2026 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED!
Recognizing the Work Powering the Modern Sports Media Ecosystem
The 2026 Cynopsis Sports Awards honor the people, platforms, and innovations defining how fans experience sports today—and how they’ll engage tomorrow.
From live broadcasts and documentaries to streaming platforms, marketing campaigns, data innovation, and executive leadership, these awards spotlight excellence across content, distribution, technology, and fan engagement—where sports media’s biggest growth and creativity are happening.
Together, this group showcases the work and leadership shaping how audiences watch, discover, share and interact with sports today. We’re proud to recognize this year’s finalists and congratulate them on this well-deserved achievement. Winners will be revealed live at the Cynopsis Sports Awards in New York City on Jun 4, 2026
2026 LUMINARIES
League of the Year Award
Brand of the Year
Sports Property of the Year
2026 Finalists
CONTENT & PROGRAMMING
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Alternative Sports Telecast
- NESNUnobstructed Views
- Omaha ProductionsManningCast
- TOGETHXRTOGETHXR
- Victory+ (APMC)Victory+ Creator Alt Casts
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Best "All Access" Sports Documentary or Docu-Series
- Canela MediaMujeres de Leyendas
- ESPNE60
- Teton Ridge / Cowboy ChannelCowboy Channel - Hell On Wheels Docu-Series
- UFCUFC Countdown
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Best Sports Athlete/Personality Documentary or Docu-Series
- ESPNNot So Fast, My Friend: A Lee Corso Special
- ESPN Films, CinemationBoo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott
- Monumental Sports and EntertainmentAlex Ovechkin: Drive to 895
- Next Level Sports and Entertainment (NLSE)Chasing Greatness: The Donald Scott Story
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Best Sports Team/Event/Competition Documentary or Docu-Series
- ESPNACC Network We’re #1!
- ESPN, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, Words + Pictures, 2PM ProductionsThe Kingdom
- Esports Foundation / This MachineEsports World Cup: Level Up
- USA LacrosseBehind the Shield
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Live Coverage of a Sporting Event
- CBS SportsCBS Sports Coverage of The Masters
- FOXFOX NFL
- FOXFOX CFB: Big Ten Championship
- FOX/FS1FOX IndyCar: Indianapolis 500
- TNT SportsTNT Sports x Roland Garros
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Short-Form Sports Series (Webisode or Digital Original)
- Athletes UnlimitedAthletes Unlimited Pro Basketball -- Word From The Wise
- Bleacher ReportBleacher Report's Bulletin Board
- NFLBehind the Bowl - New Orleans
- UFCUFC Connected
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Specialized Live Coverage of a Sporting Event
- American Kennel ClubAKC Salutes the Troops
- Monumental Sports NetworkAlex Ovechkin - NHL All-Time Goals Record
- PGA, Omaha Productions, T Mobile, Pro ShopBreakfast at Bethpage
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Sports Podcast of the Year
- Athletes FirstExciting Mics
- NBCMy New Favorite Olympian
- Omaha ProductionsThe Mina Kimes Show
- The VolumeClub 520
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Studio or Pregame Sports Show - Regional
- Blue Ridge Communications 13Friday Night Football
- Monumental Sports and EntertainmentSports Business Journal: Inside the Industry
- SportsNet PittsburghBucs BP
- YES Network2025 Yankees Pre-Game
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Studio or Pregame Sports Show - National
- CBS SportsUEFA Champions League Today
- FOX/FS1FOX MLB: The Postseason
- Josh PateJosh Pate's College Football Show
- NickelodeonNFL Slimetime
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CONTENT STORYTELLING & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
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Best Specialized Sports Content Storytelling (Brand or League)
- American Kennel ClubAKC Salutes the Troops
- ESPNCollege GameDay: STOP! Hammer Time
- ESPNCollege GameDay: Luckie
- Global Polo/USPA GlobalBreakaway by Global Polo: The U.S. Open Polo Championship
- Monumental Sports & EntertainmentThe GR8 Chase x Venture Global
- Monumental Sports and EntertainmentStanley Pup
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Best Sports Content Storytelling (Brand or League)
- For SoccerParamount+ / CBS Sports / Verizon Next Level Series (UEFA Champions League)
- Humann, Texas Athletics, and LearfieldHumann x Texas Athletics x Learfield
- Intuit TurboTaxTurboTax x March Madness Reactive Social Program
- NFLNFL Year in Review 2024-2025
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Best Sports Social & Creator Strategy
- Barstool Sports and Bob Does SportsInternet Invitational
- House of HighlightsCreator League: How House of Highlights Built the Internet’s First Creator-Owned Sports League
- NickelodeonNFL Slimetime
- TOGETHXRTOGETHXR
- Travelers Insurance & MikeWorldWideThe Travelers Championship
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Best Use of Brand Activation – Women’s Sports Properties
- Inmar IntelligenceNC Courage and Inmar Intelligence: The Data Driven Gameplan Behind Record Ticket Sales
- State Farm x LearfieldState Farm x Learfield
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Sports Social Impact Initiative
- AMP Sports High School Division43 Million Reasons to Stop - the Best Defense is Awareness
