The sports executive producer (EP) was once a truly exalted position. The EP managed the content production team, including announcers; developed and executed creative strategies for covering events; conceived studio programs; and often spoke publicly for the TV network. Roone Arledge set the standard at ABC Sports (1968-1986). When John joined CBS Sports in 1982, the network had four EPs. That same year, Ed joined the NBA as director of broadcasting … and its first (and probably the only sports league) executive producer.

In that early-cable and pre-internet era, TV networks purchased the rights to live sports and were the de facto sole creative experts. Leagues and event owners were simply considered rights licensors and administrators, who lacked standing to dictate (or even express an opinion) about how events were covered. Dick Ebersol and David Hill are examples of other well-known, highly-regarded EPs. So consider the NBA’s audacity to give Ed that title! But it did signal that the league was no longer willing to abdicate its responsibility for the presentation and storytelling of its sport and participants.

That message still resonates today.

Sports TV continues to boom but the sports media business has changed. As we wrote recently (SBJ March 10, 2025), tech rights buyers are proliferating, while broadcast and pay TV networks’ oligopoly shrinks in economic strength and........

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