Sports
Premier League Studios snaps up Andy Beale as director of technology to bolster broadcast ambitions
Andy Beale has joined the Premier League as its new director of technology
Andy Beale has joined Premier League Studios as its new director of technology, where he will help the League to further its broadcasting ambitions.
Beale’s appointment follows the Premier League’s decision to create an inhouse broadcast operation.
The Premier League announced in November 2024 that it was ending its long running relationship with IMG to establish a new inhouse media operations business.
Launching for the start of Season 2026/27, the Premier League will bring all international media content production and distribution inhouse. For 20 years, this service has been provided in partnership with IMG, operating as Premier League Productions (PLP).
Beale has extensive experience in sports broadcasting. He is an experienced senior technology and operations leader, most recently responsible for BT Sport’s broadcast infrastructure, operations, roadmap and innovation strategy where he held the position of chief engineer and head of innovation. He was a key member of the senior team delivering best in class programming, production solutions and customer-obsessed leadership for the multi award winning and disruptive premium sports broadcaster.
Read more Premier League to establish new in-house media operation
PLP currently delivers 6,000 hours of content per season to the Premier League’s 55 international broadcast partners, covering 189 markets around the world. In addition to full coverage of the season’s 380 matches, PLP provides a 24/7 content service and other support programming including long-form content such as magazine shows.
Beale is co-founder and chair of the Rise Academy initiative, a STEM Schools outreach programme that aims to inspire and educate young people about technology career paths in the media and entertainment industry and deliver vital transformational change in the diversity profile of the sector.
He was elevated to SMPTE fellow in 2020 and conferred the IABM Technology Leader of the Year in 2021. Beale’s pioneering work and projects have been recognised with many honours, including prestigious RTS and multiple IBC Innovation Awards.
Further details regarding the Premier League inhouse media operations business will be announced in due course, prior to its launch in 2026, the Premier League said.
Sports
Wisconsin volleyball beats Texas in four to reach Final Four
Sports
Four Zips Named to the 2025 Academic All-MAC Volleyball Team
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced the 78 student-athletes placed on the Academic All-MAC Team for the 2025 volleyball season, as Martina Villani, Gabby Brissett, Vanessa Del Real and Sarah Bettis represented the University of Akron.
The Academic All-MAC honor is awarded to a student-athlete who has excelled in both athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests in that sport.
- Martina Villani, Junior Criminology and Criminal Justice, 3.861
- Gabby Brissett, Senior, Biology, 3.745
- Vanessa Del Real, Junior, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, 3.81
- Sarah Bettis, Junior, Biomedical Science, 3.363
Sports
Five Rockets Receive Academic All-MAC Honors
Senior Macy Medors led the Rockets, tallying a 3.989 GPA as she earned her third conference honor. Anna Alford and Sierra Pertzborn received the honor for a second-consecutive season. Grace Freiberger and Olivia Heitkamp were named honorees for the first time.
To qualify, student-athletes must be a sophomore or higher academic standing, have maintained a 3.20 cumulative GPA or higher and competed in 50% of contests during the 2025 season.
2025 Toledo Women’s Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team
Anna Alford, Senior, Public Health Management, 3.415
Grace Freiberger, Sophomore, Recreational Therapy, 3.909
Olivia Heitkamp, Sophomore, Early Childhood Education, 3.501
Macy Medors, Senior, Recreational Therapy, 3.989
Sierra Pertzborn, Redshirt Sophomore, Nursing, 3.558
Sports
ESPN serves up NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Semifinals and Championship, Dec. 18 & 21

- Kansas City field consists of No. 1 Kentucky, No. 1 Pitt, No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 3 Wisconsin
- Championship broadcast live on ABC for the third straight year; semifinals slated for ESPN, Thu., Dec. 18
- All matches will also stream on the ESPN App
It all comes down to Kansas City as ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship culminates this week live from the T-Mobile Center with the National Semifinals on Thursday, Dec. 18, followed by the Championship match on Sunday, Dec. 21.
The stage is set as the final four teams face off in the semifinals beginning with No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh in the first semifinal on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed 30 minutes later by No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 1 Kentucky. Both matches will be presented on ESPN and available on the ESPN App.
For the third consecutive year, ABC is home to the Championship match, broadcasting live on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 3:30 p.m. and for the first time, ABC will also air a dedicated 30-minute preview show ahead of the Championship’s first serve, beginning at 3 p.m. Both the preview show and the match will be available on the ESPN App.
