Sport Production Summit: Former IMG production chief Graham Fry to receive 2023 Outstanding Contribution Award

Graham Fry, former IMG production managing director, will receive the Outstanding Contribution to European Sports Broadcasting award at SVG Europe’s Sport Production Summit in September.

The Award, which is given to an individual who has changed the nature of sports content creation and distribution within Europe, will be presented at the Sport Production Summit at De Hallen Studios in Amsterdam on Thursday 14 September.

Previous recipients of the Award include Olympic Broadcasting Services founding chief executive Manolo Romero, EMG UK chair and CTV founder Barry Johnstone, HBS founder Francis Tellier and international sport coordinator Velitchka Nedialkova.

SVG Europe Advisory Board chair Alessandro Reitano described Fry as a richly deserved recipient of the award. He said: “Over the years, Graham’s contribution to the world of broadcasting and live sport production has been immense.

“Under his leadership, IMG’s production operation has grown to become one of the most significant producers of sports programming in the world, playing a pivotal role in bringing major events and sporting moments to audiences around the globe.

“We look forward to celebrating Graham’s achievements and career with his colleagues and friends in Amsterdam in September.”

In March 2021, Fry was appointed executive chairman, production at IMG, in recognition of his leadership and contribution to the business which he joined back in 1991.

As managing director, production worldwide, Fry oversaw significant growth in the business, managing a staff of more than 500 based in London, Sydney, Stockholm, Oslo, Singapore and Glasgow, producing programming across all media including broadcast, digital and social.

Prior to joining IMG, Fry worked at the BBC, starting as an assistant producer on major events such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games and the FIFA World Cup as well as producing a number of the corporation’s flagship programmes including Ski Sunday, Wimbledon and Euro 88.

Fry left the BBC in 1989 to join Champion TV – the independent provider of sport for the newly-created British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) Sports Channel – BSB later merged with Sky to form BskyB – where he was executive producer of football and tennis.

Commenting on the Award, Fry said: “I put everything into my working life and had good feedback from broadcasters, federations and colleagues. To be honoured by SVG Europe means it’s all been recognised by the industry as well, which is wonderful. And it’s great to win something for an overall contribution, because that’s what I’ve tried to do – contribute as best I can.”

To find out more about Sport Production Summit 2023 and to register go to: Sport Production Summit