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.

McLEAN, Va.—Tegna has promoted Scott Gill to vice president of operations, responsible for overseeing engineering, technology and sports operations across the group’s 64 local stations.

He’ll be tasked with leading efforts to strengthen station performance, modernize infrastructure and support the delivery of the company’s journalism product across broadcast, streaming and mobile platforms.

Gill, who joined Tegna in 2012, was most recently head of technology and sports operations.

[Also Read: Court Denies Stay of Nexstar-Tegna Merger]

“Scott brings a unique combination of operational expertise, technical leadership and innovation to this position,” said Kurt Rao, Tegna executive vice president, chief technology and digital products officer. “He's played a critical role in advancing our stations’ technology, and he has the expertise we need to strengthen our operations as we continue to shape the future of local media.”

As head of technology and sports operations, Gill defined and executed technological and operational strategies across Tegna’s broadcast station while supporting its NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB and other live sports properties, as well as nationally syndicated programming.

He also directed and managed Tegna’s drone and helicopter technologies and pilot operations.

“I’m excited to take on this new role leading tech and operations teams across Tegna,” Gill said. “Local journalism depends on strong technology. I look forward to working with our station leaders to strengthen the tools our newsrooms rely on to serve our communities.”

Before joining Tegna, Gill worked for 10 years in field operations at Fox News Channel. He also worked at Harpo Productions on The Oprah Winfrey Show and at several TV stations and production facilities. Outside of broadcasting, he is a former emergency medical technician and a pilot, Tegna said.

TV Tech is now accepting nominations for the IBC2026 Best of Show Award.

The awards are open to IBC2026 show exhibitors and offer a valuable platform for companies to raise awareness for the new products and solutions they will be launching or showcasing at the RAI Amsterdam, Sept. 11-14.

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

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

The nomination page includes answers to frequently asked questions. Deadline for entry is August 28th.

ALBANY, N.Y.—The New York State Broadcasters Association has named Heidi Raphael its president and CEO.

Raphael, currently chief communications officer of radio and digital media company Beasley Media Group, will direct the NYBSA’s government relations and advocacy efforts in Albany and in Washington, D.C., the group said.

The Western New York native succeeds David Donovan, who is transitioning out of the group’s president and CEO role later this year after 15 years as its leader.

“We are thrilled to welcome Heidi Raphael as the next President and CEO of the New York State Broadcasters Association,” said NYSBA Chairman Chris Musial, the vice president and general manager of WBBZ-TV Buffalo. “Heidi brings an exceptional combination of leadership experience, industry knowledge and passion for broadcasting. We are confident she is the right leader to guide NYSBA into its next chapter while continuing the outstanding work David Donovan has led over the past decade and a half.”

Raphael joins the NYSBA after a 30-year career in broadcasting, communications, public affairs and industry advocacy. During her decade-long tenure at Beasley, she led the company’s communications strategy, strengthened its industry presence and supported its major corporate initiatives and strategic growth efforts, NYSBA said.

Prior to Beasley, Raphael was with privately held broadcaster Greater Media for more than 20 years, rising through the corporate ranks to become senior VP, corporate communications, the NYSBA said.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — As media technology workflows become increasingly software-defined, IP-based, and interconnected, organizations need professionals with the skills to implement, manage and support them. To help meet that need, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) is expanding access to practical, industry-focused education through open standards, foundational learning, instructor-led education, and hands-on training.

Building on its open-access Standards Library, SMPTE's education offerings help professionals progress from learning the fundamentals to applying them in real-world IP media environments. The journey begins with the free, self-paced ”Essentials of Media over IP (EMIP)” course available on-demand, and continues with the instructor-led “Understanding SMPTE ST 2110” virtual course, beginning July 21.

Developed in collaboration with EVS, the free EMIP course introduces the fundamentals of IP networking for media. Participants can then continue with “Understanding SMPTE ST 2110,” where live instruction, demonstrations, and interactive discussions explore the standards, technologies, and workflows used in professional IP media facilities.

Graduates of Understanding SMPTE ST 2110 are eligible to participate in the SMPTE ST 2110 Practical Lab, an immersive hands-on experience developed in collaboration with Lawo. Understanding SMPTE ST 2110 is a prerequisite for the Practical Lab, where participants configure, synchronize, test, and troubleshoot IP media systems using technologies from leading industry partners including Lawo, Arista Networks, Meinberg, Bridge Technologies, Matrox Video, AJA Video Systems, Macnica, Leader Electronics, NVIDIA, Embrionix, and others.

The course is led by Willem Vermost (EBU), Wim Van Roy (Lawo), Gerard Phillips (Arista Networks), Chris Lapp (Cisco) and Leigh Whitcomb (Meinberg). Guest lecturers include Felix Poulin (Radio-Canada), Andreas Hildebrand (Lawo), Olivier Ettlin (Simplexity), Pedro Ferreira (Bisect), Stefan Ledergerber (Simplexity) and François Legrand (Radio-Canada).

“Making SMPTE standards freely accessible was the first step,” said Maja Davidovic, director of education at SMPTE. “We’re building on that foundation with a connected learning experience that takes professionals from foundational knowledge to practical application, helping them develop the skills needed for today's evolving media technology landscape.”

Beyond its online courses and hands-on training, SMPTE delivers immersive education through the SMPTE Roadshow at NAB Show New York, technical programming at IBC and the annual SMPTE Media Technology Summit, giving media professionals opportunities to continue developing their expertise throughout the year.

