WASHINGTON—ATSC, The Broadcast Standards Association, today announced that Mark Aitken, president of ONE Media and senior vice president of advanced technology for Sinclair Broadcast Group, will be honored on June 2 as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Mark Richer Industry Leadership Medal.

This annual award honors individuals or teams who demonstrate exemplary leadership in advancing ATSC’s mission and embody the vision, tenacity, and commitment that defined the legacy of former longtime ATSC President Mark Richer. Richer led the organization through two decades of transformative innovation, from the original ATSC 1.0 standard to the launch of ATSC 3.0 next-generation standards.

The 2026 Richer Medal will be presented to Aitken during ATSC’s 2026 NextGen Broadcast Conference during the first week of June in Washington. Registration is now open for the event.

The ATSC board of directors awarded Aitken the Richer Medal for his longtime work to advance next-generation broadcasting in the U.S. and throughout the world. Promoting ATSC 3.0 as the most flexible IP-based broadcasting option available to broadcasters, Aitken has invested significant energy and time in developing new avenues for ATSC 3.0—particularly in India.

“From the beginning, as ATSC members began discussing how broadcasting should evolve to meet the changing needs of the industry and consumers, Mark Aitken has played a pivotal role in helping to build support for next-generation broadcasting as both an obvious upgrade for viewers but also for the new business opportunities that emerge with ATSC 3.0,“ ATSC President Madeleine Noland said. “With Mark’s leadership and personal engagement, the ATSC 3.0 standards have rapidly advanced to meet the needs of stakeholders and consumers throughout the world. Mark has also been instrumental as we sought to reimagine ATSC itself, not just as a television standards body but as THE Broadcast Standards Association. He exemplifies the very qualities that Mark Richer himself embodied during his leadership of ATSC.”

Said Aitken: “I am deeply honored to receive the ATSC Mark Richer Medal, an award that carries special meaning because of Mark’s extraordinary legacy of technical leadership, collaboration and service to the broadcasting community. This recognition belongs as much to the colleagues and partners who have worked alongside me to advance the future of broadcasting as it does to me.“

Aitken has spent more than four decades shaping the evolution of modern broadcasting technologies and standards, joining Sinclair in 1999 after accumulating more than 25 years of industry experience with companies including CCA Electronics and COMARK, where he specialized in advanced RF and transmission technologies. Since joining Sinclair, he has led the company’s efforts in emerging broadcast technologies, spectrum innovation, advanced networking systems, and digital television deployment.

As President of ONE Media Technologies, Aitken helped establish Sinclair’s technology innovation platform focused on developing advanced broadcast systems that integrate broadband, mobile connectivity, datacasting and enhanced video delivery. Aitken currently serves on the boards of the ATSC and the Advanced Television Broadcast Alliance (ATBA), and previously served as a board member of Saankhya Labs, a semiconductor and software-defined networking company specializing in broadcast and wireless technologies. He is also an active member of professional organizations including IEEE, SMPTE, and the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers (AFCCE).

An accomplished inventor and author, Aitken holds multiple patents related to RF devices, broadcast architectures and next-generation communication systems. He has written numerous technical papers focused on digital broadcasting strategies, advanced transmission systems, and emerging media technologies. His contributions to the industry have earned him several prestigious honors, including the NAB Television Engineering Achievement Award, the ATSC Bernard Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award, the Broadcasting & Cable Technology Leadership Award, and recognition as a fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) has announced that Kidde, a leading manufacturer of residential fire and life safety products, will be given the Corporate Leadership Award.

The honor will be awarded during the 2026 Celebration of Service to America Award, presented by Bonneville International and Hearst Television, on June 9 at The Anthem here.

Each year, the Corporate Leadership Award is presented to a business outside of the broadcast industry that shows an outstanding dedication to public service and corporate social responsibility, NABLF said.

Kidde has been a leading home fire-safety brand and a pioneer in smoke and carbon monoxide detection for more than 100 years, NABLF said.

As a part of its focus on education, Kidde is the title sponsor of a new television series, “Home for Good,” produced with Hearst Media Production Group and Epic Entertainment and Media Group and airing weekends on ABC stations nationwide.

“Home for Good” is a home renovation series dedicated to honoring America’s everyday heroes, from first responders and military veterans to community champions. More than just a makeover show, the series bridges the gap between beautiful design and essential home safety, providing viewers with expert do-it-yourself insights and a vital focus on fire and carbon monoxide education through Kidde’s team of fire safety educators, NABLF said.

“We are proud to recognize Kidde for its extraordinary commitment to protecting families and strengthening communities,” NABLF President Michelle Duke said. “Through life-saving fire safety education and programming that elevates everyday heroes, Kidde is helping deliver trusted information that can make a real difference in people’s lives. Their work reflects the same spirit of service that broadcasters bring to communities every day through trusted news, emergency information and public service programming.”

Additionally, Kidde’s Cause for Alarm initiative addresses systemic fire safety inequity by providing resources and support to at-risk communities. Kidde has donated nearly 2 million alarms to fire departments and communities across both the U.S. and Canada through Cause for Alarm and other advocacy efforts.

"At Kidde, we believe every family—in every community—deserves the peace of mind that comes with a safe home,” Kidde President of Global Residential Fire and Safety Isis Wu said. “For more than a century, this belief has guided everything we do. Being recognized by the NAB Leadership Foundation is a tremendous honor because broadcasters play a critical role in advancing this collective mission by helping our safety messages reach the families who need them most. We share this recognition with our fire service, nonprofit and media partners and with the Kidde team, who approach safety not simply as a product category but as a purpose.”

In addition to the Corporate Leadership Award, the Celebration of Service to America Awards will recognize local television and radio stations and broadcast groups for their outstanding public service.

For more information about the awards and event, visit its website.

The NAB Leadership Foundation (NABLF) recently announced the recipients of the Diane Sutter Shooting Star Award and the Broadcast Leadership Training (BLT) Champion Award during its annual BLT Alumni Reception held in Las Vegas during 2026 NAB Show.

This year’s Diane Sutter Shooting Star Award honor went to Lori Waldon for her outstanding leadership and contributions to the broadcast industry. Waldon is president and general manager of Hearst Television station KOAT-TV and graduated from the BLT class of 2016. She has been a trailblazer, advancing through the ranks of television news with an intuitive knowledge of programming and how to best serve local audiences.

Waldon was praised for her ability to build a collaborative culture and equip her teams for success. She is known for her keen understanding of people and for empowering and mentoring others to advance their broadcasting careers.

This year’s BLT Champion Award was presented to Barbara Kreisman, recently retired chief of the Video Division for the Federal Communications Commission, in recognition of her long-term support of the BLT program and overall impact on the broadcast industry. She has played a central role with BLT since its earliest days, serving on the faculty and encouraging other FCC staff and commissioners to take part over the past 25 years.

“Throughout their careers, both Lori and Barbara demonstrated exemplary leadership in their respective positions,” stated NABLF president Michelle Duke. “Both women have been positive and powerful role models for the up-and-coming generation of pathfinders and innovators in our industry. We are so proud to honor them with these prestigious awards.”

Readers who know someone who would benefit from the transformative experience of the BLT program should encourage encourage them to apply for the 2027 cohort by May 18, 2026: https://www.nabfoundation.org/programs/broadcast-leadership/.

LAS VEGAS—TV Tech has announced its Best of Show Awards for the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

Future’s Best of Show Awards, which were presented at the 2026 NAB Show by TV Tech, are evaluated by a panel of engineers and industry experts. They are selected based on innovation, feature set, perceived value and application in serving the industry.

Winners received a crystal-glass trophy for display at the NAB Show and will be featured in TV Tech. Winners will also be featured in promotional material for the awards which includes online articles, newsletters, social posts and subscriber-facing emails.

“The products nominated for the Best of Show program, provide an outstanding overview of new technology on the show floor and shine a spotlight on the very best,” said the awards editorial team.

Congratulations to this year's winners (listed here with the company name followed by their winning product):

Adder Technology – Adder API for the ADDERView Matrix Range

Adobe – Frame.io Drive

Advantech Corporation – VEGA-7141

AgileTV – TV Platform

AJA Video Systems – BRIDGE LIVE IP

Akta – Akta AI First Video Platform

Amagi – Amagi Newspulse

Amazon Web Services – Elemental Inference

American Amplifier Technologies – EmPower Controller VNA

Apex RF– Rainier

Appear – VX

Appear – XM

Avid – Avid Content Core

BB&S – CFL Color

BirdDog – XL Ultra

BitFire – Spark Live MCR

Boland Communications – 4K55HDR7SNB Super Narrow Bezel 12G 4K HDR Display

Bolin Technology – R9-L420N Production PTZ Camera

Bridge Technologies – VB440’s Multi-Service AVSync

Calrec Audio – Calrec's ImPulseV Virtualised Audio Mixing Engine

Canon – CINE-SERVO 40-1200mm T5.0-10.8 lens

Cleeng – Cleeng AI Assistant

CloudAscent – Qrate

Cobalt Digital – blueCORE Platform

Comcast Technology Solutions – Comcast Media360

CueScript – CueiT 4.0

Dalet – Dalia

Dejero – TITAN Command

DigitalGlue – creative.space Intelligence

Emergent Vision Technologies – eSDK Pro Software Development Kit

Emergent Vision Technologies – ZENITH 100GigE High Speed / Resolution Cameras with New Sony Sensors

ENCO – SPOTai

ENCO – Qimera Virtual Production

Evergent Technologies – Evergent Agentic Revenue Orchestration Platform

Evertz – BRAVO-BLADE

Evertz – ENX

Evertz – X-CALIBER

EVS – Choreon

Flanders Scientific – GaiaColor AutoCal and Analyzer

Frequency – Frequency Blueprints

GlobalM – GMX Cloud

Grass Valley – ACE-3901-Grid MXL Gateway

Haivision – Makito ONE

Harmonic – Spectrum X Plus Media Server

InSync Technology – OG-MCC20 Motion Compensated Frame Rate Converter Module

Interra Systems – ORION Monitoring Platform with BATON Media Player (BMP)

Lawo – Edge One

LiveU – LU900Q

LucidLink – LucidLink Connect

manifold technologies – manifold CLOUD - 400GE

Mediagenix – Mediagenix Scheduling Optimization

Miri Technologies – Miri V410 Encoder/Decoder

Moments Lab – Discovery Agent

NDI – NDI 6.3

Net Insight – Nimbra Live Intelligence

Nevion, a Sony Group Company – MOXELA Software‑based Media Processing Platform

Nippon TV/FOR-A – viztrick AiDi with GoVertical! realtime 9:16 autocropping

OBSBOT – OBSBOT Talent 2

Other World Computing (OWC) – OWC Express 4M2 Ultra

PLISCH GmbH – ATR5000

Proton Camera Innovations GmbH – PROTON 4K 3D

PTZOptics – Move 4K with Horizon

Quickplay – Quickplay AI Studio

Riedel Communications – MediorNet HorizoN ST 2110 Multiviewer App

Ross Video – XPression Tessera

Shure – DCA901 Planar Array Microphone

Signiant – Connected Intelligence

Sony – XYN Spatial Capture Solution

Synamedia – ContentArmor Edge Watermarking

TAG Video Systems – Lens Visual Service Health Analysis

Techex – tx darwin

Telos Alliance – Telos Infinity VIP SE

Tightrope Media Systems – MediaScribe Narrate

TMT Insights – TMT AI

TVU Networks – TVU MediaMesh

Videndum – Vinten VEGA Lite

Wheatstone – Blade 4

Witbe – Witbe AI-Native Infrastructure for QA and Monitoring of Streaming Video

wTVision – R³ Engine macOS Edition

Zixi – Zixi Market Switching

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) has announced that the group has elevated SBE member Fred Willard of Dunkirk, Md, to the membership rank of Fellow.

The Fellow honor is the highest membership level in the SBE. Members must have made significant contributions to the broadcast engineering field or the SBE. Candidates are nominated by their peers. Since the Society‘s founding 62 years ago, 95 members have been honored with the Fellow rank.

The SBE Board of Directors elected him at a meeting held in April 2026.

Fred Willard, CPBE, 8-VSB, ATSC3, CBNT, senior RF engineer for Televisa Univision in Washington, DC, joined the SBE in 1985. He is serving his third term on the SBE Board of Directors, first elected in 2020.

He has served SBE Chapter 37 as secretary from 2016 to 2019, and treasurer since 2019. His work with bringing new people into broadcast and media technology includes working on the Media Forward student outreach with his local chapter, mentoring students at Montgomery Community College and Kent County High School, and working with the Maryland Board of Education to include the SBE Certification Handbook for Radio Operators and SBE Television Operator's Certification Handbook into the official state curriculum.

Willard has been a co-organizer of the SBE Ennes Workshop at the NAB Show for the past three years. He has also been the program chair for the annual Bits by the Bay two-day symposium in the Washington, DC, area. He has also helped with arranging technical presentations for the AES Convention.

Willard's career spans 50 years, starting with operating an ENG camera in college. He has worked in radio production and engineering, transitioned to Maryland Public TV (PBS) as an editor, audio specialist, ENG truck operator and trainer, and finally high-power RF specialist as transmission supervisor. He has worked as a facility integrator in many countries, and he has worked on special projects for NASA. He has B.S. in Communications from Towson University.

Willard was recognized during the SBE Membership Meeting held on April 20 during the 2026 NAB Show. He will also be recognized at the SBE National Meeting, which will be held in September in Madison, WI. A list of all those who have been named SBE Fellows is posted on the SBE website at sbe.org/fellows.

The Society of Broadcast Engineers is the professional organization of television and radio engineers and those in related fields. The SBE has nearly 4,000 members in 117 chapters across the United States and in Hong Kong and Eastern Europe. There are also members in more than 25 other countries.

For more information about the SBE, visit the SBE website, sbe.org.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF)  announced the recipients of the 2026 Celebration of Service to America Awards, which recognize local television and radio stations for the essential role they play in communities across the country.

This year’s recipients will be honored at the awards ceremony on June 9, 2026, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

The Celebration of Service to America Awards, presented by Bonneville International and Hearst Television, is part of the Foundation’s mission to bring national attention to the vital work being done by local broadcasters.

This year’s awards will include a new category for podcasting that will acknowledge broadcasters who are embracing digital platforms to reach their communities.

“They are the voices you come to trust and sources you turn to without hesitation,” said NABLF President Michelle Duke. “Our local TV and radio stations are fundamental to how communities stay informed, connected and safe. We are excited to shine a deserving light on the stations who excel at public service at the 2026 Celebration of Service to America Awards Gala.”

The following is the list of honorees and their exceptional programs. Finalists from each category are also noted.

