Billy Baggett, a revered CBS Sports audio engineer and a respected figure in television production, passed away on June 4, 2025, at the age of 70. Over the course of more than four decades, Billy shaped the landscape of broadcast audio, particularly in live sports coverage, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
To help family. Even 2$ help.Billy’s career took a defining turn in 1989 when he joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), becoming a vital presence in Control Room 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center. Known for his precision, steady demeanor, and deep expertise in sound engineering, he became a cornerstone of the CBS Sports team, ensuring that audiences experienced the energy and nuance of live events with clarity and depth.
His work gained national recognition in 2013 when Sports Video Group profiled him during CBS’s coverage of the U.S. Open Tennis Championship. In the feature, Billy shared his approach to capturing the rhythm of the game, explaining how he adjusted the fixed Sennheiser 816 shotgun microphones to follow the movement of the tennis ball, creating a dynamic and immersive audio experience.
“I give a little more emphasis to the shotguns at each end of the court as the ball moves into each one,” Billy explained, highlighting his meticulous attention to detail and intuitive grasp of sound balance.
Before his tenure at CBS, Billy refined his technical skills at several esteemed production houses in New York City. He worked at KVL Audio/Visual in 1984, Douboy Productions in 1985, and Betelgeuse Productions in 1987, earning a reputation as a reliable and skilled technician. His expertise extended to his role as a Technical Supervisor at Jan Video in Long Island, where he deepened his knowledge of live event and studio production.
Billy’s foundation in communications and broadcast technology was rooted in his time with the U.S. Navy, where he earned a certificate in RF Communications and Equipment. He continued his technical education at DeVry Technical Institute and Sony Broadcast, sharpening his skills in audio engineering and signal processing.
Colleagues remember Billy not only for his technical mastery but also for his humility, mentorship, and professionalism. Over his three-decade career at CBS, he became a quiet yet influential force behind the scenes—an engineer who brought clarity and warmth not just to broadcasts, but to the lives of those who worked alongside him.
Billy Baggett’s contributions to sports broadcasting were profound, and his legacy will resonate in the control rooms and airwaves he helped shape for generations to come.