December 11, 2007 - a landmark night for sports broadcasting. Every major sports production organization and every US television network was represented at the first-class awards ceremony hosted by Bob Costas and Jim Nance. In front of a standing-room-only audience at the Hilton Hotel in New York City, the inaugural class was inducted to the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and the ceremony brought alternate fits of laughter and tears to every member of the distinguished audience.

Bexel Broadcast Services was called upon as an SVG "Platinum Sponsor" to provide complete audio and video facilities to the event. "This was no little show", said BexelASG technician Bart Adams, who helped mix the audio for the show. "We were working on the same level as we would for the Academy Awards - and everyone in the audience was way more critical than the average TV viewer - they're the people who produce the best and most important sports television in the world...I broke a sweat - they are a tough crowd, you know?"

"This is an exciting night for the sports broadcasting community," said Bob Costas of NBC Sports and HBO Sports. "For the first time ever, we are honoring those who have made televised sports a cultural phenomenon and an economic powerhouse."

A distinguished audience of more than 400 industry executives gathered for the reception and ceremony, the first of its kind, which inaugurated the first 11 members of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

The inaugural class was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of 43 industry visionaries brought together by the Sports Video Group, producers of the event. The 2007 class of inductees was comprised of: Roone Arledge, president of ABC Sports; Julius Barnathan, president of Broadcast Operations and Engineering for ABC Sports; Frank Chirkinian, producer of 38 Masters Tournaments and the father of televised golf; Howard Cosell, ABC Sports broadcaster; Harry Coyle, NBC Sports director; Jim McKay, ABC Sports broadcaster; Pete Rozelle, commissioner of the National Football League; Ed Sabol, founder of NFL Films; Tom Shelburne, founder of NEP Supershooters; Larry Thorpe, sports technology guru and the promoter of HD television; and George Wensel, founder of NEP Broadcasting.

Each award was presented with a personal introduction about the winner given by someone who knew or worked with him as well as a video of some of the winner's most notable accomplishments. Friends and family members involved in the presentation included legends like Dick Ebersol, Don Ohlmeyer, Michael Weisman, Lou Siracusano, Debbie Honkus, Roone Arledge, Jr., Steve Sabol, and Sean McManus.