SVG Sit-Down: Incoming Pac-12 Networks President Mark Shuken Has Deep Enthusiasm' For His New Opportunity Succeeding Lydia Murphy Stephans, Shuken looks to build on what his predecessors have created By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Friday, August 18, 2017 - 9:54 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
This week, Pac-12 Networks tapped Mark Shuken, a 30-year veteran of the regional-sports-network industry, as its new president. Filling the role vacated by outgoing president Lydia Murphy Stephans, Shuken brings with him an executive/production background that recently saw him lead the creation and branding of three RSNs covering the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Dodgers, and LA Galaxy for Time Warner Cable Sports Networks.
Although he doesn't officially take over until Sept. 6, Shuken spoke to SVG about his excitement for the opportunity, how he sees the networks further innovating in production and operational techniques, and where he sees growth coming for a network that is already five years old.
Mark Shuken: There's no more passionate fan than alumni. We want to utilize that passion to help elevate the profile of the content and the networks.
What was it about this position at this network that was intriguing to you? What made you want to pursue this opportunity?
It's really an ideal opportunity. The number-one answer is [Pac-12 Commissioner] Larry Scott. There are two things about Larry that I admire most. One is, he's very focused on the environment and culture of the business, and I happen to be a big believer in the importance of that. I think great cultures make great businesses and ultimately drive your bottom line as well. The other thing is that he was so smart when the networks were built to maintain the opportunity and the rights to control Pac-12 content on all platforms. There's really no other conference or organization where, top to bottom, we have the opportunity to adapt to the changing world of streaming, multiple platforms, social media, linear TV, and all of those things within one overarching strategy, which is to help the member institutions and our shareholders.
P12N has blazed a lot of technological trails in terms of at-home production and the use of IP technology. What are your thoughts on how this network has pushed the boundaries and experimented with new ways to broadcast sports live?
I happen to be a production guy by background, and I'm very intrigued by that notion. The most recent role I had in television was running the Lakers and Dodgers networks in L.A., and we focused very much on production innovation, connectivity to lots of different locales using new technology, the at-home productions, which have become somewhat common; I think we were one of the first entities to do that. So we'll be taking some of those lessons forward.
This is one of those rare opportunities where you have all 12 member institutions completely connected to the Pac-12 Networks home base. So you have these immense resources in the form of technology and connectivity and, frankly, student-athletes and students to be able, without tremendous logistical or financial hassle, to create better content and create it faster.
Where do you see growth for the Pac-12 Networks? It has been five years since these networks launched. What could the next five years hold that might be different from the first five?
I think the product is really strong, so the next five years is continuing to innovate around that - and that could be technological innovation, production innovation, new content; I think, certainly, innovation in platform and distribution and adapting to the way consumers realize, recognize, and appreciate their content now.
The brand of these member universities and the networks themselves and the conference networks, there's no more passionate fan than alumni. In these next five years, we want to utilize that passion for the product and that passion for the universities by those alums and their fans and families and all that surrounds them to help elevate the profile of the content and the networks.
You are following in the shoes of Lydia Murphy Stephans, the first woman ever to run a national sports network. What will it be like following in her footsteps?
I've never met Lydia, but she has developed a strong team and a strong product platform. For me to be able to build upon that is a rare opportunity. I think, [with] any organization that has gone through five years of very successful growth, you need to be reminded that people need to be inspired. I want to take what my predecessors have built and make sure that we maintain the inspiration and the innovation and that hunger that is so important in a competitive world.
What do you bring to the Pac-12 Networks that's unique and will be a positive force for the organization?
Honestly, it's my legitimate, deep enthusiasm for the opportunity here. I have had many roles in this space over 30 years, and I am so excited about what is possible for these networks and the team. I think that energy can't help but inspire because it's a legitimate, heartfelt feeling.
Want to listen to this interview with new Pac-12 Networks President Mark Shuken in its entirety? Subscribe to The SVG Podcast today to catch a bonus episode with Shuken and to stay up-to-date on all our in-depth interviews with some of the industry's most-influential personalities.
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
SVG Sit-Down: Incoming Pac-12 Networks President Mark Shuken Has Deep Enthusiasm' For His New Opportunity Succeeding Lydia Murphy Stephans, Shuken looks to build on what his predecessors have created By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