Service to Community Award for Radio – Broadcast Ownership Group

Winner: Morgan Murphy Media

Honor Our Fallen was a fundraiser benefitting firefighters injured and killed in an ambush blaze in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Finalists: Cox Media Group, Help the Hill Country Flood Relief Drive; Hubbard Broadcasting, In the Eye of the Derecho

Service to Community Award for Radio – Large/Major Market

Winner: 95.5 WSB, Cox Media Group, Atlanta, Ga.

The annual Care-a-Thon for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta raised over $2.3 million for research, fellowship and family support services at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.

Finalists: 102.3 KJLH, Taxi Productions, Altadena 7; WMMR, Beasley Media Group, Preston & Steve Camp Out for Hunger

Service to Community Award for Radio – Medium Market

Winner: Winner: 100.5 WYMG, Saga Communications, Springfield, Ill.

The Christmas Wish program made the holiday season brighter for families that have fallen on hard times.

Finalist: 93.3 WFLS, Connoisseur Media, Wet Nose Wednesday

Service to Community Award for Radio – Small Market

Winner: 104.1 WIKY, Midwest Communications, Evansville, Ind.

The annual Veterans Day Breakfast served more than 500 veterans and has become a significant tradition to honor those in the community who have served.

Finalists: KQRQ, Riverfront Broadcasting, Bears for the Brave; WVVR, Saga Communications, Camp Rainbow Radiothon; KTXY, Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri, Miracles for Kids Radiothon

Service to Community Award for Television – Broadcast Ownership Group

Winner: Hearst Television

From disaster relief to year-round food insecurity initiatives, Hearst stations mobilized audiences, partners and platforms to deliver critical support when it mattered most through their Local Stations, National Impact campaign.

Finalists: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Drive Out Cancer; Gray Media, Manipulated: A Misinformation Nation; Cox Media Group, disreGUARDed: Investigation Reveals School Crossing Guards in Danger

Service to Community Award for Television – Large/Major Market

Winner: WRAL-TV, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Raleigh, N.C.

Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina was an original investigative documentary and extended series of investigative reports that exposed critical failures and a lack of oversight in North Carolina’s foster care and adoption system.

Finalists: WSB-TV, Cox Media Group, Opioid Crisis; WFAA-TV, TEGNA, Community Impact Charitable Fund

Service to Community Award for Television – Medium Market

Winner: KFSN-TV, ABC-Owned Television Stations, Fresno, Calif.

From the loss of 18-year-old Olivia Patla to real stories of addiction and hope, the Killer High series sparked critical awareness and conversation about fentanyl abuse.

Finalists: KCCI-TV, Hearst Television, Iowa's State of Cancer; WKYT-TV, Gray Media, Rebuilding Kentucky

Service to Community Award for Television – Small Market

Winner: KOLN-TV, Gray Media, Lincoln, Neb.

Breaking the Silence on Domestic Violence supports survivors, provides resources and encourages victims to seek help.

Finalists: KSBW-TV, Hearst Television, Mobilizing the Central Coast; WJHG-TV, Gray Media, Survivorship to Service: Closing the Breast Cancer Care Gap

Service to Community Award – First Informer

Winner: WCVB-TV, Hearst Television, Boston, Mass.

When they received word of a possible mass shooting at Brown University, the NewsCenter 5 team mobilized, calling in extensive resources and staying on air for hours to cover the multi-state manhunt.

Service to Community Award – Original Podcast

Winner: Purple Daily Podcast, Hubbard Radio, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

The Purple Daily podcast about the Minnesota Vikings demonstrates how local content for dedicated fanbases builds a sense of community and connection between the hosts and audiences.

For more information about the awards and gala, visit servicetoamericaawards.org.

Last month, the NAB announced the recipients of one of our industry’s highest honors, the Engineering Achievement Awards in Radio and Television. For radio, the honor goes to Bert Goldman, owner and president of Goldman Engineering Management, in recognition of more than 50 years of leadership and innovation in broadcast engineering.

The television honor goes to Harvey Arnold, senior vice president of engineering for Sinclair Broadcast Group, who is being recognized for his leadership and longstanding contributions to advancing broadcast technology. Harvey is an SMPTE Fellow and member of the SMPTE Board of Editors. A former chairman of the NAB TV Technology Committee, he remains active in ATSC, SMPTE, SBE and AFCCE. He is also a recipient of the Broadcasting+Cable Technology Leadership Award.

Both men will receive their awards at the We Are Broadcasters Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 21 at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. 

Harvey’s career spans nearly 50 years in broadcast engineering. A native of New York City, Harvey says he caught the “bug” as a child in the early 1960’s when his father took him on a tour of the NBC facilities at Rockefeller Center.

“In those days, people could actually tour the technical facility; you could walk past the tape machines and the cameras,” he said. “And as a little guy, I was just enamoured with this stuff.”

Harvey attended the University of Wisconsin in the 1970s, where his enthusiasm for broadcast was further piqued by working at WGBW, the campus radio station.

“We actually built a 5-kilowatt transmitter which we resurrected from another radio station,” he said. “I was hooked on it from that point on.”

After working for several commercial TV stations, Harvey joined North Carolina Public Television in 1980, where, during his 17-year career, he managed and expanded engineering and transmission operations for one of the nation’s largest statewide public television networks. He also participated in activities of the FCC Advisory Committee for Advanced Television Service (ACATS), helping test the ATSC DTV standard in the field and guide the rollout of DTV in the U.S.

In 1998, Harvey was recruited by Nat Ostroff, who led Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Advanced Technology team, and tapped into his experience at PBS to help the company transition from analog to ATSC 1.0.

Harvey said Sinclair’s reputation as a “technology-first” company was among the biggest reasons he joined the company, adding that Sinclair President David Smith would often present him with challenging projects.

“He would call me into his office for technical questions, and when I told him, ‘This is difficult and we’re not going to be able to do it because it defies the laws of physics,’ he would always smile and say, ‘Harv, you can work through that, you can figure it out,’” he said.

As our industry transitions to ATSC 3.0, Harvey has been at the forefront of Sinclair’s initiatives, including the development of the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS), helping test the technology in the Washington D.C. area.

Harvey emphasized the importance of the transition, particularly in terms of its place in the nation’s public safety ecosystem.

“Broadcasters need to embrace NextGenTV, and we need to be relevant... [BPS and emergency notification] are key examples of things that can directly benefit the public,” he said.

Harvey’s dedication to advancing and expanding broadcast technology over nearly half a century is a testament to his enthusiasm for our industry and TV Tech congratulates him on this well-deserved honor!

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that Michael Rosellini will receive the 2026 Digital Leadership Award. Rosellini will be recognized at the We Are Broadcasters Awards Ceremony, held on the Main Stage of the 2026 NAB Show on Tuesday, April 21, in Las Vegas.

The NAB Digital Leadership Award, created in 2015, recognizes a broadcast executive who has played a pivotal role in advancing digital innovation and transforming traditional broadcast operations into successful multi-platform media businesses.

Rosellini, senior vice president digital services for Hearst Television, will receive the 2026 Digital Leadership Award in recognition of his transformative impact on local television’s digital evolution.

Promoted to his current role in 2023 after serving for a decade as vice president digital operations, Rosellini leads teams responsible for product development, engineering, data and operations across Hearst Television’s station-branded news websites and mobile apps, as well as its Very Local direct to consumer streaming platform.

He has overseen multiple end-to-end product redesigns, CMS migrations, and continuous modernization of the company’s digital video, data and advertising technology stacks. Notably, Rosellini and his team designed, built and launched a full suite of OTT and CTV applications in-house that power Hearst Television’s expansion into streaming under the Very Local brand. Rosellini also represents Hearst Television’s digital interests within key industry organizations, including the National Association of Broadcasters and Pearl TV, supporting collaborative innovation efforts such as NextGen TV.

Currently, Rosellini is playing a key technology role on the Hearst team working to help the advertising industry understand the fundamentally brand-safe attributes of local-news inventory through better AI driven contextual signals.

Since joining Hearst in 2008 to build its first in-house software engineering team, Rosellini has helped shape the company’s digital strategy from the ground up. An active mentor for colleagues, Rosellini is an alumnus of the Hearst Management Institute, an executive leadership training program. 

WASHINGTON—At its annual meeting here this week, America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) presented awards honoring public broadcasters for their leadership, advocacy and community service

Idaho Public Television General Manager Jeff Tucker received the 2026 Patrick Butler National Advocacy Award for his work in building relationships and support for the five-station public network among the Idaho Congressional delegation, state legislators and federal policymakers.

The APTS Patrick Butler National Advocacy Award, named for the group’s longest-serving former president and CEO, goes to local station leaders who excel in telling the story of their station’s work in education, public safety and community connections and how federal and state funding make it possible, APTS said.

Pillar of Service
The 2026 Pillar of Public Service Award went to Sylvia Strobel, President and CEO of Twin Cities PBS (TPT), for her exceptional work in education, public safety and community connections, in service to the people in the Twin Cities and its surrounding areas.

The award recognizes the contribution of an extraordinary leader and innovator in one or more of public television’s three essential public service missions: education, public safety and community connections.

“Sylvia’s extraordinary work at Twin Cities PBS has exemplified public television’s pillars of public service in education, public safety and community connections,” said Riley.

“I am humbled and deeply grateful for this recognition, which I would like to share with everyone at Twin Cities PBS including our staff, Board of Trustees and supporters,” said Strobel. Who joined Twin Cities PBS in February 2020. “For nearly 70 years, Twin Cities PBS has been a trusted part of Minnesota life. As we move forward together, we are building a strong, independent future, rooted in community. It is my honor to lead this next chapter for Twin Cities PBS, and I would like to thank Kate and APTS for this meaningful award.”

Strobel has worked for more than 30 years in the public media industry as an executive and attorney, with positions at ideastream, American Public Media Group, Pennsylvania Public Television Network and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

She has served on numerous national boards and commissions, including the board of NPR, the Alliance for Women in Media, the Association of Junior Leagues International and the FCC’s Advisory Committee for Diversity in the Digital Age. She currently serves on the boards of America’s Public Television Stations (APTS), MacPhail Center for Music, The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, St. Paul Area Chamber and Latino Public Broadcasting.

Protect My Public Media
A new honor, the “Protect My Public Media Award” was presented to PBS SoCal and Lori Overdorf of Buffalo Toronto Public Media. The award recognizes the exceptional work of stations and their staff in support of the Protect My Public Media grassroots campaign, APTS said.

“Andy Russell and his team at PBS SoCal demonstrated extraordinary system leadership during a consequential time for local public media stations,” said Riley. “In all the years of Protect My Public Media, we have never seen this level of creative investment from a station. PBS SoCal stepped forward and produced five high-impact celebrity video spots for use across the public television system – an unprecedented contribution – helping energize supporters and inspire action during a challenging year. These video spots were shared widely across social media and broadcast on public media stations across the country this past summer.”

“We’re truly honored to receive this award,” said Andrew Russell, President and CEO at PBS SoCal. “Protecting public media means protecting something bigger than any of us. It’s about preserving a trusted space where facts matter, where children can discover the joy of learning and where every community can see itself reflected and celebrated. We are proud to serve millions of families every day in providing programming and services that fulfill our mission to educate, inform and inspire.”

Of Overdorf, Riley hailed her “creativity, vision and initiative in promoting Protect My Public Media and incorporating it into local station community events helped significantly increase the campaign’s impact.

“Lori set a new standard for stations by building a visible, local campaign presence,” Riley added. “The time, resources and passion that Lori has devoted to this effort strengthened local engagement with the campaign and catalyzed similar on-the-ground grassroots efforts nationwide. We are profoundly appreciative for her relentless efforts, along with the entire team at Buffalo Toronto Public Media.

“We are extremely grateful for Lori’s tireless passion and dedication, and we are honored to present her with this most well-deserved 2026 Protect My Public Media Award.”

“From Protect My Public Media Day, which was held in almost every county of Western New York, coordinating lawn sign delivery to every corner she could see, launching a letter-writing campaign to federal representatives and organizing the ‘Meet Us at the Market’ series, to say Lori went above and beyond is only a start,” said Tom Calderone, President and CEO of BTPM. “And, there is a victory lap for her and the organization because we also loved sharing our success with other stations within the system when it came to our boots on the ground strategy to Protect My Public Media.”

“I am honored to be the recipient of the 2026 Protect My Public Media Award,” said Overdorf. “Buffalo Toronto Public Media’s ‘ground game’ vision and gameplan put public media out into the community, engaging them in the fight against rescission and reinforcing our mission to serve the community. I share this award with my incredibly talented colleagues at Buffalo Toronto Public Media who all lent their talents to the effort.”

David J. Brugger Community Leader Award
The 2026 David J. Brugger Community Leader Award went to Dax Schieffer, representing Montana PBS. The Brugger Award, named for APTS’s long-time former President and CEO, David Brugger, is presented annually to a community leader who has supported the work of public television through their dedicated leadership and service.

Schieffer has been a tireless advocate for public broadcasting, both on the national and state levels. Schieffer served as Chair of the Friends of Montana PBS Board of Directors. Additionally, Schieffer was a member of the APTS Board of Trustees and served on the APTS Board Legislative Policy and Advocacy Committee, according to APTS..

“Dax Schieffer is an extraordinarily effective advocate for public broadcasting, both on the national level and in his home state of Montana,” said Kate Riley, President and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations. “Dax has a long and distinguished history as a leader and supporter of Montana PBS. He is an unwavering and eloquent champion, committed to effectively telling the story of Montana PBS and the public television system.

“Dax sincerely believes in the public good that Montana PBS brings to our communities, from our educational children’s content to Montana history programs that promote lifelong learning,” said Aaron Pruitt, Director and General Manager of Montana PBS. “Dax also possesses a remarkable, and wonderfully disarming communication style which has helped him reach across traditional lines and expand the tent of public media supporters.”

“After more than a dozen years leading advocacy for Montana PBS at both the state and national levels, Dax still shows up on my Zoom screens with the commitment and enthusiasm of a new convert,” said Peg Wherry, Board Chair of Friends of Montana PBS. “His legacy will be felt in Montana many years into the future.”

“I’m truly honored by this recognition, which reflects the shared commitment of our volunteers and station leadership to service, access, education and public safety,” said Schieffer. “I’m proud to support Montana PBS as it continues to educate, connect and inspire Montanans sharing diverse stories, celebrating our independent spirit and providing trusted public television for generations to come.”

Schieffer served as Chair of the Friends of Montana PBS Board of Directors and has a career in media relations, public affairs and human resources. Schieffer is the principal of Big Sky Solutions & Strategies, serving statewide clients in consulting on nonprofit management, economic development and education.

