NEW YORK—Comcast NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal Local announced that a total of $2.5 million has been awarded to 80 nonprofit organizations servicing one of the 11 NBC- and Telemundo-owned stations’ markets across the U.S. through the 2026 NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants.

Founded in 2018, NBCUniversal’s grant program has now provided $24.3 million to 695 nonprofit organizations.

“We’re proud to celebrate this year’s Local Impact Grant recipients and continue our support of impactful nonprofits in our markets,” said Valari Staab, chairman, NBCUniversal Local. “The impact of these organizations can be seen every day in the communities they serve, through the opportunities they create, the connections they build, and the lives they touch.”

For the ninth year, the competitive grant challenge is awarding unrestricted funding to eligible nonprofits making a difference in local communities. Applications were accepted in three categories: youth education and empowerment, next generation storytellers, and community engagement. The 2026 application window for 501(c)(3) nonprofits was March 24 through April 24.

“Local nonprofit organizations help expand opportunity, strengthen community connections and create lasting impact,” said Jessica Clancy, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility at NBCUniversal. “Through the NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants, we support organizations that are addressing the unique needs of their communities, opening doors for future generations, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of people across the country.”

Nonprofits receiving funds serve communities in the following NBC- and Telemundo-owned stations’ markets: New York (WNBC, WNJU), Los Angeles (KNBC, KVEA), Chicago (WMAQ, WSNS), Philadelphia (WCAU, WWSI), Dallas (KXAS, KXTX), Boston (WBTS, WNEU), Washington, D.C. (WRC-TV, WZDC), San Francisco (KNTV, KSTS), Miami (WTVJ, WSCV), San Diego (KNSD, KUAN) and Hartford, Conn. (WVIT, WRDM).

A full list of nonprofits receiving grants can be found here.

For more information on the NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants, visit localimpactgrants.com and the Spanish-language becasdeimpactolocal.com.

LOS ANGELES—Television Critics Association (TCA) members have voted to amend the organization's bylaws to prohibit generative AI usage in members' work and expand membership criteria to include new forms of content creation.

Recognizing changes in media, TCA—a nonprofit, member-run organization of more than 220 people who cover TV—now welcomes "professional television critics, reporters, writers, editors, and/or hosts who produce insightful, ethical, high-quality television criticism, reporting, and coverage that is distributed to the public."

That includes podcasters and creator-journalists whose work appears across mediums, such as e-mail newsletters and vertical video.

"People trust TCA members for their original reporting, insightful analysis, and helpful reviews, and should be able to find TCA members in any medium," said Andy Dehnart, TCA president and founder of reality blurred. "Our bylaws have always held members to high journalistic standards. These updates reflect how journalism has evolved and the work our members already do while welcoming professional creator-journalists and people who work across new platforms and formats."

TCA's new AI guidelines allow members to use industry-standard tools, but expressly prohibit publishing work produced entirely by generative AI.

"The addition of a clear AI policy ensures our audiences and those in the industry know that TCA members will not misrepresent a machine’s text as their own,” Dehnart explained. “This practice is especially concerning since generative AI is built on the stolen work of TV critics, journalists, media organizations, and other writers and artists. I’m proud that TCA members decided to make clear what is acceptable and what is not.”

The organization also reported that applications are now open at tvcritics.org/apply for those interested in membership. Applicants will be evaluated based on the quality of their work and vetted by TCA’s Board of Directors. TCA members have access to exclusive press conferences, professional development workshops, member-only discounts, and a vibrant community of other professionals who cover TV, among other perks.

During its annual meeting, members re-elected Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast and Alex Reif of Laughing Place to new two-year terms as directors. The 2026-27 TCA Board of Directors also includes President Dehnart, Vice President Amy Amatangelo, Secretary Danette Chavez, Treasurer Megan Vick, and Directors Liz Shannon Miller and Matt Mitovitch.

ATLANTA—Gray Media has promoted Tim Maloney to general manager and director of sales of WBKO, the ABC, Fox, and The CW affiliate serving Bowling Green and the surrounding South Central Kentucky region. The promotion takes effect Sept. 21.

A 20-year WBKO veteran, he began his tenure at the station as an account executive and most recently served as multimedia sales manager, directing station revenue strategies and servicing local and regional business accounts.

Prior to joining WBKO, Tim founded and operated a multi-location retail business.

Tim maintains an active presence in local civic affairs. He currently serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky, where he previously served as Board Chairman, and holds an associate membership with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he helps spearhead station events, fundraisers, and community initiatives that support active partnerships with more than 30 nonprofit organizations across the region.

Tim attended Xavier University and studied fine arts at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

WASHINGTON—The NAB Leadership Foundation (NABLF) has announced the 2027 class of executives who will be taking its Broadcast Leadership Training (BLT) program.

For more than 25 years, BLT has prepared nearly 450 senior executives and managers for station ownership and C-suite roles. With interactive sessions led by seasoned faculty members and invited speakers, the participants explore financial and business strategy, management and leadership, artificial intelligence, human resources, organizational culture and other issues shaping the future of broadcasting. 

“The 2027 BLT class brings together an exceptional group of professionals who are ready to challenge conventional thinking, learn from one another and inspire confidence for what lies ahead,” said NABLF President Michelle Duke. “Resilient and effective leadership has never been more important, and we are thrilled to support these professionals as they grow and to see where their leadership takes them.”

The NAB welcomed the following members of the 2027 BLT class:  

• Angel Livas, founder and CEO, ALIVE Network
• Ashley Parker, vice president and general manager, KSAT, Graham Media Group 
• Brenden Nakamine, news director, KITV, Allen Media Group
• Coriya Burns Falker, general sales manager, Urban One Atlanta
• Eric Casella, vice president of programming, Cox Media Group
• Erik Smith, vice president of news operations and technology, Fox Television Stations
• Ilana Goldstein, director of finance and strategy, Beasley Media Group
• James Galindo, general manager, 23ABC (KERO-TV), The E.W. Scripps Company
• James Loftus, vice president and general manager, KAPP/KVEW, Morgan Murphy Media
• Jessica Fernandez, news director, Univision Television Group
• Keith Hildibrand, vice president of benefits, Gray Media
• Matt McDonald, general manager, Central Oregon Daily News (KBNZ/KOHD)
• PJ English, director of operations, Tuscaloosa Radio Group
• Shannone Dunlap, executive vice president and general manager, Black Diamond Broadcasting & Digital Solutions
• Shawnda Adams, news director, KOCO, Hearst Television

For more information about the program, please contact Pamela Cervera, senior program manager, NABLF.

The mission of the Foundation is to develop leaders, prepare individuals for careers in broadcasting and recognize the community impact of local television and radio stations. Learn more at nabfoundation.org.

As a veteran of 25-plus IBC Shows over the past nearly 30 years, I can attest that navigating the annual gathering has its own particular quirks that distinguish it from the NAB Show, particularly the tone of the locale. Apart from the fact that Amsterdam is the “wet and humid” show and NAB is the “dry” show (but only when talking about the climate), IBC also represents a more relaxed tone that reflects the nature of the ancient city itself.

Nevertheless, most of the themes were similar, and before we set our sights on the next gathering (NAB Show New York), I wanted to share some of my thoughts around the central themes:

AI: IBC reported 41,225 attendees for the show, which ran Sept. 11-14 at the RAI Amsterdam, down 6% from 2025. Although consolidation, particularly among U.S. broadcasters, is often cited as one of the main reasons for the decline, I also think it represents a cooling off from the past three or four years, when interest was higher after COVID. (That’s not to mention that the number of attendees from the U.S. has declined since trade shows resumed in 2022.)

But I also think artificial intelligence is playing a role, as more processes become automated. I was reminded of this after hearing Grass Valley Chief Technology Officer Ian Fletcher’s rule that “complexity doesn’t go away, it just moves around.” As the process of media management, production and distribution becomes more automated and software-based, more people are moved out of the media production chain.

Seeing a software demo on the show floor can certainly have more impact than over Zoom, but is it still worth the cost of travel?

This is an ongoing issue that won’t be resolved by the oft-repeated trope that those same people who were doing rote tasks are simply being moved to other areas where they can “focus on other more important work.” Attrition is real and growing.

Collaboration: In our industry, companies have a long history of partnering with competitors, but that seems to be increasing—and this is more of a reflection of the increasing focus on software.

Nowhere was this better illustrated than by the growing influence and impact of MXL (Media eXchange Layer), a critical component of the EBU’s Dynamic Media Facility initiative. Tech demos showcasing partnerships between Grass Valley and Lawo, Matrox and EVS, as well as multivendor demonstrations at the Techex, Qvest and AWS stands, just to name a few, demonstrated how quickly MXL is moving beyond the proof-of-concept stage toward real-world deployment.

The EBU-led MXL initiative also received significant recognition at IBC, winning an IBC 2026 Innovation Award in the Content Creation category. The growing number of vendors incorporating MXL into commercial products and demonstrations suggests the technology is increasingly becoming part of the broader software-defined media ecosystem.

Cybersecurity: Alarmed over recent news of disruptions created by “rogue” AI agents, the security of media production systems was also top of mind for many attendees. As more media and media processing moves into the cloud, concern over potential vulnerabilities increases. This has prompted more production to become hybrid-based, with certain content and processes stored both in the cloud and on-prem.

It has also led to more interest in “MCP,” or Model Context Protocol, a framework that allows customers to establish guardrails to limit information accessible to AI agents.

Tariffs: The “T-word” was back, having been overshadowed by AI and the memory and chip shortages that were the talk of earlier shows. With many of the media tech industry’s largest companies based in Canada, President Donald Trump’s recent imposition of a 50% duty on targeted goods has forced some vendors to raise prices. And although some goods are exempt and vendors are attempting to absorb costs, the tariffs—along with the continued pressure on memory and chip availability worldwide—are cause for concern. However, the increased influence of software-defined production is helping to ameliorate the impact.

I’ll share more of my thoughts about my conversations with IBC exhibitors in the October issue of TV Tech.

ALBOURNE, England—Huw Mills has joined broadband infrastructure technology provider Technetix as senior vice president, global operations.

A 30-year tech industry veteran, Mills comes from Nidec Drives, where as senior vice president, global operations, he led a 1,000-member team across the Americas, Europe, India and Asia responsible for manufacturing, supply chain, quality, HSE and operational strategy.

“Huw has demonstrated throughout his career that he understands operations from the ground up and knows how to turn strategy into action,” said Techex President, CEO and Founder Paul Broadhurst, to whom Mills will report. “He brings extensive international experience, but also a very practical and people-focused approach to leadership.”

During his tenure with both Nidec and Emerson, Mills led large international operations and major manufacturing transformation projects in Europe, the Americas and Asia, Technetix said. He holds an MBA from Wrexham Glyndŵr University in Wales and qualifications in operations management and electrical and electronic engineering.

“I’m excited to be joining Technetix at an important stage in its growth,” Mills said. “I’m passionate about developing people, simplifying complexity and building operations that are resilient, competitive and ready for the future. Technetix has built a strong reputation for agility, innovation and being close to its customers, and I’m looking forward to working with the team globally to build on those strengths."

Technetix provides broadband infrastructure for wireline and wireless providers in 70 countries around the world. It has operations in the U.K., the Netherlands, the U.S, Canada, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Kosovo, China and Taiwan.

CINCINNATI—The E.W. Scripps Company has announced a new Local Media leadership structure. The company said the changes are part of a wider effort to transform its business and operations to reflect consumer media habits and the way audiences watch, discover and rely on news.

The announcement regarding the regional leadership structure of Local Media division follows other notable recent changes at Scripps’ stations, including expanded 24/7 streaming news and the use of technology, including AI and automation, to modernize technical production workflows for both streaming and linear news.

“Local television is changing, and the way we operate local stations has to change with it,” Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson said. “Through this transformation, we are rethinking outdated operating models built for a different era while creating a more technology-forward media company to sustain local journalism and bring more consistency, scale and support across our markets.”

Under the new structure, Scripps’ Local Media will be organized into 11 regions, each led by a regional general manager responsible for between two and four markets in most regions. Every Scripps market will continue to have a local news operation led by the station’s news director, allowing news decisions to remain with the journalists and newsroom leaders closest to the communities they serve.

As part of the Local Media leadership structure changes, 27 roles across Scripps’ local market and sales leadership are being eliminated.

“This regional structure aligns leadership to the two areas where focused local execution matters most: journalism and revenue. Both are essential to sustaining our mission,” Symson said. “The decisions we are making through this transformation are about building an operating model that will support our commitment to strong local journalism well into the future. Scripps is transforming from a collection of individual stations into a more integrated local media company, with strong news and sales leaders in our markets supported by scale, technology and regional leadership.”

The regional general managers will report to Anita Helt and Joe Poss, vice presidents of Local Media, and Lyn Plantinga, senior vice president of Local Media. The regional general managers and their markets include:

• Teresa Morgan, Southeast region: Nashville, Tampa
• Kathleen Choal, Colorado region: Colorado Springs, Denver, Grand Junction
• Whitney Grover, Midwest region: Kansas City, Omaha, Tulsa
• Justin Hartley, Montana region: Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula
• Mike Murri, Great Lakes region: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Milwaukee
• Stephen Hayes, Mid-Atlantic region: Baltimore, Lexington, Norfolk, Richmond
• Merri Hanson, Mountain West region: Boise, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Twin Falls
• Bill Siegel, Florida region: Miami, Tallahassee, West Palm Beach
• John Cook, Southwest region: Corpus Christi, Phoenix, Tucson, Waco
• Lisa Moore, California region: Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo
• An additional regional general manager will be appointed to lead the Northeast region, which includes Scripps’ Buffalo, Cincinnati and Cleveland markets.

NEW YORK—Media software technology provider Dalet has promoted Brian Doheny to chief executive officer.

Doheny had joined the company in April as president and chief revenue officer, leading the company’s go-to-market and customer experience organizations. As CEO, he will lead Dalet’s global strategy and operations.

Dalet provides enterprise media asset management systems, newsroom computer systems and content supply-chain orchestration platforms to broadcasters, studios and enterprise content owners.

