LEGENDARY SPORTS PRODUCER JOE COHEN TALKS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

LEGENDARY SPORTS PRODUCER JOE COHEN TALKS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

By: Matthew Blittner

A legend in sports production circles, Joe Cohen is approaching his induction into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame on December 16th, 2016. In a recent interview with yours truly, Cohen discussed the following:

1. His career in television production.
2. Changes in t.v. and broadcasting from the beginning of his career to the present.
3. How he got to this point.
4. Individuals most important to him.
5. His family and professional relationships.

INDUCTION TO SPORTS BROADCASTING HALL OF FAME: “This is special because you’re being voted in by your peers in the industry. It means a lot to have respect and admiration from your peers to the point where you have reached the pinnacle of your profession and receive enshrinement into a place where the legends of your industry reside forever.”

CHANGES AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN HOCKEY TELEVISION COVERAGE: “The audio is much better. As you know when you go to a hockey game the sound of the puck hitting the boards, the checks, the crowd noise, are all important. The audio is much improved. Obviously high definition (HD) is a dramatic improvement for television. Hockey is the major sport that has benefitted most from these improvements. Something like 4K which is ultra HD will certainly help hockey even more.

“My company [The Switch] transmits signals, the video and audio, like a video Fedex. We’re now also moving data which is the fastest way to see statistics. We could maybe soon use different camera angles to follow individual players which you could control independently on your television as a form of augmented reality. With so many international players, the Russians could follow Alex Ovechkin, the Swedish, Henrik Lundqvist. It could also allow virtual sponsorships opportunities that would be unique to the controller.”

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AND ONE THING OF CHANGE: “My family, who have supported me in my career, and my wife. We stay strong and enjoy other sports as well. My proudest professional accomplishment, happened in the 1970s, when I was co-founder of the USA network, which we started from a million dollar investment, and is now reportedly worth five billion dollars. Plus, now, I just get bragging rights.

“I don’t believe in regrets or looking back. I’ve had lots of opportunities from where I stand, with over 45 years in the business. I never paid attention to outside financial sources but at the stage that I’m at now I wish I would have cultivated those financial sources.”

WHO MADE YOU WHO YOU ARE: “My mother and my wife probably shaped me the most. I just had my 37th wedding anniversary. My dad passed away when I was young. My mom was a single parent, she taught me to respect everybody and to work hard and that when you work hard, rewards come. Rita has been an incredible support, and advisor. She shaped me and keeps me focused. Irving Mitchell Felt hired me in 1969 and I started in 1970. A great opportunity. After that Ed Snider who unfortunately just passed away. He gave me an opportunity by helping to fund my Masters thesis.

“A great compliment, being called a mench by Stan. It goes back to my mother and my wife. My mother as I said earlier taught me to respect everyone from the parking attendants to CEOs, and my wife is the kindest person and makes sure that I stay that way as well.”

PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR NHL GROWTH FROM 6 TO 30 TEAMS: “I’ve been fortunate to be around a lot of great hockey people. When I started at MSG in 1970, it was Emile Francis and Muzz Patrick who really taught me the nuances of hockey. I had been a fan as a kid. Whenever the Rangers, like Ed Giacomin, Jean Ratelle, and Rod Gilbert, were around, it was a humbling experience to work with and get to know these people. Emile and Muzz were really nice and a joy to learn from.

“There was also Ed Snider, who helped pay for my Master’s thesis when I was a Masters student at Wharton School of Business, and later became one of my partners in multiple ventures. He was an incredible force in the 50 years since the Flyers came around, and his was a great loss for everybody. He was a great business man and he was unique in that he made his fortune in hockey in arenas, unlike most other people, who made their fortunes elsewhere and then bought into hockey. He really knew the business. He loved hockey and taught me a lot about the game and business.

“I knew Glen Sather as a player and had his jersey from 1972 (number 6) which I gave to him when he came back to MSG in 1998 and we renewed our relationship. I was the only one at the garden who was there when he was a player when he returned in 1998. He was not an all-star player, but he was a memorable player. He was a man for all seasons. Great guy. He was scrappy and had a real personality on the ice. I never dealt with him as a coach but when I was Chairman of the Kings I dealt with him as a GM and when we came back to the garden it was like old times. His career speaks for itself.

“Gary Bettman whom I worked with and who I respect was also very important to the growth of hockey. I first knew Gary when he was with the NBA so I knew him longer than these 23 years he’s been NHL Commissioner. He was the commissioner when I was chairman of the Kings which was early in his career. Of all the major sports hockey has unique challenges, the Canadian situation, the exchange rate. He’s grown the game and revenue. He got $500 million for the league from the new vegas franchise. He’s done a terrific job.”

ADVICE TO THE “NEXT JOE COHEN”: “You have to read the Fischler Report, Sports Business Journal, etc in a different way. If you read that, there’s a new league or team you need to act on that and send your resume. The websites really work, the system works. For me I did my Master’s thesis on hockey and basketball so when I was interviewed I was able to display a real interest in sports, not just as a fan. My paper got an A and it got published.”