Driving Fan Experiences Through Technology and Leadership

Michael Davies’ leadership is about shaping the environment in which people thrive. In the relentless pace of live sports, where days run long and pressures run higher, he believes strength comes from culture—teams that genuinely get along, communicate openly and look to their leaders for direction and example. By setting the tone for what truly matters, he transforms challenges into moments of resilience and shared success.

Measuring Impact Beyond the Metrics

I get asked this often, ‘when do you know something truly worked?’ The reality is there is no perfectly scientific way to measure it. When we developed the high-sky camera with its high-resolution, high-frame rate capability, we knew almost immediately because the talent explained how valuable it was in breaking down plays.

At other times, success is more instinctive, using what we call the bar test: if someone is watching in a bar, can they instantly recognize the effect? We also turn to Twitter and other social platforms to gauge real-time reactions and keep conversations going with fans.

Some innovations evolve into table stakes. In 2015, we introduced the first live and legal drone shoot at Tiburon Golf Club for the Shark Shootout. That experiment marked the beginning of drones becoming a broadcast expectation.

At Fox, we call these innovations Unique Visual Differences, or UVDs. They are our North Star.

Culture as the Core of Leadership

Leadership needs to do a few things to succeed. It is important to lead by example. This applies to professional habits and acumen but, more importantly, to culture. One of a leader’s primary responsibilities is to set the environment and determine what truly matters for the people they work with.

The reality is that we operate in a stressful, real-time and often difficult environment. Days are long, seasons are longer and people spend significant time away from their families and friends. At Fox, I believe our strength is that we genuinely get along. We work with a relatively small team, something that has been part of Fox’s DNA from the beginning. Because of this, communication is essential to eliminate unnecessary challenges and focus on the real ones. Leaders must always be aware that their actions and reactions are closely observed and magnified by their teams.

Balancing Risk with Creative Payoff

I think one of the things that Fox excels at is giving everyone on a crew a seat at the table when it comes to suggesting innovation. There are no bad ideas, and good ones can come from anywhere. Sometimes ideas are close to being impractical, but they often spark something useful.

 We work with a relatively small team, something that has been part of Fox’s DNA from the beginning. Because of this, communication is essential to eliminate unnecessary challenges and focus on the real ones 

The best innovations, in my view, are those that work across multiple platforms. A great example is the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our digital team has been at the forefront of using Generative AI to create content for both digital and linear platforms. The video generated through AI has proven to be an incredible innovation, delivering powerful results across channels.

But innovation is everywhere, and competitors are under equal pressure to raise the bar. The Super Bowl is the clearest example. Success is measured not only by execution but by creating a broadcast that endures in viewers’ memories for years.

Immersive Tech and Remote Workflows Lead Change

Well, there are really two sets of questions here: what we see in front of the screen and what happens behind the scenes.

On the front end, I have been particularly interested in what Jeb Terry and his team are doing at Cosm. They have taken innovations first imagined back in the early Virtual Reality days and brought them to the big, immersive screen. They call it shared reality, and I think it is fair to say they may have finally cracked the code for a compelling immersive experience, something the industry has been chasing for many years.

Beyond that, I see two major trends

1. From the outside in to the inside out. Traditionally, sports have been broadcast from the outside in with coverage cameras in the stands, handhelds on the sidelines and microphones surrounding the field, track, or court. Now there is a growing expectation that coverage should come from the inside out. This includes POV cameras, helmet cams, flying cameras and microphones on athletes. The more access we can provide inside the arena, the stronger the engagement.

2. Sports that look like video games. Augmented reality graphics, innovative camera angles, super-motion replays, HDR and other tools are reshaping how sports are produced and consumed. On the back end, remote workflows continue to redefine production. Remote and distributed models now allow entire productions to be managed far from the venue, extending well beyond the traditional production truck.

Key Advice for Aspiring Leaders

I work closely with college students and others looking to break into this business, and I am very optimistic about the opportunities available right now for several reasons.

There are simply more employers than ever. In addition to Fox Sports, ESPN, NBC and CBS, many new players have entered the field, all competing for young, passionate, and hardworking talent.

The rise of distributed workflows has opened tremendous possibilities. In the past, you typically had to travel to specific places to produce television or wait until a network came to town. Today, production happens in multiple hubs such as Stamford, New Haven, New York, Concord, and Los Angeles. This gives aspiring professionals access to both observational and hands-on experiences.

At last, one important lesson is to decide early on what direction to pursue. The responsibility is yours to explore opportunities, discover your passions and make choices accordingly.