“Since joining Dalet, I have had the opportunity to spend time with our customers, partners, and teams around the world, and one thing is very clear: the pace of change in our industry is only accelerating, and Dalet is uniquely positioned to lead the way,” Doheny said. “Our opportunity is not simply to respond to that change. It is to anticipate it. We need to understand the challenges our customers face today, anticipate the ones they’ll face in the future, and how Dalet will help address them with speed and confidence.”

Doheny, a 30-year technology industry veteran, was chief revenue officer at risk management software provider Veriforce before joining Dalet. He also held senior leadership posts at TIBCO and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, among other companies.

“Brian has brought strong strategic focus and operational discipline to Dalet, while keeping customer value at the center of the company’s strategy,” said Will Brennan, managing partner of Dalet owner Long Path Partners. “His appointment as CEO reflects our confidence in his ability to lead Dalet through its next phase and ensure we continue to innovate around the evolving needs of our customers and the broader media industry.”

NEW YORK—Hearst Television has promoted John Robertson to senior vice president, strategy & distribution, a new position.

Robertson, who has been the station group’s vice president of distribution since 2021, will continue to report to Nick Radziul, a Hearst Television executive vice president whose oversight includes distribution and government affairs.

Robertson, who has been instrumental in Hearst Television’s recent breakthrough in addressable linear TV advertising technology, will expand his duties to encompass strategic partnerships in distribution and technology. The promotion, effective immediately, follows the recent announcement of the planned year-end retirement of Roger Keating as the company’s chief strategy and business development officer.

“John approaches everything he does through the lens of what’s possible. His readiness to see beyond conventional wisdom has been invaluable in our efforts to advance the industry dialogue and build relationships across the distribution and technology landscapes,” said Michael J. Hayes, president of Hearst Television. “His work for many years alongside key senior executives including Nick and Roger, who forged so many relationships for us and blazed so many industry trails, has positioned John to help us innovate further and ensure that high-quality, journalistically sound, local video news remains a vital part of the nation’s fabric.”

In his prior role as vice president, distribution, Robertson supervised negotiations with digital-first video distributors and platforms; he has been actively involved on merger-and-acquisition projects and strategic initiatives. In these various roles he worked in tandem with Radziul, Keating and John Drain, Hearst Television’s chief financial officer.

In collaboration with Hearst Television’s engineering team, Robertson has also overseen implementation of various applications in Hearst’s testing and rollout of the emerging ATSC 3.0, or “next-gen TV,” standard.

He has served as Hearst’s representative on the board of Pearl TV, the broadcast TV consortium Keating co-founded to advance the ATSC 3.0 rollout, and currently serves on the board of Run3TV, an advanced TV application platform for next-gen TV.

He also serves as a company representative in the Go Addressable consortium advancing targeted TV advertising, and on the board of the Television Music License Committee, a non-profit trade association representing U.S. commercial television stations in negotiations for music-performing rights licenses.

In June 2026, Hearst Television and Viamedia.ai announced the successful testing and launch of the first-ever solution enabling TV station owners and MVPDs to collaborate to deliver addressable advertising via linear broadcast TV streams – an effort Robertson helped spearhead.

While serving as Hearst Television’s senior director of finance from 2018 to 2021, Robertson played a key role on the team handling various aspects of Hearst Television’s distribution agreements and its ATSC 3.0 rollout. He joined the company as manager of finance in 2011. Previously, Robertson, a Certified Public Accountant, was a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he consulted various companies including Hearst Television on finance and accounting matters. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Scranton and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and has participated in the Hearst Management Institute, Hearst’s executive leadership development program.

AMSTERDAM—Rise Academy, the broadcast and media skills charity dedicated to delivering practical media technology learning experiences, careers resources and work experience opportunities for young people, is welcoming the industry back to this year’s IBC here with the return of Race 4 The Future.

The much-loved annual 4-kilometer charity run/wal, raises funds to support the development of the next generation of media and technology talent. Whether racing for time or strolling with friends, every step taken supports Rise Academy’s work to open doors for underrepresented young people breaking into the industry.

Taking place Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9:30 a.m., the fun run will once again unite attendees of IBC Show in Amsterdam as they compete for a good cause.

Originally launched as the 4K 4Charity Fun Run by AWS Elemental, Rise Academy is honored to continue the race’s legacy with renewed energy and the same mission to create meaningful, positive impact.

This year’s race gain honors the Sam Blackman Medal, named in tribute to AWS Elemental co-founder Sam Blackman. Presented to the participant who best embodies community, inclusion and purpose—not just speed—the medal continues to honor his inspiring commitment to harnessing technology for positive change.

Beyond athletic achievement and awards for the fastest male and female competitors, Race 4 The Future will once again celebrate creativity and camaraderie. Other awards include:

• Best Fancy Dress (expect themed costumes and playful vibes)
• Biggest Team Turnout
• Most Enthusiastic Runner
• Best Team Theme
• Top Social Post (so get tagging!)

This energetic, inclusive gathering is set to once again kick off the IBC weekend with joy, connection and real purpose.

With an affordable entry fee of just 25 pounds, every participant directly supports Rise Academy’s programs dedicated to educating, inspiring and informing underrepresented young people. Proceeds fund vital initiatives, including mentorship, training, work placements and industry exposure, designed to dismantle barriers and amplify diverse talent in media tech.

“Race 4 The Future is about far more than completing 4 km,” Rise Academy Chair Andy Beale said. “It’s about covering the distance between where our industry is today and the truly inclusive future we know it can become. Every step, every laugh, every shared moment brings us closer to a media tech sector where talent from all backgrounds can thrive and find opportunity.”

Businesses and brands are invited to sponsor the event or key elements—including medals, water stations and race bibs—offering meaningful visibility and alignment with Rise Academy's mission.

Rise Academy also invites volunteers to sign up as Race Makers, to help ensure the safe success of the event. Volunteers should email info@rise-academy.live

To register for the fun run, visit its website.

The Television Academy and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the recipients of their Emmy Awards given to individuals, companies or organizations for their developments in television engineering, science and technology.

The awards ceremony will be held Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

This joint Engineering, Science and Technology recognition follows the announcement that the two organizations are currently exploring reunification. Previously, the organizations combined these ceremonies for the 2014 awards season.

The combined awards include:

• Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award: Barry B. Zegel (recipient)
• Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award: Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment Inc. (recipient)

Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award recipients include:

• Adobe for the development of Adobe Premiere
• Avid Technology for the development of Avid DNx
• Benjamin Graf of Accentize for the development of Chameleon
• James Robinson of Hitomi for the development of MatchBox Glass
• Roland Hathaway, Darcey Crownshaw, Frank Balzer and Dean Hathaway of Snow Business USA for the development of Snowbase
• Starlink Services LLC, a subsidiary of Space Exploration Technologies Corp., for the development of Starlink
• Curt O. Schaller and Dr. Roman Foltyn for the development of the Trinity 2 Hybrid Camera Stabilizer System
• SipRadius, NBCU, Grass Valley, CBS Sports, Disney, Game Creek, Amazon and Vindral, for web-based, frame-accurate remote monitoring systems for distributed broadcast production
• OBS, Proton, Wave Central and Above Media, for FPV drone camera systems for live sports broadcast coverage
• ATSC, the Broadcast Standards Association, for standardization of ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV for digital broadcasting
• Advanced Media Workflow Association, Sony Corp., BBC and Streampunk Media Ltd, for development of AMWA NMOS discovery, registration and connection
• Telecast Fiber Systems, Bluebell Opticom Ltd and MultiDyne Electronics for SMPTE hybrid cable format converter and power injector, and
• Disney Research, Rising Sun Pictures, Digital Domain and Metaphysic (Brahma AI), for AI-based face replacement and performance-preserving post-production transformation

"Television has always been shaped by those who dare to imagine what's possible and then create the technology to make it a reality," said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy. "The recipients of our Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards represent the extraordinary ingenuity and innovation that continues to propel our industry forward, and we are proud to recognize them."

"These organizations have given creators greater freedom, helped teams solve complex challenges and enriched the experience of viewing audiences everywhere," said Wendy Aylsworth and Paul Debevec, co-chairs of the Television Academy's Engineering, Science & Technology Committee.

"We congratulate and celebrate these great minds and great organizations who continue to advance our ever-evolving medium," said Terry O'Reilly, chair of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. "The most meaningful technological innovations don't simply improve television, they redefine what it can be."

"This year's crop of winners are at the intersection of necessity and ingenuity, and we are thrilled to be able to team up with the Television Academy's committee for this exceptional night," said NATAS Technology & Engineering Chair Joe Inzerillo.

The following is a more detailed list of awards and recipients chosen for recognition by the Television Academy:

• Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award. Honors a living individual whose ongoing contributions have significantly affected the state of television technology and engineering. This year, the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon Barry B. Zegel in recognition of his decades of sustained leadership that helped define and improve the technical infrastructure, standards and operations that are the foundation of modern television production. His career demonstrates the rare combination of engineering expertise, executive leadership, industry governance and mentorship that define the qualities of lifetime achievement honorees. Zegel's professional career was spent at CBS, culminating as senior vice president and general manager of CBS Television City — one of the world's most influential and state-of-the-art television production facilities. Throughout that career, Barry championed the adoption of emerging technologies that improved how television is produced rather than simply maintaining existing systems, helped guide the industry through the high-definition television transition, and served as rapporteur for the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland. He played key engineering and operational roles for the CBS Network coverage of three Winter Olympic Games, including serving as director of Olympic operations for the Lillehammer Winter Olympics, earning him two Emmy Awards. Recognizing that technologists lacked adequate representation within the Academy, Zegel was the prime driver in founding the Television Academy's Science & Technology Peer Group, creating a permanent home for engineers and technologists within the organization. This organizational legacy will continue benefiting future generations of industry professionals.
• Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award. Honors an agency, company or institution whose contributions over time have significantly impacted television technology and engineering. This year's recipient is Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment Inc. For more than 80 years, Chapman/Leonard has been a leading and pioneering custom camera support equipment manufacturer and supplier for television and motion picture productions, accredited with fundamentally expanding the creative possibilities of camera movement in production. The company's original Hercules Mobile Crane offered crab steering, an electric battery drive and first-of-its-kind hydraulic self-leveling. The Lenny Arm became an industry standard for its modular design, wide payload and high reach. Their Hustler and PeeWee dolly series provided responsive boom hydraulics, maneuverability, and versatility on and off track. Their work in sports broadcasting led to the development of its Olympian series of sideline vehicles utilized in the Olympics and NFL. Chapman/Leonard continues to push boundaries with new inventions big and small, like the Hydroscope Telescoping Crane, which can be submerged underwater, and its smallest dolly, which utilizes a 4-stage nitrogen pneumatic column. Founded in 1945 when Ralph Chapman created Chapman Studio Equipment to design and manufacture a more versatile camera crane, Chapman later merged the business with his son Leonard's company in 1965 to form Chapman/Leonard. Still a family-run business, Charles Leonard, Ralph's great grandson, is currently president and CEO.

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

• Recipient: Adobe Inc. for the development of Adobe Premiere. Premiere is a professional non-linear editing system for assembling, shaping and finishing television content. Editors, assistant editors, story producers and post-production teams across all forms of television production worldwide use it daily. With over two decades of continuous development, it has repeatedly delivered capabilities that the professional editing industry subsequently adopted as standard practice. Its format-agnostic architecture makes mixed cameras, codecs, frame rates, and aspect ratios editable together in a single timeline, removing transcoding and conform operations as preconditions of creative work. Adobe continued to innovate Premiere by including machine-learning and generative AI functionality as part of native timeline operations rather than having to use external utilities. These intuitive features provide clear, transparent identification of AI-generated work throughout the production process. Often first to market with features, the impact of Premiere is cumulative and measurable. Work that once required specialist hands, dedicated bays, or a return to set now happens inside the edit room in tandem with creative decisions. Premiere has materially changed the speed, cost, and location-dependence of television post-production, putting professional-grade tools within reach for productions of every budget. For more information, please visit Adobe.com.
• Recipient: Avid Technology for the development of Avid DNx. Avid DNx is a production mezzanine codec family designed to carry creative intent intact from acquisition through post-production and delivery. Its low-complexity intraframe compression and constant-bit-rate design give editors frame-accurate random access and predictable real-time playback on multi-stream layered timelines so creative teams can stay focused on a show's narrative and performance rather than renders and format friction. The same media conforms from lightweight, HDR-capable proxies to high-quality finishing without translation loss, using a single broadcast-ready master format in editing, color, VFX interchange, playout and archive. These properties, combined with support for all the professional color spaces and operating systems and being standardized by SMPTE, have made DNx a foundation of television production worldwide. For more information, please visit Avid.com.
• Recipient: Benjamin Graf of Accentize for the development of Chameleon. Chameleon is an audio plug-in that analyzes location or studio-captured sound recordings and duplicates their reverberation characteristics. It uses a neural network to create custom reverb programs that mimic the reverberation tails and early reflections of the measured audio. This allows the user to apply these custom reverberation profiles onto other recordings. Prior to Chameleon's development, impulse responses had to be captured on set and loaded into a reverberation plugin, or manually finding similar preset reverb programs and manually adjusting their controls to create an acoustic match. Chameleon lets the user simply drag an audio file onto the plugin, or audition existing audio assets inside of the workstation, to create a reverb program and profile in a matter of seconds. The plug-in can also create surround reverb programs from mono or stereo inputs. This workflow allows audio professionals to quickly match reverberant audio captured at different locations, times and spaces. This also facilitates more seamless integration of ADR post-production dialog into the final sound mix. The quality, ease of use and speed of Chameleon lets audio professionals spend more time focusing on other creative aspects when mixing. For more information, please visit Accentize.com.
• Recipient: James Robinson of Hitomi for the development of MatchBox Glass. MatchBox Glass transforms a standard mobile iPhone into a precision lip sync and latency measurement instrument, deployable instantly at the point of capture, replacing traditional manual test methods and dedicated hardware generators. It enables accurate end-to-end measurement of audio/video synchronization across live, remote, and cloud-based television production environments. MatchBox Glass generates a calibrated visual and audio reference directly in front of the camera and microphone, allowing true "from the glass" measurements. This eliminates the need for dedicated hardware, signal insertion, or controlled baseband access; historical approaches that are increasingly impractical in modern distributed production workflows. The result is a reliable product used ubiquitously in the live broadcast industry to ensure accurate synchronization at the audio/video capture source. For more information, please visit Hitomi.tv.
• Recipients: Roland Hathaway, Darcey Crownshaw, Frank Balzer and Dean Hathaway of Snow Business USA for the development of Snowbase. Snowbase is a biodegradable, eco-friendly, artificial snow made from pure wood pulp cellulose. It is completely free of peroxide bleaches and chemical fire retardants, designed for both indoor and outdoor use at any temperature, and safe to apply on living flora and fauna. The immediate nature of Snowbase's application reduces both production time and cost. When airflow is applied to it, Snowbase lays, drifts, and settles exactly like real snow. When passed through a high-pressure, low-volume water mist, it instantly adheres to any surface, including vertical and inverted ones. It also retains water to mimic the slightly opaque look of real snow slush. Given that Snowbase is not an ice-based formula, it can remain applied for multiple hours and days without need for reapplication. Moreover, it can be modified by adding water, dirt, and other materials to represent the aging of snow. Snowbase cleans up just as efficiently as it applies: it can be easily cleared with standard air blowers or water hoses, keeping strike times short and costs low. For more information, please visit SnowBusinessHollywood.com.
• Recipient: Starlink Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, for the development of Starlink. Starlink is a constellation of low-orbit satellites that enables high-speed, low-latency broadband almost anywhere on Earth. It has transformed the creation and the consumption of television, removing the connectivity constraints that long dictated where programming could be made and who could receive it. Orbiting at an altitude of roughly 550 kilometers rather than the 35,786 kilometers of geostationary satellites, it reduces round-trip latency from over 600 milliseconds to approximately 25 milliseconds, unlocking live contribution, remote collaboration and real-time review from locations that previously supported none. Its mobile, turnkey units allow productions to transmit live feeds and move footage to post facilities from virtually any location. Starlink has significantly extended the production and contribution capabilities of the television industry, allowing creation of stories from locations not previously accessible. For more information, please visit Starlink.com.
• Recipients: Curt O. Schaller and Dr. Roman Foltyn for the development of the Trinity 2 Hybrid Camera Stabilizer System.
• The Trinity 2 hybrid camera stabilizer system offers unparalleled camera movement. The concept, design, and technical implementation enable users to operate the system effortlessly to produce innovative, highly creative, complex camera trajectories. Its versatility includes low to high transitions, 360-degree rotation, consistent stability and horizon, use of interfaces for cooperative control and the provision of metadata and modular setups for every situation. It can overcome weather or dynamic environment influences that previously hindered similar shots. It gives camera operators, cinematographers, and directors freedom for storytelling that previously required use of several different pieces of equipment over multiple shots. Now creatives can smoothly combine setups into one fluid movement, up or down stairs, through crowds and in tight spaces for long continuous takes. The Trinity 2 has become a mainstay for most major award shows, live concert films, high-end reality competitions, narrative action scenes, and major sporting events. For more information, please visit Arri.com.

