Punko, Regan, Ginther playing key roles in ESPN production of The Open

Randy Ginther, Associate Producer, ITV

The “Featured Group” telecast that appears on ESPN3 is produced separately from the main telecast, and Ginther plays an important role in the production truck.

“I’m the eyes and ears in the back of the truck for the producer and director,” said Ginther, working on The Open for the third time. “I’m aware of a lot of the video content that’s being produced specifically for The Open that might help enhance our coverage.”

Jordan Spieth is in a quest to win a third golf major this season and he’s in the featured group for at least the first two days of competition.

“If I notice there was a really cool soundbite from Jordan at his press conference or if there was a piece that ESPN put together that’s about him, then we might get some play out of that during his round. Sometimes there’s like a five minute lull while they’re walking so it’s to help keep the viewer engaged.”

The rest of the year, he oversees a group of people who do the media packaging for ESPN Video on Demand.

He respects the magnitude of The Open.

“I don’t think it’s something we completely grasp in America all the time,” he said. “To see how people revere the courses, and even the golfers do it, and I think it extends somewhat to the production personnel as well. You get this feel that you’re on hallowed ground.”