NEW YORK—The Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) announced today that it will honor Deborah Norville, Emmy-winning Broadcast Journalist Deborah Norville with the 2026 Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award is bestowed on an individual in recognition of their contribution to the broadcast industry.

Norville leads the group of the 2026 recipients of the BFOA awards, which include Leadership Awards and the Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award. The awards—which honor some of the biggest names and most influential leaders in broadcasting—will be presented at the BFOA Annual Breakfast, Wednesday, April 22, at 7 am, in the Beethoven Room of The Encore Resort during the NAB Show in Las Vegas.

The 2026 Leadership Award honorees are:

• Heather Cohen, President, The Weiss Agency
• April Carty-Sipp, Executive Vice President, Industry Affairs at NAB
• Michael J. Hayes, President, Hearst Television
• Mike Hulvey, President & Chief Executive Officer, Radio Advertising Bureau
• Chad Matthews, President, ABC-Owned Television Stations
• Alissa Pollack, Executive Vice President, Global Music Marketing, iHeart

The Leadership Awards are given annually in recognition of career contributions to the broadcast industry and the community at large.

John Catsimatidis, Owner & Chief Executive Officer, WABC Radio/Red Apple Media is the recipient of the 2026 Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award. The Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award is bestowed annually on an individual in broadcasting whose work exemplifies innovation, community service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.

The Broadcasters Foundation Annual Breakfast is complimentary to everyone in broadcasting, although registration is strictly required. To register, broadcast professionals may click here, call 212-373-8250, or email info@thebfoa.org.

Submissions for Future’s Best of Show Awards at NAB Show 2026 are now officially open.

The annual awards celebrate products being launched or on display at the NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas.

Entries must be submitted by 23:59 PST on 3rd April 2026.

The awards provide a great opportunity for companies to stand out at one of the industry’s most attended shows.

Vendors can choose to enter into Best of Show awards from seven leading publications, including TV Tech, TVBEurope, Radio World, MIX, Sound & Video Contractor, AV Technology and IT Pro.

This year’s awards include a range of benefits, such as fully licensed nominee badges that can be displayed at the show. Winners will also receive a trophy at the show, a press release, social graphics and digital banners and be featured in the relevant publication.

Click here to begin your entry ahead of the 3rd April deadline.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) is now accepting entries for the 2026 Celebration of Service to America Awards. These prestigious awards honor the critical role local television and radio stations play in serving communities across the country.

All stations and broadcast groups are encouraged to submit their most impactful community service campaigns that took place in 2025. The entry window will close on March 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

This year, the Foundation is introducing an Original Content Podcast category to recognize local stations that are leveraging their digital expertise to deliver accessible, creative and trusted content to their communities and beyond via podcast app or station website.

Additionally, the First Informers Award will recognize one radio and one television station as exemplary sources of immediate information during emergencies, crises or natural disasters.

“No other media platform matches the power of local television and radio to reach people in real time where they live and work,” said NAB Leadership Foundation President Michelle Duke. “Audiences trust their local stations because broadcasters are deeply rooted in their communities — championing local causes, investigating consumer issues, and delivering timely, trusted reporting. We are proud to honor their extraordinary public service.”

Winners will be notified in early April 2026, and awards will be presented at the Celebration of Service to America Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., on June 9, 2026. The event will gather the broadcasting community with members of Congress and other policymakers to salute the exemplary work of local stations.

The Celebration of Service to America Awards is presented by Bonneville International and Hearst Television and honors the exceptional community service provided by local radio and television stations. Additional information about the awards, including eligibility and rules, is available at servicetoamericaawards.org.

The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today unveiled the nominees for its 2026 HPA Awards Innovation & Technology—the evolution of its Engineering Excellence Award—recognizing exceptional contributions to entertainment technology.

The HPA Awards Innovation & Technology program honors advancements across multiple categories covering the entire production life cycle—from pre-production through distribution and audience experience.

The 2026 nominees are:

Innovation in Preproduction

• Bria AI—GenAI Attribution Technology
• RivetAI Inc.—RivetAI
• Yamdu—AI Script Breakdown and Management Add-On

Innovation in Production & Capture

• American Society of Cinematographers—Media Hash List
• Creamsource—Slyyd Lighting Control App
• Méduse Inc.—Safe Guns Phase-Synced Flash-Gun System

Innovation in VFX, Virtual Production & Animation

• Foundry—Nuke Stage
• Nerfstudio and Industrial Light & Magic—Nerfstudio
• Volinga and XGRIDS—Virtual Production Pipeline

Innovation in Post-Production

• Adobe—Generative Extend in Adobe Premiere
• Flawless—TrueSync
• Storj—Production Cloud

Innovation in Distribution & Audience Experience

• Cineverse—CINESEARCH
• SyncWords Inc.—LiveCore + Kobe Muxer
• V-Nova Studios—V-Nova PresenZ

Winners will be announced Feb. 18 at the 2026 HPA Retreat at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The HPA Transformative Impact Award and the HPA Tech Retreat Best in Show Award will be presented Feb. 19, at the close of the retreat.

Judging criteria for the Innovation & Technology categories include innovation, current industry impact, technical merit and adoption readiness. Judging panels were curated by experts with deep technical expertise and hands-on knowledge.

More information about each nomination is available on the HPA website.

TV Tech is delighted to reveal the winners of the 2025 Media & Entertainment: Best in Market Awards.

The awards recognize standout products and solutions that have been brought to market over the last 12 months and are comprised of three Future-brand categories: TV Tech, TVBEurope and Radio World.

The winners in the TV Tech category are:

Akta: Akta Tech

Blackmagic Design: PYXIS 12K

Canon: Canon C50

Haivision: Haivision Falkon X2

Hammerspace: Hammerspace

Imagine Communications: Imagine Monitoring Solution

Marshall Electronics: CV625 PTZ/POV Camera

Mediagenix: Mediagenix Scheduling Automation

Miri Technologies: Miri X510

NUGEN Audio: DialogCheck

OpenVault: Vantage

Ross Video: Quorum One

Shure Inc.: DCA901 Planar Array Microphone

Sony Electronics: PXW-Z300 XDCAM Camcorder

Sony Electronics: HDC-F5500V 4K System Camera

Techex: tx iptv

TMT Insights: Focus

Videndum: Autocue PTZ Prompter

You can find TVBEurope's winners here.

The deadline for entries for the 2025 Best in Market Awards has been extended to 23:59 PST on November 28, 2025.

The awards are open to companies that launched a product/service or brought new upgrades to an existing product/service in 2025.

They are comprised of three Future-brand categories: TV Tech, TVBEurope and and Radio World.

Winners will be promoted on the selected brand’s website, publications and newsletters as an official Best in Market award winner. They will also receive a fully-licensed winner’s badge that can be used to promote the product as a winner, both domestically and internationally.

All entrants - whether they are selected as a winner or not - will receive a nominee badge to promote their entry.

Entries must be submitted by 23:59 PST on Nov. 28, 2025. Winners will be announced in mid-December.

More details are available here.

LONDON—The winners of the Rise Awards 2025, which recognize women and companies whose achievements have stood out in the media technology industry, have been announced.

The ceremony took place Nov. 18 at Troxy London.

The awards recognize women and companies who are standout performers, innovators and leaders in the industry, with the judges looking for exceptional achievement and positive impact across a range of categories.

This year’s winners are:

Advocate, Sponsored by Techex:

• Levant Ozparlak, Irdeto
• Scott Kerr, Sky

Business Leader, Sponsored by IBC

• Liz McParland, Globecast

Business Operations, sponsored by Encompass

• Laura Martín-Moralejo, Warner Bros. Discovery

Company Award for Investment in Women, Sponsored by Ross Video

• Channel 4

Influencer, Sponsored by Disguise

• Mirusha Jegatheeswaran, ITV

Marketing, Sponsored by DCE Agency

• Margot Ouali, Appear

Product Innovation, Sponsored by Clear-Com

• Regina Poniridis, Caretta Research

Product Support Engineer, Sponsored by Appear

• Brittany Shoemake, Warner Bros. Discovery

Project Management or Delivery (Vendor/Service Provider), sponsored by Globecast

• Jane Lavineway, Irdeto

Project Management or Delivery, End User, sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery

• Sarah Thornley, Sky UK

R&D Engineer, Sponsored by AWS

• Shufei He, Irdeto

Rising Star, Sponsored by RedBee Media

• Patrycja Foltynowicz, Limitless Broadcast
• Sreekala Kallidil, Irdeto

Sales, Sponsored by Mimir Saga (Part of the Fonn Group)

• Juliet Bayliss, Globecast

Student/Apprentice, Sponsored by SMPTE

• Juliette Maes, Media Distillery

Technical Operations, Sponsored by Vizrt

• Jayne Hilton, Globecast

Woman of the Year, Sponsored by Zixi

• Sue Farrell, Channel 4

The Special Recognition Award was presented to Nicki Fisher for her services to the broadcast industry and Rise.

“Now in its seventh year, the Rise Awards continues to go from strength to strength with many more companies bringing clients with them this year to share the Rise message,“ Rise Business Manager Deborah Cross said. “The 2025 ceremony was the culmination of a challenging task for our judging panel, selecting this year’s winners from an exceptionally high calibre of nominees. Congratulations to all those that took home an award; we feel privileged to champion the talents of these inspirational women and diversity advocates.”

This article originally appeared on TVBEurope, sister brand to TV Tech.

NEW YORK—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) recognized an incredible lineup of trailblazing industry leaders for lifetime achievements during the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony. The annual event took place Nov. 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Returning this year as the official event emcee was 2018 Giant Honoree and 60 Minutes and CBS News Correspondent, Bill Whitaker.

The ceremony is presented by the LABF, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the past, reflecting the present, and informing the future. The awards presentation celebrates the remarkable creators, innovators, leaders, performers, and journalists who have blazed trails in the radio and television broadcasting industry.

The 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts honorees include:

• David Muir
  Anchor and Managing Editor
  ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, Co-Anchor of ABC’s 2020
• Lynn Beall
  Visionary Strategist and Innovator, Retired Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of Media Operations
  Tegna Inc.
• Rick Dees
  Legendary Radio Icon, Entertainer and Entrepreneur
• John Feore Jr.
  Esteemed Communications Attorney and Trusted Advisor
• Dick Fergunson
  Distinguished Radio Executive and Retired EVP, Cox Radio Group
• NBC
  Celebrating 100 years in Broadcasting – award accepted by Chief White House Correspondent and co-anchor of “Weekend Today,” Peter Alexander
• Gary Sandy
  Acclaimed Stage, Screen and Television Icon
  Beloved for his role as “Andy Travis” on WKRP in Cincinnati
• Lesley Visser
  Trailblazing Hall of Fame Sportscaster
  First Woman Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

2025 LABF Excellence in Preservation Award
In addition to the Giants honorees, Steven Portnoy, ABC News Radio White House Correspondent and Immediate Past President of the White House Correspondents’ Association, was recognized with the 3rd Annual LABF Excellence in Preservation Award.

This award honors individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to safeguarding the history and heritage of broadcasting. Portnoy’s leadership and dedication to documenting the work of White House correspondents, as well as his efforts to ensure the preservation of journalistic integrity and historical records, exemplify the very spirit of the award.

“The Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts Awards are a true celebration of the visionaries and innovators whose work continues to shape the future of our industry,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer Heidi Raphael and longtime D.C.- based communications attorney Jack Goodman, Co-Chairs of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. “This year’s honorees embody excellence, creativity, and perseverance. Their achievements stand as an enduring reminder of the power of broadcasting to inform, entertain, and inspire generations.”

The event was made possible through the Diamond level sponsorship commitments of ABC News and Tegna.

MILFORD, Mass.—The Massachusetts Broadcasters Association celebrated its broadcast radio and television member stations’ localism and connection to their communities by awarding Sound Bites Awards in 21 categories at its annual Sound Bites conference on Thursday, November 13 at the Doubletree Hotel in Milford.

The MBA began the awards by awarding the third “Broadcast Champion” award to Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey for his career-long commitment to local broadcasters including the creation of the current television retransmission consent landscape via the landmark 1992 Cable Act and his AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act, which would ensure AM radio stations continue to be included in every vehicle sold in the United States.

For the second straight year the winners in the Station of the Year category were Audacy’s Mix 104.1 (WWBX-FM) and Hearst Television’s WCVB Channel 5 in television. MyFM 101.3 (WMRC-AM) and Springfield’s Fox affiliate Boston 25 (WFXT) were runners up in the Station of the Year category.

Highlighting broadcasters’ commitment to their communities, Rock 102 (WAQY) won the radio Sound Bites Award for best Public Service Announcement for their PSA supporting Rick’s Place, which provides grief support to children, teens and their families through facilitated peer activities, school-based programs, and community outreach. In the television Public Service Announcement category Boston 25 took home first place for their Jimmy Fund “Scooper Bowl” PSA.

94.7 WMAS and WCVB Channel 5 won #WeAreBroadcasters awards for their Radiothon for Baystate Children’s Hospital and coverage of the 2025 Boston Marathon, respectively. The #WeAreBroadcasters Award highlights a unique event or program produced and promoted by a station that highlights the station’s connection to their community.

Guests included National Association of Broadcasters Director of Government Relations Ray Quiñones, and Senior Editor of Investigations, Equity and Justice for GBH News and New England First Amendment Coalition board member Jenifer McKim. Long time Massachusetts radio personality and Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Famer Candy O’Terry hosted the event.

Now in its fourteenth year, the Sound Bites Awards received more than 250 award entries, highlighting the excellent work done each year by local broadcasters in Massachusetts. See a complete list of winners at massbroadcasters.org/winners.

Nominations for the 2025 annual Media and Entertainment: Best in Market Awards are now open. The awards are open to companies that launched a product/service or brought new upgrades to an existing product/service in 2025.

They are comprised of three Future-brand categories: TTV Tech, TVBEurope and and Radio World.

Winners will be promoted on the selected brand’s website, publications and newsletters as an official Best in Market award winner. They will also receive a fully-licensed winner’s badge that can be used to promote the product as a winner, both domestically and internationally.

All entrants—whether selected as a winner or not—will receive a nominee badge to promote their entry.

Entries must be submitted by 23:59 PST on Nov. 21st, 2025. Winners will be announced in mid-December.

More details are available here.

The Television Academy has announced the recipients of the 2025 Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards honoring an individual, company or organization for developments in broadcast technology. The awards ceremony will be held Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

“Behind every unforgettable moment on screen is a breakthrough in science, technology or engineering,” said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy. “These groundbreaking innovations transform the way stories are created, shared and experienced. We celebrate these Emmy winners for forever changing how we experience the magnificent power of television.”

