SVG Europe Summit – 2025

Changing business models, cloud and AI-driven production and the evolving OB market were among the discussion points of the the SVG Europe Summit 2025.

The flagship event of SVG Europe’s event calendar, the Summit welcomed some 500 of Europe’s sports production community to De Hallen Studio’s in Amsterdam for a day of networking and knowledge sharing.

Following some opening remarks from Andre Meterian, Managing Director for Broadcast & ProAV – EMEA at title sponsor Panasonic, industry strategist and commentator Mike Darcey took to the stage to deliver the opening keynote: From boardroom to broadcast – The business decisions shaping European sports production.

During his speech, Darcey unpacked the boardroom decisions and business priorities that are reshaping production, distribution, and the future of live sports.

Darcey’s keynote was followed by Smarter, faster, leaner: Strategic drivers in European sports broadcasting – a panel moderated by SVG Europe Chair and Sky Deutschland Senior Vice President of Sports Production Alessandro Reitano, who along with Darcey, Jo Ormston, IMG, VP of Business Development, Peter Angell, Sunset+Vine, CEO, Larissa Görner Meeus, Consultant, LaraMedia discussed the points raised in Darcey’s keynote and explored the impact of rising rights costs, digital shifts, and emerging technologies like AI and cloud production.

Next up, a case study from TVU – Flexible and elastic live workflows: How DAZN delivered supplementary feeds at the FIFA Club World Cup – was delivered by Fernando Pinto Jez, TVU Networks, Head of Solutions Europe and Quim Domènech, DAZN Spain, Senior Vice President of Content.

After lunch, Jo Mayer, IBC, Head of Marketing shared the new features at this year’s event.

Following a presentation from, Solid State Logic, there were two tech-focused sessions, the first of which was Decentralised and software-based production, in which Jens Envall, DMC, CTO, Ed Barton, Caretta Research, Research Director, Adam Marshall, Grass Valley, Chief Product Officer, Donald Sievewright, Matrox, EMEA Director of Sales and Colin Coyle, Haivision, SVP of Sales discussed the rise of cloud, IP, and remote technologies, and how traditional, hardware-heavy workflows are giving way to more agile and cost-effective approaches.

After a discussion between Dominic Eaves, Timeline TV, CIO and Tom Holmes, LucidLink, Global Sales and Marketing Executive on Real-time storytelling at the Women’s Euros.

Next up was Tech Focus: AI and Automation, with Ian Wray, Spiideo, Senior Director of Media Partnerships, Christian Nestande, TV2, Team Lead Live Infrastructure, Tabea Wagner, DFL, Senior Manager, Live Products and Innovation and Tim Achberger, Sportcast, Director of Technology & Product Management.

They examined how AI and automation have the potential to transform sports broadcasting and production, opening up new levels of efficiency, creativity, and scalability – with real-world examples.

Then, Showcase: FIFA Club World Cup 2025 provided a deep dive into the broadcast coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, featuring insight from Oscar Sanchez, FIFA, Head of Host Broadcast Production, Stefan Wistuba, HBS, Director of FIFA Projects Unit and DAZN’s Quim Domènech.

During the discussion, Domènech spoke about the use of refcam, and how DAZN was keen to use as much of the footage as possible. “It was something the audience really appreciated a lot,” he said.

Next up, a case study From Twitch to the World: How the Esports World Cup is redefining global fan engagement with Imagen featured Christian Peer, Esports World Cup Foundation, Media & Strategy Advisor to the CEO and Karina Schumacher-Villasante, Reuters Imagen, Head of Accounts, EMEA

And the final panel, The OB market in flux: Balancing innovation, cost, and client demands, was a lively discussion on the current state and future direction of OB, examining rising cost pressures, shifting client expectations, and the impact of remote and decentralised production models with Lise Heidal, NEP Europe, President, Jamie Hindhaugh, Gravity Media, Regional CEO and Robert Kis, TV Skyline.

The Summit concluded with the Outstanding Contribution to European Sports Broadcasting, presented to Florin Mitu, former FIFA head of host broadcast production, before some concluding remarks from networking sponsor Tata Communications Media.

The SVG Europe Summit 2025 was supported by

Title Sponsor
Panasonic Broadcast

Registration Sponsor
Pixitmedia

Case Study Sponsors
LucidLink
TVU Networks
Imagen

Contributing Sponsors
Spiideo
Haivision
Matrox

Gravity Media
NEP
Grass Valley

Networking Reception Sponsor
Tata Communications Media

Session Sponsors
LAWO
Ross Video

Associate Sponsors
ARRI
Program Productions

Tabletop Sponsors
Eluvio
BBright
Telstra
GlobalM
Cobalt Digital

Video Advert Sponsors
Solid State Logic
RED
Diversified

Supporting Sponsor – Sustainability
Gravity Media