For NATAS, the more detailed list of innovations recognized by the 2026 Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards are:

• Web-Based Frame-Accurate Remote Monitoring Systems for Distributed Broadcast Production. Recipients: SipRadius, NBCU, Grass Valley, CBS Sports, Disney, Game Creek, Amazon, & Vindral. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the live television industry rapidly developed new technologies to enable high-quality, real-time production from remote locations. These innovations evolved through early 2024 and are now standard across major broadcasters, cable networks and streaming platforms, fundamentally transforming the live production landscape. The recipient organizations independently created and implemented these groundbreaking technologies during this pivotal period.
• FPV Drone Camera Systems for Live Sports Broadcast Coverage. Recipients: OBS, Proton, Wave Central and Above Media. First-person view (FPV) drone camera systems represent a significant advancement in live sports production. The technology combines high-speed aircraft, miniature broadcast cameras, low-latency RF transmission and specialized stabilization systems to deliver immersive, athlete-following coverage previously unattainable with conventional camera platforms. The 2026 Winter Olympics demonstrated the technology's maturity and broad application across multiple sports.
• Standardization of ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV for Digital Broadcasting. Recipients: ATSC, the Broadcast Standards Association. ATSC 3.0 standardization represents a significant advancement in television broadcasting, establishing the industry's first fully IP-based broadcast standard to reach commercial scale. Through a multi-year, consensus-based engineering, drafting and balloting process led by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), the standard has enabled new capabilities including UHD, HDR, immersive audio and interactive services. ATSC 3.0 is now commercially deployed across the United States and internationally, reaching millions of households and driving significant changes across the broadcast equipment, consumer electronics and regulatory landscape.
• Development of AMWA NMOS Discovery, Registration and Connection. Recipients: Advanced Media Workflow Association, Sony Corporation, British Broadcasting Corporation, Streampunk Media, LTD. SMPTE ST 2110, together with AMWA NMOS IS-04 and IS-05, established an open, standardized framework for transporting, discovering and connecting video and audio over IP networks. Supported by industry-wide testing initiatives, automated test suites and open-source implementations, these technologies accelerated the adoption of IP-based workflows across the television industry. Today, NMOS and SMPTE ST 2110 are widely adopted and have been used in thousands of television productions worldwide, fundamentally advancing the way broadcast media is transported and connected.
• SMPTE Hybrid Cable Format Converter and Power Injector. Recipients: Telecast Fiber Systems, Bluebell Opticomm Ltd, Multidyne Electronics Inc. SMPTE camera chains are fundamental to broadcast production, connecting cameras and base units through standardized hybrid cabling. Format converters extend these camera systems over existing single-mode fiber infrastructure for distances of multiple kilometers while maintaining video, data and power connections. The technology enables greater flexibility in venue and mobile production environments while significantly reducing cable weight and improving operational efficiency, with substantial savings possible when replacing long runs of traditional SMPTE camera cable.
• AI-Based Face Replacement and Performance-Preserving Post-Production Transformation. Recipients: Disney Research, Rising Sun Pictures, Digital Domain, Metaphysic (Brahma AI). AI-based facial transformation technology enables a performer's appearance to be digitally adjusted while preserving natural expression, movement, lighting and scene realism. These systems maintain continuity throughout a sequence and adapt to changes in pose, lighting, occlusion and performance. Applications include visual effects, de-aging, stunt work, identity protection and real-time production environments. Technologies developed by companies such as Metaphysic and Disney Research have been used in major film and television productions to digitally de-age actors and enhance on-screen performances.

Also honored at the upcoming October ceremony will be the technology "Pioneers":

• Practical Transduction developed by Theodore Willard Case, Georges Claude and
• First Demonstration of Recognizable Television by John Logie Baird.

NATAS also announces the nominees in the competitive category, "Excellence in Production Technology — Application." Now in its third year, this category recognizes not the technology itself, but the innovative use of applied science and engineering products to produce television in new and unique ways. The winner will be announced on October 14, in conjunction with the show. This year's nominees are:

• Good Morning America - ABC News - The Walt Disney Company
• ABC News |The Walt Disney Company
• Prime Vision NFL's Thursday Night Football (TNF)
• SportsMEDIA Technology (SMT)
• Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
• Disney+

LONDON—Alex Pannell has joined live production services provider Gravity Media as chief business officer.

The 20-year industry veteran joins Gravity Media from Appear, where he was chief commercial officer. In his new London-based role, he is charged with working closely with Gravity’s leadership team and its business units worldwide to support continued development, strengthen collaboration across regions and identify new growth opportunities, the company said.

“I’m excited to be joining Gravity Media at such an important and exciting time in its journey. Gravity Media has an outstanding reputation, an exceptional team and an impressive global footprint,” Pannell said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the business, meeting colleagues, partners and customers, working together to build on the strong foundations already in place which provide a fantastic platform for the next phase of growth and help shape what comes next.”

Panell’s experience spans group strategy, sales and business development, marketing, technical sales, pricing, customer service and support, Gravity said. He brings a strong track record of delivering performance and business development across complex, global markets, the company added.

“As our business continues to evolve and grow, it is important we have the right leadership structure and expertise in place to support our ambitions,” Gravity Chairman and CEO John Newton said. “We were looking for someone who could bring broad leadership experience, a collaborative approach and a genuine understanding of our industry. I’m looking forward to working with Alex as we continue to build on our momentum and create exciting opportunities for our people, clients and partners around the world.”

Gravity Media provides media services, facilities, production and content services for live events around the world. It is involved with such events as the UEFA Euro Championships, Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Tour de France and U.S. Open, as well as shows such as “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!” and “The Voice.”

MONTREAL—Grass Valley has appointed Ronny Van Geel vice president of cameras. He brings more than 25 years of experience across camera technology, product strategy, product management, marketing and media production workflows to the role.

Van Geel has a strong technical background and a deep understanding of how production environments are evolving, which give him a well-rounded perspective on both the technology and the people who use it.

“I’m excited to bring a broader perspective back into a field I care about deeply,” said Ronny Van Geel. “There is an extraordinary depth of knowledge, craftsmanship and passion in the camera team, built over many years and in close partnership with customers, operators and partners around the world. I’m looking forward to working with those teams to help people realize their creative intent and tell more captivating stories in new ways.”

Van Geel began his career in 1999 at Philips DVS before moving into product management in 2005. He has worked across camera technology, product strategy and media workflows. Most recently, as director of product marketing at Grass Valley, he worked across the company’s portfolio and strategy, helping shape the story around Grass Valley Media Universe, unified media operations and the changing needs of media professionals through new themes like DMF.

“Ronny brings an exceptional combination of deep camera expertise, product experience and a broad understanding of how media production is evolving,” said Adam Marshall, chief product officer at Grass Valley. “He knows this business from multiple perspectives, and he has a strong instinct for turning what he sees in the market into products that matter to the people using them. We’re very pleased to have him leading our Camera product organization and bringing that experience to the team.”

More information is available on the company’s website.

LAS VEGAS—Live-events technology firm Creative Technology Group has set a leadership change for next year, with founder and CEO Graham Andrews to step down from day-to-day duties at year-end, succeeded by Tom See as the company’s president.

See, who was most recently chief strategy officer for Live Nation International Venues, the hospitality division of Live Nation Entertainment, joins the NEP Group unit on Sept. 14.

Andrews will join the NEP board as a nonexecutive director effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Creative Technology provides video, audio, lighting and networking solutions for live sports, entertainment and corporate events.

“When I founded Creative Technology 40 years ago, I wasn’t sure where it would take me—but I always knew that, if we were successful, it would be important to develop leaders who, at the right moment, could take our company to the next level,” Andrews said. “This is that moment, for me personally and for CT.”

NEP Group CEO Martin Stewart described Andrews as an “entrepreneur at heart” who has strong insights into what customers want.

“I’m grateful for Graham’s leadership and the legacy he leaves,” Stewart said. “I couldn’t be more pleased that we’ll continue to benefit from his perspective as a board member next year.”

At Live Nation, See led a hospitality division that comprised more than 120 venues, 15,000 events per year and more than 30,000 employees. From 2015 to 2021, he was president of Live Nation Ampitheaters, overseeing facilities, operations and marketing for more than 50 venues.

“I have tremendous respect for Graham and the legacy he’s built at Creative Technology,” See said. “What he and the team have created is incredibly special—a company with world-class capabilities, deep client relationships and a culture built around delivering at the highest level. I’m grateful for the opportunity to build on that foundation and excited about what we can accomplish together in the next chapter of CT’s growth.”

For more on Creative Technology, visit its website or the NEP Group website.

EMERYVILLE, Calif.—Systems integrator Advanced Systems Group has hired Mark Vinten as a senior account executive on its audio and postproduction team.

An industry veteran with experience in professional recording, broadcast technology, manufacturing and systems integration, Vinten will be tasked with fortifying relationships with existing ASG clients and developing new opportunities throughout Southern California.

Prior to ASG, Vinten worked for 10 years at Evertz, progressing from service technician to director of West Coast sales and service. Earlier in his career, he worked for eight years as an engineer for rapper and music producer Lil Jon, contributing to projects with R&B singer Usher that earned four Grammy nominations and two Grammy awards, ASG said.

“Mark understands our business because he’s lived it from multiple perspectives,” said Hamid “Gadget” Hopkins, director of audio and post at ASG, to whom Vinten will report. “He doesn’t lead with products. He begins with conversations about workflows and solving problems.”

Vinten said he joined ASG because of his longstanding relationship with its president, Dave Van Hoy, and a desire to offer clients a broader range of solutions.

“I've worked with small and large customers in the media space,” Vinten said. “I think of facilities as more than a new box here and there or compartmentalized systems. I look at the facility workflows as a whole and identify efficiencies and new technology that can maximize value.”

He also cited the company’s in-house expertise as a reason for signing on.

“ASG has subject matter experts covering traditional on-prem solutions, hybrid and cloud-based solutions, and the ability to provide creative and technical staffing to support customers as needed,” he said.

Vinten can be reached at mvinten@asgllc.com.

WASHINGTON—Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr announced the appointment of Hunter Deeley as Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau. Hunter has served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Bureau Chief in the Enforcement Bureau.

“I am pleased that Hunter has agreed to step up and lead the exceptional and dedicated Enforcement Bureau team,” Carr said. “I’m confident that under his leadership the team will continue to deliver great wins for the American people from robocall enforcement to rooting out fraud to national security administration. I’d like to thank Patrick Webre for his outstanding service in this role and I’m pleased that he will continue to serve the Commission in a senior role in the Office of Managing Director.”

As part of the Enforcement Bureau team, Hunter supervised all enforcement matters that directly or indirectly implicate national security risks while coordinating closely with law enforcement and Intelligence Community partners throughout the U.S. Government.

Prior to joining the FCC, Hunter was at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served in the National Security Division’s Foreign Investment Review Section handling matters before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and Team Telecom.

During that time, he received multiple Assistant Attorney General Awards for Excellence for his work.

He also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where he was assigned to the General Crimes Section (Superior Court Division) and National Security Section (Criminal Division).

Hunter is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the American University Washington College of Law.