“This year’s Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards acknowledge the wide range of technologies used in our industry to aid the storytelling process,” said Barry Zegel, co-chair of the Engineering, Science & Technology Committee. “The award recipients represent a remarkable group of cutting-edge technologies that have advanced television production, safety and artistry in ways unfathomable when our industry began. In addition, we are recognizing the innovators responsible for remarkable production tools and setting standards that have revolutionized broadcast production and distribution.”

Added co-chair Wendy Aylsworth, “We also extend our hearty congratulations to Mark Schubin, who is receiving the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award, and to BBC Research & Development on receiving the Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award. Both are incredibly deserving of these prestigious legacy awards.”

The Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards are made possible by Television Academy sponsors Decoy, FIJI Water, Franciacorta, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, LG, People, The Ritz-Carlton and United Airlines.

The following is a list of awards and recipients to be recognized:

Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award

This award honors a living individual whose ongoing contributions have significantly affected the state of television technology and engineering.

This year's recipient is Mark Schubin.

Mark Schubin (with a degree in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology) has been in television since 1967, working on every aspect, including design, manufacturing, lighting, sound, camera, editing and distribution. His diverse projects have spanned the world on all seven continents, including Antarctica, from operas to the Olympics. He helped develop the broadcasting of the Metropolitan Opera (The Met) productions to cinemas and television stations around the world and has continued supporting this project for many years since its inception.

Mark refers to himself as an “Engineer and Explainer”: His non-judgmental — but humorous — communication of facts and arcane — but relevant — information is what endears him to creatives, business executives and technologists alike. This is why he has been the program chair of the HPA Tech Retreat since 1998, speaks frequently at events and seminars on a wide array of technical topics and on the history of television, and has been a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Engineering Awards committee for more than 30 years.

A prolific engineering historian, educator and professional writer, when Sports Video Group asked him to do so, he changed his more than 33-year-old monthly column on "Video Research" in Videography magazine into SchubinCafe, which is archived by the Library of Congress. Mark’s lifetime of accomplishments in the television industry are noted beyond this archive by his numerous publications, patents and awards.

For more information, visit SchubinCafe.com.

Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award
This award honors an agency, company or institution whose contributions over time have significantly impacted television technology and engineering.

This year's recipient is BBC Research & Development

BBC Research & Development has had a proud history of shaping how we watch and experience television as it focused on its public mission in support of broadcasting. Since its founding in 1930, the team has led the way in breakthroughs that became everyday essentials — like FM radio, stereo sound and the Radio Data System that sends song titles and traffic updates to car radios. Over the decades, they’ve been central to important advancements in television, playing a pivotal role in the development and standardization of High-Definition Television (HDTV), Ultra High-Definition Television (UHDTV), Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) for the carriage of High Dynamic Range (HDR) information and 5G networks.

Looking ahead, their work continues to help define the future of television in its research on Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). BBC Research & Development continues to lead and participate in the important industry collaboration on the impact and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As co-founders of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity, BBC Research & Development is also helping to create standards that will allow media creators to understand better human/AI collaboration and copyrightability of AI-generated media. Behind the scenes and screens, BBC R&D remains an important industry force that shapes how television can help us connect with stories and each other, today and in the future.

For more information, visit BBC.co.uk/rd.

Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards
Presented to an individual, company or organization for developments in engineering, science and technology that are either so extensive an improvement on existing methods or so innovative in nature that they materially affect the production, recording, transmission or reception of television and thereby have elevated the storytelling process.

George Dochev and Peter Thompson, LucidLink
LucidLink is a cloud-native storage collaboration platform that streams data on demand, letting creative teams access and edit the same files instantly from anywhere - without syncing, downloading, VPNs, or complex IT. It mounts like a local drive and provides a single source of secure, always-up-to-date files. In media & entertainment, LucidLink powers edit-in-place, VFX, audio, and finishing workflows, supporting growing files and enabling distributed teams to work on large media as if it were local. Widely adopted by leading studios, streamers, and creative houses, LucidLink has become an essential tool for television projects worldwide.

For more information, visit LucidLink.com.

Ian Sampson for the development of Hush Pro
Hush Pro is an AI-powered audio plugin that isolates dialogue from ambient noise, transient sounds, and room reflections. It allows editors and re-recording mixers to clean up production audio with remarkable efficiency, minimal artifacts, and exceptional quality. Since its release, Hush Pro has quickly become an essential tool at post-production studios around the world, delivering pristine dialogue while significantly reducing the need for ADR.

For more information, visit HushAudioApp.com.

Fraunhofer IIS and intoPIX for the development of JPEG XS
JPEG XS is a state-of-the-art image compression format that transmits high-quality images with minimal latency and low-resource consumption, with virtually lossless image quality. JPEG XS is therefore ideal for live, professional video and broadcast applications where bandwidth presents challenges to deliver the highest quality. JPEG XS enables the transmission of high-resolution video streams over standard Ethernet infrastructure. This makes JPEG XS a fundamental game changer for real-time transmission of video for a wide variety of applications in media and studio technology as well as making real-time video processing in data centers practical.

For more information, visit: FraunhoferIIS.com and intoPIX.

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers [SMPTE], European Broadcasting Union [EBU] and Video Services Forum [VSF] for the development of the ST 2110 Suite of Standards
ST 2110 is a suite of standards for transmitting uncompressed video, audio, and data over digital Internet Protocol (IP) networks in professional media environments. It emerged as a replacement for traditional Serial Digital Interface (SDI) infrastructure, offering greater flexibility and scalability. It is now widely adopted, improving flexibility and scalability over the previous generation of Serial Digital Interfaces (SDI) and is foundational to all digital content transmissions.

For more information, visit SMPTE.org, EBU.ch and VSF.tv.

Mark T. Noel, Jesse Noel, Casey D. Noel and J.D. Schwalm for the development of the NACMO series of motion bases
The NACMO series of motion bases are the first of their kind, developed as a mobile motion base built specifically for television and cinema production. These machines provide a safe and streamlined approach to giving six axes of motion (seven with the optional rotator) to any otherwise static prop or set piece be it a boat, helicopter or car. The largest motion base — “Mo” — has a 75,000-pound capacity and can give all levels of motion to provide a real experience that translates on the screen for the environment and the actors involved. NACMO motion bases can be set up on location or on a sound stage. They are often used in conjunction with LED volume stages.

For more information, visit NACeffects.com.

Jayson Dumenigo for the development of Action Factory’s Play’n with Fire Hydrogels
Action Factory’s Play’n with Fire Hydrogels are innovative, high-performance polymers engineered to provide unmatched protection against extreme heat during the performance of fire stunts. Designed for durability and application at 74-76 degrees F; not iced, these gels maintain exceptional stability and require minimal reapplication even under the most intense conditions, significantly cutting down on the time it takes to accomplish a fire stunt on set. In a record-breaking stunt, it withstood direct flame exposure for five minutes and 25 seconds and temperatures upward of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Its reliability, ease of use and groundbreaking heat-protective technology make Play’n with Fire gels a game-changer for television and stunt professionals, setting a new standard in safety and performance.

For more information, visit AFstunts.com.

Rob Drewett and Andy Nancollis for the development of the AGITO Dolly System
AGITO is a versatile, compact modular robotic dolly system designed to keep cameras steady and in motion for film and television production. Often likened to a “Swiss Army Knife” for camera movement, it folds the work of multiple traditional rigs into a single, reconfigurable platform. With quick-switch modes including free-roaming, track-based, overhead and MagTrax — the latter using a simple strip of magnetic tape to guide the camera with precision, allowing crews to reset quickly and save valuable time on set — AGITO delivers everything from classic tracking shots to complex, repeatable moves all from one adaptable system. This groundbreaking approach represents a leap forward in the art and engineering of camera movement — opening up fresh creative possibilities for both camera operators and cinematographers.

For more information, visit MotionImpossible.com.

Andy Carluccio, Jonathan Kokotajlo, Eyal Hadida and Brendan Ittelson for the development of Zoom for Broadcast
Zoom for Broadcast is a media integration platform that turns Zoom Meetings into broadcast-ready feeds, extracting individual high-quality video and audio from remote participants and routing them into professional live productions as though they were in-studio. It gives producers deep control over each guest’s AV settings, uses Zoom’s global cloud infrastructure to deliver low-latency, reliable streams without costly equipment or complex setups, and elegantly scales from one guest to hundreds in a familiar meeting experience. With robust application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK) support, it plugs into existing production tools, making high-quality remote contributions both accessible and affordable — and eliminating the traditional barriers of expense and technical complexity in live broadcasting.

For more information, visit: Zoom.com

Boris Yamnitsky, Jason Clement, Mike Escola and Peter McAuley for the development of Boris FX Continuum
Boris FX Continuum stands as one of the most enduring plugin collections in post-production history, relied upon for decades by editors, motion graphics designers and VFX artists. Its tools have shaped the look of broadcast television, becoming a defining standard for effects, transitions and image restoration. With a legacy defined by reliability and innovation, Continuum continues to evolve through graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration, machine learning–driven effects and a deep library of presets, ensuring its ongoing role as a cornerstone of modern post-production.

NEW YORK—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has announced that NBC’s centennial milestone will be honored at its Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon.

LABF’s annual tribute recognizing trailblazers and historic contributions to the broadcasting industry will take place on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Gotham Hall in New York.

In announcing the award, LABF noted that NBC has defined the U.S. television landscape for generations of viewers, becoming a trusted media source for fans to build lasting connections with cultural moments across entertainment, sports and news.

“Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker will accept the award on behalf of the network. “Meet the Press” is the longest-running television program in U.S. history.

“For 100 years, NBC has been a pillar of American broadcasting,” said LABF co-chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group chief communications officer, and Jack Goodman, longtime D.C.- based communications attorney. “We are thrilled to recognize NBC’s 100th anniversary celebration during this year’s Giants of Broadcasting event."

In addition the NBC, the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting Honorees to be honored at the event include:

• David Muir, Anchor and Managing Editor, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, and Co-Anchor of ABC’s 20/20
• Lynn Beall, Visionary Strategist and Innovator, Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Media Operations, TEGNA, Inc.
• Rick Dees, Legendary Radio Icon, Entertainer, and Entrepreneur
• John Feore Jr., Esteemed Communications Attorney and Trusted Advisor
• Dick Ferguson, Distinguished Radio Executive and Retired Executive Vice President, Cox Radio Group
• Gary Sandy, Acclaimed Stage, Screen, and Television Icon, beloved for his role as Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati
• Lesley Visser, Trailblazing Hall of Fame Sportscaster and First Woman Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Additionally, CBS News White House Correspondent and former RTDNA Chairman Steven Portnoy will receive the 2025 LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award in recognition of his tireless efforts to safeguard and celebrate the history of broadcast journalism.

For complete details about the honorees, sponsorship opportunities, tables and individual tickets, please contact Debbie Beagan-Carcich, 2025 Giants of Broadcasting event Producer at debbie@giantsofbroadcasting.org or go to www.tvradiolibrary.org.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—SMPTE, the home for media professionals, technologists, and engineers, will honor some of the industry’s top minds and organizations at its annual Awards Gala, Thursday, Oct. 16, at the conclusion of the 2025 SMPTE Media Technology Summit. The Gala will take place in the Pasadena Convention Center.

"I want to congratulate all of this year's award recipients," said Fellows Committee Chair and SMPTE past-president Renard Jenkins. "Their dedication to the Society and our industry as a whole is evident through their work and volunteerism. Each and every one of these individuals have had a positive impact on the relevance and longevity of SMPTE. Thank you and Congratulations!"

This year, 14 honors will be bestowed upon 31 individuals and organizations.

The David Sarnoff Medal was established in 1950 and recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of new techniques or equipment that have improved the engineering phases of television technology. This year, the medal is being awarded to Darryl Jefferson in recognition of his visionary engineering leadership and transformative innovations in large-scale broadcast systems. At NBC Olympics and Sports, Jefferson has advanced the frontiers of live television production through pioneering work in cloud-based workflows, IP architectures, and real-time media delivery for global events.

The Progress Medal award honors an individual who has made outstanding technical contributions to the progress of engineering phases in the motion picture, television, or motion imaging industries. This year’s recipient is Sir Ian Taylor, in recognition of his decades-long leadership and technological innovation in animation and sports production. As the founder of Animation Research Ltd, Sir Ian has pioneered virtual technologies that have transformed how audiences experience live sports — most notably in sailing, golf, cricket, and motorsports.

The Excellence in Education Medal was established in 2016 and recognizes outstanding contributions to new or unique educational programs that teach the technologies of motion imaging sciences, including emerging media technology. This year, SMPTE recognizes Polly Hickling for her outstanding contributions to developing inclusive and accessible learning pathways in the dynamic field of media engineering. Through her innovative use of nontraditional teaching strategies in both academic and professional settings, Hickling has ensured that learners from diverse backgrounds are engaged, supported, and empowered to advance their careers.

The Workflow Systems Medal was established in 2012 and recognizes outstanding contributions related to the development and integration of workflows that enhance creativity, collaboration, efficiency, or novel approaches to the production, post-production, or distribution process. This year, SMPTE will honor Michelle Munson in recognition of her visionary leadership and entrepreneurial impact in transforming media workflows on a global scale. As the co-founder and CEO of Aspera, she built one of the most influential technology companies in modern media infrastructure — solving one of the industry's most persistent challenges and enabling faster, more efficient, and more collaborative content production and delivery.

The Camera Origination and Imaging Medal was established in 2012 and recognizes significant technical achievements related to invention or advances in imaging technology. This year, the award will honor Dr. Peter Centen for pioneering innovations in image sensor technology that transformed electronic cinematography and broadcast imaging. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Dr. Centen played a pivotal role in the industry’s transition from CCD to CMOS image sensors, serving as chief architect of the Xensium family that enabled HD, 4K, HDR, and HFR imaging.

The James A. Lindner Archival Technology Medal was established in 2012 and recognizes significant technical advancements or contributions related to the archive or preservation of media content essence. This year, the Medal is awarded to Reto Kromer in recognition of his pioneering contributions to audiovisual preservation through practical, accessible, and forward-looking technologies. A mathematician and computer scientist, Kromer has advanced the field through his work on open-source tools, low-energy conservation methods, and digital workflows — including color space analysis and codec emulation.

The Natalie M. and Herbert T. Kalmus Award honors the recipient by recognizing outstanding contributions that reflect a commitment to the highest standards of quality and innovation in motion picture production, post-production, and distribution services. This year’s recipient is Scott Miller for his pivotal contributions to the invention, development, advocacy, and standardization of the Perceptual Quantizer (PQ) transfer function. PQ provides an efficient mapping of absolute luminance levels to human visual perception, establishing a critical foundation for the widespread adoption of high dynamic range (HDR) motion imaging.