- ESPNTake Back Sports
- Special OlympicsSpecial Olympics 3x3 Basketball Tournament
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EXECUTIVE & LEADERSHIP AWARDS
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Digital Executive of the Year
- NESNDavid Wisnia
- TNT SportsPaige Balocki
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Marketing Executive of the Year
- AMP Sports High School DivisionSteve Mann
- FOX SportsKeri Gajewski, VP, Brand Marketing & Strategic Planning
- Omaha ProductionsKristen Herlihy
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Production Executive of the Year
- Athletes UnlimitedCheri Kempf
- ESPN SPORTSCENTER 50 STATES IN 50 DAYSJulie McGlone
- Teton Ridge / The Cowboy ChannelAnde Wall
- The VolumeRory Leland
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Sports Strategist of the Year
- Playfly SportsCraig Sloan
- Willow TVTodd Myers
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MARKETING, BRAND & FAN ENGAGEMENT
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Best Campaign to Engage Consumers 30 and Younger
- DoorDashDoorDash - NBA 'In Your Bag'
- House of HighlightsCreator League: How House of Highlights Built the Internet’s First Creator-Owned Sports League
- NFLYouth Flag - Chase Something
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Best Sports Creative or Tune-In Promotion
- DoorDashDoorDash - NBA 'In Your Bag'
- FOX Sports2025 IndyCar on FOX: Josef Newgarden
- NFLNFL+ - Car Wash
- Northern Lights AgencyNBC "Sunday Nights"
- Northern Lights AgencyParamount+ "All In One Place"
- TNT SportsMLB Postseason on TBS “Dingers”
- YES NetworkYankees Hamilton Night Promo
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Best Sports Fan Engagement Platform or Tool
- SBRNETSports Fan 360 Fan Engagement Measurement
- Xfinity and GMR MarketingXfinity Extra Bar
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Best Sports Marketing Campaign
- FOX Sports2025 IndyCar on FOX: Fastest Racing on Earth
- FOX Sports2025 CFB Big Noon Saturday: Turturro
- Intuit TurboTaxTurboTax x March Madness Reactive Social Program
- New York JetsNew York Jets x Nike 2026 Rivalry Game
- YES NetworkNets on YES 2025-26 Promo Campaign
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PLATFORMS, DISTRIBUTION & VIEWING EXPERIENCE
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Best AltCast Experience
- FOX SportsThe 109th Indianapolis 500 In-Car Stream
- Victory+ (APMC)Victory+ Creator Alt Casts
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Best High School Sports Innovation
- AMP High School DivisionRedefining High School Sports for the Digital Era
- Blue Ridge Communications 13Delaware Valley vs Wilkes-Barre Area PIAA District 2 6A High School Boys Basketball Championship
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Best Sports Streaming Platform
- Gotham Sports AppGotham Sports App
- Prime VideoPrime Video Best Sports Streaming Platform
- Victory+ (APMC)Victory+ Fan First Sports Streaming
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Content Discovery Innovation
- NickelodeonNFL Slimetime
- RokuRoku Simplifies the Sports-Viewing Experience
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Emerging Sports Platform
- AIM Sports GroupAIM Plus Sports
- Victory+ (APMC)Victory+ Fan First Sports Streaming
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Local Sports Media Network of the Year
- Blue Ridge Communications TV13BRC 13 Sports Coverage
- Buckeye BroadbandBCSN
- Monumental Sports & EntertainmentMonumental Sports Network
- NESNNESN: Reinventing the RSN
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Sports Media Platform of the Year
- Monumental Sports & EntertainmentMonumental Sports Network
- The VolumeThe Volume
- VSiNVSiN, The Sports Betting Network
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TECHNOLOGY, DATA & AD INNOVATION
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Best Sports Data, Measurement or Analytics Innovation
- Affinity SolutionsFansactions™ by Affinity Solutions
- Fox and MediaprobeDefining Sports Sponsorship Through Engagement
- MadhiveMadhive Live Sports Marketplace
- NielsenNielsen Big Data + Panel
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Sports Technology Innovation of the Year
- ASB GlassFloorASB
- CBS SportsCBS Sports SkyDry
- ESPNESPN SPORTSCENTER 50 STATES IN 50 DAYS
- Inmar IntelligenceNC Courage and Inmar Intelligence: The Data Driven Gameplan Behind Record Ticket Sales
- Monumental Sports NetworkMonumental Game Center
- Teton Ridge / Cowboy ChannelAIQ - Artificial Intelligence Analytics - 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
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Technical Innovation for the Ad Experience
- Bleacher ReportBleacher Report Builds the Future of Super Bowl Coverage with Creator-Led “Content Factory” on Radio Row
- PubMaticPubMatic AI Live Sports Marketplace
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Guest Presenters
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Stef Manisero
Anchor/ReporterNY1 Sports -
Paola Mayfield
WOW - Women of Wrestling -
Sibley Scoles
WOW - Women of Wrestling -
Jon Steinlauf
2026 Top Women in Sports
The Cynopsis Top Women in Sports Awards honors the leaders shaping the future of the sports media industry. From content and production to marketing, technology, and executive leadership, these women are driving innovation, influence, and impact across the sports ecosystem.