On the Mic
For the fourth straight year, game action for all three matches will be called by play-by-play commentator Courtney Lyle, alongside analysts Holly McPeak (three-time beach volleyball Olympian) and Katie George (2015 ACC Player of the Year). For the second consecutive year, the trio is joined by sideline reporter and former FSU beach volleyball standout Madison Fitzpatrick.
Studio Coverage
Studio Coverage will originate from the T-Mobile Center as Christine Williamson, Emily Ehman (four-year Northwestern standout) and Mary Wise (three-time AVCA Coach of the Year) bring viewers pre- and post-game insights and analysis throughout the semifinals and Championship.
The trio will prep viewers for all they need to know ahead the National Semifinals and National Championship match, bringing additional insight and analysis as a champion is crowded.
Every Serve, Every Angle
ESPN has all the action in Kansas City covered from every angle, including exclusive and behind-the-scenes coverage. This year, along with 25-plus cameras and two dozen replay sources, ESPN will have new and enhanced telestrations, giving the fans an additional in-depth look at the Xs and Os of the game.
Additionally, the presentation will have multiple jibs, giving fans a sweeping view over the arena. ESPN will also use six state-of-the-art slow-mo cameras to give viewers a look at the action at the net.
For the first time at the National Championship, the broadcast will feature Bolt 6, showcasing enhanced technology that shows viewers serve speed, spike speed, spike height and other statistical facets of the game.
In addition to the traditional main telecast, an alternate “High End Zone” viewing option will be available on ESPN+/ESPN App for the semifinals and the Championship, giving fans the option to watch the match from the end zone angle.
Kansas City Bound
The National Semifinals boast programs that have made a combined 15 national semifinal appearances. Pittsburgh is making its fifth consecutive trip to the National Semifinal with a No. 1 seed behind them as the Panthers look to hoist their first NCAA trophy. The Wildcats are making their first trip back to the semifinals since the ’20-21 season in which they cut down the nets in Omaha. Storied program Wisconsin makes its seventh trip to the national semifinals, looking to win the program’s second national title (2021). Rounding out the field are the Texas A&M Aggies, who are on the quest to win the program’s first national championship.
2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Network |
| Thu, Dec 18 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Katie George, Madison Fitzpatrick |
ESPN ESPN App * |
| Between Match Coverage | NCAA Women’s Volleyball Studio Christine Williamson, Emily Ehman, Mary Wise |
ESPN ESPN App * |
|
| 30 mins after Semifinal 1 | No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 1 Kentucky Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Katie George, Madison Fitzpatrick |
ESPN ESPN App * |
|
| Sun, Dec 21 | 3 p.m. | NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship Preview Show Christine Williamson, Emily Ehman, Mary Wise |
ABC ESPN App |
| 3:30 p.m. | NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Katie George, Madison Fitzpatrick |
ABC ESPN App * |
|
| Following Championship match | NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Trophy Ceremony | ESPN App |
* There will be two streams available on the ESPN App (Traditional Simulcast and High End Zone angle)
All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.
Sports
Reilly Named AVCA Player of the Year Finalist – University of Nebraska
Sports
Dutch track and field’s Meyer named conference male athlete of the week
PELLA— Recording a pair of top-10 national marks at two different competitions over the weekend yielded the American Rivers Conference Male Athlete of the Week honors for Gunner Meyer (senior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) Monday.
Meyer also was Men’s Track and Field Track Events Performer of the Week. Ava Parkins (junior, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS) was tabbed as Women’s Track and Field Track Events Performer of the Week.
Meyer ran Division III’s fastest 60-meter hurdles time at the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational hosted by the University of Iowa at 7.92 seconds. It was also an American Rivers Conference record time. He also high jumped 6 feet, 7.5 inches at the Dutch Holiday Preview, the seventh-best mark in Division III this season.
In the women’s 60-meter prelims at the Jimmy Grant Invitational, Parkins clocked in at 7.70 seconds to share second place on the program’s all-time list. It also makes her No.8 nationally. She didn’t run the finals after qualifying in seventh. She also finished third in the 300 meters in 39.35 seconds.
Next on the Dutch track and field schedule is the Dutch Athletics Classic on January 16, 2026.
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