David Hill, Legendary Sports Television Executive and Father of FOX Sports,Honored with 2016 New York Festivals Lifetime Achievement Award
New York Festivals Television & Film Awards will honor David Hill, legendary veteran sports executive, live event specialist and Father of FOX Sports, with the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Hill will receive the award at the New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards gala on April 19, 2016 at the annual NAB Show.
New York Festivals TV & Film Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes prominent industry leaders whose accomplishments and contributions have advanced their field and made a lasting impression on the industry.
David Hill has defined excellence in sports television during an illustrious career that spans more than three decades on three continents. Mr. Hill’s career in America began when he was named FOX Sports’ first president in December 1993. He then built FOX’s new sports division from the ground up in only eight months. Mr. Hill went on to become chairman of the FOX network in 1997 and through 1999 guided both sports and the network’s prime time programming. In 1999, he returned to sports full time and was named chairman of the FOX Sports Media Group where he drove development of Fox Sports Net, then a coalition of 21 regional sports networks, and the launch of SPEED Channel, Big Ten Network and FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In addition, he served as head of entertainment when News Corp owned a majority interest in DirecTV.
“I’m thrilled that New York Festivals Television & Film Awards has elected to honor me its 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award, especially when you look at the accomplished careers of those who have received this distinction before me, particularly Geoff Mason, Ken Aagaard and Dave Mazza – not a bad bunch,” said Mr. Hill. “Television is truly a collaborative effort, and from Australia, to the U.K., and finally the U.S., I’ve had the good fortune of working with hundreds of amazingly talented people who joined me in taking risks and forsaking tradition, and I share this award with each and every one of them.”
The consummate innovator, Mr. Hill influenced the medium via expanded use of technology to enhance the at-home experience for sports television viewers. His revolutionary concepts have created the modern sports television viewing experience and include the FoxBox constant score and clock graphic; the on-screen first down line, which has its roots on the FoxTrax glowing hockey puck; improved in-game audio using Dolby surround sound and innovative microphone placement, including in bases, outfield walls and foul poles; Diamond Cam, Catcher-Cam and Gopher-Cam; satellite tracking in NASCAR, allowing on–screen identification of cars with speed, race position and data and much, much more.
Mr. Hill also served as Senior Executive Vice President of 21st Century Fox, chairman of National Geographic Channels and was an executive producer at Fox for “American Idol” for the iconic show’s final three seasons.
His stellar broadcast reputation and business acumen finds Mr. Hill and his new production firm, Hilly Productions, a highly sought-after live event specialist. Earlier this year, the Emmy-winning live television executive was tapped to produce the 88th Academy Awards telecast airing on Sunday, February 28, 2016.
The 2016 TV & Film award-winners will be announced at the annual NAB Show taking place on April 19th in Las Vegas. New York Festivals Television & Film Awards will celebrate the 2016 World’s Best TV & Films℠, as well as present the Lifetime Achievement Award, Broadcaster of the Year, Production Company of the Year, and United Nations Department of Public Information Awards. For more information on NYF’s Television & Film Awards visit: www.newyorkfestivals.com/tvfilm/
The deadline to enter the 2016 Television & Film Awards competition is December 31, 2015. Entry details and competition rules and regulations can be found on the NYF Television & Film Awards website www.newyorkfestivals.com/tvfilm/. To view the complete list of categories click: HERE
All Entries in the 2016 competition will be judged online and screened by New York Festivals TV & Film Awards Grand Jury of 200 media professionals from 30 countries around the globe. All award-winning entries will be showcased on the NYF’s TV & Film Awards website.