From production assistant to lead producer, his career growth reflects that of the sport he covers
As the pace of change in sports production shows no signs of slowing, a new class of innovators and decision-makers is shaping the industry’s future. Now in its second season, our SVG All-Stars series spotlights the rising leaders driving that transformation, offering a look at their career paths, leadership philosophies, creative and technological contributions, and vision for what comes next. Each conversation introduces you to the people redefining the workflows, culture, and possibilities of live sports production.
When Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ signs off from Fenway Park with a Tigers–Red Sox matchup this Friday, it will wrap a season that continued to showcase MLB Network’s evolution into one of the sport’s most important production partners. At the center of that effort has been Michael Treanor, who has produced one of the two weekly games since the package debuted in 2022.
Michael Treanor (left) in the truck alongside director John Moore during a Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees in July. (All photos: MLB Network)
Treanor’s path to that seat traces back to before the first days of MLB Network in 2009. He began in graphics prior to joining the remote-production crew on Thursday Night Baseball (2010-12), which later became MLB Network Showcase as we know it today. He embraced emerging tools like Statcast when it launched in 2015, mastered replay in the tape room, and grew into producing youth events and the Arizona Fall League.
His adaptability put him on the front lines of MLB’s early digital ventures, producing the first global-exclusive streams on Facebook Watch in 2018 and later the MLB Game of the Week LIVE on YouTube. Those experiences ultimately prepared him to help lead the Friday Night Baseball franchise for Apple TV+.
Treanor in the broadcast booth at Yankee Stadium with announcer Wayne Randazzo (left) and analyst Dontrelle Willis for a game between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees in August.
Along the way, he has also produced presentations of the league’s jewel events, including the MLB All-Star Game and World Series. His career reflects both MLB Network’s trajectory and the wider industry shift toward multiplatform, global distribution of the game.
In this edition of SVG All-Stars, Treanor traces his career from production assistant to the front bench, shares how discoverability of content with consumers is an increasingly pressing challenge for the industry, and why he would advise an aspiring producer to get familiar with every position on the crew.
What are the key responsibilities of your current role?
Since its inception at the start of the 2022 MLB season, I have been a line producer for Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+. When you’re building out a “Game of the Week” presentation for an exclusive audience, it’s important to be adept in the most prominent storylines for those embedded with the team day-to-day. Working in lockstep with our partner in Apple, my foremost responsibility is to help curate credible, informative, and entertaining shows in conjunction with our announcers and production team. It’s of utmost importance that all parties involved have their respective tasks assigned in a timely and organized manner, so that there is a defined and achievable plan for a successful broadcast.
Treanor in the broadcast booth at Fenway Park
What is one key industry trend that you believe is having a major impact on your organization right now?
Streaming in the live-sports industry has become more commonplace, so it remains incredibly important to promote how accessible and easy it is to access our telecasts. We want to make sure all fans know how and where to find us, so we’re constantly beating that drum across the organization. As part of the promotion, I find it important to lean into the traits that most distinguish our broadcasts. Friday Night Baseball has garnered a positive reputation for its state-of-the-art cameras, high-resolution imagery, and 5.1 spatial audio. We want to include that as part of general messaging to the public, whether it be digitally or socially. The more knowledgeable you can make the consumer about a product, the more likely they are to watch and assimilate with an open mind.
What is one core philosophy you try to live by when managing your team/operation?
This one is fairly cut and dried: treat others the way you would want to be treated. I’m a firm believer in positive reinforcement when applicable. If core members of your team see you invest in their respective areas, educating yourself as to their timelines and duties, they are more likely to give you an above-and-beyond effort. When all members of a production team take pride in what they do and take care to consider what those around them are doing, you’re likely to put forth an upper-echelon product and develop incredibly strong relationships with your colleagues. Many of us in the industry must often leave our loved ones to earn a living. Being able to spend that time away from home with a group that shares a mutual level of respect for one another makes it less of a hardship and more of a joy.
Treanor (second from left) in the broadcast booth at Chase Field for a 2023 World Baseball Classic broadcast with (from left) director John Moore, announcer Rich Waltz, analyst Buck Martinez, and field reporter Jon Morosi
What is your favorite event(s) you’ve ever worked?
Working with the same crew in several different capacities for a decade now has brought incredible memories. Producing my first World Series in 2024 for MLB’s international audience is high on the list, but the Fall Classics in 2016 and 2017 stand out amongst the rest. There is no bigger event in our sport. I’ve never been in a truck that physically shook like the one in Cleveland following the game-tying home run by Rajai Davis off Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman. I can say that I was there when the Cubs finally ended their 100-plus–year World Championship drought. And the back-and-forth struggle between the Dodgers and eventual champion Astros the following season was something to behold. That level of competition and intensity in the opposite dugouts was tangible enough to touch. It has been a privilege to witness first-hand some of the greatest moments in our sport.
Treanor (third from right) and Moore (third from left) with Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ camera operators (from left) Tony Gambino, Tad Davis, Terry Wallace, and Keith DeSantis before a Phillies-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium in July.
What’s one piece of advice you have for someone just starting their career in this industry?
Branch out. Do as much as you can. Don’t relegate yourself to a single area, whether it be in production or elsewhere. The more you can learn about the collective, the more effective you’re going to become as a leader.
It has been said to me many times throughout my career that there is no better training than in the truck. I’m biased, but I believe that to be true. I’ve had stints in graphics, in tape, and with ENG shooters; I’ve listened intently to camera operators, directors, and audio engineers. When you have an idea as to their processes, the more efficient you become as a producer because you have a general awareness of how long things take and the reasonability of requests. Again, by respecting their position and wholesale effect on shows, the output you’re likely to get from those folks becomes infinitely more impactful.
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