The Samuel L. Warner Memorial Medal Award honors the individual by recognizing outstanding contributions in the design and development of new and improved methods and/or apparatus for motion picture sound, including any step in the process. This year’s recipient is Ben Burtt in recognition of his transformative contributions to the art and science of motion picture sound. Burtt revolutionized sound design by departing from traditional library-based effects, instead crafting unique, organic sounds tailored to each scene — often derived from nature or real-world sources.

The Excellence in Standards Award recognizes those who have been actively involved in advancing Society standards, activities, and processes. This year’s award will be presented to Steve LLamb in recognition of his exemplary leadership and enduring contributions to the SMPTE Standards Community. For over a decade, he has shaped digital cinema standards, chairing the Digital Cinema Working Group for eight years and guiding the integration of the film and sound technology committees.

The Louis F. Wolf Jr. Memorial Scholarship is designed to assist students in furthering their undergraduate or graduate studies in motion pictures and television, with an emphasis on technology. This year’s recipient is Anthony Guarino from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

The Citation for Outstanding Service to the Society recognizes dedicated service to SMPTE, particularly at the Section level. This year, four individuals will be honored with this award: Zandra Clarke in recognition of her dedicated and multifaceted service to the Atlanta Section and to SMPTE at large; Bill Hogan for his unwavering commitment to advancing SMPTE’s mission and fostering Section engagement; Jim DeFilippis in recognition of his leadership and educational outreach within the Hollywood Section; and Ujwal Nirgudkar in recognition of his exceptional leadership as Chair of the India Section and his enduring efforts to expand SMPTE’s presence across India.

The Journal Award for the best paper originally published in the SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal during 2024 will be presented to Alejandro Arango, Simon Therriault, and Andriy Yamashev for their paper, “Enhancements to Media Transport in ICVFX Using SMPTE 2110,” by A. Arango, S. Therriault and A. Yamashev, published in the October 2024 issue of the Motion Imaging Journal – Volume 133, Issue 6.” Additionally, Journal Certificates of Merit will be awarded to Ricardo Figueroa for his paper, “What Electronic Image Noise Signatures Can Tell Us About Image Linearity and Camera Encoding,” by Ricardo Figueroa, PhD, published in the September 2024 issue of the Motion Imaging Journal – Volume 133, Issue 5.”

Thirteen new SMPTE Fellows will be recognized at this year’s Gala for attaining an outstanding rank among engineers or executives in media and entertainment through their proficiency and contributions to the motion-picture, television, or related industries. These individuals are John Abt, Francois Bourdua, Carolyn Giardina, Eric Gsell, Carys Hughes, Russell Trafford-Jones, Phillip Graham Layton, François Legrand, Nick Mitchell, Paritosh Saha, Florian Schleich, James Toten, and Ron Williams.

Tickets for the SMPTE Awards Gala can be added to conference registration packages or purchased separately. Reserved tables are also available for purchase. Gala Sponsorships and congratulatory program book ads are available as well. To purchase a table or to become a sponsor, contact Anthony Catalano. More information can be found at Why Sponsor: SMPTE Media Technology Summit 2025.

More information about the Gala and the 2025 Honorees, including full award citations, can be found on the Summit website at SMPTE Media Technology Summit 2025.

The Society of Broadcast Engineers has announced the recipients of the 2025 SBE National Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements by individual members, local chapters, and Sustaining Member companies. Among the organization's highest honors are the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year and the James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year awards.

Doug Irwin, CPBE, AMD, DRB, of Burbank, CA, a member of SBE Chapter 47 Los Angeles, has been named the 2025 Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year. With nearly four decades of experience on both coasts, Irwin manages one of the most complex and influential radio operations in the country.

His career has navigated the challenges of industry consolidation and evolving technologies, yet he remains deeply committed to advancing engineering standards and mentoring the next generation of professionals. As one Chapter 47 member stated, "Doug exemplifies unwavering dedication and genuine passion for broadcast engineering."

In addition to serving as the regional engineering lead for iHeartMedia Los Angeles, Irwin is also a longtime consultant and contributor to TV Tech sister brand, Radio World.

David Bialik, CBT, of New City, NY, a member of SBE Chapter 15 New York City, is the recipient of the 2025 James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year award. An SBE member for 15 years, Bialik played a key role in organizing the 2024 and 2025 Ennes Workshops covering Media Over IP, held during the NAB Show. He also serves on the SBE Education Committee and is co-chair of the AES Technical Committee for Broadcast and Online Delivery.

Currently serving as the director of engineering for MediaCo NY, Bialik is a frequent contributor to Radio World. You can read some of his columns here.

Blackmagic Design has received the SBE Technology Award for its DeckLink IP 100G, a PCIe Gen 4 card capable of capturing and playing back up to eight channels of HD and Ultra HD video simultaneously within SMPTE 2110 IP systems. This marks the company's fifth win in this category. DeckLink IP cards are designed for seamless integration with IP-based broadcast infrastructures, offering high-performance, multi-channel video workflows.

Mark Lee of Compass Media, based in the Cayman Islands, has been awarded the Facility Innovation of the Year award. In a groundbreaking effort, Compass Media extended its WheatNet-IP audio network across 85 miles of underwater fiber to link its four radio stations with the two smaller Cayman Islands. This achievement significantly enhances media access and connectivity across the region, uniting communities through broadcast for the first time on this scale.

For the fourth consecutive year, SBE Chapter 15 New York, NY, has been recognized with the Best Chapter Communication Award. Rather than relying solely on a traditional newsletter, Chapter 15 effectively engages its members through a variety of platforms, including email, the chapter website (sbe15.com), Twitter, Facebook, and Zoom.

The Wisconsin SBE Chapters, in partnership with the 2024 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Media Technology Institute, have been honored with the award for Best Chapter or Regional Educational Event. The annual three-day institute, held in June, provides a comprehensive and immersive learning experience designed to support the professional development of broadcast engineers at all career stages.

With the announcement, SBE Awards Committee Chair Terry Douds, CPBE, said, "Recognition and encouragement of outstanding efforts of SBE members is a key part of the SBE's mission. Congratulations to all the award recipients."

The recipients will be recognized during the SBE Awards Dinner held at the SBE National Meeting, Sept. 24-25 during the Midwest Broadcast and Multimedia Technology Conference, presented by the state broadcast associations of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

The Alabama Broadcasters Association has announced that Steve Kohn, engineering manager, at WSFA-TV Montgomery, has been named the group’s 2025 Engineer of the Year.

Steve Kohn, who has been with WSFA-TV for more than 40 years, recently played a major role in a studio move to a high-rise office complex in downtown Montgomery.

WSFA is an NBC affiliate owned by Gray Communications that is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Kohn oversees the studio operations and their modern transmitter facility, which includes a 2,000-foot tower south of Montgomery.

Kohn will be honored at the ABA 2025 conference, Aug. 7-8 at Ross Bridge Resort in Birmingham.

“It's rare to find a broadcast engineer working his entire career at one station but that's our Steve,” said the station’s chief engineer, Morris Pollock. “As engineering manager, he continues to work with staff and vendors to design, integrate, document and maintain one of the finest news-producing TV stations in the country. Anyone watching WSFA has seen Steve's work, What they don't see is the passion Steve pours into WSFA each and every day".

WSFA general manager Mark Bunting added: “Steve Kohn has been and continues to be an integral part of our WSFA engineering team. His love for this industry and our television properties further confirm why he is an excellent choice in being selected as the ABA’s Engineer of the Year.”

The award recognizes excellence and innovation in broadcast engineering for an Alabama radio and/or television station. Criteria include development of new technology, leadership in education and contributions to broadcast engineering technical standards.

The awards are open to IBC2025 show exhibitors and offer a valuable platform for companies to raise awareness for the new products and solutions they will be launching or showcasing at the RAI Amsterdam, Sept. 12-15.

Participating brands include TV Tech, TVBEurope, Radio World, AV Technology, Installation, Sound & Video Contractor and ITPro. Each publication announces its own list of winners, which will be announced at the show.

All award entrants will receive a placard at the show for display, with winners receiving a further placard to display their success.

The nomination page includes answers to frequently asked questions. Deadline for entry is August 29th.

The Virginia Association of Broadcasters has recognized Bill Sewell, Director of Engineering at WTKR & WGNT in Norfolk, Va. as the recipient of the 2025 J.J. Freeman Engineering Achievement Award. The award honors those “who have made an outstanding contribution to broadcasting and who have shown technical knowledge, dedication, dependability and leadership in broadcast engineering affairs,” according to the VAB.

From the VAB:

Bill Sewell is the Director of Engineering at WTKR & WGNT in Norfolk, Virginia. A native of Louisville, KY, he fell in love with TV news while working in college as a part-time production assistant at WAVE-TV (NBC, Gray Media). He attended the University of Louisville, where he graduated with a degree in MIS in 2002.

At some point along the way, he realized that his interests in both broadcast production and computer science could actually merge into a career. He transitioned into the engineering & IT department at WAVE in 2001, eventually moving to Norfolk to take the Chief Engineer position at WTKR in 2010.

He is an alumnus of the 2017 VAB Best of the Best class and is the current president of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, chapter 54. He and his wife of 20 years, Melanie, have three children—Sam, 16; Griffin, 12, and Maisy, 10.

WASHINGTON—The ATSC, the Broadcast Standards Association, honored veteran technologist Aldo Cugnini and Clarence Hau, Senior Vice President of Standards, Policy & Advanced Engineering at NBCUniversal at its annual meeting this week.

Cugnini is recipient of the 2025 Bernard J. Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award, which is bestowed once a year to an individual representative of the ATSC membership whose technical and leadership contributions to ATSC have been invaluable and exemplary. The Lechner Award recognizes the first recipient, the late Bernard Lechner, for his outstanding service to the ATSC. Lechner was the retired Staff Vice President, Advanced Video Systems of RCA Laboratories. His 30-year career at RCA covered all aspects of television and display research.

“Aldo Cugnini’s long-standing dedication to ATSC and his pivotal work in ITU-R have been instrumental in positioning ATSC 3.0 as a truly international broadcast standard,” said Madeleine Noland, President of ATSC. “His technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and international leadership make him richly deserving of the 2025 Lechner Award.”

Cugnini, AGC Systems principal, is a distinguished broadcast engineer whose career spans over 45 years, marked by significant contributions to digital television standards and technologies. He played a leadership role in developing ATSC digital television systems, contributing to both ATSC 1.0 and the next-generation ATSC 3.0 standards. Cugnini also serves as the International Telecommunication Union’s Co-Chair of the ITU-R SG6 WP6A Rapporteur Group on ATSC 3.0, actively participating in international standardization efforts to incorporate ATSC 3.0 into global broadcasting frameworks. Credited with 14 issued patents in digital television, audio, broadcasting, and spectrum management, Cugnini’s extensive experience and contributions have been instrumental in advancing digital broadcasting technologies.

Cugnini is a recognized expert in the fields of digital television, consumer technology and product development, technology policy, and intellectual property. He founded AGC Systems in 2003 after holding various technical and management positions at Philips Electronics and interactive TV developer ACTV. Prior to his work in digital TV, he developed broadcast technologies at CBS Laboratories and was a radio engineer for WKCR, WABC, and WPLJ in New York. Cugnini has both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Columbia University. A musician as well as a technologist, he is a timpanist with the Hanover Wind Symphony and the South Orange Symphony Orchestra and also performs with several groups in Frederick, Maryland.

The ATSC also recognized Clarence Hau, Senior Vice President of Standards, Policy & Advanced Engineering at NBCUniversal, as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Mark Richer Industry Leadership Medal.

The annual award honors individuals or teams who demonstrate exemplary leadership in advancing ATSC’s mission and embody the vision, tenacity, and commitment that defined the legacy of former longtime ATSC President Mark Richer. The 2025 Richer Medal will be presented to Hau next month during the 2025 ATSC NextGen Broadcast Conference in Washington. Registration for the June 12-13 event is open until June 3.

Hau has been unanimously recognized by the ATSC Board of Directors for his outstanding contributions to the progress and implementation of NEXTGEN TV powered by ATSC 3.0 standards. His leadership within NBCUniversal and across the industry has played a pivotal role in bringing audiences the very best of ATSC 3.0, delivering better picture quality, immersive sound, and award-winning interactivity that is driving real-world adoption of the technology.

“Clarence’s passion, determination, and deep technical insight have made a lasting impact,” said ATSC President Madeleine Noland. “His efforts are not only helping to shape the future of television but are also directly enhancing the viewing experience for audiences everywhere – including me. With this honor, we’re recognizing Clarence’s bold, forward-looking leadership and also NBCUniversal’s key role in the NEXTGEN TV rollout.”

“I’m very appreciative of our longstanding partnership with ATSC, and proud of NBCUniversal’s role in bringing enhanced and innovative experiences to local audiences through NEXTGEN TV,” said Hau. “This is a tremendous honor, and one that was made possible due to the ingenuity and collaboration of my NBCU colleagues, and our partners, who’ve dedicated themselves to delivering on the great potential of the new broadcast standard.”

The Mark Richer Medal is named for the longtime ATSC President who led the organization through two decades of transformative innovation, from the original ATSC 1.0 standard to the launch of ATSC 3.0 next-generation standards.

Lechner Award recipients:

2000 – Bernard Lechner, Consultant

2001 – Rich Chernock, Triveni Digital

2002 – Regis Crinon, Microsoft

2003 – Glenn Adams, Extensible Formatting Systems, Inc

2004 – Graham Jones, National Association of Broadcasters

2005 – John Henderson, Hitachi

2006 – Art Allison, NAB

2007 – Mark Eyer, Sony Electronics

2008 – Michael Dolan, TBT

2009 – Wayne Bretl, Zenith/LG Electronics

2010 – Pat Waddell, Harmonic

2011 – Jim Starzynski, NBC Universal

2012 – S. Merrill Weiss, MWG Group

2013 – Mark Aitken, Sinclair Broadcast Group

2014 – James Kutzner, PBS

2015 – Luke Fay, Sony

2016 – Madeleine Noland, LG Electronics

2017 – Skip Pizzi, NAB

2018 – Mark Corl, Triveni Digital

2019 – Adam Goldberg, AGP/Sony

2020 – Jae-Young Lee, ETRI

2021 – Alan Stein, InterDigital

2022 – Youngkwon Lim, Samsung Electronics

2023 – Glenn Reitmeier, NBC Universal/Sarnoff Labs

2024 – Ali Dernaika, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

2025 – Aldo Cugnini, AGC Systems

NEW YORK—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has unveiled a lineup of trailblazing industry leaders that will be honored for their lifetime achievements during the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony. The annual event will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Returning this year as the official event emcee is 2018 Giant Honoree and "60 Minutes" and CBS News correspondent, Bill Whitaker.