Registration is now open for the next session of “Understanding SMPTE ST 2110,” beginning July 21. Learn more and register here.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters has launched a redesigned Spot Center website that makes it even easier for local radio and television stations to access high-quality public service campaigns from trusted nonprofit organizations.

Local broadcasters have a long history of serving their communities beyond news and entertainment by being involved in local issues and organizations with PSAs, volunteer efforts, education or fundraising.

The NAB's Spot Center is designed to support that mission by providing stations with educational resources to inform and engage their audiences.

The improvements to the site aim to provide a cleaner, more intuitive experience where broadcasters can browse, download and voluntarily air public service announcements on issues affecting their communities, including heatstroke, Alzheimer’s and drug-impaired driving.

More specifically, the NAB’s Spot Center includes:

• Broadcast-ready public service materials for local stations.
• Free-to-use campaigns available at no cost to broadcasters.
• Credible content from established organizations on important public issues.

More information on the new Spot Center is available here.

ALBANY, N.Y.—The New York State Broadcasters Association, has announced a new class of inductees for the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony will take place at a luncheon gala in the Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, on Oct. 22.

“The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 sets the ‘gold standard’ for broadcasters throughout New York State and the nation,” NYBSA President David Donovan said. “The inductees represent a lifetime of achievement serving their profession and their communities. We are honored to have them join the Hall of Fame.”

This year’s inductees are:

Bill Ritter — Journalist/ Anchor — WABC-TV, New York
Bill Ritter started at WABC’s “Eyewitness News” in 1998, anchoring weekends while working full time Monday through Friday as a correspondent for ABC News and “20/20”. In 1999, he began anchoring the 11 p.m. newscast and then added the 6 p.m. newscast in 2001. Ritter stepped away from anchoring in June 2026 following a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s. He will continue to cover special projects for Eyewitness News, with a focus on Alzheimer’s and related conditions.

Ritter has reported major events since joining ABC as founding co-host of “Good Morning America Sunday” in 1993.

Originally from Los Angeles, he reported on both the Rodney King trial and the subsequent riots in the city for Foxearly in his career. Between August 1991 and February 1992, Ritter worked as a reporter for Fox’s nationally syndicated show “Entertainment Daily Journal.” From February 1990 to August 1991, he was an investigative reporter at Fox-owned KTTV-TV Los Angeles, where he also anchored coverage of the Gulf War. He began his television career as a business and investigative reporter for KNSD-TV (an NBC affiliate) in San Diego from February 1987 to January 1990. Before working in television, Ritter was a reporter and business editor for the San Diego County edition of the Los Angeles Times and worked as a reporter and editor at the San Diego Business Journal.

Ritter received the NYSBA Excellence in Broadcasting Award for “Operation 7: Save a Life,” which promoted fire safety. He was a board member and chairman of Crash Inc., a San Diego drug prevention nonprofit, and served on the San Diego State University Business School Advisory Board from 1984 to 1985.

Ritter earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from The New School in Manhattan. He graduated in May 2016, 44 years after initially being expelled from San Diego State University for leading an anti-war protest.

Rosanna Scotto — Journalist/Anchor — WNYW, New York

Rosanna Scotto has been with Fox-owned WNYW News since 1986. The Emmy Award winning journalist is currently co-host of “Good Day New York.” Scotto began her career at WTBS Atlanta, where she was a reporter for two local programs and an associate producer of the station's evening newscast. She returned to her native New York in the early 1980s as a reporter for WABC-TV’s “Good Morning New York,” which eventually became “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.” A year later, Scotto joined WABC-TV's “Eyewitness News" as a reporter, where she remained until she joined Fox 5.

Scotto has covered the tri-state area, and her assignments have taken her to Israel, Rome, across the United States. As a reporter, she won an endless string of coveted assignments including the first exclusive interview with Diana Bianchi, the other woman in the Christie Brinkley divorce case, the Woody Allen/Mia Farrow child custody battle, the notorious "Preppie Murder Trial," and the trials of Joel Steinberg and the "Swiss Nanny." Scotto also led FOX 5 News to the forefront in getting Marty Tankleff a new trial and was granted an exclusive interview with him in jail.

Scotto has won six Emmys for anchoring FOX 5 News at 10 and Good Day New York. She won the 1995 New York State Associated Press First Place Award for her report "New York Survival Guide." She is also the winner of three other Associated Press First Place Awards, including two special Associated Press Award nominations.

Scotto has received a host of honors and awards for her community service work. She is a graduate of Catholic University and received honorary doctorates from Mount St. Mary College and St. John's University. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Scotto lives in the New York area with her husband and their two children.

Sid Rosenberg – Morning Host – 77WABC Radio, New York City

Sid Rosenberg is the nationally known host of the morning show on 77 WABC in New York City. Sid connects with his audience because he is the audience. A native of Brooklyn, Sid is as New York as you can get –- he shares his honest opinion, and he doesn’t hold back. Sid has direct access to some of the most powerful people in New York, the country, and the world. His interviews are insightful and range from informative to entertaining — often both at the same time!

