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FOX Sports director, and former University of Florida Football player, Artie Kempner was in the news last spring when he was demoted from FOX's NFL A-Team after directing the Super Bowl for the network. Kempner, who came to FOX when the networked grabbed the NFC broadcast rights from CBS back in the 1990's, also directs NASCAR for the network. This weekend he has been loaned to NBC Sports for the 4:30 PM ET NFL Wildcard game Here is his profile, published in November 2009 by the Sports Video Group.

Artie Kempner, FOX Sports

Artie Kempner is a director for both the NFL and NASCAR on Fox. He joined Fox Sports in the fall of 1994 for its inaugural season covering the National Football League. Along with producer Richie Zyontz, Kempner worked on Fox’s #2 team with broadcasters Dick Stockton and Matt Millen from 1994-2000.

In 2001, he, Zyontz and Stockton, teamed with new analysts Troy Aikman and Daryl Johnston. The following season, Kempner and Zyontz were promoted to the number one team at Fox with Aikman, Cris Collinsworth and Joe Buck. The group worked three campaigns together, culminating with Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville. In 2005, Collinsworth left for the NBC studio, and Kempner & Zyontz continued their A-Team work with Aikman and Buck. The group televised Super Bowl XLII.

Kempner is the coordinating director of NASCAR on Fox, and directs the Nextel Cup telecasts. Fox took over NASCAR in 2001, and garnered an Outstanding Series Emmy in that first season. The coverage was honored once again with the Outstanding Series Emmy in 2005.

From 1995-1999, Kempner directed Fox’s NHL coverage, including the NHL All-Star games and Stanley Cup playoffs. As a former Junior hockey player and a diehard NY Rangers’ fan, the hockey years at Fox were very enjoyable for the Long Island native.

Kempner began his television production career at CBS Sports in 1982 working as a researcher and production assist and on the NFL Today and NCAA Today studio shows. He was hired as a Broadcast Associate in 1983 and moved to associate director in 1986. From 1987-91, Kempner directed the US Open Tennis for the USA Network, while working for CBS on its NFL, College Football, PGA Tour, and NCAA Basketball Tournament coverage. He was promoted to a full-time director in 1990 at CBS, working both college and NFL packages, the Masters and PGA Championship and Alpine skiing at both the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympic games. He also directed hockey for CBS at the 1998 Games in Nagano.

An 8-time sports Emmy winner, Kempner is very active in fundraising efforts for autism research and the Autism Speaks organization. He is the founding and past president of the Autism Society of Delaware and a former board member of the Autism Society of America. His passion to help advocate for the autism community was motivated when his middle son Ethan was diagnosed with the disorder in 1998.

Kempner played football at the University of Florida and graduated in 1981 with a degree in Journalism and Communications. He lives in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife Marcy (a 7-time sports Emmy winner in her own right), and their three sons, Matt, Ethan and Jack.