In addition, ABC News Radio national correspondent Steven Portnoy will also receive the 2025 LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award for his outstanding dedication and commitment to promoting awareness to the importance of collection and preservation of broadcast history, the group said.

“This event honors the innovators and groundbreakers of the media industry,” said LABF co-chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group chief communications officer and Jack Goodman, longtime DC-based communications attorney. “It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate these incredible individuals for their significant impact on broadcasting and American culture.”

The LABF listed and described the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts honorees as follows:

• KELSEY GRAMMER. Award-Winning Television, Stage, Screen, Actor and Producer
• DAVID MUIR. Anchor and Managing Editor of "ABC World News Tonight with David Muir", Co-Anchor of "20/20".
• LYNN BEALL. Visionary Strategist and Innovator, Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Media Operations
• TEGNA Inc.
• RICK DEES. Legendary Radio Icon, Entertainer and Entrepreneur
• JOHN R. FEORE, JR. Esteemed Communications Attorney and Trusted Advisor.
• DICK FERGUSON. Distinguished Radio Executive and Retired EVP, Cox Radio Group
• GARY SANDY. Acclaimed Stage, Screen and Television Icon. Beloved for his role as Andy Travis on "WKRP in Cincinnati".
• LESLEY VISSER. Hall of Fame Sportscaster and 50-year Trailblazer Boston Globe, CBS Sports, ABC and HBO

The LABF also extended "our sincere appreciation to Tegna and ABC News for their esteemed support as Diamond sponsors of this year’s event."

TV Tech has announced its Best of Show Awards for the 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The awards are judged by a panel of industry experts on the criteria of innovation, feature set, cost efficiency and performance in serving the industry.

The winners will be featured in TV Tech magazine, read by thousands of broadcast professionals in the United States, around the world and online.

The Best of Show Awards, from TV Tech and other brands at its parent company Future US, were chosen from companies that exhibited at the 2025 NAB Show and submitted nominations.

Congratulations to this year's winners (listed here with the company name followed by their winning product):

• Accedo - Accedo Insights
• Actus Digital - Actus Digitals’ Actus X
• Adder Technology - ADDERView Matrix
• Adobe - Generative Extend in Premiere Pro
• Akta - Media Content Platform (MCP)
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) - Media Quality-Aware Resiliency (MQAR)
• Apantac - SDM-ST-2100
• Appear - X5
• Ateliere - Creative Technologies Ateliere Live
• Avid - Wolftech Go Mobile App
• BirdDog Technologies - KBD
• Bitcentral - Fusion Insights
• BitFire - BitFire Platform
• Black Box - DESKVUE PE IP Multi-Source Receiver
• Blackmagic Design - Blackmagic PYXIS 12K
• Blackmagic Design - Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive
• Boland Monitors - X4K 42HDR-OLED
• Boris FX - SynthEyes 2025
• Bridge Technologies - VB400 Sync Generator
• Canon U.S.A Inc. - Optical Unit for 4K Field Box Lenses
• Cinnafilm, Inc. - Tachyon LIVE and IPx LIVE
• Clear-com - FreeSpeak Icon
• Cobalt Digital - ARIA AUD-MON Audio Monitor
• Comcast Technology Solutions - Cloud TV Platform
• Core SWX - MoXIE Solo
• CueScript - CSMPPB Perfect Balance Plate
• Dalet - Dalet Pyramid Rundown
• DJI - DJI RS 4 Mini
• Dolby - Dolby’s Server-Guided Ad Insertion Solution
• Dream Chip Technologies GmbH - AtomTwo
• EditShare - Ultimate EFS Field
• ENCO - enCaption
• ENENSYS Teamcast - Vortex III
• Evertz - NEXX with FX-LINK
• Fincons Group and NBCUniversal - NBC - Telemundo NextGen TV Broadcast App Evolution
• FOR-A - FOR-A IMPULSE
• GatesAir - ATSC 3.0 Modulator
• GlobalM - GlobalM SDVN Gateway
• Grass Valley - Event Producer X
• Guangdong SIRUI Optical Co., Ltd - SIRUI 20mm T1.8 1.33X S35 Auto-focus Anamorphic Lens
• Haivision - Falkon X2
• Harmonic - XOS Advanced Media Processor
• Hollyland Technology - Cosmo C2 Wireless Video Transmitter
• IHSE USA - Draco XStreme
• Imagine Communications - SNP-XL
• Interra Systems - ORION with Multiviewer
• LiveU - LiveU IQ (LIQ)
• LTN - LTN Channel Distribution
• LucidLink - New LucidLink
• Magewell - Modator 2U
• Maxon - Maxon Studio
• Mediagenix - Mediagenix Humanized Semantic Search
• MediaKind - MediaKind’s Multiview solution
• Miri Technologies - Miri X510 Dual-Cellular Bonding Network Router
• Moments Lab - MXT-2 Custom Moments
• NETGEAR AV - NETGEAR Engage
• Nxtedition - nxtedition XR/Mixed Reality Studio Control
• OBSBOT - OBSBOT Tail 2
• OpenDrives - Atlas data storage and management platform
• PTZOptics - Studio 4K
• Quantum - Scalar i7 RAPTOR
• Riedel Communications - DSP-1216HL Desktop SmartPanel
• Ross Video - Carbonite HyperMax
• Sandisk - Sandisk Extreme PRO with USB4® Portable SSD
• Saramonic - K9
• Solid State Logic - System T Cloud
• Sony Electronics - BVM-HX1710 & BVM-HX1710N
• Synamedia - Synamedia Senza
• TAG Video Systems - QC Station
• Techex - tx darwin
• Telemetrics - TeleScope Robotic Jib system
• Telestream - Vantage
• Telos Alliance - Linear Acoustic AERO.enterprise
• Telycam - Explore broadcast-class PTZ camera
• Teradek - Prism Jetpack
• ThinkAnalytics - ThinkMediaAI
• Tightrope Media Systems - MediaScribe
• Veritone - Veritone Discovery
• Verizon Business - Private Network with Enterprise AI Module
• Vinten - Versine 360
• Vislink - DragonFly V 5G Miniature Transmitter
• Wheatstone - TVe Mix Engine Near Instantaneous Failover
• Zixi - Zixi Market Switching

When the history of digital television in the United States is written, the individuals involved will read like a who’s who of broadcast technology. Many of those have been honored by the NAB with its annual Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award, and this year’s honoree is no exception.

Dennis W. Wallace is managing partner at Meintel, Sgrignoli & Wallace, LLC, a broadcast engineering and technical consulting firm founded in 2004. He developed and implemented RF field test programs for the HDTV Model Station Project at the Advanced Television Test Center in Washington, D.C., and built and conducted studies and demonstrations at the ATSC 3.0 Test Station in Cleveland.

Over the years his field-testing projects have included assessment of mobile DTV service, interference from unlicensed devices, effects of windmills on DTV reception, Distributed Transmission Systems, comparison of UHF and VHF spectrum for ATSC 3.0 and chairing the ATSC 3.0 Field Testing Task Force.

I got a chance to talk with Dennis recently and learned a bit more about what brought him to the industry.

As a kid growing up in Indianapolis, Dennis got involved in his high school’s 400W Class A radio station but “I quickly learned that I was more interested in the technical parts of it than I was necessarily being on the air,” he said. Jack Tiller, a professor at nearby Butler University, who taught mass media, helped Dennis get his start in actually getting paid for what he enjoyed doing.

“He took me under his wing and actually employed me part time in the summers to rewire studios at the university and that sort of thing. So that was my foray into engineering.”

Although Dennis had plans to attend Butler full time, prior to entering college, he entered a competition on entrepreneurship and won at both the state and national level. The prize was a scholarship to ITT Technical University, which he decided to pursue instead.

He almost completed the course before being hired by WIIB, a new UHF station in Indianapolis, in 1989. By the mid-’90s, Dennis had landed at the ATTC, working alongside one his mentors, Charlie Rhodes, who also penned TV Tech’s Digital TV column for decades.

Dennis remembers how Charlie would urge his fellow engineers to always push for more. “He would cajole a few of us to stay late or work extra and work on whatever question he had, along with the Grand Alliance engineers, to try to explore something. Those became what we referred to as ‘the Charlie projects.’ And we always learned a lot.”

Asked about the high point of his career (so far!), Dennis points to his work with the ATTC. “I started off at analog broadcasting, did the lab testing for the RF side of DTV, helping stations transition, and then shutting down analog and now in the twilight of my career, on replacing the system that I helped build.”

Dennis’s entrepreneurial and technical skills have helped him and his colleagues create one of the leading consulting firms in the broadcast industry. “One of the unique things that I bring to broadcast engineering is an understanding of the business implications of the technical pieces of it,” he said. “And I’ve kind of built a career at the intersection of business, technology and regulatory policy matters. That’s really what I do.”

Congratulations Dennis on this well deserved honor! Dennis will be recognized along with this year’s Radio winner Paul S. Shulins, at the “We Are Broadcasters Awards,” held on the Main Stage of the 2025 NAB Show, Tuesday, April 8, in Las Vegas.

WASHINGTON—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has announced that legendary syndicated radio personality Delilah will receive the fourth annual Insight Award from LABF during the NAB Show Welcome on April 7, in Las Vegas, Nev. The award recognizes Delilah’s trailblazing history of excellence in broadcasting and her profound impact on audiences nationwide.

LABF’s Insight Award recognizes an individual or organization for an outstanding artistic or journalistic work or body of work that enhances the public’s understanding of the role, operation, history or impact of media in our society. Past recipients have included actor, director and educator LeVar Burton, CBS News’ 60 Minutes and award-winning producer and journalist Soledad O’Brien.

Delilah who’s radio show is syndicated by Premiere Networks, is the most-listened-to woman on radio in the U.S. Her soothing voice, open heart and love of music have expanded her audience to more than eight million weekly listeners on approximately 160 radio stations nationwide.

Delilah, who celebrated 50 years of radio broadcasting in 2024, has been hosting her current program format since 1984. Known as “radio’s Oprah,” Delilah creates a sense of comfort and companionship for her audience, sharing inspiring stories, song dedications and heartfelt advice. Her authenticity, empathy and unwavering dedication to her listeners have made her a true icon in the industry.

For her success and contributions to the industry, Delilah has received radio’s highest accolades. She was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016 and, in 2017, was honored with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcast Hall of Fame induction, marking the first time in 35 years that a woman had received such a distinction. Additionally, NAB honored her with a prestigious Marconi Award for “Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year” in 2016. She is consistently recognized by Radio Ink as one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio” and took home the trophy for “Outstanding Host Entertainment/Information” at the Alliance of Women in Media’s 37th Annual Gracie Awards Gala in 2023.

Delilah will accept the award on stage at the NAB Show, joining a distinguished group of past honorees who have significantly contributed to the media industry.

"Delilah’s impact on broadcasting is undeniable, and her recognition with the Insight Award reflects the excellence and innovation celebrated at NAB Show,” said April Carty-Sipp, executive vice president, NAB Industry Affairs.

“Delilah’s extraordinary ability to connect with listeners, her passion for storytelling and her unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of others exemplify the essence of the Insight Award,” said LABF Co-Chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer, and Jack Goodman, longtime D.C.-based communications attorney. “We are thrilled to honor her remarkable contributions to broadcasting.”

Learn more at NABShow.com.

LONDON—Rise, the advocacy group for gender diversity in the media technology sector, said the winner of its 2024 Woman of the Year Award is Megan Mauck, senior vice president of media operations at NBCUniversal.

Mauck will receive her award, which is sponsored by Zixi, during the Rise Awards 2024 ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Troxy, London.

Asked why Mauck should be the Woman of the Year for 2024, Mark Harrison, Rise advisory board member and founder and chief creative officer of the Digital Production Partnership (DPP) said, “During a turbulent time, when so many senior technology and operational leaders have found it difficult to convey clear, let alone inspirational, messages about innovation and strategic business initiatives, she has stood out as a leader for our times.”

Mauck began her career as an engineering co-op at Toyota before joining General Electric's Operational Management Leadership Program in 2006, where she launched her career at NBCUniversal, then owned by GE. Over the years, she has progressed through a series of increasingly senior operational and project management roles, ultimately advancing to her current position as a senior executive. Mauck has a degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and is based in Los Angeles.

In her current position, Mauck leads Comcast-owned NBCUniversal’s 24/7 media operations across Los Angeles, Denver and New York, overseeing the ingestion, preparation, packaging and distribution of its domestic and international content. Megan is responsible for ensuring seamless delivery across various platforms, including linear broadcast, secondary distribution, O&O stations, Peacock, SkyShowtime, PVOD and major live events. With a focus on delivering highly reliable and automated solutions, her team has been instrumental in enhancing NBCU’s content quality and business productivity across the content supply chain.

Beyond her work at NBCUniversal, Mauck is board chair for Grades of Green, a nonprofit organization promoting environmental education for K-12 students. Her involvement reflects her commitment to fostering future generations’ awareness and action around sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Tickets for the 2024 Awards are available for purchase here:

For more information about Rise and the Awards, please visit: https://risewib.com/

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Gene J. Zimmerman, founder, president and CEO of Cobalt Digital, has been named a fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).

SMPTE fellows are recognized for attaining an outstanding rank among engineers or executives in media and entertainment through their proficiency and contributions to motion pictures, television or related industries.

Zimmerman will be one of 10 newly named fellows who will be inducted at the Fellows Luncheon and Induction Ceremony and recognized during the annual Awards Gala during the 2024 SMPTE Media Technology Summit.

“Being a SMPTE member is an invaluable experience that shaped my career and influenced not only my vision for my own company, but also for the future of broadcast,” Zimmerman said. “I consider SMPTE to be the most important organization in our industry because it encourages people to work together and create standards that form the foundation of the new technologies that are moving our industry forward. I am deeply honored to be named a fellow and humbled to share this distinction with the brilliant thought leaders who drive our industry to greater excellence.”

Zimmerman launched his career as a broadcast engineer at WICD Champaign, Illinois, working on all aspects of technical operations while attending the University of Illinois, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering.

He has been a member of SMPTE since 1988, when he participated in the massive technology shift from analog to digital. He went on to design broadcast products for Odetics and served as a consultant for National Teleconsultants, Fox News in New York, Fox Washington, Fox Network Los Angeles, FS1 and FS2, Fox Business Network and Speed Channel. Other milestones include his work on the 1996, 2000 and 2002 Olympics, for which he received two Emmy Awards.