The honorees will be celebrated at the Cynopsis Sports Awards Gala on June 4, where the industry will come together to recognize the visionaries setting the standard for excellence in sports media.
Brand-Side Marketing & Sponsorship
Aminah Charles
Head of North America Sports MarketingBeats by DreAmy Montagne
PresidentNikeDedra DeLilli
VP, Marketing CommunicationsToyotaStephanie Marciano
Head of Sports & SponsorshipAllyCable Operators & Distribution Platforms
Amy Geary
EVP, Platform Distribution and PartnershipsNBCUniversalJessica Algazi
Senior Corporate CounselPrime Video Sports, Amazon MGM StudiosRosalyn Durant
EVP, Programming & AcquisitionsESPNMarketing Leadership: Leagues & Teams
Heidi Browning Pearson
Senior EVP and Chief Marketing OfficerNHLJayne Bussman-Wise
VP, Growth Strategy & New VenturesProfessional Women’s Hockey LeagueJennifer Cramer
Executive Vice PresidentMLSMarissa Solis
SVP Global Brand and Consumer MarketingNFLRevenue & Monetization
Amy Brooks
President, Global Business DevelopmentNBAJill Gregory
COOTWG MotorsportsKierstin Pry
Senior Director, Global Pricing & Planning, Revenue OperationsRokuLouise Emmerson
SVP, Global SalesDAZNSports Marketing & Agencies
Amber Sabathia
Sports AgentCAAElizabeth Lindsey
President, Brands & PropertiesTHE·TEAMMelissa Woltman
Vice PresidentOctagonMonique Jacobs
Director, Global Sports & EntertainmentWPPStreaming & Digital Sports Platforms
Adriana Becerra
Senior Vice President, Content & Creative OperationsTubiAmy McDevitt
Head of Sports Brand PartnershipsAmazonAngela Courtin
Vice President, YouTube Marketing Brand, Creative, Culture and MediaYouTubeDanielle Brown
Senior Vice President, Sports Streaming & Brand SolutionsDisneyKate Jackson
Director Live SportsNetflixTelevision Networks
Lindsey Lloyd
Vice President, Media & ProductionWWEMonica Gil
EVP, Chief Administrative and Marketing OfficerTelemundoTerri Hines
EVPFox SportsTina Thornton
EVP, Creative Studio and MarketingESPNLeagues & Team Organizations
Portia Archer
PresidentWTASandra Douglass Morgan
PresidentLas Vegas RaidersSandra Idehen
CommissionerLeague One VolleyballMicky Lawler
CommissionerUnrivaled BasketballKim Ng
CommissionerAthletes Unlimited SoftballCindy Parlow Cone
PresidentU.S. Soccer FederationGlobal Leagues & International Sports Properties
Emily Prazer
President & CEO, Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand PrixFormula 1Mariana Banus
Head of FIFA FoundationFIFASally Horrox
Chief of Women’s RugbyWorld RugbySarah Hirshland
Chief Executive OfficerU.S. Olympic & Paralympic CommitteeData, Technology & Fan Experience
Amy Archer
Senior Director, Growth MarketingNielsenAmy Howe
Chief Executive OfficerFanDuelJessica Gelman
Chief Executive OfficerKraft Analytics GroupKristen O’Hara
VP, Agency, Platforms & Client SolutionsGoogleLaura Fitzpatrick
SVP. SalesComscoreRia Madrid
VP, AdvertisingWURLSarah Hofstetter
PresidentComscoreCreator-Led & Digital Sports Media
Ellen Hyslop
Co-FounderThe GISTDanette Leighton
Chief Executive OfficerWomen’s Sports FoundationJessica Robertson
Co-Founder & Chief Brand OfficerTogethxrHaley Rosen
Founder & CEOJust Women’s SportsLily Shimbashi
FounderSports.ishTHE GALA
Winners will be celebrated at a live awards gala on June 4, 2026 in New York City, where the industry comes together to honor sports media excellence.
When:
Cynopsis Sports Awards
Thursday, June 4
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET
Where:
Current
Pier 59, Chelsea Piers
New York, NY 10011
This sophisticated event venue is located within New York’s iconic Chelsea Piers.
GALA PRICING
Sponsorship
Position your brand at the center of sports media’s most influential recognition program. Cynopsis Sports Awards sponsorships provide meaningful exposure to top executives and teams driving innovation across the sports media ecosystem—on stage, online, and throughout the awards lifecycle.
For details and custom packages, contact Vernesa Merdanovic at vmerdanovic@accessintel.com
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
Contact Us
You won’t want to miss this opportunity to connect with the leading executives in the industry. Connect with the following Cynopsis team members today!
ENTRIES & ATTENDING
Isabella Aslarona
Marketing Manager
iaslarona@accessintel.com
SPONSORSHIP
Vernesa Merdanovic
vmerdanovic@accessintel.com