His radio career started in Florida in the late 1990’s, with the syndicated sports radio program, “The Drive on Sports Fan Radio Network.” In 2000, he returned to New York City to co-host WNEW-FM's morning show, the “Sports Guys.” A year later, he joined the “Imus in the Morning” program, sharing sports broadcasting duties with Warner Wolf before becoming the full-time sports reporter. In addition, he became the co-host of the midday show on WFAN, holding both broadcasting positions until 2005. Sid also hosted the radio pre-game shows for New York Giants home games. In 2016, Rosenberg became the co-host of the “Bernie and Sid Show” on 77 WABC, with Bernard McGuirk and was a sports contributor for “Imus in the Morning.” On March 8, 2018, Rosenberg and Bernard McGuirk replaced the retiring Don Imus. Following McGuirk's death, Bernie and Sid in the Morning became known as “Sid and Friends in the Morning.”

He is the author of “You're Wrong and You're Ugly: The Highs and Lows of a Radio Bad Boy” and “Sid-izens United: Salacious Spiels, Stories, Suggestions, and Solutions to Withstand a Woke World.” He has BA in Business from Baruch College. He and his wife Danielle were married in 1992 and have two children.

Dan Miner – Station Manager - WCKM-FM, WCQL-FM, WWSC-AM & FM, and WDKM-FM, Glens Falls

Dan Miner made his on-air debut in 1983 on WGFR-FM, SUNY-Adirondack’s college radio station in Glens Falls, where he was also named student of the year. Miner made his professional debut less than a month later on WIPS-AM in Ticonderoga and WXTY-FM later that year. Miner would go full-time on WXTY after graduation. Miner not only took his regular air shifts, including mornings, but also covered local sports for the combo, including play-by-play duties for football, basketball and baseball. He also covered the Adirondack Red Wings for the stations. Miner was the station’s Operations Manager from 1986 to 1991. In 1991, Miner moved to WENU-FM where he would do afternoon drive, production, play-by-play and cover the Adirondack Red Wings. In the fall of 1992, Miner became the arena host for the Red Wings and host of Red Wings Rap, a weekly hockey show. Miner would take over for morning drive in ’94 on WSTL-FM. In June of 1996, he worked at WHTR-FM, WBZA-AM and WENU-FM as the morning drive host and operations manager. In 1997, Miner found his way to WCKM-FM as the host of “The Morning Club,” where he has been since. Miner is the “go-to” voice for local professional sports, having been on the mic for local professional hockey teams as the pubic-address nnouncer including the Adirondack Thunder since 1999. He was inducted into The Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020. Miner is also the PA announcer for the Glens Falls Greenjackets football team. Miner is also the host and owner of The Talkin’ Smack Podcast. Miner, the winner of multiple NYSBA Awards, continues as the station manager for WCKM-FM, WCQL-FM, WWSC-AM & FM, and WDKM-FM.

Pete Cloutier — Morning Co-Host and Sales — WCKM-FM, Glens Falls
Pete Cloutier started on the radio in 1966 on WWSC-AM. Pete’s career started with “Saturday Night a Go-Go,” the first rock ‘n’ roll show in the tri-counties. He took rock ’n’ roll dedications and requests for six hours every Saturday night. Cloutier also brought the first rock ‘n’ roll show to Glens Falls in 1966 with Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Cloutier found his way into promotions with a very successful run of WWSC’s “Battle of the Bands” promotions to standing-room crowds. Cloutier left WWSC in 1983 but found his way back to radio in 1987, creating a new Saturday night show, “Great Gold Plus” on WAYI-FM. Cloutier also made his debut in sales, capitalizing on his on-air popularity. In 1989, Cloutier began producing more concerts. He worked with the top names in the industry for a successful run of shows at the Glens Falls Civic Center and an almost 30-year run of “Summer Jam” shows. Cloutier moved to WKBE-FM for sales, promotions and the continuation of his Saturday night show in 1991. In 1994, Cloutier was on the move again, this time for his last stop on WCKM-FM, once again with sales and promotions and also to take on the sidekick role on “The Morning Club,” which he still holds down today at the age of 81.

Chuck Samuels — VP & General Manager — WHAM-TV, Rochester (retired)
Samuels retired last November following a distinguished 19-year tenure as vice president and general manager of WHAM-TV, Rochester, N.Y.’s ABC and The CW affiliate, and WUHF-TV, Rochester’s Fox affiliate.

A 1983 graduate of the University of Florida with a master’s degree in journalism and communication, Samuels was also an All-America swimmer at Florisa. He began his broadcasting career at country music station WDVH Gainesville, Fla., where he reported and anchored afternoon drive newscasts. He also contributed color commentary and pool-deck interviews for swimming events televised by ESPN. Samuels later held producing roles in Jacksonville and Tampa before joining KDKA-TV Pittsburgh in 1988, where he advanced to executive producer and assistant news director.

In 1993, Samuels was named News Director at WKBW-TV Buffalo, N.Y. Three years later, he moved to WHAM-TV Rochester, where he was news director for nearly a decade, then was promoted to vice president and general manager in 2006. Under Samuels’ leadership, WHAM earned three National Edward R. Murrow Awards and numerous regional honors. His team also launched Buffalo Plus, a successful podcast focused on the Buffalo Bills.

Samuels was actively involved in the Rochester community, serving on boards for organizations including the Rochester Ad Council, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Cancer Society. From 2008 until his retirement, Samuels served on the board of the New York State Broadcasters and served on the Executive Committee. Following his retirement, Samuels returned to Gainesville with his wife, Diane, bringing his career full circle.