In 1997 Zimmerman founded Cobalt Digital, a designer and manufacturer of signal-processing products for live video production and master control. Under his guidance, Cobalt has grown into a leadership role across the industry, co-founding pivotal initiatives including openGear, the breakthrough development that allows processing cards from various manufacturers to be housed in one common frame, and the Reliable Internet Stream Transport (RIST) forum, an organization that promotes the adoption of open protocols for internet contribution. Cobalt technology has been the recipient of 53 industry awards and an Emmy Award.

Future is delighted to announce submissions for the annual Best in Market Awards have been extended to Dec. 3, 2024.

The awards are open to any company that launched a product/service or brought new upgrades to an existing product/service in 2024.

Three Future-brand categories are participating: TV Tech , TVBEurope, and Radio World.

Winners will be promoted on the selected brand’s website, publications and newsletters as an official Best in Market award winner, as well as receiving a fully licensed winner’s badge.

All entrants – whether they are selected as a winner or not – will receive a nominee badge to promote their entry and will be included in a nominee feature article published before judging takes place.

Deadline for entry is 23:59 PST on Dec. 3, 2024.

More details are available here.

LONDON—Nominations are now being accepted for the Corporate Star Awards (CSAs), recognizing outstanding achievements in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) within the Broadcast Media and Entertainment sectors. 

The awards, now in their second year, will be announced at the 2024 IBC Show in a gala evening event Friday, Sept. 13, at the Okura Hotel, adjacent to the RAI Amsterdam. The IBC Show takes place Sept. 13-16 at the RAI.

Nominations will be accepted until August 2, 2024 and the shortlisted finalists will be announced August 16. The Corporate Star Awards recognize teams and individuals who are making significant strides in achieving ESG goals and sustainable product innovation. 

"ESG is not just a buzzword; it's a commitment to creating a sustainable future. The Corporate Star Awards aim to celebrate those who are leading the charge in this essential endeavour. We are thrilled to provide a platform for these achievements to be recognised and celebrated.  The CSAs offer a transparent and competitive forum for companies to showcase their ESG improvements, setting a benchmark for excellence and encouraging best practices. With a variety of categories, the awards highlight initiatives ranging from carbon footprint reduction to diversity enhancement, recognizing both individual and team efforts.” Said Lisa Collins Co-Founder of the Corporate Star Awards

"Our industry has a unique role to play in promoting sustainability and ethical practices. The Corporate Star Awards showcase the best examples of ESG initiatives, offering inspiration and motivation for others to follow suit. These awards bring all sides of the industry together under one roof to celebrate our achievements in this area, making it a key destination during the IBC Show." Added Ben Gill Co-Founder of the Corporate Star Awards

"This year's event promises to be an unforgettable evening, featuring a red-carpet welcome, a drinks reception, five-star dinner and new for 2024 the after party featuring our very own industry live band! Attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry peers , stakeholders, and leaders who are shaping the future of broadcast media and entertainment through their ESG initiatives."

Categories include:

• - Best Initiative to Strengthen Global Partnerships
• - Best Carbon Footprint Improvement Initiative
• - Product Innovation of the Year
• - Net Zero Innovation Award
• - Best ESG Report
• - Best Charity/CSR Initiative
• - Best Campaign to Improve Health and Mental Wellbeing
• - Best Campaign to Improve Training and Education
• - Best Campaign to Improve Diversity
• - Best Employee Engagement Programme
• - Best ESG Ambassador/Leader
• - Rising Star (new for 2024)

Entry to the awards is free of charge. For more information on nominations, visit www.corporatestar-awards.com

LONDON—IBC is now accepting nominations for its IBC2024 Innovation Awards, which honor achievements in technological innovation and social impact media & entertainment. This year’s awards bring together under one umbrella IBC’s innovation and social impact awards “to enable a single celebration of different industry advances across five categories.” All parts of the IBC community are invited to put forward entries for projects, program, and initiatives, IBC said.

Deadline is midnight (BST), May 31, 2024. The winners’ ceremony will take place Sunday, Sept. 15 at the RAI Amsterdam during.

The expanded IBC Innovation Awards recognize “the best in collaborative efforts to develop new solutions to real-world technical challenges and to address social and environmental issues,” according to the IBC. The winning entries will be announced at a ceremony, Sunday, Sept. 15 during the IBC Show, Sept. 13-16 at the RAI Amsterdam. The five categories are Content Creation, Content Distribution, Content Everywhere, Social Impact, and Environment & Sustainability.

“The IBC Innovation Awards are an IBC keystone, recognising industry innovations of all types – enabling our community to celebrate together those critical breakthroughs we have made during the past year,” says IBC Innovation Awards Chair of the Judges Fergal Ringrose. “This year’s awards reflect the many ways in which industry pioneers are redefining media – whether through technological or social advances. The expanded awards exemplify IBC efforts to lead innovation, highlighting the spirit of cooperation and creative accomplishments that positively impact the businesses involved and the industry overall.”

The three established technical categories of the IBC Innovation Awards recognize completed projects of any size that have overcome real-world creative, operational, or commercial challenges faced in the M&E industry through solutions demonstrating cooperation between end users and technology partners. The two further categories recognize initiatives and campaigns that are making a difference within the industry in social advancement and equality, and environmental responsibility.

The winners of the 2023 IBC Innovation Awards were: The BBC and partners for the world’s largest pop-up 5G standalone non-public network, using shared spectrum for live broadcast contributions for the Coronation of HM King Charles III (Content Creation); Sky Group for its cloud-native software playout platform enabling origination of linear content TV channels across European territories (Content Distribution); and KAN, which changed the way Israeli audiences watched World Cup Qatar 2022 and Eurovision 2023 with Sport BUFF real-time interactive engagement (Content Everywhere).

The winners of the 2023 IBC Social Impact Awards, now joined with the Innovation Awards, were: RTVE, which used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide local election news coverage of nearly 5,000 small Spanish municipalities; SWI swissinfo.ch, which introduced a data-driven process to evaluate the use of inclusive language in its multilingual digital newsroom; and Iron Mountain Data Centers, which are on the path to using 100% locally sourced clean electricity, 100% of the time, to make their operations carbon free.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters has named  award-winning talk show host, actor, producer and recording artist Jennifer Hudson the recipient of the 2024 Television Chairman’s Award. Hudson will be honored on the Main Stage at NAB Show during the We Are Broadcasters session on Tuesday, April 16 at 9:30 a.m.

The NAB TV Chairman’s Award recognizes individuals for groundbreaking work in one or more specific art disciplines in television. The award was first presented in 2009 to four-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe-winning actor Kelsey Grammar. Past recipients include “This Is Us” and “Black Panther” star Sterling K. Brown, television and film actress Kristen Bell, award-winning actor and activist Terry Crews and Emmy-winning host Mario Lopez.

“Jennifer Hudson’s distinguished career spans multiple facets of the entertainment industry, from television to music to the big screen and beyond, and makes her well deserving of this award,” said NAB Television Board Chair Pat LaPlatney. “I am honored to present her with the NAB TV Chairman’s Award during NAB Show in recognition of her outstanding work.”

“Jennifer Hudson is in a league of her own,” said Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group. “She is an inspiring force, an expert in her craft, and continues to prove her talent has no bounds and there is no limit to what she can achieve. We are honored to be her creative home and congratulate her on this prestigious award.”

Hudson’s nationally syndicated talk show, “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” has received six Daytime Emmy Award nominations and two nominations for People’s Choice Awards. In its second season, the show has featured an impressive lineup of guests including Oprah Winfrey and Shaquille O’Neal, earned her the AAFCA “We See You Award” and NAACP Image Award for Best Talk Show Host. In addition, Hudson was named one of People magazine’s “People of the Year” and one of Glamour magazine’s “Women of the Year.” Produced by JHUD Productions and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Telepictures and distributed in national syndication by Warner Bros., “The Jennifer Hudson Show” has been renewed for a third season by the Fox Television Stations and Hearst Television.

Over her highly acclaimed career, Hudson has been named one of Time magazine’s “Most Influential People in the World,” received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, received NAACP Entertainer of the Year, performed at the Super Bowl, sang for world leaders and even has a day named after her in the city of Chicago.

The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) is now accepting entries for the 2024 Celebration of Service to America Awards. These prestigious awards recognize the critical role local radio and television stations play in their communities across the country.

Stations and broadcast groups are encouraged to submit their most impactful community service campaign from the past year. Award categories are based on market size, and NAB members and nonmembers are eligible to enter. The 2024 Celebration of Service to America Awards entry window will close on Monday, March 11, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

"The NAB Leadership Foundation strives to raise the visibility of local broadcasters and their unparallelled commitment to public service," said NAB Leadership Foundation President Michelle Duke. "We receive many stories about the incredible ways local radio and television stations engage with their listeners and viewers, from legal advocacy to fundraising to collecting essential supplies. Broadcasters are truly an integral part of their communities, and we are proud to honor them."

Winners from each category will be announced in early April, and they will receive their awards in person at the Celebration of Service to America Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 2024. Attendees and invited guests include policymakers, industry executives, broadcasting and media professionals and past honorees.

The Celebration of Service to America Awards is presented by Bonneville International and Hearst Television, and a special one-hour television event will air later in the year. Additional information about the awards, including eligibility and rules, is available at ServiceToAmericaAwards.org.

TV Tech is delighted to reveal the winners of the 2023 Media & Entertainment: Best in Market 2023 Awards.

The awards recognize standout products and solutions that have been brought to market over the last 12 months and are comprised of three Future-brand categories: TV Tech, TVBEurope, and Next TV.

The winners in the TV Tech category are:

Adobe - Adobe Premiere Pro

Akta Tech - MCP

Blackmagic Design - Blackmagic Studio Camera line

Brompton Technology - Tessera G1 Receiver Card

BZB Gear - BG-Air4Kast | 4K@60Hz HDMI 2.0 Wireless Extender

Canon - Super 35mm 8K Flex Zoom Lenses

Interra Systems - ORION Suite With ORION Content Manager (OCM)

Ross Video - Carbonite Ultra 60

Shure - Wireless Workbench7

Sony - MLS-X1

Telestream - Lightspeed Live Capture

Congratulations to all the winners! Awardees will be featured in the January 2024 issue of TV Tech. 

TVBEurope winners

NextTV winners

The Guide to TV Tech's 2023 Product Innovation Awards is now available for download. The awards honor outstanding product introductions that serve the TV and professional video industry.

The products featured in this Program Guide were nominated by manufacturers who paid a fee for award consideration. The winners, identified here by the WINNER logo, were selected by a panel of professional users, and the editors and technical contributors to TV Tech.

Future has extended the deadline for submitting nominations for the year-end Best in Market Awards to Dec. 5.  

If your company launched a product or brought new upgrades to an existing product in 2023 that has shone within the media & entertainment landscape, the now independent Media & Entertainment Best in Market awards are perfectly suited for you.

Brought to you by TV Tech, TVBEurope, and Next TV, these awards are great for those businesses looking to end the year in style and have their product crowned Media & Entertainment Best in Market award winners for 2023!

File your nomination here by 11:59 PM EST, Dec. 5. 

LONDON—Rise, the award-winning advocacy group for gender diversity in the media technology sector, honored Barbara Slater, Director of Sport for the BBC as its Woman of the Year last night at Troxy in London. More than 300 guests attended the sold-out event to recognize the achievements of this year’s winners and nominees. The ceremony was also streamed globally on Rise’s YouTube channel.  Rise recognized the 2023 winners in 14 categories and also announced a Special Recognition Award in addition to the Rise Woman of the Year Award, which was sponsored by Zixi. 

Barbara Slater competed as an international gymnast and Olympian before joining the BBC as a trainee assistant producer in 1983. Throughout her impressive career at the BBC she worked as Head of Production, Head of General Sports, and was appointed as Director of Sport in April 2009. 

Barbara was awarded the OBE in 2014 for services to sport broadcasting, as well as many other awards during her career, including the Women in TV & Film Inspirational Women Prize in 2012, following the London Olympics which was the biggest sporting TV event in British broadcasting history. In her 14 years as Director of Sport, Barbara transformed BBC Sport and she became one of the most respected figures in the industry. Most notably, she changed attitudes to womens’ sport, generating enthusiasm from fans and enhancing its broadcasting profile, Rise said.

Claire Wilkie, Founder and Managing Director of Limitless Broadcast received the Rise Special Recognition Award.

Over 400 nominations were received from around the globe, citing the talents and achievements of inspirational women working in a variety of media and broadcast technology roles.

