Sept. 16, 2025 -- John J. Filippelli (“Flip”), one of the most influential, respected and creative executives in all of sports television, received the Governors’ Award from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) this afternoon at an event in New York City. NY NATAS is responsible for awarding New York Emmy Awards and other honors each year.
Since 1962, the Governors’ Award, an Honorary Emmy®, has been presented in recognition of the extraordinary and unique contributions made in the television industry. Historically, the feats and accomplishments of these recipients are exceptional, falling beyond the scope of our annual awards.
NY NATAS is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry.
Filippelli is the first sports producer/executive Governors’ Award honoree and is only the sixth such honoree to come from the New York sports community; previous honorees are announcers John Sterling, Mike Breen, NBA Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Warner Wolf and Bob Wolff. Dan Rather, Gabe Pressman, Katie Couric, Bill Geist and Chuck Scarborough are among others who have previously received the Governors’ Award.
Filippelli, who transitioned earlier this year from Executive Producer and President of Production and Programming at the YES Network to Senior Advisor at YES, is the only person in sports broadcasting history known to have earned more than 100 National and 100 Local Emmy nominations. He is also one of the very few producers to have excelled in the truck as well as in senior management.
In December 2021, Filippelli was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals for their lasting contributions to the sports broadcasting industry.
Hired in September 2001 by George M. Steinbrenner, Filippelli’s task was daunting. He was charged with building from scratch a 24/7 television network in just six months’ time. YES soon became known as the gold standard in production, programming and technology, showcasing Filippelli’s ability to bring national sensibility and values to a regional sports network (RSN).
The network was the first RSN to produce and televise an MLB game outside of North America (Yankees vs. Devil Rays, March 2004 in Japan) and has also produced several Brooklyn Nets games in London. YES was the first RSN to simulcast a sports radio talk show (WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog, March 2002).
YES’ “Super Slo Mo,” “YES MO” and similar cameras have set the standard for instant replays within sports telecasts, and its Yankees Extra Innings, launched in 2010, was the first interactive post-game show in which viewers help dictate the content and flow of the show.
YES was the first television network to produce 3D and interactive MLB telecasts and was the first television network to display continuous on-screen pitch counts during baseball telecasts.
Even before arriving at YES, Filippelli was held in high esteem by his peers, given his award-winning work while holding senior positions at NBC Sports, ABC Sports, FOX Sports and The Baseball Network. He excelled at producing an incredibly diverse slate of the highest-profile events on domestic and global stages: Olympic Games, MLB World Series and All-Star Games, Super Bowls, Monday Night Football, the Indianapolis 500, Wimbledon, NHL, the PGA Tour, British Open golf, the BCS College Football Championship Series, ABC’s Wide World of Sports and more.
He was the lead producer for numerous MLB Game of the Week, League Championship Series, All-Star Game and World Series telecasts at NBC Sports. Of note, while at NBC Sports, he produced the telecast of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series featuring Kirk Gibson’s game-winning home run against the A’s; at FOX Sports, he produced the telecast of the 1998 game in which Mark McGwire hit his record-breaking 62nd home run of the season. He was also the coordinating producer for FOX Sports’ first World Series (Yankees-Braves in 1996).
Throughout his 51-year career, Flip collaborated with and contributed to the careers of announcers such as Vin Scully, Bob Costas, Tony Kubek, Marv Albert, Tom Seaver, Dick Enberg, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. At YES, he guided voices such as Michael Kay, David Cone, Paul O’Neill, Ian Eagle, Ken Singleton, John Flaherty, Bob Lorenz, Sarah Kustok, Richard Jefferson, Michael Grady, Jack Curry, Ryan Ruocco, Meredith Marakovits, Joe Girardi, Nancy Newman, Meghan Triplett, Mark Jackson, Al Leiter, Bobby Murcer, Mike Fratello, Suzyn Waldman, Jim Kaat, Vince Carter, Michelle Beadle, Ian Joy and others.
A Brooklyn native whose father owned a bar across the street from Ebbets Field, Filippelli’s first job was as a Yankee Stadium vendor at age 16.
