Top honors at Sports Biz Awards

(L-r) Steve Anderson, George Bodenheimer and John Kosner

NEW YORK — The quality of the content ESPN produces and the culture of collaboration and innovation that drives the company were the recurring themes Wednesday night as ESPN won an unprecedented three Sports Business Journal Sports Business Awards during ceremonies at the Marriott Marquis hotel.

ESPN won Best in Sports Media, Best in Sports Television and company President George Bodenheimer earned Sports Executive of the Year honors.

In the lead-in to the media categories and in ESPN executives’ remarks on stage, the themes of quality and innovation were emphasized.

Steve Anderson, Executive Vice President, News, Talent & Content Operations and a 30-year veteran of the company, accepted the Best in Television award. He thanked the ESPN employees around the world for their commitment to quality while producing a high volume of content.

John Kosner, Senior Vice President, ESPN Digital and Print Media, accepted the Best in Sports Media award. He emphasized the company’s innovative multi-platform coverage of last year’s FIFA World Cup and the many new digital products ESPN has launched.

Bodenheimer won the evening’s final category.

“We are a culture of we, not I,” he told the more than 600 people in attendance from all facets of the sports industry.

“I accept this on behalf of the 6,500 employees of ESPN — hard-working, good people who create high-quality content across so many outlets day after day now for 31 years.”