytelling, technology, and design to evolve the broadcast experience. Prior to Netflix, O’Shaughnessy spent 20 years at ESPN.
TEHSEEN AKHTAR, Ross Video, Senior Director, Product Management - Graphics
Akhtar leads Ross’s end-to-end graphics portfolio — spanning full-screen graphics, virtual solutions, sports analysis, and virtual advertising — with a clear, customer-first mission: solve real production problems through innovative, dependable products that deliver on-air results.
BRIAN ALLEN, Disguise, VP of Creative Services
Allen is a pioneering creative leader in immersive entertainment, with over a decade of experience designing transformative experiences that blend cutting-edge technology and compelling storytelling. As a consultant, designer, and director, Allen has shaped the development of uniquely themed content and advanced technological frameworks that redefine audience engagement.
* KOMAL BHUKHANWALA, CBS Sports, VP, Graphics Innovation and Design
Bhukhanwala has worked in the field of creative technologies for two decades in all forms from XR,VR, MR, and AR to most recently the implementation of generative AI within its workflow. She is instrumental in pushing CBS Sports’ virtual tech innovations and leads the charge across the sports landscape innovation.
* NICK DINAPOLI, |drive| Studio, Founder & Executive Creative Director
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 more.
LISA DINELLO, ESPN, Design Supervisor
DiNello is responsible for designs and animations for a variety of productions. DiNello most recently worked on the ESPN College Football and College GameDay design campaigns. In her 10 years with ESPN, she has also worked on several other graphics package redesigns such as College Football Playoff, SEC on ABC, MNF, NBA, NHL, CFB, NFL on ESPN, Outside The Lines, E:60, and Get Up!
* ZAC FIELDS, Fox Sports, SVP, Graphics Technology and Integration
Fields oversees Fox Sports’ real-time graphic development and integration, software development, and new technology. This team provides design, implementation, and support for all of the Fox Sports Media Group. Along with the daily workflows across all FSMG networks, this group provides high-end graphic design with new ways to display information for large events.
JOE FULLER, loyalkaspar, Associate Creative Director
Fuller is a senior creative focusing on branding in motion at Loyalkaspar. With roots in filmmaking, his design work leverages storytelling and camera techniques to create visuals for broadcast, streaming, and live events, spanning both long and short forms.
BRIAN GIRARDIN, ESPN, Principal Creative Director
Girardin is a principal creative director in the Visual Storytelling team within ESPN’s Creative Studio, primarily in the realm of our live broadcast design and animation productions. In 18 years at ESPN, Girardin has worked on a variety of package redesigns, show launches — currently, his focus has been ESPN’s NBA, NWSL, College Football Playoff, and more recently College Football coverage.
* PHIL GUTHRIE, Two Fresh Creative, Founder & Executive Creative Director
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 a MTV Music, People Choice, Clios, and multiple Promax BDA and Webby awards.
* GARY HARTLEY, Fox Sports, EVP / Creative Director
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.
MATTHEW HOUSTLE, Pixotope, Broadcast Solutions Architect
* CHAD HUDSON, NBC Sports, Senior Art Director
Hudson is primarily responsible for overseeing all design aspects for the Golf Channel, as well as BigTen and Notre Dame Football, NASCAR, INDYCAR, College Basketball, and MLB for NBC and Peacock. While Hudson has been with NBC for the last eleven years, he spent the first decade of his career with Turner Sports.
CASEY HUKE, Adrenaline, CEO
Huke has been a CEO in the sports technology industry since 2011. Under his leadership, his companies have been at the technological forefront of sports data and analytics. In the process of building these companies, he’s been able to be in staff meetings with coaches, on the practice fields with players, and more.
ANDY JACOBSON, ESPN, Producer II
Jacobson has almost 25 years of live sports production experience at ESPN. Having worked on almost every sport property over those 25 years, what sets Jacobson apart is his ability to find unique and creative ways to tell stories while providing fans with a reason to care for athletes and teams.
PAUL JAMIESON, AE Live, GM North America, AE Live & VP Creative, Ignite
With over 25 years of experience, Jamieson has worked across various roles within broadcast and creative and is currently serving as the GM North America and VP Creative at AE Live, leading operations for the U.S. and creative design globally.
HASANI JONES, CBS Sports, Realtime Workflow Design
Jones is a creative professional specializing in motion design and XR development, with a strong focus on building efficient, scalable production workflows.
JACOB LAPLANTE, Art Director / Motion Designer
LaPlante is dedicated to bringing a fresh, forward-thinking perspective to the broadcast medium. Specializing in the architecture of score bug & insert design, package development, and animation logic, he offers a unique combination of innovative art direction and rigorous technical skill.
AMY NELSON, ESPN Creative Studio, Manager, Graphics Innovation
Nelson manages a team focused on research and development for broadcast graphics in ESPN’s Graphics Innovation department. She has spent the last 10 years immersed in everything real-time, specifically centered around live broadcast for sports.
* CHASE OLIVER, TNT Sports, Art Director
Oliver is an accomplished art director at TNT Sports with over 12 years of experience in the live sports broadcast industry. Throughout his career, he has earned nine Emmy Awards for his outstanding contributions to iconic shows such as NBA, NBA All-Stars, and Inside the NBA on TNT.
STEVE PAPADAKIS, Chyron, SVP of Sales, Americas
Papadakis is an industry veteran, having started his career with Chyron as a bench technician and subsequently serving in a variety of roles. In his current role with Chyron, he brings broad and deep perspectives on the industry, current and evolving technologies and what broadcasters need now and for the future.
ANDREW SHERMAN, CBS Sports, Art Director
Sherman has worked at CBS Sports since 2019. He is a hands-on leader of a team of designers and 3D artists focused on real-time graphics, technical innovation, and creative storytelling. He has a background in visual effects, ranging from recurring HBO series and Saturday Night Live to a variety of films and documentaries.
BRIE SMITH, WBD, VP, Production Operations and Technology
Smith drives innovation at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and team empowerment. Known for developing and executing cutting edge content and technical strategies, she challenges convention, strengthens organizational culture, and delivers measurable business results.
ALEX SUAREZ, NBC Sports, Senior Graphic Designer
Suarez has 10 years of experience working on many different properties, including NASCAR, Sunday Night Football, the Olympics, and most recently the NBA. He understands that it is fundamental to have a passion for what he does; while leading with a sense of kindness, respect, and collaboration.
STEFANIE TOIGO, Netflix, Multimedia Design Lead, Live GraphicsEmerging Creative
Toigo leads creative development and the evolution of scalable graphics systems for live sports streaming. She previously spent a decade at NBC Sports working on multiple Olympic Games and later served as senior art director at CBS News & Stations.
Houstle helps customers achieve high-end production values and confidently navigate the complex world of virtual production. Passionate about problem solving, system design, and pushing the boundaries of technology and creativity, he thrives using technical innovation to advance storytelling. * SVG GFX Committee Member