The winners of the 2023 Rise Awards, and those shortlisted, are:

Technical Operations Award - Sponsored by NEP
Winner: Morag McIntosh, Design Director, Studio Automation, BBC

Shortlist:

• Ale Gonzalez Galartza, Senior Product Specialist, farmerswife
• Bridget Young, Operations Manager, Evolutions
• Pilar Granados, Global Workflow Operations Manager, DAZN
• Sandy Isnard, Video Solutions Architect, Telstra Broadcast Services
• Sarah Adams, Senior Technical Supervisor, Sky

Product Innovation Award - Sponsored by Clear Com
Winner: Kate Vandy and Anna Holligan, BBC Senior Journalist and BBC Foreign Correspondent, The Bike Bureau

Shortlist:

• Anais Painchault, VP Product Compression & Processing, Ateme
• Hitomi Hamaba, Head of Product, Sony
• Kaia Tufteland, Senior Technical Product Manager, DAZN
• Sabrine Farnes, Product Owner, Bedrock Streaming
• Saskia Hook, Product Manager (Sports), WBD
• Teresa Demel, Principal Product Manager, Adobe

Business Operations Award - Sponsored by Telestream
Winner: Amanda Wall, Director of Operations, VITAC

Shorlist: 

• Crystel Pham, Vice President Operations and Product Management, TPN
• Fauzia Mulla Stanyard, Director of Service Operations, Arqiva
• Joanne Lewis, Production Manager, Ross Video
• Kahleah Webb, Head of Operations, Gravity Media
• Pernilla Wraneus, VP Culture and People, Accedo
• Tami Hoffman, Director of News Distribution and Commercial Innovation, ITN

Student of the Year Award - Sponsored by SMPTE
Winner: Sophie Humphrey, Solent University

Shortlist:

• Esme Murphy, Global Academy
• Jess McMahon, Global Academy
• Nikoleta Kallipoliti, Marketing Intern, Accedo
• Rochelle Karabulut, Global Academy

Marketing and PR Award - Sponsored by Deluxe Media
Winner: Doris Retfalvi, Product Marketing Manager, disguise

Shortlist: 

• Amber Burke, Communications Manager, Clear-Com
• Emily Pryor, Head of Marketing, Base Media Cloud
• Leanne Tomlin, Senior Marketing Manager, Perifery
• Lizzie Lawrence, Head of Marketing, M2A Media
• Zoe Mumba, Senior Manager PR & Communications, Bitmovin

R&D Engineer Award - Sponsored by Ross Video
Winner: Swetha Sridhar, Software Application Engineer, BSI/NEP

Shortlist:

• Caileen Dolan, Software Developer, Ross Video
• Francesca Pieri, DevOps Developer, Red Bee Media
• Manasa Vemulapati, Performance Engineer, Sky UK
• Natalia Lira, Software Engineer, Accedo
• Sailaja Vaddadi, Software Architect, Red Bee Media

The Ally Award - Sponsored by Vizrt
Joint Winners: Adam Tilbury-Eld, Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer, Ovyo; and Rich Welsh, Senior Vice President Innovation, Deluxe Media

Shortlist:

• Kieran Farr, Consultant
• Phillip Farinha, Director People and Culture, North America, Accedo
• Rohan Mitchell, ESG Director, EMG

The Influencer Award - Sponsored by disguise
Winner: Carina Schoo, Education Program Manager, Pixotope

Shortlist:

• Anita Erskine, Executive Director, AE Media
• Carolyn Giardina, Technology Editor, Hollywood Reporter
• Chloe Britton, Talent Recruitment Manager, MOOV TV
• Laura Davis, Managing Director, The Crewing Company
• Niki Whittle, Business Development Director, MOOV TV
• Ria Hebden, CEO, Wonder Women

Project Management or Delivery - Sponsored by ES Broadcast
Winner: Rachel Baldwin, Head of Programme & Project Delivery, BBC Technology Group

Shortlist:

• Abi Hemingway, Managing Director, Jackshoot TV
• Amber Barnett, Senior Solutions Specialist (Sports & Live Events) Ross Video
• Meghna Londhe, Project Manager Digital Video Solutions, Magnifi
• Nikki Perugini, UX and Design Director, Accedo
• Rachel Deas, Programme Manager, Red Bee Media
• Sylviane Lecomte, VP Growth and Solutions, Bedrock Streaming

Sales Award
Winner: Melissa Davis, Regional Director of Sales, Evertz

Shortlist:

• Alexandra Giusto, Senior Director, Strategic Accounts & Strategy, Zixi
• Helen Jeffrey, International Sales Director, NEP Connect
• Katri Sillaste, Commercial Director, TV3 Group Estonia
• Stacey Moorcroft, Director of Business Operations, Ross Video

Production Support Engineer Award - Sponsored by Riedel
Winner: Zoe Mendelsön, Technical Supervisor, SKY

Shortlist:

• Anna Masko, Senior Graphics Operator, MOOV TV
• Emily Bergun, Production Support Engineer, Sky
• Kathleen Gray, Senior Broadcast Engineer, NEP
• Suzanne Sharman, Production Artist, Singular.Live

Rising Star Award - Sponsored by Harmonic
Winner: Hollie Keen, Product Professional, BT Media & Broadcast

Shortlist:

• Eileen Kennedy-MacDonald, UX Researcher and Designer, Ross Video
• Emily Bergun, Associate Technical Specialist, Sky
• Jeremina Akrofi-Daniels, Multiskilled Operator, NEP Bow Tie
• Lauryn Fuller, Graphics Operator, MOOV TV
• Ray Kasprzyr, Product Specialist - Routers, Evertz
• Shola Russell, Productions Coordinator, EMG
• Sophie Kneeshaw, Associate Developer, Sky
• Holly Choules, Multi-Skilled Operator and Project Manager, Zest4TV

Business Leader Award - Sponsored by LiveU
Winner: Hannah Barnhardt, COO & Co-Founder, TMT Insights

Shortlist:

• Idunn Sofie Riise, Co- Founder & MD, Zille Media
• Rebekah Wilson, CEO & Technical Co-Founder, Source Elements
• Claire Wilkie, Founder, Limitless Broadcast
• Shannan Louis, Owner and Head of Studios, Fatbelly VFX
• Charlotte Layton, COO, Racoon Post

The Company Award for Investment in Women - Sponsored by Red Bee Media
Pixotope - Winner

Shortlist:

• Accedo
• Adobe
• disguise
• Newsbridge

Future has released the Best of Show Awards Guide for the 2023 IBC Show. This guide takes you on a tour of new products introduced for TV, film, video, streaming, radio, audio and pro AV professionals. The Best of Show Awards are for products introduced at the 2023 IBC Show in September. 

This digital guide features all the nominees and winners and offers an excellent sample of new technology on the market today.

Four Future B2B publications participated in the awards program: TV Tech, TVBEurope,  Radio World and Installation.

Future's Best in Market Awards have returned! 

If your company launched a product or brought new upgrades to an existing product in 2023 that has shone within the media & entertainment landscape, the now independent Media & Entertainment Best in Market awards are perfectly suited for you.

Brought to you by TV Tech, TVBEurope, and Next TV, these awards are great for those businesses looking to end the year in style and have their product crowned Media & Entertainment Best in Market award winners for 2023!

File your nomination here. Deadline is Nov. 28. 

TV Tech has announced the winners of the 2023 Product Innovation Awards. Now in their 10th year, the Product Innovation Awards recognize excellence in manufacturing of products serving the TV/pro video industry.

Winners and nominees will be featured in the Product Innovation Awards Program Guide that will be distributed via email to all TV Tech readers. 

The recipients are:

Adobe - Premiere Pro Text-Based Editing

Amagi - Amagi NOW

Amazon Web Services - Amazon IVS Real-Time Streaming

Amazon Web Services - AWS Elemental Link UHD Integration with AWS Elemental Media Connect

AMD - AMD Alveo MA35D Media Accelerator

Avid - Media Composer PhraseFind AI and ScriptSync AI

Avid - Pro Tools | MTRX II Audio Interface

Backlight - cineSync

Canon - Canon Flex Zoom lenses: CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L S/SP wide-angle zoom lens and the CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L S/SP telephoto zoom lens

Cobalt Digital - WAVE Remote Control Panel Series

Haivision - Haivision Pro460

Harmonic - Harmonic VOS360 Ad SaaS

Matrox Video - Matrox ORIGIN

Newsbridge - MXT-1 Generative AI Indexing Technology

Nextologies - 10TX

Pearl TV - RUN3TV

Scripps Nexstar - HPE Sony Mobile Wireless Data Over TV Signals

Shure Inc. - AD600 Axient Digital Spectrum Manager

Sony Electronics - BVM-HX3110

Sony Electronics - NXL-ME80

Telestream - Vantage Cloud

Telos Alliance - Minnetonka Audio AudioTools Server WorkflowCreator

Telos Alliance - Telos Infinity VIP App

Triveni Digital - ATSC 3.0 Translator

TVU Networks - ONE

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2023 Product Innovation Awards, TV Tech’s annual recognition of new products and services in the Media & Entertainment market, has been extended to Sept. 15. 

Launched in 2013, the PIA program is a way to shine a spotlight on the latest industry products. Product Innovation Award winners are chosen by a panel of working professional engineers and managers in Media & Entertainment.

In addition, every product nominated, whether chosen for an award or not, will be featured in the special Product Innovation Awards Program Guide, which will be distributed as a digital edition to TV Tech readers. A recent guide can be viewed here. 

Winners will be announced in the October issue of TV Tech.

Submit your nomination here: https://future.swoogo.com/pia23

The 2023 Product Innovation Awards, TV Tech’s annual recognition of the newest products in the Media & Entertainment market, is now accepting nominations.

Launched in 2013, the PIA program is a way to shine a spotlight on the latest industry products. Product Innovation Award winners are chosen by a panel of working professional engineers and managers in Media & Entertainment.

In addition, every product nominated, whether chosen for an award or not, will be featured in the special Product Innovation Awards Program Guide, which will be distributed as a digital edition to TV Tech readers. A recent guide can be viewed here. 

Winners will be announced in the October issue of TV Tech.

Nominations for the Product Innovation Awards are due Sept. 8.

LOS ANGELES—The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) has announced that Vicky Colf, Alison Hoffman, and Kim Snyder will receive HPA League Honors.

The League Honors were created to recognize diverse members of the media and entertainment community who shine as examples of accomplishment, innovation and leadership.   

“These outstanding individuals operate at the vanguard of change," said HPA president Seth Hallen. "They are the people that up-and-coming leaders can aspire to emulate, while leading organizations and illuminating a path to the future.  We are delighted to honor their accomplishments.”

Vicky Colf, former CTO at Warner Bros., will receive the Excelsior Honor, which recognizes a leader who runs a business or finance team in the M&E industry (either manufacturer, service provider, or end-user) and who shows impressive business acumen and outstanding leadership while achieving remarkable business growth as well as a commitment to service in our community.  

Alison Hoffman, president of STARZ Domestic Networks, will receive the Rainmaker Honor, recognizing a leader who deployed intelligent tactics & ensured their company or organization achieved its sales and marketing goals and revenue targets. The award honors excellence in creative marketing, financial performance and business growth, as well as commitment to serving the community.  

Kim Snyder, CEO of Panavision, will be recognized as the Alchemist. This honor recognizes a leader who spearheads the innovation of noteworthy technology, bringing tangible benefits to the industry in production, post or workflow, as well as a commitment to serving the community. 

Previous recipients of the League Honors include Annie Chang, Vice President, Creative Technologies, Universal Pictures (The Catalyst); Tammy Garnes, Vice President of Education & Understanding, ARRAY (The Excelsior); Patricia Keighley, Chief Quality Guru, IMAX Corp. (The Rainmaker); Charles D. King, Founder & CEO, MACRO (The Star); and Iris Wu, Founder, Ambidio (The Alchemist).

Recipients of the HPA League Honors are determined by a jury of industry leaders, with the enthusiastic support of the HPA Board of Directors. For more information about HPA and the HPA League Honors, visit hpaonline.com.

HOLLYWOOD—After several years of controversies, Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge have agreed to acquire all the Golden Globes’ assets, rights, and properties from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). 

Financial terms were not disclosed. 

As part of the deal DCP and its partners reported that they will plan, host, and produce the annual Golden Globe Awards show and will pursue commercial opportunities for the Golden Globes across the globe. Those will include negotiating a new deal for a broadcaster to air the show in the U.S.

In addition, HFPA who had run the awards show, has announced that it will shut down. Funds from the transaction will be used to create the Golden Globe Foundation, a California nonprofit public-benefit corporation that will continue HFPA’s entertainment-related charitable giving. 

“We are excited to close on this much anticipated member-approved transaction and transition from a member-led organization to a commercial enterprise,” said Helen Hoehne, president of HFPA. 

“Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Golden Globes,” said Todd Boehly, chairman of Eldridge. “My partners at DCP and I are grateful to Helen and team for their commitment to the successful implementation of a robust approach to governance, the expansion of the diverse and international voting body, implementing a professional, safe, and accountable environment, and trusting new ownership with a new direction for the Globes."

"As stewards of the Golden Globe Awards, our mission is to continue creating the most dynamic awards ceremony on live television viewed across the world,” said Jay Penske, CEO, chairman and founder, Penske Media, and CEO of DCP. “We have a great team in place to grow this iconic brand and captivate new and existing audiences to celebrate the very best in television and motion pictures.”

HFPA had been dogged by a number of controversies in recent years with critics complaining about the lack of diversity in its membership and other issues. Following those complaints, NBC refused to air the awards show in 2022 though it returned to the broadcaster in 2023. 

The Golden Globe Awards, viewed in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, will be controlled by DCP, the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming.

The 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards will take place on Sunday, January 7, 2024, kicking off the entertainment industry’s highly anticipated awards season.

Currently there is no broadcaster lined up to air the Globes next year in the U.S. NBC's contract for the awards show has expired. 

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) honored the recipients of the 2023 Celebration of Service to America Awards tonight during a gala held at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. last night

The awards, presented by Bonneville International and Hearst Television, honor the impact and excellence in community service and philanthropy by local radio and television stations.

The 2023 Celebration of Service to America Award winners are:

Service to Community Award for Radio, Broadcast Ownership Group
Guaranty, Future DJ Radio Day

Service to Community Award for Television, Broadcast Ownership Group
Gray Television, The Sixth Investigative Series

Service to Community Award for Radio, Large/Major Market
KSTP-FM, Hubbard Broadcasting, St. Paul, Minn., KS95 FM Buck$ for Babe

Service to Community Award for Television – Large/Major Market
WBNS-TV, TEGNA Inc., Columbus, Ohio, Maria’s Message: Education on distracted driving

Service to Community Award for Radio – Medium Market
WHKO-FM, COX Media Group, Dayton, Ohio, 99.1FM Care for Kids Radiothon for Dayton Children’s Hospital

Service to Community Award for Television – Medium Market
KCCI-TV, Hearst Television, Des Moines, Iowa, Essential: Iowa’s EMS Emergency

Service to Community Award for Radio – Small Market
WLEN-FM, Lenawee Broadcasting, Lenawee County, Associated Charities Back to School Fire

Service to Community Award for Television – Small Market
KTTC-TV, Gray Television, Rochester, Minn., Fifth District Eagles Cancer Telethon

“The Celebration of Service to America Awards recognizes the radio and television stations that exemplify broadcasters’ commitment to educating, uplifting and enriching audiences and communities across the country,” said NABLF President Michelle Duke. “The incredible and irreplaceable work by tonight’s honorees is a testament to broadcasting’s 100-year legacy of philanthropy and public service. We congratulate our station winners and all of our nominees for their outstanding work to better the lives of their listeners and viewers.”

As previously announced, Wayne Brady was presented with the Service to American Leadership Award, NABLF’s highest individual honor. In addition, JP Morgan Chase was honored with the Corporate Leadership Award for the company’s commitment to philanthropy and community service.

Bonneville International President Darrell Brown, who recently announced he will retire at the end of August, was presented with a special recognition honoring his service to NABLF, including his tenure as chair of the NABLF Board since January 2019.

The event was hosted by “GMA” Saturday and Sunday co-anchor and ABC News correspondent Gio Benitez. Nelson Cade III, a finalist on NBC’s “The Voice,” performed during the ceremony. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA-06) and Tim Walberg (R-MI-5), Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr, WUSA (TEGNA) weeknight anchor Lesli Foster and WRC (NBCU) anchor Jummy Olabanji presented the awards to station winners.

A special production of the awards ceremony will air nationally on broadcast stations later this year.