What Happened?
Bristol, CT-based ESPN has appointed Chuck Pagano as Chief Technology Officer.
About the Company
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. Sports media assets include ESPN on ABC, six domestic cable television networks (ESPN, launched in 1979; ESPN2; ESPN Classic; ESPNEWS; ESPN Deportes; ESPNU), ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD (high-definition simulcast services of ESPN and ESPN2, respectively), ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (31 international networks and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants licensed by ESPN), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Properties (wireless), ESPN On Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.
About the Person
Chuck Pagano, who joined ESPN prior to its debut on September 7, 1979 as a technical director, was named ESPN’s first chief technology officer on August 1, 2011. In this role he continues to serve as ESPN’s executive vice president of technology, a position he assumed in 2005 but adds duties across The Walt Disney Company. He is responsible for all technology sectors within ESPN, including television, radio, and new media, as well as research and development. He previously served as senior vice president, technology, engineering and operations (1999 – 2005), where he led his department and oversaw engineering, operations, facilities and new technology. Under Pagano’s leadership, ESPN has advanced television technology throughout the industry including developing the first 3D network in the United States, ESPN 3D; bringing virtual enhancements such as EA Virtual Playbook to studio and remote TV telecasts and expanding its technological footprint around the globe. These are a few of the accomplishments that led ESPN to be named as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2011 (#17). The team was also recognized by Fast Company in 2010 and 2011 as the Most Innovative in Sports (#1). In August, 2011, ESPN announced it would build a second digital center on the main campus in Bristol, Conn. This new facility is being built by Pagano’s team and adds to the advanced technical production facilities already in place at the main campus as well as the Los Angeles Production Center, which his team opened in 2009. The LAPC signaled ESPN’s push to the West Coast and is the world’s first 1080p HD facility. The LAPC is a 77,000 square foot state-of-the-art HD facility that provides ESPN with three production control rooms, two master control rooms; eight craft edit suites, a music room, a voiceover room and two studios (both of which total more than 12,300 square feet). Pagano was the key driver in the creation of ESPN’s Bristol-based Digital Center, one of the most technically sophisticated television production facilities in the world. Assisting in production of the networks high definition services, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD, the Digital Center opened on June 7, 2004. Outfitted as an all-encompassing digital resource, the building contains over seven million feet of cable and four HDTV studios totaling 20,000 square feet (9,000, 5,000, 3,000 and 3,000) that are home to all ESPN Bristol-based studio shows. Previously, Pagano had served as senior vice president, engineering and technology from 1995 to 1999 and his duties included spearheading ESPN’s technology-related strategic planning. Prior to that he served as vice president, engineering project development (1994-95), director, operations and engineering project development (1992-94) and manager, engineering project development (1989-92). He served as a systems engineer from 1983-89. He joined ESPN in August 1979 as a technical director. Before joining ESPN, Pagano worked for WFSB-TV, the CBS affiliate in Hartford, Conn., as a technician (1977-79). Pagano (half-) jokingly says he joined ESPN to cut his commute in half. Pagano currently serves on the Board of Regents at the University of Hartford as well as on the Board of Advisers for the College of Engineering. He also serves on the Tunxis Foundation Board for Tunxis Community College in Farmington, Conn., and is a board member for The Palace Theater in Waterbury, Conn., and is a board member and first vice chair for the Connecticut Technology Council. A native of Waterbury, Connecticut, Pagano received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1984, and a Master of Science degree in organizational psychology in 2007, both from the University of Hartford and also studies astronomy in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Wesleyan University.
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