NEW YORK—The E.W. Scripps Company has appointed Jen Carfley head of small and medium business growth (SMB) and direct response advertising, effective immediately.

In this newly created role, Carfley will lead the company’s enterprise-wide strategy to connect advertisers with Scripps’ premium video inventory – including sports, news and entertainment – and performance-driven television advertising solutions across its local, national, linear and connected TV platforms.

Beginning next year, Carfley will also lead direct response advertising for Scripps’ ION and Bounce networks, while Scripps’ longtime partner Marathon Ventures will continue overseeing those efforts for Grit, ION Mystery, ION Plus and Laff.

Based in New York, Carfley reports to Brian Norris, Scripps’ chief revenue officer.

“Jen brings the strategic vision, growth mindset and proven execution we need to accelerate growth across SMB and performance advertising,” said Norris. “Her experience across linear and connected TV will help us make Scripps’ premium video inventory easier to access and easier to buy, including creating simpler pathways for performance brands to participate in premium live sports. She will help us create stronger connections between advertisers and engaged audiences while giving small and medium-sized businesses, mid-market advertisers and performance marketers more flexible, measurable ways to grow their businesses.”

Carfley brings more than 15 years of media and advertising sales experience across linear, digital and streaming platforms. She most recently served as vice president of the SMB growth team within NBCUniversal’s advertising and partnerships division. Before joining NBCUniversal, Carfley held sales and direct response leadership roles at Sling TV and Dish Media Sales, Defy Media – a content creation company – and BBC America and BBC World News. At BBC America and BBC World News, she founded and led the performance media division within the ad sales team.

Carfley earned her Bachelor of Science in sports management and marketing from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced that on Jan. 1, 2027. Lutz Rathmann will become CEO of Riedel Communications, assuming overall responsibility for the Product Division and Managed Technology Division.

On the same date Anthony Zuyderhoff will take on the role of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), leading the company’s newly unified global go-to-market organization.

Jan Eveleens, currently CEO of the Product Division, will retire at the end of 2026 following a long and successful career in the broadcast industry.

Riedel said that the new setup brings the Product Division and Managed Technology Division into closer alignment, combining Riedel’s product development and live-production expertise more closely.

Both divisions will retain their respective teams, expertise, and market focus while collaborating more closely across the business. At the same time, Riedel said it will connect its customer-facing sales, service, support, and marketing functions through a shared go-to-market leadership, enabling a more coordinated and consistent approach to customers and partners.

“Our customers do not think in terms of internal structures or individual responsibilities. They expect us to understand their challenges and bring the right capabilities together,” said Rathmann. “By aligning Product and Managed Technology more closely and strengthening how we connect with the market, we can turn our combined experience into greater value for customers and partners.”

As part of the changes, Rathmann will take overall responsibility for both divisions. Before returning to lead Managed Technology in 2020, Rathmann had already held senior roles at Riedel, including Vice Director Global Events and Head of Project Management. Since then, he has strategically expanded the business, developed new opportunities and partnerships, and advanced the solution portfolio for international event and live productions.

Together with Jan Eveleens, Riedel reported that he has also driven closer collaboration between Managed Technology and the Product Division — laying the groundwork for bringing both areas even closer together under his leadership.

“Our ambition is to make Riedel feel like one company at every customer touchpoint,” said Zuyderhoff. “That means connecting our commercial teams more closely, bringing the right expertise to the table earlier, and focusing less on individual products and more on the outcomes our customers want to achieve.”

Zuyderhoff, currently Executive Director Global Sales, will assume leadership of the new go-to-market organization and bring Riedel’s primary customer-facing functions under a shared direction. The new setup is designed to make collaboration more seamless, accelerate decision-making, and strengthen how Riedel supports customers and partners across products and services.

“Lutz knows our customers, our technologies, and the realities of complex live production,” said Thomas Riedel, Riedel Group CEO. “Anthony brings the commercial perspective and market focus needed to translate that strength into a consistent customer experience. Together, they will help us connect our capabilities more effectively and make Riedel easier to engage with, easier to understand, and stronger in the market. I also want to thank Jan for his tremendous contribution to Riedel and am very pleased that we will continue to benefit from his expertise as a consultant.”

Further information about Riedel and its solutions is available at www.riedel.net.

WASHINGTON—C-SPAN has named Adele Hixon-Day as chief development officer, a new senior leadership role focused on expanding philanthropic support for the not-for-profit public affairs network.

A 15-year veteran of fundraising, development and organizational leadership, Hixon-Day has worked as chief advancement officer at the Smithsonian Institution and as vice president of development at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She will lead C-SPAN’s philanthropic strategy, building relationships with foundations, major donors and individuals who share the network’s commitment to nonpartisan, unfiltered coverage of government and politics, the network said.

“Adele joins C-SPAN at a pivotal moment,” C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist said. “For decades, the cable and satellite, and recently the streaming industry has made C-SPAN’s unique public service possible, and that support remains vitally important. At the same time, we need to broaden the community of individuals and organizations invested in C-SPAN and its future. Adele has the experience, energy and vision to help us build that next chapter.”

Since its 1979 inception, C-SPAN has been funded mainly through license fees paid by the cable, satellite and streaming companies that carry its networks. The push into fundraising is meant to bolster the network’s support in an era of cord-cutting and declining pay TV subscribership.

In her new role, Hixon-Day will develop philanthropic support for C-SPAN’s journalism, civic education and digital innovation efforts, as well as the preservation and modernization of its video archives.

“C-SPAN occupies a truly unique place in American civic life, and I’m excited to help strengthen that public service for the future,” she said. “There is a tremendous opportunity to connect people and organizations who care about democracy, civic education and access to trusted information with C-SPAN’s mission. I look forward to expanding the community of supporters who will help C-SPAN continue to serve the American people.”

A 501c3 nonprofit organization, C-SPAN’s networks and digital platforms provide viewers with unfiltered coverage of Congress, the White House and Supreme Court, including gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate proceedings, as well as public-affairs programming and call-in shows.

“C-SPAN was created with a remarkably durable idea: give the American people direct access to their government and let them make up their own minds,” Feist said. “Building a strong philanthropic program will help ensure that C-SPAN — and our commitment to Democracy Unfiltered — remains strong for the next generation.”

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.— SMPTE today announced its 2026 Honorees, recognizing individuals and organizations whose contributions have advanced media technology and the entertainment industry. The honors will be presented at the annual SMPTE Awards Gala on Thursday, Nov. 19, at the conclusion of the 2026 SMPTE Media Technology Summit at the Pasadena Convention Center.

“I want to congratulate all of this year’s honorees,” says Renard T. Jenkins, Fellows Committee Chair and SMPTE Past President. “Their dedication to SMPTE and to our industry is an inspiration, and their contributions have had a lasting impact on media technology and the people it serves. We are proud to recognize their achievements.”

This year, 32 individuals and organizations will be recognized across 13 SMPTE honors. Among them is the Society’s highest distinction, Honorary Membership, recognizing individuals who have performed eminent service in the advancement of engineering in motion pictures, television, or the allied arts and sciences. Past recipients include Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, George Lucas and James Cameron.

2026 SMPTE Honorees
Honorary Membership will be conferred on John Dykstra, ASC, in recognition of more than four decades of contributions to motion picture imaging engineering. A founding figure in modern motion picture visual effects, Dykstra pioneered groundbreaking technologies and techniques for Star Wars that helped transform visual effects production.

The David Sarnoff Medal is being awarded to Jerry C. Whitaker in recognition of his visionary leadership in the creation and deployment of digital television standards, including ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0.

This year’s recipient of the Progress Medal is Robert P. Seidel, in recognition of his decades of sustained contributions to HDTV deployment, digital television standards, multichannel audio, and the architecture of next-generation broadcast infrastructure.

The Excellence in Education Medal will be presented to Anil Kokaram for his outstanding contributions to academic and extracurricular engineering education.

The Workflow Systems Medal will be awarded to Bruce Devlin, in recognition of his pioneering leadership in the development, standardization and adoption of interoperable media workflows, transforming the industry from tape-based operations to modern file-based and software-defined production.

The James A. Lindner Archival Technology Medal will be presented to Nicholas Bergh in recognition of his pioneering contributions to audio preservation technology.

The Excellence in Standards Award recognizes individuals who have played an active role in advancing SMPTE Standards, activities and processes. This year’s award will be presented to Jerry Pierce (posthumous) and Wade Hanniball, in recognition of their sustained leadership in the development, standardization and worldwide deployment of digital cinema technologies.

Polly Chesnokova, from the AFI Conservatory, will be the recipient of the Louis F. Wolf Jr. Memorial Scholarship, designed to assist students in furthering their undergraduate or graduate studies in motion pictures and television, with an emphasis on technology.

The Journal Award for the best paper originally published in the SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal during 2025 will go to Charles Q. Robinson for “Cinema Sound Playback Level and Audience Satisfaction.” Journal Certificates of Merit will be awarded to David Long, Rod Bogart, Spencer Stephens, Catherine Meininger, Joseph Goldstone, Tim S. Kang, Kathryn Brillhart and Jim Geduldick for “Color Management Principles for LED Panels in On-Set Virtual Production,” and to Tania Pouli, Khaoula Ounajim and Daniel Menard for “Evaluating the Energy Impact of Different Dimensions of UHD.”

The Student Paper Award will be presented to Miles Katz for his paper, “Evaluating Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in SMPTE ST 2110 Media Networks.”

In memoriam, Henry (Hank) Mahler will join the SMPTE Honor Roll in recognition of his extraordinary engineering leadership and innovation across broadcast audio, color television, sports production and high-definition imaging.

SMPTE Fellows
Nine new SMPTE Fellows will be recognized at this year’s Gala for their outstanding proficiency and contributions to the motion picture, television and related industries. The 2026 inductees are Zandra Clarke, Jimmy Fournier, Thomas Heritage, Harvey Landy, Steve LLamb, Yukihiro Nishida, C.V. Rao, Allan Schollnick and Marc Zorn

More information about the 2026 SMPTE Honorees, including full award citations and honoree information, can be found here.

For information on SMPTE Awards Gala sponsorships and congratulatory Program Book ads, contact Anthony Catalano.

IRVING, Texas—Nexstar Media Group has announced that Brett Jenkins, executive vice president and chief digital and technology officer, will retire from full-time work at the company effective October 1, at which time he will transition to executive advisor, overseeing the completion of several special projects.

“Brett has been an incredible asset for Nexstar over the last nine-plus years,” said Perry Sook, Nexstar’s founder, chairman and chief executive officer. “He has led Nexstar’s technology advancements, overseen our expansion of ATSC 3.0, spearheaded the development and rollout of the company’s connected TV and mobile applications, and been instrumental in the planning and execution of our automated sales technology. Brett has had a distinguished career, and we are pleased he is staying on in this new capacity.”

Jenkins joined Nexstar as chief technology officer in 2017 in connection with the company’s acquisition of Media General. He was promoted to chief technology and digital officer in 2023, responsible for the company’s technology, data and digital operations, as well as the development and deployment of ATSC 3.0.

Prior to joining Nexstar, Mr. Jenkins served as vice president and chief technology officer at Media General from 2014 to 2017, overseeing the company’s information technology and engineering functions. Before joining Media General in 2014, he was vice president chief technology officer of LIN Media.

As executive advisor, Jenkins will provide counsel for Sook and for Nexstar’s president and COO, Michael Biard, and continue to oversee several important projects for the company.

He will also remain actively involved in Edgebeam Wireless, LLC., a wireless data services provider launched in 2025 as a joint venture among Nexstar and three of the country’s largest independent broadcast groups. Jenkins’ current day-to-day responsibilities and direct reports will be reassigned across Nexstar’s deep bench of experienced executives.

“I’m happy to continue working with Brett, especially as Edgebeam continues to ramp-up its commercial rollout,” said Biard. “He is a tremendous resource for Nexstar and a leader in the media industry, recognized repeatedly for his ability to solve complex problems, integrate highly advanced technology systems, and execute major digital initiatives. He’s been an extremely valuable member of Nexstar’s executive team, and we’re grateful for his countless contributions to our success.”

Jenkins is a former member of the Board of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), an international, non-profit organization that develops standards for digital television. He has been instrumental in building out Nexstar’s ATSC 3.0 footprint in the country’s top-25 markets.

HPA has opened its call for entries of the HPA Awards Innovation & Technology that will be given out at a ceremony on February 18, 2027 at the HPA Tech Retreat.

Entries are invited in five categories:

• Innovation in Pre-Production
• Innovation in Production & Capture
• Innovation in VFX, Virtual Production & Animation
• Innovation in Post-Production
• Innovation in Distribution & Audience Experience

Entries will be evaluated by an expert judging panels based on innovation, industry impact, technical merit, and adoption readiness, HPA reported.

Submissions are due on October 2, 2026 with judging panels and interviews taking place December 7–11, 2026. Nominees will be announced in January of 2027.

Entries can be submitted here.

The Georgia Association of Broadcasters has announced this year’s GAB Honors Awards recipients.

The four honorees will be presented their awards at the association’s annual convention, GABCON, held Sept. 25–26 at the Gas South District Convention Center in Duluth.

“These four honorees represent the very best of Georgia, from broadcasting and public service to innovation and community impact,” GAB President Randy Gravley said in a release.

Ditty-McLemore Engineering Award: Michael Williams

Michael Williams of WSB(TV) is the recipient of GAB’s award which recognizes contributions to broadcast engineering.

Williams is the senior manager of IT at WSB and has around 30 years of experience in the broadcast industry. He has spent the last 18 years with WSB, beginning as a maintenance engineer before advancing to his current role.

His career with Cox Media Group began 10 years prior to joining WSB, when he worked as a radio engineer.

Golden Mic Award: Estelle Parsley

Estelle Parsley, the vice president of news for WRDW(TV) in Augusta, is the recipient of the GAB’s award that recognizes those whose efforts and support have made a lasting impact on Georgia’s broadcasting industry.

Under Parsley’s leadership, WRDW has earned 10 National Edward R. Murrow Awards, 40 regional Murrow Awards and 14 Southeast Emmys.

Legislator of the Year: Clint Crowe

This GAB award honors a Georgia Lawmaker whose leadership and dedication strengthen local broadcasting and its service to the community.