Bob Krummenacker — VP & General Manager — WBNG-TV, Binghamton (retired)
Bob Krummenacker retired last October after a 44-year career with Gray Media’s Binghamton, N.Y., properties, WBNG-TV (CBS), Binghamton’s CW and MeTV, serving in his final role as Vice President and General Manager. Bob dedicated the last 14 years to developing the leadership and driving strategic direction of the market’s dominant station and news leader. In that time, Bob managed a complete station rebrand from on-air graphics, news set, and marketing to the station’s ever-expanding digital capabilities. He guided the sales operation to execute multiple new revenue-generating programs to leverage the station’s leading position and strengths to deliver record-setting accomplishments and business results to create value for WBNG-TV and its partners.

Krummenacker started his television career at WBNG-TV in 1981 as an Account Executive. His strong business skills and personable demeanor helped him advance quickly to other positions at the station, including local sales manager, regional sales manager, new business development manager and general sales manager. Throughout his career, Krummenacker committed to industry excellence through his involvement in the National Association of Broadcasters and the New York State Broadcasters Association. He is a graduate of NAB’s Broadcast Leadership Program completed through Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. In addition, he served as a past chairman of the New York State Broadcasters Association. As a long-time member of the board of directors, he also served on the Finance Board and Investment committee for NYSBA. For his contributions to the industry, Krummenacker was recognized by the Radio & Television Business Report as a Top Local TV Leader in 2020.

Krummenacker’s commitment to the people of Binghamton is unsurpassed, serving as a founding board member of the Binghamton Ad Club, co-founder of Sock Out Cancer, giving more than 15 years of service to both the Binghamton Boys and Girls Club and the American Red Cross. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Visions Veterans Memorial Arena and the Friends of the Forum.

Bob graduated from Fredonia University, earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in economics. Prior to WBNG-TV, he was an account executive at WQYT radio in Binghamton, rounding out a remarkable 46-year career in media in a single local marketplace.

For information about the New York State Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame, visit the NYSBA website.

ORLANDO—Melissa Medalie has been promoted to senior vice president and regional general manager of Fox Television Stations’ Florida properties, which consists of WTVT Fox 13 Tampa Bay, WOFL Fox 35 Orlando, Fox 35 Plus WRBW, and WOGX Fox 51 in Gainesville.

Medalie assumes this position effective August 2026, reporting directly to Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations (FTS).

FTS also announced that current senior vice president and general manager of the Fox Florida stations, Jeff Maloney, who has been with FTS for over 30 years, will retire at the end of July.

In making the announcement, Abernethy stated, “We would like to thank Jeff for over thirty years of service to FTS and particularly his dedication as a true steward of the Florida communities. As we celebrate his tremendous impact on the stations, we are confident that Melissa’s proven knowledge of our business and dedication to both our teams and viewers will be instrumental in the continued success of WOFL and WTVT.”

Melissa Medalie has been with WOFL Fox 35 for 17 years. Since 2019, she has served as vice president and news director for the duopoly, as well as WOGX Gainesville. Throughout her tenure at the station, Medalie held the roles of assistant news director, senior executive producer and special projects manager, executive producer of “Good Day Orlando” and she began at the station as an executive producer for “Fox 35 News at 5 p.m.” and “Fox 35 News at 6 p.m.”

Before joining WOFL, Medalie served as managing editor and executive producer for Ivanhoe Broadcast News. Earlier, she was a reporter for WHP-TV in Harrisburg, PA, WTVH in Syracuse, NY, and WENY-TV in Elmira, NY. Medalie began her career in broadcasting as a morning anchor and producer for WENY Radio in Elmira, NY. A graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication, Medalie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism.

“I am thrilled to lead these two powerhouse stations during such a dynamic time for our industry,” Medalie added. “By building upon the incredible success of the talented journalists and teams at WOFL Fox 35 and WTVT Fox 13, we will drive the next generation of innovation to better serve our communities across Florida.”

Jeff Maloney has been with FTS for 32 years, spending the last 23 with WTVT Fox 13 Tampa Bay. In 2024, he was named senior vice president and regional general manager for FTS’s Florida properties, adding WOFL Fox 35 Orlando, Fox 35 Plus WRBW, and WOGX Fox 51 in Gainesville to his responsibilities. Prior to that, Maloney spent 14 years as senior vice president and general manager of WTVT Fox 13 Tampa Bay, also overseeing the Fox Graphics Hub. Previously, he spent seven years as the station’s vice president of sales.

Prior to this, Maloney spent nearly ten years in sales positions for KSTU Fox 13, the then Fox-owned station in Salt Lake City, including roles as national sales manager, local sales manager and eventually, vice president and general sales manager. Earlier in his career, he was with Katz Communications in Los Angeles. Maloney began his television sales career as a Broadcasting Negotiator for the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson.

A graduate of Pepperdine University’s Seaver College, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications.

“After 32 rewarding years of growth with the company, a journey with Fox from Salt Lake City to Florida, I am incredibly thankful for a career path that allowed me to learn from some of the industry’s finest leaders, including Jack Abernethy as he continues to guide us in connecting with our core customer. I leave immensely proud of our organization and the second-to-none dedication of our exceptional journalists at WTVT Fox 13 and WOFL Fox 35, confident that Melissa will build upon this legacy and drive us into the future,” Maloney said.

