Titan of live production and founder of Mobile TV Group Philip Garvin passes away at age 76

Philip Garvin, the founder and former CEO of Mobile TV Group and a giant in the live-production industry for five decades, died on Thursday surrounded by his family in Colorado. Responsible for the production of hundreds of thousands of live sports, news, and entertainment events, Garvin helped to pioneer the HD revolution of the early 2000’s and is one of the most widely respected figures in the sports-video-production industry. Garvin was 76 years old.

He made an impression on both the industry and our hearts. Nothing can lessen the sorrow we all feel today, but his memory will influence all of us in the work we do each day,” says Nick Garvin, CEO of MTVG and Garvin’s son. “Our team at MTVG has achieved incredible feats that will live on in his memory.”

Along with leading MTVG, Garvin was president of Colorado Studios, an audio/video manufacturing facility that specialized in creating mobile units and facilitating live video transport. In 2001, he and Mark Cuban co-founded HDNet, the country’s first all-HD television network.

“Philip was a remarkable individual. Honorable and astute. And as industrious as anybody in history,” Cuban said.

Garvin used his background as a creative producer and technology to build his businesses. Combining the two abilities allowed him to provide industry-unique, reasonably priced production solutions. And throughout it all, he upheld his standing as a reliable partner and straight shooter. Alongside his growth in success were numerous devoted and exceptionally skilled business associates, many of whom he collaborated with for more than four decades.

Garvin, a New York City native, studied still photography because he had a strong interest in telling stories through images since a young age. Yale University alumnus Garvin has authored numerous photography books and directed numerous documentaries, including the ground-breaking Religious America docuseries for PBS in 1974. He kept coming up with new ideas in the 1970s and opened Colorado Studios in 1978. In addition, he kept up his work for PBS, leading the establishment of the network’s western production center in Denver and rising to the position of managing producer of the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour in 1983.

In the early 1990’s, Garvin saw an opportunity as regional sports networks began to proliferate across the U.S. and launched what would become Mobile TV Group in 1994. MTVG quickly became the foremost provider of mobile production facilities for regional sports networks throughout the country and pioneered the “dual feed” production model that would become commonplace across the industry.

Under Garvin’s leadership over the ensuing 30 years, MTVG would cement its status as a pillar of the live-sports-production business, rolling out dozens of mobile units and helping pave the way for the first-ever live HD sports broadcasts. MTVG also was among the first to launch 4K- and HDR-capable mobile units and introduced Cloud Control, the first fully remote production managed service, in response to the evolving industry.

Both inside and outside of his role with MTVG, Garvin was a champion of HD broadcasting and helped to bring HD content to the masses for the first time in the early 2000’s. He co-founded HDNet, the first HD national television network in the U.S., with Mark Cuban in 2001 and served as general manager of the cable network (which became AXS TV in 2012) for 12 years. Under Garvin’s stewardship, HDNet was among the first to distribute HD content to the home, including sporting events, concerts performances, and news coverage.

Today, Mobile TV Group produces more than 4,000 major live events each year, covering professional and collegiate sports, live music, entertainment, esports and business events. Garvin’s son Nick, took over as the company’s CEO in June, while Philip shifted into the role of Chairman of the Board.

Garvin was a pillar of the sports-production community, serving as a longtime member of the SVG Advisory Board and was a fixture at SVG conferences. He also served on the board for various technology startups and helped to champion a variety of industry technology initiatives.

Outside of the office, Garvin’s passion was spending time on his ranch with his wife, riding horses, mowing fields, and building fences. In his last months of life, he was frequently telling people, “no one has had a better life than mine.”

His family, wife Angela, children Jana, Leah and Nick, and three grandchildren celebrate him for all his valuable achievements, dedicated relationships and generous heart.

Please send any messages for the Garvin family to GarvinFamily@mobiletvgroup.com so no messages are missed or lost. Further details regarding memorial services will be available at a later date. Stay tuned to SVG for a deeper in memoriam piece next week.