State Representative Clint Crowe represents Georgia House District 118, which includes Butts County and portions of Monroe and Newton counties.

Georgian of the Year: Jesse Cole

This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant and lasting impact on the citizens and state of Georgia.

Jesse Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Banana Ball Championship League, which includes the Savannah Bananas.

[This article was originally posted in our sister publication Radio World. You can read their industry coverage here or signed up for the Radio World SmartBrief newsletter here.]

LONDON—Techex, a specialist in live IP video transport, has tapped Stuart Almond as chief revenue officer.

In his new role, Almond is tasked with driving Techex’s business strategy and development initiatives and supporting its continued expansion as broadcasters and content owners transition to dynamic, cloud-native production environments, the company said.

A 25-year industry veteran, Almond brings experience spanning technology, media and telecommunications, Techex said. He has held senior leadership positions with such companies as Qvest, Microsoft and Sony Professional Solutions Europe.

Techex develops software-defined live IP video transport, transformation and monitoring solutions for Tier-1 broadcasters and media companies. Its specialized software stack—including its tx edge gateway and tx darwin processing framework—enables secure, low-latency live video routing across uncompressed IP, managed wide area networks and public cloud environments.

For more information, visit the Techex website.

The University of Maryland has deployed Sony FX30 cameras as part of a wider effort to reinvent video journalism and help their students tell more immersive stories, drawing on traditional broadcast journalism, documentary filmmaking and the new techniques and styles of creator journalism.

One example of the how this works comes from Josh Davidsburg, a documentary filmmaker and principal lecturer at the school’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism.

He says that his early career aspirations leaned more toward the evening news or Hollywood, not PBS. Now, with the help of Sony’s FX30 cinema cameras, he’s firmly rooted in all three communities and he’s helping his journalism students at the University of Maryland (UMD) learn new ways to tell a story.

“Growing up, I was deciding between being a TV journalist like my dad or a movie director because I had a passion for film and cinema,” said Davidsburg. He chose the former, which led to a journalism degree and eventually a teaching position at UMD.

He finds the Sony FX30 is the right camera for the evolving field of “creator” journalism, a unique blend of feature- and documentary-style filmmaking suited for social media and digital platforms from YouTube to streaming services. The camera’s mix of price, functionality and performance made it an ideal fit for UMD’s journalism program.

Davidsburg describes modern-era documentaries as a convergence of journalism and cinema, likening them to the pioneering work of 1970s “new journalism” writers like Hunter S. Thompson or Tom Wolfe, who injected literary techniques into their reporting. Newer camera technologies have also dramatically democratized filmmaking. Field cameras once cost $40,000 to $60,000 and required operation by dedicated photographers, not reporters: “I would go on assignment with a photographer and, as the reporter, I couldn’t touch their camera!”

Now cameras with high-end capabilities cost a fraction of these early prices with corresponding drops in size and learning curves, putting them easily in reach of students and reporters at any level.

UMD is expanding its curriculum with a documentary master’s program, a cinematography class, and an upcoming editing class. It’s all part of UMD’s plan to teach students how to combine the traditional “wide, medium, tight” approach to TV news shooting with cinematic techniques that immerse viewers in a story.

“We blend extensive practical lab work with classroom theory,” Davidsburg said. “Students enjoy the mix because it gets them out of their seats and into the world, actively using cameras rather than just sitting and listening to lectures.”camera screen with content

Currently, UMD has six FX30 cameras and about 40 Sony ENG-style cameras – a mix of the HXR-NX800, HXR-NX5U, and HXR-NX3 models. Journalism students start with the ENG cameras in their first video production course and then “graduate” to the FX30s in cinematography and documentary producing courses.

The balance of field and lab work varies by the course. For example, cinematography classes are roughly half lecture and half shooting exercises. “One day we’re lecturing and the next we’ll send them out on a cinematography scavenger hunt where they have to get shots with shallow or wide depths of field or do a rack focus,” he said.

Right Fit for a Lab

Davidsburg’s personal filmmaking projects were also responsible for bringing the FX30 to the UMD students. He shot his latest documentary, “A Banner Year” – about local, nonprofit newspaper The Baltimore Banner – with Sony’s FX3 cinema camera, which he described as a perfect run‑and‑gun camera with the ergonomics and video‑focused controls to match his shooting requirements.

“When you’re following newspaper reporters who are often dealing with sensitive topics and confidential sources, you don’t want something big and imposing,” Davidsburg said. “I was often filming at night and with the FX3’s low light capabilities, the camera can almost see in the dark.”

Production for “A Banner Year” is complete and plans include submitting the film to festivals. His experience with the FX3 led him to choose the FX30 for his coursework. The FX30 offers many of the FX3’s capabilities but at a lower price and with enough features to give students an entry into the cinematic world.

“The FX30’s ergonomics are great,” he said. “Students aren’t complaining about lugging giant cameras everywhere. The leap in quality from the cameras we were using to the FX30s is incredible. They can go out and come back with a beautiful image that inspires them and gets them excited about this type of work.”

Students find the FX30’s autofocus valuable when dealing with the shallow depth of field of cinema shooting. The camera’s color science with the S-Cinetone picture profile combined with its dynamic range “elevates everybody’s shooting,” Davidsburg said. The UMD program is also pairing the FX30s with Sony wireless audio, and the camera-to-editing workflow is straightforward and compatible with UMD’s editing software.

Most importantly, UMD students are getting a head start on their future careers, gaining valuable hands-on experience that they will eventually apply on a set or in a newsroom.

He added, “If you’re doing documentaries right, you’re taking cinematic techniques and journalistic techniques and combining them to do journalistic storytelling. With these cameras, we’re on that track.”

A helicopter crash in northern Kenya killed all seven passengers on Wednesday, including a Florida-based executive with Telemundo.

José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo 31, Telemundo 49, and Telemundo Ft. Myers-Naples was among those killed. Suarez worked at NBCUniversal Telemundo’s parent company for 18 years.

Over his 25-year career, Suárez also served as president of other stations including Telemundo 33, Telemundo Fresno, Telemundo Las Vegas, Telemundo Utah, and Telemundo San Antonio. He also worked at NBC Miami as executive producer of non-news programming and specials, including daily entertainment shows, according to NBC Digital.

He had received numerous awards during his career, including a Lone Star Emmy, a Suncoast Emmy, three Emmys for Best Daily Newscast, as well as several Associated Press awards.

The helicopter was owned by Lady Lori Kenya company, which released a statement Wednesday evening confirming the crash and expressing its condolences to the victims. The company said the cause of the crash was unknown and that it would be investigated by authorities.

NBC Newsgroup Chairman Cesar Conde, NBCU Local Chairman Valari Staab, and Telemundo station Group President Jose Cancela expressed their condolences in a joint statement.

“We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that José was killed in a helicopter accident in Kenya. José was an exceptional colleague who cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the important role our stations play in people’s lives. He brought energy, humor, warmth and a strong sense of purpose to his work, and his impact was felt far beyond the stations he led. Our hearts are with his loved ones, and with all of José’s colleagues and friends who are grieving this terrible loss.”

The North Carolina Association Of Broadcasters Inc and Wake Technical Community College’s Broadcast Technology Academy have announced that they’ve received a donation of a fully functioning ENG van from Nexstar Media Group, Inc.’s CBS 17 (WNCN).

The van will be incorporated into the RF Transmission Technician course at the Broadcast Technology Academy, they reported.

The gift also opens up the possibility of additional broadcast classes by the BTA.

In announcing the donation on LinkedIn, NCAB thanked WNCN vice president/GM John Lewis for “leading this gift and Chief Engineer Ryan Gladson and Broadcast Engineer Mary Cobbs, a Wake Technical Community College graduate" for their help in making the donation possible.

William F. Rasmussen, the visionary who co-founded ESPN, has died at age 93 from Parkinson’s Disease.

In 1978, Rasmussen, a former sports broadcaster and public relations executive, and his son Scott started investigating satellite delivery of television. On a Friday afternoon in August 1978, he and Scott were stuck in traffic on Connecticut’s Interstate 84 while travelling to the New Jersey shore. They were discussing possible programming for their newly acquired satellite transponder from RCA. On a lark, Rasmussen blurted out the idea of creating a network devoted only to sports. Sports fans both, father and son instantly thought they had a great idea.

In time, their idea grew from a service showing Connecticut sports to state residents to a 24-hour national sports network. Bolstered by financial backing from the Getty Oil Co., a contract for programming with the NCAA and an advertising agreement with Anheuser-Busch – then the largest sponsorship deal in cable history – the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (changed to ESPN, Inc. in 1984) launched in 1.4 million homes at 7 p.m. ET on Sept. 7, 1979.

In July 1979, Rasmussen was named ESPN chairman, succeeded as president by Chet Simmons, formerly president of NBC Sports. In addition to “SportsCenter,” under Rasmussen’s leadership the network introduced around-the-clock sports programming and coverage of the early rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in the spring of 1980.

From its beginning in Bristol, Conn., with about 80 employees at launch working in one, unfinished building on less than an acre, ESPN has grown to employ more than 5,900 people around the world, providing eight U.S. television networks and the sports programming on ABC.

Rasmussen was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Lois, in 2011 and is survived by two sons – Scott Rasmussen and his wife Laura and Glenn Rasmussen – his daughter Lynn Van Hollebeke and her husband Louie, seven grandchildren, Andy, P.J., Wil, MaryAnn, Donna, Jessica and Sarah, one great grandson, Otto, and one great granddaughter, Adelaide.

After publicly disclosing his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis in 2019, Rasmussen became an ambassador for Parkinson’s patients through both the American Parkinson Disease Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to https://www.apdaparkinson.org.

BALTIMORE—Carol Kellum was named vice president and general manager of Sinclair-owned KPTM Omaha, a Fox affiliate, and KHGI-KFXL Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny, Neb., an ABC-Fox duopoly.

Kellum had been general manager of KTVO Kirksville-Missouri-Ottumwa, Iowa, and KQHA Quincy, Ill.-Hannibal, Mo. Her move to Sinclair’s Nebraska operation represents a return to the company, which formerly owned KTVO and KQHA.

She replaces current VP and GM John Hannon, who will retire at the end of August.

“Carol is an experienced and accomplished broadcast leader with a strong understanding of local markets, station operations and the importance of serving viewers and advertisers across every platform,” said Rob Weisbord, chief operating officer and president of local media, Sinclair. “We are thrilled to welcome her back to Sinclair and know her leadership will be a tremendous asset to our teams in Omaha and Lincoln-Kearney. We also thank John for his years of dedicated service and leadership and wish him all the best in retirement.”

Kellum had been KTVO’s general manager for 11 years and also ran KQHA from 2008 to 2011 and again starting last September. Sinclair sold the two stations to Rincon Broadcasting Group last September.

“I’m excited to return to Sinclair,” Kellum said. “They are forward thinkers and understand the dynamic changes our industry is experiencing and will continue to experience. I look forward to working with the talented teams at KPTM, KHGI and KFXL and building on their strong commitment to the communities they serve.”

As the world of broadcast TV news moves into the AI era, station groups like Scripps are using the technology not only to help improve news coverage and viewer engagement, but also to reform and enhance how reporters and anchors spend their days—focusing on new workflows and adapting to how consumers stay informed.

That was the impetus behind Scripps Media’s announcement several weeks ago that it would adopt a “digital-first” approach to news coverage, in which it would prioritize streaming breaking news rather than waiting for scheduled daily newscasts. This approach reflects the reality of how consumers get their news—a development that is long overdue, according to Dean Littleton. Littleton recently became president of media for Scripps, combining leadership of the company’s enterprise television and broadcast operations in a newly created role.

The company plans to roll out its new process to a dozen of its smaller markets, with plans to increase deployment to all markets over time.

'We've Got to Change Our Business'
The changes were revealed at the same time the station group announced that 268 positions across the company were being eliminated. Littleton says Scripps had to make these changes, noting that core revenue across its approximately 60 local broadcast TV stations in more than 40 markets and 22 states is down 30%–50% from 20 years ago. The station group announced a nearly 5.4% drop in core revenue in its latest fiscal quarter, compared to the same quarter a year ago.

“A year ago we sat down and said, ‘We've got to change our business,’” Littleton told TV Tech. “So we took a step back and said, ‘What is our true north?’ And our true north is journalism. It's the journalism that will sustain us.

“So we looked at all of our processes and completely set about reinventing all of them with a focus on the consumer and how they consume content across broadcast, digital, streaming, and social platforms.”

Littleton says today’s news production process isn’t all that different than what it was 30 years ago and that, despite past promises to focus more on digital and streaming, broadcasters were not moving forward fast enough.

“I remember sitting in these meetings talking about strategy, and as much as we would walk out of those meetings and all say, ‘We're digital-first,’ we'd go right back to working on our 5:00, 6:00, or 10:00 newscast,” he said. “Meanwhile, the consumer left the party in large part, and that's been a mistake. I think we lost sight of the consumer.”

Littleton also wanted to move beyond the walled garden of a station news “app,” calling that approach “overly simplistic.”

He says Scripps needs to go where consumers are when it comes to news—giving them access to “journalism that's delivered on the platforms of their choosing, in formats native to that platform, and delivered on a schedule that fits the consumer's schedule.”

Littleton emphasizes that Scripps is increasing its focus on local news despite the recent layoffs by tapping into new AI processes that automate more of the production process.

“We are essentially reallocating resources from the production of newscasts to the development of journalism,” he said. “[We’re] moving resources from the process of creating the traditional newscast, and then investing in resources to create original reporting in our markets.”

Littleton says he wants to increase the number of reporters in local markets and believes Scripps will expand its local coverage rather than reduce it, as some critics have claimed.

“We'll see more reporters and MMJs, not fewer, with them having geographic beats so that they build expertise, and their stories are told with relevance and context in the communities that they serve,” he said. “And these communities that they're serving often are communities that have been 'news deserts' up until the point that we assigned a reporter.”

“At the end of this process, we'll have more MMJs and reporters overall than what we have today,” Littleton added.

Scripps has developed a new workflow to support its digital-first approach, according to Littleton.