WTVT Fox 13 Tampa Bay, WOFL Fox 35/Fox 35 Plus WRBW Orlando, and WOGX Fox 51 Gainesville are part of the Fox Television Stations which owns and operates 29 full power broadcast television stations in the U.S. These include stations located in 14 of the top 15 largest designated market areas, or DMAs, and duopolies in 11 DMAs, including the three largest DMAs (New York, Los Angeles and Chicago). Of these stations, 18 are affiliated with the Fox Network. In addition to distributing sports, entertainment and syndicated content, the television stations collectively produce approximately 1,200 hours of local news every week. These stations leverage viewer, distributor and advertiser demand for the Fox Network’s national content.

NEW YORK—Fox Television Stations has named Robert Lydick senior vice president of engineering, operations and technology for Fox Television Stations.

Lydick will report directly to FTS CEO Jack Abernethy and oversee all engineering, operations, and technology functions for the station group.

Lydick assumes his new role July 13, succeeding Tim Joyce, who retired at the end of June.

“Robert has been a key player at Tegna for over a decade and is a great fit for this role,“ Abernathy said. æHe has tremendous knowledge of our core stations business and a deep understanding of how to manage engineering and technology operations. He is a terrific addition to an already strong FTS bench of executives.”

Lydick was an engineering, technology and operations executive with station group Tegna for 15 yeears, most recently as VP of station operations and technology.

Before that, he was VP of information technology and station operations, overseeing day-to-day station operations, enterprise IT, cybersecurity and special projects. Before his coroprate roles, he was regional head of technology for Tegna stations KSDK St. Louis and KARE-TV Minneapolis.

Lydick began his media career more than 24 years ago at USA Today (then Gannett) where he held the positions of information analyst, project and planning analyst, and project and planning manager. A graduate of the University of Lynchburg, he holds a bachelor’s in business administration.

“Joining the Fox Television Stations is an exciting opportunity,” Lydick said. “I'm looking forward to working with an amazing team on some of local journalism's biggest technical challenges. I'm humbled to be in the role and can't wait to get started.”

Joyce was senior vice president of engineering, operations, and technology for FTS since January. Before that, he was senior vice president of media and broadcast engineering for Fox Corp. for nearly three ears.

Previously, Joyce served as the senior vice president of technology business relations for Fox Networks Group in Los Angeles, and before that, as vice president of broadcast operations for Fox Networks Group in Europe and Africa. He spent 6 years as vice president of operations and production services for National Geographic Channels International. Joyce began his career as a senior editor for Fox Latin American Channels. A graduate of the University of Southern California, he holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Spanish.

“Tim is an incredibly talented executive with experience across multiple roles and has been a vital part of transforming and advancing our engineering and technology systems," Abernethy said. "His intelligence, energy, and leadership skills have impressed me since his first day here and we wish him all the best on a well-deserved retirement even as we regret seeing him go.”

Added Joyce: “After 27 years at Fox—from Fox Latin American Channels to National Geographic, Fox International Channels Europe, Fox Tech, and Fox Television Stations—I've learned that while companies evolve and technology changes, it's the people who make the journey unforgettable. Thank you for being the best part of mine.”

FTS owns and operates 29 full-power U.S. television stations, including outlets in nine of the 10 largest DMAs and duopolies in 11 markets, including the top-3 DMAs of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Florida Association of Broadcasters has named Heather Lomagistro president and Chief Executive Officer, effective today.

Lomagistro most recently served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. She succeeds Pat Roberts, the association’s longtime leader, who will transition to the role of president emeritus.

“FAB is strong because of its people—the best executive committee, board and staff anywhere,” said Lomagistro. “My focus is on protecting what makes us special, sharpening how we operate, and making sure we are ready for whatever the future of broadcasting brings — with Florida’s broadcasters at the center of everything we do.”

She also paid tribute to her predecessor. “Pat leaves a legacy few in any industry will ever match. He has been the steady, fierce voice for Florida’s broadcasters, and he built something that will outlast us all,” she said.

FAB Chairman John Soapes and Immediate Past Chairman Lara Kunkler welcomed the transition on behalf of the Board and the Executive Committee.

Soapes reflected on both Roberts’ tenure and the Board’s confidence in his successor.

Roberts first joined FAB in 1987 as a consultant and became President in 1988. He has guided the Association ever since, helping grow it into one of the nation’s most respected state broadcasting associations and a leading voice for Florida’s radio and television broadcasters before state and federal lawmakers, the FCC, and emergency management partners. His nearly four decades of service make him the longest-serving president of any state broadcasters association in the country.

“Leading FAB has been the honor of my career, and it is a place I will always champion. What I’ll carry with me isn’t any one fight we won — it’s the people, the stations, and the communities they serve. Entrusting it to Heather makes this transition an easy one. FAB is in better hands than ever,” said Roberts.

As president emeritus, Roberts will serve in an advisory and advocacy-focused role, lending his decades of experience to support FAB during the transition.

More information is available on the association’s website.

LONDON—Synamedia appointed Dr Tzvi Gerstl Chief Executive Officer. Paul Segre, who has served as CEO for the past six years, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, where he will continue to provide strategic guidance and support the company's long-term growth agenda.

The company said that the appointment marks the next step in Synamedia's development following the divestiture of its video network business.

Earlier in June, Lumine Group Inc. announced that one of its subsidiaries has entered into an agreement to acquire the video network business from Synamedia. As part of the agreement, Lumine is setting up a new independent company operating under the name of its primary product name, Quortex.

