Ed Placey is a vice president in ESPN’s Event and Studio Production group. Among his primary responsibilities are college football’s event coverage and leading content innovation across the company’s portfolio of sports properties, as well as the development of new technology and alternative production approaches. With more than three and a half decades of sports television experience, Placey has helped develop technological and production advancements that have enhanced the on-screen presentations for fans on both traditional telecasts and multi-screen platforms. 

Placey was tabbed to lead content innovation initiatives for ESPN production in February of 2019 as part of the company’s renewed commitment to innovation. He has played a leading role in the creation of ESPN’s Emmy Award-winning productions College Football Playoff Megacast and Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli. Placey has also helped develop ESPN’s Emmy-nominated NBA Marvel Arena of Heroes telecast, NFL Wildcard Megacasts, NBA Daily Wager BetCast, and PGA Championship Megacast. Among the technical innovations created under his leadership are Emmy-nominated Pylon Cam, as well as First Down Marker Cam, Ref Cam, SkyCast, and various features within the on-screen scoreboard graphics that have since become staples throughout all televised sports coverage.

Placey leads collaboration across ESPN’s content teams – including remote operations, creative studios, production technology, studio operations, programming, and more – to explore and develop a wide range of original production tools and elements. 

Placey transitioned into the role of vice president as part of 17 years as a coordinating producer, leading college football’s event coverage across all of ESPN Networks and ABC Sports.      

Placey was promoted to coordinating producer in 2002, where in addition to college football he has had previous responsibilities for ESPN’s NCAA Championships, the NFL Draft, and the Scripps National Spelling Bee. A producer from 1993-2001, Placey worked on college football, as well as college basketball, MLB, college baseball, the X Games, and the NFL Draft. He also worked as an associate producer from 1987-92. Prior to ESPN, Placey was a producer/director for NESN from 1985-87. 

A native of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, Placey graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in telecommunications management.