“We've invented a whole new process for operating our newsrooms, where a story gets completed, and the story immediately goes into the live stream,” he said. “The technology that we've built constantly ‘stacks’ and ‘restacks’ the shows on the live stream, and the stories are prioritized based on tags that human beings assign to those stories, so the technology knows how to prioritize the content.

“Therefore, my experience as a consumer watching that live stream at 2:00 in the afternoon is different than it would have been at 1:00, because as new content has moved into the stream, the technology ‘restacked’ it based on priorities that human beings gave it,” Littleton added.

New Role: 'Executive Reporter'
Along with more automated production processes, Littleton also says the management of how news is handled is changing, with the creation of a new “executive reporter” role in each newsroom.

“This person leads the reporting resources inside each newsroom, they have a reporting background, and so their goal is to help improve the storytelling and the journalism, and their focus is on that all day long,” he said. “So we've had to rethink how management works in our newsrooms to support what is an entirely new workflow and process inside our buildings.”

To put the power of AI behind its new news workflow, Scripps developed its own news production platform called "Stacker," according to Christina Hartman, vice president of emerging technology operations at Scripps.

Producers working with Stacker create templates based on their focus—whether it be news, weather, business, or sports—and connects those subjects to local community concerns so news reports better reflect local issues.

“Stacker is the platform we built that is responsive to a template that a producer builds, as a reflection of the content strategy of the newsroom, whether it’s heavy on weather, leading with community connection stories, etc.,” she said. “The producer sets the template, and then Stacker as a platform will read what stories we have available and meet the criteria for slotting in the platform, and then it produces a draft or suggested rundown based on that daypart's template.

“It allows the producer to intuitively move stories around if they don't like the suggested order, or if they want to change some of the timing content, they could do that really easily through the platform,” Hartman added.

Better Use of Time
Hartman reiterated Littleton’s assessment of the need to use AI to free up a reporter’s time during the day.

“The amount of time that our reporters have been able to spend being in the field versus doing the shooting, editing, and versioning for social media and the web—the time spent actually with news gathering has shrunk, and the day has gotten longer,” she said. “We remind people that more and more of your day is going to things that aren't why you got into this business.”

Given the level of automation now involved in news production, Hartman stressed that everything aired is still approved by humans.

“Nothing is published or goes to air without human review and affirmative approval, and everything that we publish or take to air is originally reported, substantively written, and reviewed and approved by a human journalist,” she said. “What we have brought AI in to assist with are really the production components: the versioning, the metadata tagging, the sort of rough-cut edit, and the layout of the rundown in a suggested capacity. So from a guardrails point of view, it's structurally built into the process.”

As Scripp’s chief advocate for AI development within the company, Hartman shares her initial skepticism about AI, noting that when ChatGPT was launched nearly three years ago, her first thought was, ‘how do I keep this as far away from our newsroom as possible?’

“It's why I proposed forming AI governance,” she said. “So we started from sort of a ‘protective condition.’” she said. “What I found though is that if I was writing the guardrail and the rules around use of AI, I better know what I'm doing and be using it so that I can understand what the traps and the and the pitfalls were.”

Hartman responded to criticisms that Scripps is using AI as an easy way out to justify downsizing its news staffs.

“If this were purely a financial exercise, there are many other models that that I will tell you candidly would have been so much easier to pursue,” she said. “We could have dripped down to five-minute newscasts. We could have killed reporting and reporting roles, and maintained the facade of a newscast where you have talent that isn't even local, putting on the appearance of a local broadcast. But none of those alternatives would be true to Scripps’ value and Scripps’ promise to its communities.”

With a digital-first approach, a news story is not a finished product, but rather an evolving element that Littleton believes can help make viewers part of the narrative.

“What we are now seeing our newsrooms do with this process where you create a story and you immediately upload it and it goes into the stream, that happens throughout the day so viewers get to go along with the reporter as they develop a story,” he said. “[As the reporter] walks out of the newsroom, they record video that explains what their story is for the day, and as that story gets updated, those videos are created, and they go into the stream also. So the person watching at home gets to go along with the reporter as the story develops throughout the day.”

The fact that news workflow is being built around AI is not new, but technical changes are just one factor in the decision to the shift, according to Hartman, who characterized the new direction as “as much cultural as it is technological.”

NEW YORK—Hearst Television has elevated Derek Schnell to vice president, news, responsible for overseeing a group of station newsrooms across the broadcaster’s 27-market footprint.

Schnell will also increase his involvement in Hearst’s companywide editorial strategy and initiatives, reporting to Barbara Maushard, Hearst Television senior vice president, news, and chief content officer.

Since 2024, Schnell has served as regional news director and as news director of KCRA-KQCA in Sacramento, Calif., Hearst’s NBC and The CW duopoly in the California capital. His successor at the stations will be named at a later time, Hearst said.

“As journalism continues to evolve, leaders who honor our values while embracing new ideas are more important than ever,” Maushard said. “Derek is one of those leaders. He is both a journalist’s journalist and journalism futurist. His innovative mindset, exceptional news judgment and unwavering passion for supporting and inspiring journalists have earned him the trust and admiration of colleagues across the company. He is a thoughtful mentor, a creative problem solver and a champion for journalism that makes a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.”

In addition to leading the Sacramento stations’ newsroom, a role Schnell has held since 2018, he provided management oversight and editorial support for Hearst’s station duopolies in Monterey-Salinas, Calif., and Albquerque, N.M. He also spearheaded the company’s news and investigative coverage of Northern California through its partnership with Hearst Newspapers’ San Francisco Chronicle.

As the KCRA-KQCA news director, Schnell added 13 hours of newscasts per week; expanded the stations’ digital, social and interactive storytelling; launched daily Spanish-language content across linear and digital platforms; and increased the stations’ production of specials and documentaries, Hearst said.

Schell has spent his entire career with Hearst, the group said, starting with an investigative internship at KETV Omaha, Neb. He then joined KOCO-TV Oklahoma City, Okla., first as a producer and then as an executive producer. He later served as an executive producer at KMBC-KCWE Kansas City, Mo., before joining KCRA-KQRA in that same capacity. He was later promoted to assistant news director at KCRA-KQRA, then eventually to news director.

Schell studied at the Missouri School of Journalism and worked at KOMU-TV, the university-owned NBC affiliate. He is a graduate of the Hearst Management Institute, the company’s leadership development program.

EMERYVILLE, Calif.—Systems integrator Advanced Systems Group has tapped Eran Binyamin Zeitoun as senior technical program manager, tasked with leading a new business focused on enterprise media asset and storage systems, newsroom computer systems (NRCs) and media infrastructure solutions for broadcasters and media companies.

He joins ASG after 27 years with Dalet Digital Media Systems, where he was senior infrastructure and solution architect.

"Throughout my career, I've always enjoyed partnering with clients to solve complex technical challenges and helping them build solutions that make their organizations more successful," Zeitoun said. "When I spoke with [ASG Director, Enterprise Storage and Systems] Macky Beheshti and [CEO] Dave Van Hoy, I immediately recognized ASG's collaborative, client-first culture. It reminded me of what I valued most early in my career."

In his new role, Zeitoun will provide technical strategy, solution architecture, program management and client engagement to help customers design and deploy scalable, future-ready media workflows, ASG said.

At Dalet, Zeitoun designed and validated enterprise media and IT solutions for top broadcasters and media organizations worldwide, according to ASG.

“Eran has earned an exceptional reputation throughout the media industry for his technical expertise, integrity, and unwavering commitment to client success," said Beheshti, to whom Zeitoun will report. "His ability to bridge complex technology with real-world business needs makes him an outstanding addition to the team. As we continue expanding our enterprise media consulting capabilities, Eran will help ASG clients confidently navigate evolving workflows, modernize their infrastructure, and maximize the value of their technology investments."

Zeitoun can be reached at eran@asgllc.com.

NEW YORK—Roger Keating, a leading figure in the development of digital media and a number of important broadcast industry initiatives, will retire from Hearst Television at the end of 2026.

Over the years, Keating’s career involved leadership roles at some of the most familiar corporate names in television and digital media, where he spearheaded a number of innovative projects. Keating joined Hearst Television in 2008 and since 2016 has served as its chief strategy and business development officer.

He also co-founded and led television-industry consortia like Pearl TV and NewsOn that have helped local broadcasters pursue new businesses.

“Roger brought to Hearst Television his infectious curiosity and keen entrepreneurial instincts,” said Hearst Television president Michael J. Hayes. “He questions orthodoxy and embraces possibilities -- traits that have helped us seize opportunities and energized colleagues industrywide. He’s always celebrated television’s traditional strengths while simultaneously looking ahead -- not just at how audiences consume video today, but how they will use it tomorrow. We are grateful for all he has given to Hearst Television and local broadcasting.”

Keating joined Hearst Television in 2008 to lead its nascent digital media unit. As the company’s senior vice president, digital media, Keating was tasked with recruiting and leading a team to build and operate digital products that deliver local news and weather through desktop computers, mobile apps, social media and eventually streaming platforms. During his watch, Hearst Television digital properties achieved market leadership in most of the markets in which they operate. Digital products have become a significant and fast-growing contributor to Hearst Television’s bottom line.

Keating also co-founded and led television-industry consortia so that local broadcasters could better pursue new businesses that require scale and ubiquity.

Prominent among these is Pearl TV, a coalition of nine station group owners whose 2010 formation helped lead to the advancement of mobile TV, companion viewing apps, interactive advertising overlays and addressable linear ads. Pearl also became an incubator for early-stage companies operating in the broadcast TV space and today plays a central role in TV broadcasting’s game-changing transition to ATSC 3.0-based “NextGen TV.”

In 2015 he co-founded and served as inaugural chairman of NewsOn, an alliance of six broadcast TV group owners to bring local-news content to streaming platforms. Keating has been a persistent advocate for addressable linear advertising through his work on the board of Sorenson Media, as a founding member of OAR and membership in the Go Addressable trade association.

In addition to the Pearl, NewsOn and Sorenson Media boards, Keating served on the boards of ConnecTV, Dyle Mobile, Waitr and Internet Broadcasting. He was also an active participant in the YouTube News Working Group and the Google News Initiative, on both serving as a vocal advocate for the interests of local broadcasters.

Keating moved into the newly created role of Hearst Television’s chief strategy and business development officer in 2016, facilitating the adoption of advanced technologies such as machine learning and generative AI.

“What local broadcasters do is important, and I found my true professional home at Hearst,” Keating said. “I was fortunate to be given important challenges, and to get to work with such a talented set of colleagues. It’s time to pass the baton -- but if I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.”

Before joining Hearst, Keating ran a succession of increasingly large and complex cable TV properties. As an area vice president and, later, senior vice president at Comcast, Keating built Comcast’s Internet Division that pioneered high-speed broadband. As an executive vice president at Time Warner Cable, he merged several acquired cable systems to form that company’s Western Region. Prior to joining the cable industry, as a senior vice president of AOL, Keating was general manager of AOL Travel and AOL Health and also led a team that built and launched the early chat bot AOLbyPhone in 2001.

In 1998 Keating founded the streaming video company Zatso, which worked with TV broadcasters to develop personalized newscasts. Following successful completion of multiple financings, the company grew to over 100 employees and launched in 20 U.S. markets, birthing numerous successful digital-media innovations and careers.

Keating began his career with Mercer Consulting, serving a variety of clients in industries as disparate as defense, bakeries, cosmetics, office furniture, trucking, telecom and computers. He holds a bachelor of science in mechanical/industrial engineering from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from Stanford University and is a graduate of the Hearst Management Institute, Hearst’s executive leadership development program.

In 2018 Keating was the fourth recipient of the National Association of Broadcasters Digital Leadership Award.

WALTHAM, Mass.—Alyson Stewart has joined IP video transport software provider Zixi as senior director, sales.

In her new role, Stewart will be tasked with driving direct sales and partnerships with broadcasters, media companies and other enterprise clients in the media and entertainment industry. She’ll be responsible for growing new business across Zixi’s direct sales channel, strengthening go-to-market partnerships and supporting customers in their transition of live video workflows to IP-based delivery, the company said.

She joins Zixi from Hydrolix, where she helped establish that company’s enterprise direct sales and partner go-to-market functions.

“Alyson brings exactly the kind of experience and relationships we need as we scale our direct sales and partner motion,” Zixi CEO Marc Aldlrich said. “She has spent her career entrenched in the worlds of media and technology, and her deep understanding of both the programming and operational sides of this business will be a real asset to our customers and our team. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Alyson before, and I know firsthand the value she brings.”

A 20-year industry veteran, Stewart worked for five years in the Media, Entertainment, Games & Sports business at Amazon Web Services (AWS) before Hydrolix. She was also senior VP, global sales, strategy and operations at Gravitas Ventures, an independent film distributor; senior VP of sales for Mediamorph, a media-rights management firm; and worked for 13 years as a sales executive at VOD content services provider Vubiquity, as well as at Starz, The Weather Channel and Turner Broadcasting System.

“I’ve long admired the strength of the Zixi platform and the role it plays in live media workflows,” Stewart said. “I’m excited to join the team and help our customers navigate the shift to IP-based video delivery.”

NEW YORK—The Audio Engineering Society has elected David v.R. Bowles to serve as the group’s new president-elect in 2027.

He’ll join the AES board of directors as president-elect on Jan. 1, then succeed Cesar Lamschtein as the group’s president in 2028. He’ll then serve a year on the board as past president in 2029, followed by a subsequent two-year term as an agency governor.

The society’s newly elected regional vice presidents and governors will serve for two-year terms beginning on Jan. 1, 2027. The new AES vice presidents are: Malik Williams, VP, Eastern Region, U.S./Canada; Jess Berg, VP, Western Region, U.S./Canada; and Merlijn van Veen, VP, Northern Region, Europe.

Newly elected as at-large governors are Helen Caddes, Ivo Marković and Angela Piva. Valerie Tyler was reelected as Secretary.

“As a volunteer-driven professional membership society, the AES board elections are a critical part of our operations,” outgoing AES President Brecht De Man said. “I want to congratulate the elected leaders for 2027 and look forward to working with each of them. I am also very grateful to each and every potential candidate, whether nominated to be on the ballot or not, and hope the Society is always supported by this level of volunteer energy and commitment.”