In the wake of the deal, which will give it a sharper strategic focus and a streamlined operating model, Synamedia said it will focus on helping operators and media companies attract, engage, and monetize audiences through exceptional video experiences.

Gerstl has played a central role in shaping and executing the strategy at the heart of Synamedia's next phase. He has driven significant improvements in innovation, execution, and customer outcomes. Under his leadership, the company has accelerated and established new momentum through customer wins with BFBS, MTN, Mileto, Partner Communications, and YES as well as the launch of GO Shorts and the award-winning Senza Ignite.

"We have spent the last several years transforming Synamedia, strengthening our portfolio and positioning the company around a clear strategy focused on our customers and the future of video," said Paul Segre, Executive Chairman of Synamedia. "With the simplification of our business model and strong momentum across the company, now is the right time to transition leadership to the person best positioned to accelerate our growth.

"Tzvi understands our customers because he spends time with them, our technology because he's helped shape it, and our business because he has been instrumental in its success," continued Segre. "The Board and I are confident there is no better person to lead Synamedia into its next chapter. I look forward to continuing to support Tzvi and the leadership team as Executive Chairman."

"The media industry is navigating profound change as audiences increasingly expect video experiences that are personalized, mobile, and available everywhere," said Gerstl. "At the same time, operators and media companies need to grow audiences, create new revenue streams, and reduce complexity. That is exactly where Synamedia can make a real difference.

"The future of video will be shaped by those who can attract audiences, monetize effectively, and simplify operations,” he added. “Synamedia brings together streaming, advertising, monetization, security, and audience engagement to help customers achieve those outcomes. I am proud to lead one of the most talented teams in the industry and excited about the value we can create with our customers and partners as we enter Synamedia's next chapter."

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Gravity Media USA, a provider of production, content and media services and facilities, has hired Brittney Boston as head of business development.

Based in Nashville, Boston’s charge is to lead its business development strategy and drive revenue growth across its RF and wireless solutions, production flypack services and production and managed services offerings, the company said. She’ll work closely with Gravity Media USA’s leadership team to focus on strengthening customer partnerships and developing new opportunities across the region, Gravity Media said.

“The opportunity to join the team at such an exciting stage of growth is incredibly exciting,” Boston said. “I'm looking forward to working with talented teams across the business to build new partnerships, expand our client base and help drive the next phase of growth for Gravity Media USA.”

Prior to Gravity, Boston had founded and operated Supreme Republic Entertainment, a consultancy serving major record labels, production companies and Fortune 500 brands, the company said. She brings 13 years of experience on such major events as the Grammy Awards, Oscars and Emmy Awards, as well as with the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Clippers.

“Brittney joins Gravity Media as we continue to expand our U.S. operations and invest in the growing demand for RF, specialist cameras and live production services,” Nathan Spencer, managing director of Gravity Media USA, said. “Her extensive experience across sports and entertainment, along with her strong commercial track record, will be instrumental in strengthening customer partnerships and driving the next phase of the business’ growth.”

Gravity Media is a media services, facilities, production and content company that delivers end-to-end media services and solutions to broadcasters, rightsholders and production houses in 37 locations across 10 countries, including such highly watched events as the UEFA Euro Championships, Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, Formula E, the Tour de France and the U.S. Open tennis tournament, as well as programs such as “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” and “I Kissed a Boy.”

WASHINGTON—Broadcast Management Group (BMG), a leader in live production, creative services, and broadcast managed services, has appointed Kathy Samuels as director of creative services.

In her new role, Samuels will lead BMG's growing Creative Services division, helping clients develop, execute, and distribute live broadcasts, streaming channels, sports programming, brand activations, live events, enterprise communications and audience experiences that combine compelling storytelling with Tier 1 broadcast production execution, the company said..

Over the past year, Samuels was strategic accounts manager for BMG, overseeing key client relationships across sports, entertainment, media and enterprise organizations. In that role, she worked closely with clients to align creative strategy, production workflows, and operational execution while supporting some of BMG's most visible and complex initiatives, the company said.

“Kathy brings an exceptional combination of creative leadership, production expertise, and show format development,” BMG CEO Todd Mason said. “Her experience launching shows, building show formats, building content teams, developing talent and leading complex productions makes her uniquely qualified to lead our expanding Creative Services division as we continue expanding our work across sports, entertainment, financial services, news, and enterprise clients.”

Samuels has spent nearly 30 years as a producer, showrunner, media executive and content strategist across broadcast television, digital media and live production. She has helped launch such nationally recognized programs as Access Hollywood, Rachael Ray, and Katie, while holding leadership roles at NBC, CBS, ABC, Hasbro, Joyus and other media organizations.

A Daytime Emmy, Telly and Davey Award-winning producer and showrunner, Samuels has built a reputation for creating content and audience experiences that connect across television, streaming, live events, branded content and emerging media platforms, BMG said. Her expertise spans creative development, talent strategy, show creation, content production, studio production, and multiplatform storytelling, according to the company.

MIAMI—WFOR-TV, branded on-air as CBS Miami, is partnering with Neighbors 4 Neighbors and Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), to launch “Hope 4 Venezuela,” a relief initiative supporting families impacted by the devastating earthquakes in that country.

Doral, Fla.-based WFOR’s coverage area is home to the largest Venezuelan population in the United States. The station is using its community connections to mobilize aid, elevate critical resources and serve as a central hub for information and support for people affected by the recent earthquakes, it said.

