Sports In The Making

Scott Hecht - Sr. Producer, Syracuse University & Former ESPN CP/Director

Episode Summary

In Sports In the Making's debut episode, Scott Hecht explains his career path, why he loves producing sports on television, how he has been is instrumental role in shaping sports coverage at the university level, and how he has helped many young people get their start in this industry.

Episode Notes

Scott Hecht has worked many different roles in sports broadcasting, including as a producer, director and coordinating producer/director, having been lead producer for the Phoenix Suns and San Diego Padres, lead director for TVG Network and as coordinating producer/director at ESPN.  He currently works as senior producer at Syracuse University Athletics.

1:36 - Where his love of sports started.

2:50 - When he knew he had to work in sports tv.

4:12 - How he got into the sports tv industry.

6:25 - How he has helped others break into the production side of sports tv.

8:15 - How mistakes happen in a truck and the need for younger people.

10:00 - The opportunities for sports production people.

11:26 - What it was like producing his first ever event.

13:50 - What broadcasting legend Arnie Harris taught him about producing/directing.

16:00 - Producing the Phoenix Suns during their successful seasons and how it led to more opportunities.

17:50 - How he worked with athletes to help make his shows better.

20:36 - How storytelling is a big part of his producing philosophy and how it’s done for the viewer.

21:56 - How he produced baseball and how storytelling is a big part of helping the viewers understand the game, and why he loves producing for the viewer.

25:42 - How producing the 1999 World Basketball Championships for the NBA was his most memorable event as well as the scariest moment in his career.

33:21 - What it was like working for ESPN.

35:11 - What a Coordinating Producer does in the studio.

38:05 - How he transitioned to overseeing university sports productions with ESPN/SEC Network.

39:49 - Working with a younger generation in sports tv production.

40:25 - How everyone used to think that students attended Syracuse University to become an announcer, but more are looking at production-type opportunities.

41:58 - How Syracuse supports goals of being the next great announcer but they want to equip students with production knowledge.

43:36 - What he things the future of tv and broadcasting looks like.

46:27 - How storytelling is becoming a lost art with all of the changes in how games are produced.

48:05 - How his love for working in sports broadcasting is a sacrifice that he hopes help the viewer make memorable experiences with their families.