Grass Valley to support next generation of sports producers with 'Future Playmakers' program

Grass Valley announces the launch of its ‘Future Playmakers’ program, a new global initiative that will combine scholarships, hands-on learning and access to manufacturer technology to help universities develop professionals prepared for the live sports production sector

Coinciding with NAB 2026, Grass Valley will announce the program Future Playmakers reflecting its continued investment in education, workforce development and long-term growth of the sector. It is designed for help students gain practical experience, while allowing higher education institutions to strengthen their production programs through access to professional-grade tools and workflows.

The program Future Playmakers combines scholarships, hands-on learning, access to technology and institutional collaboration. It is designed to create a sustainable pipeline of talent trained in industry-standard solutions used in live sports and event production.

Jon Wilson, CEO of Grass Valley, notes that “developing the next generation of talent is critical to the future of our sector. The program Future Playmakers “Aims to provide students with real access to the tools, workflows and experiences that define modern live production, while strengthening our collaborations with the institutions that shape that future workforce.”

Through the program, Grass Valley will select up to ten students a year of participating partner institutions. Selected students will receive financial support as well as access to experiential learning opportunities designed to bridge the gap between academic studies and real-world production environments.

A central component of the program is the Grass Valley Montreal Technology Experience, where students will interact directly with the company's technology and equipment. The experience includes a factory tour, hands-on product demonstrations such as cameras, production switchers, AMPP and orchestration solutions, as well as sessions on live production workflows and access to industry experts.

Greg Doggett, vice president of sales for NAM Sports, Grass Valley, notes that "the industry is evolving rapidly and there is a clear need for talent that understands both production and technology. This program is designed to give students that exposure early on, while helping higher education institutions create programs that reflect how live production works today and gain important insight into where the industry is headed."

Participating institutions benefit from scholarship opportunities, increased industry visibility, and closer collaboration with Grass Valley through technology alignment and program participation. The initiative is open to higher education institutions and production programs investing in next-generation broadcast and live production workflows.

Al connect students, educators and professionals in the sector, the program Future Playmakers aims to provide long-term value across the entire media ecosystem. Supports the development of operators, engineers and production specialists trained to work in increasingly complex, IP-based and software-defined environments.
Grass Valley will share more information about participating institutions as the program expands.