“As a local newsroom, our role goes beyond reporting—we are here to serve, inform and activate our community in moments of need,” said Miguel Fernandez, vice president and news director of CBS Miami. “South Florida’s connection to Venezuela is deeply personal, and we are committed to using our platform to help families facing unimaginable loss.”

The initiative combines storytelling, fundraising and community engagement to drive immediate relief. Donations will be distributed through Global Empowerment Mission and Neighbors 4 Neighbors, while CBS Miami amplifies awareness across its broadcast, digital and social platforms.

“This initiative reflects the power of local journalism to bring communities together and drive meaningful impact,” said Kim Voet, president and general manager of CBS Miami. “We are proud to stand with our viewers, partners and the Venezuelan community to provide support and deliver real help where it is needed most.”

The campaign will include a dedicated Hope 4 Venezuela special on July 1, when CBS Miami’s 7 p.m. newscast will be transformed into a focused broadcast driving awareness, donations and community participation as part of a broader daylong effort.

“Local media plays a critical role in moments like this, connecting people to trusted organizations and turning compassion into action,” said Katy Meagher, president and CEO of Neighbors 4 Neighbors. “Together with CBS Miami and GEM, we are working urgently to deliver life-saving aid to those who need it most.”

CBS Miami is also engaging local businesses, advertisers and community members to support donation efforts, while its editorial coverage will continue to highlight the ongoing impact of the earthquake and the response from South Florida’s Venezuelan community.

Donations can be made via the Neighbors 4 Neighbors website, with additional information found on the CBS News Miami website.

WASHINGTON—The NAB Leadership Foundation (NABLF) in partnership with Hearst Television has announced the participants in the 2026 Emerson Coleman Fellowship, an immersive program designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in broadcast television programming and production.

Paid internships at local television stations are an integral part of the fellowship, where students receive hands-on experience in live programming and production environments. They also attend virtual learning sessions, complete a capstone project pitching their original show ideas and receive mentorship to support their professional development.

The foundation is announced these details about this year’s cohort and their internship locations:

• Alana McBean – WABC-TV, New York, N.Y.
• Amarion Weathersby – WFLD-TV, Chicago, Ill.
• Jauntre' Gray – WOFL-TV, Lake Mary, Fla.
• Victoria Marchetti – Hearst Media Production Group, Glendale, Calif.
• Miriam Galica – WABC-TV, New York, N.Y.

"We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of students and excited about helping them at the beginning of their career journeys,” said NABLF President Michelle Duke. “Over the past four years, this program has created new pathways for students pursuing creative opportunities in media and broadcasting.”

The program is made possible through the continued support of NABLF sponsors: Brooks Pierce, CBS Media Ventures, Comcast NBCUniversal, Debmar-Mercury, FOX, Hearst Television, Katz Media Group, Locality, Nielsen Foundation, SmithGeiger, Soledad O’Brien and Brad Raymond, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Teen Kids News, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. and Weigel Broadcasting Co.

CAMBRIDGE, England—Adder Technology, an IP, KVM and connectivity solutions provider, has tapped Neil Hillier as CEO, effective July 1.

Hillier’s appointment to succeed Adrian Dickens atop the company is part of a planned leadership transition that also includes changes to Adder’s executive structure intended to support its continued growth, innovation and global expansion, the company said.

Dickens steps down as CEO after 42 years leading the business and will transition to founder and executive chair. Chief technology officer Nigel Dickens will also shift to emeritus CTO. Adder said the appointments align with the long-term stewardship principles established through its recently announced Employee Ownership Trust.

“I am honored to take on the role of CEO, and I recognize my responsibility is to build on the foundations established by Adrian and Nigel,” Hillier said. “Adder’s commitment to being at the forefront of technology innovation remains unchanged, with continued investment in engineering excellence and product development central to the company’s long-term strategy. We have a relentless focus on customer success and remain the trusted technology partner our customers rely on around the world.”

Hillier joined Adder in 2016 and has played a key role in driving more than 70% revenue growth, building on its global market position and shaping its long-term strategy, the company said. His two decades of experience in the KVM industry span engineering, technology, operations and commercial management, Adder said.

“Neil has played a significant role in Adder’s growth and success, and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead the business into its next chapter,” Adrian Dickens said. “Adder enters this transition from a position of strength, supported by exceptional people, loyal customers and a culture of innovation developed over more than four decades. The future is bright, and I look forward to watching the company thrive with the next generation of leadership.”

Supporting Hillier is a revamped leadership team, including:

• Paul Allen as chief financial officer, who will take on a broader financial remit across the Adder group and support continued investment in operational and sustainable long-term growth.
• Jamie Adkin, an 18-year Adder veteran, as the newly promoted vice president of global sales.
• Duncan Miller as the newly promoted vice president, global marketing and customer experience, whose expanded responsibilities bring together marketing, customer experience and professional services and support.

“As we look ahead, our focus remains on helping customers operate more effectively in some of the world’s most demanding environments,” Hillier added. “We have an outstanding team, a strong culture and significant opportunities ahead. I believe the best chapters of Adder’s story are still to come.”

CYPRESS, Calif.—Video-production technology provider FOR-A America has expanded its U.S. sales organization, adding Fernando Cruz and Jaz Wray as regional sales managers.

Cruz and Wray bring experience in software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms, AI-driven live production technology and IP workflows, as well as backgrounds in the pro AV, broadcast and live event markets, FOR-A said. They’ll report to Ernie Leon, FOR-A’s senior vice president and head of sales and strategic growth.

