John J. Filippelli, one of the most influential and most respected executives in all of sports television, is responsible for every aspect of the critically acclaimed on-air content for the YES Network, the pre-eminent regional sports network in the nation. He is the only person in sports broadcasting history known to have earned more than 100 national Emmy nominations, as well as more than 100 local Emmy nominations (YES actually has 571 Emmy nominations, along with 134 Emmy wins, under his watch), and is one of a select few producers who have held senior positions in the truck, as well as in management.
In August of 2020, Filippelli was voted into the Sports Video Group’s prestigious Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals for their lasting contributions to the sports broadcasting industry.
Filippelli’s mantra?: “The way we cover a game is almost as important as the game itself, because the imagery and commentary we provide become lasting memories for our viewers.”
Filippelli joined YES as its first employee in September 2001. His task: to build, from scratch, all on-air elements of a television network just five months before its March, 2002 launch.
From the start, Filippelli has had the network constantly at the forefront of sports production and technology: it was the first television network to produce 3D and interactive MLB telecasts, and was the first television network to display continuous on-screen pitch counts during baseball telecasts. YES was a leader when it came to HD, as well, having launched its standalone 24/7 HD channel in 2007.
The network was the first