The members of the 2027 AES board are:

• Cesar Lamschtein, president
• Brecht De Man, past president
• David v.R. Bowles, president-elect
• Valerie Tyler, secretary
• Jayant Datta, treasurer
• Agnieszka Roginska, director

One additional director will be elected by the AES board of governors within the next 60 days.

In addition to the board members, the following AES members will serve on its 2027 board of governors:

• Masataka Nakahara, VP, Asia-Pacific Region
• Merlijn van Veen, VP, Northern Region, Europe
• Piotr Majdak, VP, Central Region, Europe
• Huseyin Hacihabiboglu, VP, Southern Europe/Middle East/Africa Region
• Ezequiel Morfi, VP, Latin American Region
• Malik Williams, VP, Eastern Region, USA/Canada
• Kelvin Grimble, VP, Central Region, USA/Canada
• Jess Berg, VP, Western Region, USA/Canada
• Jamie Baker, governor
• Fariuska Lira Barully, governor
• Leslie Gaston-Bird: governor
• Helen Caddes, governor
• Gary Gottlieb, governor
• Ivo Marković, governor
• Angela Piva, governor
• Bernarda Ubidia, governor

Tom Keller, broadcast pioneer and former executive with the National Association of Broadcasters died July 19, 2026 at the age of 96.

Keller, who began his career in broadcasting as Director of Engineering for WGBH in Boston for 18 years, went on to serve as head of NAB’s Science and Technology department in the 1980s, helping establish the Advanced Television Systems Committee and overseeing the Advanced Television Terrestrial Broadcast Project, which provided transmission/reception of early HDTV technologies used for demonstrations to the FCC and Congress. Keller was a Lifetime Fellow of SMPTE and a senior member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society.

A recipient of NAB’s Television Engineering Award in 2011, Keller spent over 50 years working in the U.S. television broadcast industry, contributing significant achievements to broadcast engineering development and emerging as a leading technical innovator. As president of technology consulting firm T. Keller Corp., he led development and extensive laboratory and field studies of new technologies for broadcasting. Among his accomplishments, Keller created an early computerized captioning system for the hearing-impaired and engineered one of the first Electronic Field Production programs ever produced for network release.

SBE President Kevin Trueblood, CBTE, CBNT issued the following statement:

"Tom's extraordinary career provided the vision and technical leadership that helped shape modern broadcasting. From advancing closed captioning and television audio standards to helping establish ATSC and guiding the development of digital television, his contributions have had a lasting impact on our industry."

Keller, from South Yarmouth, Mass., is survived by six children, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

President Donald Trump has nominated Danielle Thumann Severs, who is a senior counsel to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, to serve on one of the two open seats on the commission.

The nomination was sent to the U.S. Senate on Friday, where it will go through a formal process for confirmation.

“Danielle is a dedicated public servant and has consistently delivered policy wins from bridging the digital divide and protecting consumers to advancing public safety,” Carr said on X, congratulating Thumann on her nomination.

“I am deeply humbled and honored by President Trump’s nomination to serve in this role,” Thumann Severs said on X. “I look forward to the Senate confirmation process and, if confirmed, to serving our country with dedication and gratitude.”

Thumann Severs advises Carr on matters before the Wireline Bureau, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, according to her FCC biography.

She rejoined then-Commissioner Carr’s office in August 2024 after working in the private sector on government relations matters for Crown Castle, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Thumann Severs previously served as legal advisor in Commissioner Carr’s office from March 2021 until July 2023. Before that, she worked as a communications attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Wilkinson Barker Knauer.

In 2016, she earned her J.D. from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, where she was associate editor of the Law Review.

Thumann Severs received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in 2013, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Implications

The FCC requires a quorum of three commissioners to conduct commission business, according to the Communications Act. That’s how it has been operating since Olivia Trusty, a Republican, was confirmed by the Senate last year.

The quorum does not have to include members of both political parties. However, the statute limits the commission to no more than three commissioners from the same political party.

“Serving on this commission is one of the most rewarding jobs in government,” Anna Gomez, the lone Democrat commissioner, said in congratulating Thumann Severs on X. “I look forward to continuing our work together, hopefully soon with a full commission of five, the way this agency was built to operate.”

In response to the nomination, NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt also congratulated her.

“NAB congratulates Danielle Thumann Severs on her nomination to the FCC," LeGeyt said in a statement. "Danielle is a dedicated public servant who is well regarded across all sectors of the communications bar. Her extensive experience at the Commission and deep understanding of communications policy will serve her well in this important role. We look forward to working with her throughout the confirmation process and, if confirmed, as a commissioner.”

We’ll update this story with more information as it is warranted.

[This article originally appeared in our sister publication Radio World. You can access their extensive tech, business and regulatory coverage here.]

WASHINGTON—Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr has appointed Keelin Ferris as Legal Advisor in the Office of the Chairman.

Following Callie Coker’s move into the private sector earlier this summer, Ferris will join the Office to focus on matters before the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, and Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.

“The FCC works day in and day out on issues ranging from emergency alerts to protecting consumers from scams callers, from disaster recovery to modernizing our communications networks,” Carr said. “Keelin brings her talents and work ethic to the FCC to help us do this critical work for the American people – and it doesn’t hurt that she’s a graduate such an esteemed law school. I am happy to welcome her to the great FCC workforce.”

Prior to joining the FCC, Ms. Ferris was an associate at a creditor’s rights law firm. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Law and Technology and obtained a Certificate in Data Privacy and Communications from the Law and Technology Institute. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science and data science from American University where she played Division 1 soccer.

Kevin Trueblood will return for a second term as president of the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

The association announced the results of the 2026 election for its national board of directors.

Trueblood, who holds CBRE and CBNT certifications and is a member of Chapter 90 Southwest Florida, is the 34th person to hold the role of president. (See a list of all SBE presidents.)

A member since 2008, Trueblood also is a former SBE VP, secretary, treasurer and board member. He is the president of KTrue Media Services, which provides technical solutions for broadcast, digital and IT needs and is based in Fort Myers, Fla. He does that contract work in addition to his full-time job as associate general manager for WGCU Public Media.

The newly elected will be sworn in during the SBE National Meeting next month, held in conjunction with the Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic in Madison, Wis.

SBE has approximately 4,000 members in 117 chapters in the United States, Hong Kong and Eastern Europe; there are members in more than 25 other countries.

Geary S. Morrill, CPBE, AMD, CBNE, of Chapter 91 Central Michigan, has been reelected vice president, and Shane Toven, CPBE, DRB, CBNE of Chapter 43 Sacramento) was reelected to a third term as SBE secretary.

Those three roles were uncontested in the election.

Charles “Ched” Keiler, CPBE, 8-VSB, ATSC3, CBNE, of Chapter 53 South Florida, was reelected treasurer, running against Greg Dahl.

Six people were elected from among eight candidates to serve two-year terms on the board of directors (asterisks are incumbents who return):

• David Antoine*, CBRE, CBNT; Chapter 15 New York City; Charleston, SC
• Dustin Hapli*, CBNE; Chapter 26 Chicago; Chicago, IL
• Joseph Geerling, CPBE, CBNT; Chapter 55 St. Louis; St. Louis, MO
• Jeff Juniet*, CBTE; Chapter 42 Central Florida; Casselberry, FL
• Tom Ray, CPBE, AMD, DRB; Chapter 15 New York City; New Windsor, NY
• Dustin Tatro, CBRE; Chapter 67 North Texas; Abilene, TX
• Those join six others who are in the middle of two-year board terms.

Read a history of the SBE.

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand Radio World.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas—Video production and integration firm QuickLink has tapped Kane Peterson for its North American team as presales, customer success and product development engineer.

In the new post, Peterson is tasked with supporting North American customers with workflow consultation, presales guidance, onboarding and product development insights, the company said.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Kane to the QuickLink family,” QuickLink CEO Richard Rees said. “His extensive industry knowledge and customer‑centric approach make him an exceptional addition to our team as we continue expanding our presence and support across North America.”

A 34-year broadcast industry veteran, Peterson joins QuickLink after 14 years at NewTek, where he supported customers and advanced product capability. He stayed with that company through its acquisition by Vizrt, gaining additional experience in integrated production systems and IP-based workflows, QuickLink said.

“I’m excited to join QuickLink and contribute to a company that’s driving innovation in remote production and broadcast workflows,” Peterson said. “I’ve spent my career helping customers solve real‑world challenges and get the maximum functionality out of their systems, and I look forward to supporting QuickLink’s partners and users across North America as we continue to advance and evolve our solutions.”

QuickLink supplies more than 800 companies with software, hardware and cloud solutions for broadcast-quality multicamera video production and has been recognized with Emmy Awards and the Queen’s Award for Innovation.

For more information, visit its website.

EMERYVILLE, Calif.—Advanced Systems Group has elevated Michele Ferreira to chief business officer, a new role overseeing the company's business systems and operational functions.

In her new post, Ferreira, formerly vice president of ASG’s Systems Integration team, will oversee enterprise resource planning (ERP), information technology, purchasing, logistics, and other core business operations, the company said. She reports to Chief Financial Officer Amy Zeno.

Her new focus will be on ensuring that ASG’s people, processes and technologies remain aligned with its long-term strategic goals, the company said.

"Michele has been instrumental in helping ASG build the operational foundation of our system integration team and supporting its growth,” ASG President Dave Van Hoy said. “She has a unique ability to align people, processes, and technology in ways that strengthen how we operate and, ultimately, how we serve our clients.”

As VP of Systems Integration, Ferreira led the development of that business’ operational infrastructure, strengthening project management processes, improving delivery operations, and implementing business tools to enable greater efficiency, ASG said.

“My goal is to ensure that the systems supporting our business evolve in alignment with the needs of our customers,” Ferreira said. “As we continue to improve our business operations, from ERP and IT to purchasing and logistics, we're establishing a solid foundation for greater growth across the company.

“This role gives me the opportunity to connect people, processes, and technology across the company so we can work smarter, measure our progress more effectively, and provide an improved experience for our clients,” she continued. “I’m excited about the opportunity to expand and improve how we execute the many systems we deliver and services we bring to our clients. My passion for this industry grows as I can have an impact on ASG’s breadth of services and what our clients do every day.”

Ferreira can be reached at mferreira@asgllc.com. For more information, visit ASG’s website.

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—The IEEE Broadcast Technology Society (BTS) has announced that Charles Einolf of the U.S. will receive its 2025 Jules Cohen Award.

The Jules Cohen Award is the society's highest honor, recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the broadcast industry and shown unwavering integrity and professionalism, as well as a sustained commitment to sharing knowledge for the benefit of colleagues and the industry as a whole, IEEE BTS said.

The group said Dr. Einolf has demonstrated exceptional technical leadership and service to broadcasting throughout his career in several influential roles.

From 1996 to 2003, Dr. Einolf served as deputy drector of the Advanced Television Test Center (ATTC). Under his leadership, the ATTC produced objective, technically rigorous test results that were instrumental in the adoption of the Grand Alliance digital television system, which ultimately became the foundation for the ATSC digital television standard. The ATTC's reports were recognized for their depth, accuracy and professionalism. Dr. Einolf consistently stood behind the integrity of the findings, even when the results generated controversy, earning the respect and trust of colleagues throughout the industry.

Dr. Einolf also represented the U.S. on the ITU Study Group 6 delegation, where he played a key role in advocating for the preservation of broadcast spectrum. His technical expertise, thoughtful leadership and clear, well-reasoned contributions were instrumental in protecting critical spectrum resources for the broadcasting community, the group said.

In addition, Dr. Einolf served multiple terms on the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society Administrative Committee (AdCom). During his tenure, he exemplified the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and dedication to advancing broadcast technology. His leadership and service have benefited not only broadcasters and consumer electronics manufacturers, but ultimately the millions of viewers who rely on broadcast television every day.

Historically, this award has been made as part of the BTS’s Fall Symposium activities. However, there was no Fall Symposium event in 2025.

As a result, both the 2025 and 2026 awards will be made at the society’s Oct. 27–28 tech conference, rebranded this year as the “IEEE BTS Broadcast Technology Forum.”

BALTIMORE—Sinclair has awarded scholarships to 15 university students as part of its annual Sinclair Scholarship Program.

The annual program helps students complete their education and pursue careers in journalism, broadcasting, digital storytelling, marketing, public relations, communications and related fields.

“The future of this industry will be shaped by the storytellers and communicators we invest in today. These outstanding students aren't just impressive; they're a glimpse of what's coming,” Sinclair President and CEO Chris Ripley said. “Sinclair is proud to support their academic journeys and look forward to seeing the impact they make in the years ahead.”

Now in its 13th year, the program has awarded more than $480,000 in tuition assistance since its inception.

This year, Sinclair awarded $48,600 in scholarships to the following students:

• Sara Alvarez, University of Southern California
• Jocelyn Bilker, Penn State University
• Riddhi Bora, University of Texas at Austin
• Sydney Chan, Syracuse University
• Michelle Ifediba, University of California, Berkeley
• Yasmin Kerikar, Brooklyn College
• Josiah Lee, North Carolina State University
• Kelcie Lee, University of California, Berkeley
• Philip Lam, Northwestern University
• Katareena Roska, Northwestern University
• Samantha Smith, West Virginia University
• Sophie Starkey, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Abeni Townsend, Clark University
• Chloe Waites, Florida A&M University
• Josiah Wonnell, Abilene Christian University

More information about the Sinclair Scholarship and this year's recipients can be found here.

INDIANAPOLIS—The Society of Broadcast Engineers has named the late Joseph A. DiMaggio as the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year, the top honor in the 2026 SBE National Awards recognizing outstanding achievements by SBE members, local chapters and SBE Sustaining Member companies.

DiMaggio, who retired as chief engineer of NBC-owned WVIT New Britain-Hartford-New Haven, Conn., where he worked for 47 years, is being recognized posthumously for his outstanding contributions to broadcast engineering and SBE Connecticut Valley Chapter 17, of which he was a founding member.

