Responsible for the conceptual development, planning, coordination and creative execution of control room originated telecast production (live/taped) requirements to achieve and maximize viewer interest, audience following, ad-sales profits and rating results.
Responsible for effective utilization and coordination of on-air talent, analysts, reporters, production and technical personnel and facilities to achieve and enhance assigned productions.
ESPN, Inc., The Worldwide Leader in Sports, is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets with over 50 business entities. Headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, ESPN is 80% owned by ABC, Inc. (a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company), and 20% by the Hearst Corporation.
ESPN was founded by Bill Rasmussen and launched on September 7, 1979. Now with over 6,500 employees, each year ESPN televises more than 5,100 live and/or original hours of sports programming. The company’s mission is to serve sports fans. Anytime. Anywhere.
Responsibilities
• Participates in or leads the development of most or all of the creative concepts of assigned sports news programs to reach viewers and to increase ESPN’s market penetration, ratings, viewership and ad-sales profits.
• Determines the content and focus of each assigned sports news/entertainment program including the stories comprising the program; identifies and follows-up on emerging stories and breaking news.
• Uses mastery of sports knowledge and news judgment to determine the agenda, concepts and content of assigned sports news programs.
• Coordinates with members of the production and technical staffs to create informative and entertaining sports news programs.
• Oversees a staff of Associate Producers and Production Assistants who create and develop assigned informative and entertaining sports news programs.
• Leads the assigned on-air staff to create and write creative and compelling content for assigned sports news program.
• Adjust program content to accommodate breaking news situations; interprets breaking news and translates it into program content.
• Participates in decisions regarding the full scope of creative, content, production and some cost/benefit decisions for assigned sports news stories.
• Recommendations and decisions are subject to general review and are guided by the defined objective and outcomes of assigned sports news stories.
• Ensures that the concepts and content of assigned sports news stories comply with the established policy and concepts of the production.
• Applies established creative and production skills to identifying and evaluating alternatives and to developing the concept and content of assigned sports news stories.
• Participates in interpreting the concepts of assigned sports news stories for the responsible Coordinating Producer, other Producers and related production and technical staffs.
• May negotiate or participate in negotiations for resources, within prescribed budgets, for assigned sports news stories.
• Participates in developing or develops processes and procedures for Associate Producers and Production Assistants that enhance the efficiency with which the department’s workload is conducted.
• Operates within the context of defined sports news program concepts, objectives and outcomes.
• Produces assigned sports news programs independently with regular guidance from the responsible Coordinating Producer.
• Work is reviewed by the responsible Coordinating Producer at regular intervals and milestones.
Basic Qualifications
• Minimum 4 years of progressively complex related studio or related production experience.
• Strong knowledge of US Hispanic television sports and market.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English). Spanish proficiency should be as expected on a native Spanish speaker/writer.
• Deep knowledge of US and International sports/rules/athletes (both current and historical especially Soccer with special focus on Concacaf and European leagues, NBA, NFL, MLB and Tennis).
Preferred Qualifications
• Strong understanding of, and appreciation for, Hispanic culture.
• Flexible attitude towards constantly changing work conditions and environment.
• Has a good appreciation of popular culture, e.g., “what’s cool” and assists with defining the tastes of ESPN’s viewers.
• Detailed technical knowledge required, must have knowledge of what “works” on television and what is realistic to accomplish in time allotted for show production.
• Knowledge of televisions production and video editing in digital and analog environments.
• Specific knowledge of television production technique used in a digital control room.
• Is an experienced supervisor with good leadership skills.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Good writing and copy editing skills.
Required Education
• 4 year related college degree or equivalent.
