X Games Franchise Moves from ESPN Content to Programming
Scott Guglielmino, who has played a vital role in ESPN’s companywide efforts on the 2010 World Cup, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Programming and Global X. In his new position, Scott will be responsible for all aspects of the Global X franchise and will continue to oversee the company’s domestic soccer strategy.
Under the new structure, the X Games franchise returns to its programming roots and becomes part of ESPN’s programming arm. The X Games had been managed by ESPN Enterprises since 2007.
“The X Games launched in 1994 out of the Programming department, and since then have become synonymous with innovation and forward thinking at our company and throughout the sports world,” said Guglielmino. “So many people in every corner of ESPN have nurtured this franchise over the years, and we have collectively established a preeminent brand in the action sports arena. I am looking forward to this exciting, new challenge and happy for the opportunity to work with the talented team in place to move the franchise forward.”
Reporting to Guglielmino will be Chris Stiepock and Rick Alessandri from Global X Events and Development and Brian Kweder from Programming. Guglielmino will report to John Wildhack, Executive Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions.
Biography
Guglielmino directed the return of NASCAR to ESPN and ABC in 2007 across ESPN’s multimedia assets, including television, Internet, radio, print, broadband and wireless. His areas of responsibility include daily interaction with all entities: event and studio production, customer marketing and sales, affiliate sales and marketing, consumer marketing, research, legal, communications and finance.
Since 1998, he was a major contributor in the decision to televise the highly successful FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999, and he will continue to oversee network plans for the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, as ESPN and ABC Sports have maintained rights for these properties through 2014.
Guglielmino played a key role in ESPN’s acquisition of the Monday Night Football franchise and coordinated the company’s negotiation preparation for both ESPN and ABC Sports. While managing the NFL relationship, Guglielmino directed ESPN’s Hurricane Relief Telethon efforts in Fall 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, coordinating network and cable affiliates across the country and ultimately raising $5 million for victims of the natural disaster in the Gulf Coast region.
Guglielmino also has overseen brand extension efforts for ESPN’s Winter and Summer X Games, which have enabled ESPN to establish the leading global action sports brand. He has been involved in ESPN Content Development, formerly ESPN Original Entertainment, since its infancy, including the development and launch of Two Minute Drill. He was the planner of record for the highly acclaimed SportsCentury series, coordinating early development of the overall project.
Guglielmino originally started at ESPN as a freelance statistics coordinator for College GameDay in 1993. He was hired as a full-time screener in November 1993. Through the past 13 years, he has been promoted to planner, senior planner, director and vice president.
Guglielmino was graduated in 1992 from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in communications science. A native and resident of Cheshire, Conn., Guglielmino continues to lend his expertise to the Parks & Recreation department in his hometown, where he helped create a local skate park.
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For X Games media information, including press releases, logos and additional images from past events, log on to www.espneventmedia.com. For general information and updated athlete lists, log on to www.xgames.com. Follow the X Games on Twitter at Twitter.com/espnxgames.
Contacts: ESPN X Games – Katie Moses Swope at 310-642-1507 or [email protected]