DiMaggio and the other honorees will be recognized at the SBE 2026 National Meeting and Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic, Sept. 15-16 in Middleton, Wis.

“The SBE Awards Program recognizes the outstanding efforts of SBE members and chapters,” said Zuhlieta Ibisheva, CBTE, CBT, the SBE awards committee chair. “Peer recognition is the highest honor, and the recipients and nominees exemplify the ideal of being an SBE member.”

Also to be honored in Wisconsin is Jerry Brown, CPBE, of Oxford, N.C., this year’s James C. Wullman SBE Educator of the Year and a member of Chapter 93 Raleigh-Durham. An SBE member since 1983, Brown played a key role in creating the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcast Technology Academy in 2025. The multiweek course also utilizes SBE’s Technical Professional Training Program, the group said.

The 2026 SBE Technology Award winner is Dielectric, recognized for its RingMaster FM antenna system, a technology that delivers full-bandwith FM performance with fewer components, reduced weight and lower costs, SBE said. To date, RingMaster has been adopted in more than 20 major installations worldwide, the organization said.

The Facility Innovation of the Year Award was won by John-Erik M. Rempillo, CBPE, of CBC, for “Testing Kit on the Go,” which enables safe, off-site diagnosis and repair of faulty power supplies in the Canadian broadcaster’s NV and VS series transmitters, eliminating the risks of live-system troubleshooting. CBC used the portable kit to restore five of eight faulty modules at its Toronto operation, SBE said, saving $7,500 in procurement costs and reducing electronic waste.

Chapter 39 in Tampa, Fla., won the Best Chapter Communication Award for electronic newsletter “Quarterly Digest,” produced by Membership Chair Isaiah Chavez.

The Best Chapter or Regional or Regional Educational Event Award went to Chapter 37 Washington, D.C., for “AntennaFest 2025: Shared Signals.” Held at the Arlington, Va., headquarters of WETA Washington, AntennaFest brought together industry leaders and companies such as Nautel, American Amplifier Technologies, Dielectric, Electronics Research and American Tower Corp. for a day of expert presentations on shared antennas and combining systems, SBE said.

The SBE also recognized local chapters for driving membership growth and professional development throughout 2025, dividing honors into Class A (under 25 members) and Class B (25 or more members) based on year-end statistical data. Top statistical honors went to Chapter 85 (Central Western, Okla.) and Chapter 15 (New York City) for highest percentage growth of new members; Chapter 115 (Southern Idaho) and Chapter 131 (Inland Empire, Calif.) for highest percentage of certified members; and Chapter 38 (El Paso, Texas) and Chapter 69 (Alamo Area) for highest percentage of meeting attendance.

Individual chapters also selected their own Chapter Engineer of the Year, to be automatically considered for the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year award: Sharon Gould (Chapter 1); Joseph DiMaggio (Chapter 14); Edward Smith (Chapter 17); William Harrison (Chapter 37); Bruno Cruz (Chapter 38); Dylan Scott (Chapter 39); Saul Perez (Chapter 47); Bob Long (Chapter 70); and Davit Robakidze (Chapter 148).

For more on the SBE Awards Program, including lists of previous winners, visit the SBE’s website.

OWINGS MILLS, Md.—Maryland Public Television has announced that vice president of technology Ling Ling Sun has been promoted to chief technology officer for the statewide public television network.

Since her arrival at MPT in May, 2025, Sun has overseen the organization’s production and maintenance, transmission and distribution, and information technology units.

In her expanded CTO role, Sun now leads enterprise technology strategy, long-range planning, and execution to strengthen MPT’s operational capabilities and prepare the organization for technology-related advancements. These responsibilities are in addition to providing leadership for production services and facilities operations; overseeing the resources, infrastructure, and teams that support MPT’s content production and studio operations; and facility-based revenue initiatives.

Sun brings more than 20 years of public media experience to her expanded role at MPT, having served previously as chief technology officer for Nebraska Public Media. During her decade-long tenure at that network, her leadership resulted in a 20% increase in channel capacity, more than 20% improved energy efficiency, and the implementation of a converged statewide media network management and control system, among other accomplishments.

Before joining Nebraska Public Media, Sun spent 12 years in engineering roles at WOSU Public Media in Columbus, Ohio. As chief engineer, she played a pivotal role in the network’s analog-to-digital TV transition and the implementation of WOSU@COSI – a state-of-the-art production facility featuring an interactive public interface.

Sun is on the board of directors for the Advanced Television Systems Committee and serves as the chair of the NAB TV Technology Committee. She chaired the PBS Engineering Technology Advisory Committee from 2013 to 2018 and the National Association of Broadcasters’ BEIT Conference Program Committee in 2023 and 2024.

She has been recognized by the organization Women We Admire as a “Top 50 Women Leaders in Technology” (2022), “Top 50 Women Leaders in Media” (2023), and “Top 50 Chief Technology Officers” (2024). She also earned Broadcasting & Cable’s 2019 National Technology Leadership Award.

Sun earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Communication University of China.

LOUISVILLE, Colo.—CableLabs said Mark Bridges, currently executive vice president and chief technology officer, has been named the R&D consortium’s president and chief technology officer as of Aug. 1, and will assume the role of president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2027.

Phil McKinney, who has served as president and CEO since June 2012, will retire at year-end. McKinney will remain CEO through the end of 2026 and will continue to advise the CableLabs board of directors and Bridges throughout 2027.

“Phil transformed CableLabs from a North American research and development organization into a global innovation leader,” said Charter Communications CEO Chris Winfrey, chairman of the CableLabs board. “Under his leadership, CableLabs expanded its membership, accelerated technology development and strengthened its impact across the connectivity industry. The board is grateful for Phil’s leadership and service, and we are confident Mark is the right person to build on that foundation and lead CableLabs into its next chapter.”

Bridges has served as CableLabs’ executive vice president and chief technology officer since June 2023, leading the organization’s technology and strategy teams. Since assuming the role, he has overseen CableLabs’ core research and development programs, technology investment decisions and the strategic direction of its innovation portfolio.

As a member of the executive team, he has worked directly with member company executives on technology strategy and the development of industry specifications. Prior to becoming chief technology officer, he served as vice president of the Future Infrastructure Group and vice president of software.

"Mark has been central to CableLabs' technology strategy for more than a decade, including helping lead our expansion into cloud-native architectures, network convergence and AI,” McKinney said. “He knows this organization, he knows our members and he knows what it takes to lead at this level. I am proud of what this team has accomplished and confident in where Mark will take it next."

Said Bridges: "CableLabs has always brought the industry together to solve hard technology problems and open new frontiers for advancement,"."That mission drives us forward. I'm committed to accelerating the strong foundation Phil and our team built, and to pushing into what comes next. I look forward to working with our members, partners, employees and the broader industry to pioneer the technologies that will define the future of connectivity."

CableLabs' executive leadership team will remain in place throughout the transition.

McKinney joined CableLabs in June 2012 from Hewlett-Packard, where he served as CTO. During his tenure, CableLabs expanded its membership from 19 North American operators to more than 50 companies worldwide. Under his leadership, the organization led the development of DOCSIS® 3.1 and 4.0 technologies and the 10G suite of technologies. CableLabs also brought SCTE under its umbrella in 2021.

The organization’s patent portfolio grew from fewer than 70 patents to more than 1,000 during McKinney’s 14 years at CableLabs. The annual rate of patent generation increased more than 20-fold, extending CableLabs’ innovation impact across a broader range of technologies and markets.

More information on the transition is available here.

NEW YORK—The Board of Trustees of WNET have announced the appointment of Edward F. O'Keefe as the organization's next president and CEO.

O'Keefe succeeds Neal Shapiro, who becomes president emeritus and will retire at the end of the year after nearly two decades leading the nation's largest public media company.

O’Keefe will assume his role at WNET on September 21st. Most recently, O'Keefe served as president and CEO of the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, where he led the successful launch of the $450 million institution honoring the nation's 26th President.

Before joining the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as founding CEO, O'Keefe spent more than 20 years in broadcast and digital media leadership at ABC News, CNN, and NowThis.

During his journalism career, he earned numerous honors, including a Primetime Emmy Award for his work with Anthony Bourdain, two Webby Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a George Foster Peabody Award as part of ABC News' coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks. He is also the author of The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women in the Arena, published in 2024 by Simon & Schuster.

"Ed O'Keefe is the right leader for WNET due to his exceptional combination of nonprofit leadership, editorial excellence, digital innovation, and operational expertise," said James Attwood, chairman of the WNET Board of Trustees. “He is uniquely qualified to lead our organization at a pivotal moment for public media. Ed brings the vision, energy, and strategic leadership needed to build on WNET's extraordinary legacy while positioning the organization for the future."

“Returning to my roots to lead an institution as vital as WNET is a profound honor,” said O’Keefe. “Independent public media is uniquely insulated from the commercial pressures squeezing legacy media and streaming, giving us a rare opportunity to innovate and meet audiences wherever they are. Our mission is to tell the stories that need and deserve to be told. Neal Shapiro has built an extraordinary legacy, and I look forward to working closely with him for a smooth and successful transition.”

A former entrepreneurship fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, O'Keefe graduated with honors from Georgetown University. A native of North Dakota, he lives in New York with his wife, their two children, and a Bernese Mountain dog.

CINCINNATI—The E.W. Scripps Company has promoted Dean Littleton to president of media, combining leadership of the company’s enterprise television and broadcast operations under Littleton in a newly created role for the company.

In the new post, Littleton will oversee Scripps’ complete television business: its local media portfolio of approximately 60 TV stations, its national Scripps Networks division, which includes ION and the company’s portfolio of multicast and digital networks and Scripps News, the company’s 24/7 national streaming news service.

Littleton previously served as executive vice president of media broadcast operations and senior vice president of local media after joining Scripps in 2017 as general manager of KMGH Denver7 and KCDO The Spot – Scripps’ ABC affiliate and independent TV stations in Denver.

“Dean has been instrumental in driving operational excellence across our local media platform while creating a more durable and sustainable business model for local journalism,” said Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson. “As Scripps executes its transformation plan, Dean is the right mission-focused leader to ensure our media businesses operate with the speed, creativity and growth mindset that will create lasting value for the audiences, advertisers, employees and shareholders we serve.”

Before joining Scripps, Littleton held leadership roles at local television stations in Knoxville and Denver, including general manager at WATE-TV and general sales manager positions at WVLT-TV, KUSA-TV and WBIR-TV. He began his career as a news photographer and editor.

“Scripps has built one of the most powerful video distribution platforms in the country, and we have a strong opportunity to steer the evolution of video-led media by staying focused on what matters most – connecting communities across the country with essential news, weather, sports and entertainment from brands they trust,” said Littleton. “I’m honored to lead our talented teams who are dedicated to our mission of creating connection for audiences across every platform, and I’m committed to building on the strong foundation we’ve established to drive growth and innovation across our local and national brands.”

Littleton serves as immediate past chair of the ABC Affiliate Board of Governors and the Colorado Broadcasters Association. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He will be based in Cincinnati.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—National Content & Technology Cooperative (“NCTC”) has promoted Brian Jones to chief financial officer.

During his more than three decades with NCTC, Jones has been instrumental in supporting the organization’s financial management and operational success. He has worked closely with NCTC’s Board of Directors and member companies, programmers, and suppliers, building trusted relationships and helping guide the organization through periods of growth, change, and continued member service. Jones previously served as Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations and has been a dedicated member of the NCTC team for 34 years.

“Brian has been a steady and trusted leader at NCTC for many years,” said Lou Borrelli, CEO of NCTC. “His experience, integrity, and deep understanding of our members, suppliers and our organization make him a natural choice for Chief Financial Officer. We are excited to see him take on this expanded leadership role.”

In his new role, Jones will lead NCTC’s finance function and continue to support operational planning, financial reporting, and strategic decision-making across the organization. His promotion reflects both his long-standing contributions to NCTC and the important role he will continue to play in serving NCTC’s members.

“I am honored to step into the CFO role and continue working with NCTC’s leadership, Board of Directors, and members,” said Jones. “NCTC has been a major part of my professional life, and I am proud to contribute to its continued success.”

The National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) is a Kansas-based, not-for-profit corporation comprised of more than 650 independent broadband and cable operators serving one-third of the connected households in all 50 United States and territories.

SAN FRANCISCO—The non-profit media organization CatchLight has announced a new equipment initiative with Sony Electronics (Sony) that will put powerful professional camera and video tools directly in the hands of local visual journalists.

The effort aims to help local newsrooms facing limited staffing and shrinking resources as they attempt to grapple with the growing demand for visual reporting.

Through the initiative, Sony will provide 24 professional Alpha camera and video kits to select CatchLight Local member newsrooms, including 16 CatchLight Local Fellows and Report for America Corps Members.

Each kit includes professional equipment, including full-frame cameras, telephoto zoom lenses, digital shotgun microphones, and external flash with wireless radio control.

“Access to high-quality camera equipment is one of the greatest barriers to entry for visual journalists who help us better understand the world around us,” said Elodie Mailliet, CEO of CatchLight. “This partnership with Sony helps close that gap by equipping visual journalists with the resources they need to document the people, issues, and events shaping their communities.”

In addition to equipment kits, Sony will also provide access to Sony Pro Support memberships, technical support representatives, and online training sessions that can be accessed through CatchLight’s learning library.

“Sony looks to collaborate with organizations with similar goals and CatchLight’s mission couldn’t be better aligned with our joint purpose to help empower emerging visual journalists,” said Theresa Alesso, president, Imaging Products and Solutions Americas, Sony Electronics. “By providing access to in-demand professional imaging technology, as well as industry connections and placements, we’re proud to help support an initiative that is elevating careers and enhancing storytelling while fulfilling a need in local newsrooms – for the benefit of all.”

CatchLight seeks to establish the long-term sustainability of visual journalism by working with partner newsrooms and community-based visual journalists to provide information to the public. Annually, CatchLight provides three fellowships and field grants to develop long-form storytelling projects and engage audiences.

CatchLight is supported by a number of philanthropic funders and partners, including: Arnold Ventures, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, Enlight Foundation, The John S and James L Knight Foundation, Kresge Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Press Forward, Report for America, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and their education partner PhotoWings.