"Fernando and Jaz join FOR-A at a pivotal time as broadcasters, content creators, and AV professionals increasingly seek software-defined, IP-based, and AI-enabled solutions that can help them do more within constrained budgets,” FOR-A America President and Chief Operating Officer Satoshi Kanemura said. “They both bring extensive experience helping customers navigate technology transitions.”

Their appointments come as FOR-A expands its software-based solutions portfolio with products such as the MixBoard software-based switcher, powered by ClassX; viztrick AiDi, a 9:16 autocropping and tracking solution developed by Nippon TV and marketed by FOR-A; and the FOR-A IMPULSE live production platform, the company said.

Cruz comes to FOR-A from Macnica Americas, where he drove global promotion and sales acceleration of SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX solutions. Previously, he led business development for the corporate, education and government segments at Sony Professional and Phantom/Vision Research.

“The transition to IP-based production and software-defined architecture is reshaping the future of content creation and delivery,” Cruz said. “Organizations are looking for practical pathways to adopt technologies such as ST 2110, cloud-connected workflows and AI-assisted production tools while protecting their existing investments. FOR-A is bringing innovative solutions and I look forward to helping customers build more flexible, efficient, and future-ready operations.”

Wray brings sales and project management experience in both the media and entertainment and telecommunications sectors, working with such companies as NEP, Ross Video and Barco.

"Across the media and entertainment industry, we're seeing customers re-evaluate traditional infrastructure in favor of more agile, software-based workflows,” Wray said. “FOR-A's expanding portfolio of software-defined and AI-powered technologies is well positioned to meet those needs and I’m excited to help customers modernize their production environments and unlock new business opportunities."

Wray can be reached at jaz@for-a.com and Cruz can be reached at cruz@for-a.com.

MELVILLE, N.Y.—Chyron has launched “Chyron Academy,” which the company describes as a “ground-up redesign” of the company’s product-training platform. Built on a fully custom, Chyron-branded learning experience, the new Academy replaces Chyron’s previous training system based on a third-party platform and launches with learning content covering the latest version of PRIME, Chyron’s flagship real-time broadcast graphics platform.

Chyron Academy is designed to serve two audiences at once: customers and freelancers training on PRIME for the first time, and longtime Chyron users looking to become experts in the platform’s latest capabilities. Over the life of the previous legacy training program, more than 3,700 broadcast professionals registered to train on Chyron products, earning nearly 1,900 belt certifications across PRIME, PAINT, and Click Effects, including more than 60 Certified PRIME Black Belts worldwide. Chyron has transitioned that community to the new platform, migrating more than 950 current learners, along with the full certification history for every learner.

The redesigned Academy centers on a PRIME Belt certification path, taking learners through four levels: Yellow (Designer Basics), Green (Intermediate), Blue (Advanced), and Black (Expert), with earned badges and completion dates appearing on each learner’s dashboard as a visual record of skill mastery. Every course module pairs a demo with a hands-on, full-screen simulation, so learners practice real PRIME workflows, such as building a lower-third graphic step by step, rather than passively watching video.

An animated progress dial fills as learners complete demos, simulations, and quizzes, with a belt certification awarded automatically at 100 percent completion. Learners can enroll and move through the belt levels at their own pace. The program is suitable for individual learners, or supervisors or instructors can monitor the progress of their teams.The platform launches with five published PRIME courses spanning roughly 150 hands-on lessons, demos, simulations, and quizzes combined.

“Chyron Academy was inspired by, and has satisfied, a need we kept hearing from customers,” said Aldo Campisi, vice president of sales at Chyron for Latin America, Caribbean and French Canada. “A customer facing an end-of-life decision on their existing hardware chose Chyron, and this tool is what helped their team become experts in our workflow and our solution. That is exactly the value we set out to deliver: practical, hands-on training that gets a team productive and ready to launch on PRIME fast. Long time Chyron customers love it too. It is an effective way to bring their new hires up to speed quickly and ensure that even experienced users are fluent in everything PRIME has to offer.”

The new Academy also fully showcases the latest version of PRIME, ensuring teams train on current tools and workflows. A new Chyron LIVE production course is being added in the coming weeks to train users on Chyron’s all-in-one cloud production system for switching, graphics and illustrated replay. Additionally, training for PAINT (illustrated replay), Click Effects (venue display control), and AXIS (image creation and order management) is being re-platformed onto the new Academy, extending the same hands-on experience across Chyron’s product family.

Chyron says its Chyron Academy is also drawing interest from the academic world, with colleges and universities exploring adding PRIME training to their broadcast and media-production curricula, giving the next generation of operators job-ready skills before they enter the industry.

To mark the launch, anyone without a current PRIME trial license can claim a 90-day free trial of PRIME by logging in to the new Chyron Academy and starting a course. Access the service at academy.chyron.com.

“We originally launched Chyron Academy in 2020, with a strong commitment to ensuring that users anywhere in the world could become thoroughly fluid in the world’s most advanced live graphics platform, and that broadcasters would always have a pool of qualified users,” states Carol Bettencourt, vice president of marketing at Chyron. “We are proud of how our academy has enabled the professional development of so many people. With this new platform, we know we can deliver an even better learning experience and we welcome anyone who wants to join the growing community of Chyron experts!”

LONDON—As part of its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the broadcast and media technology sector, Rise has announced a global mentoring cohort for 2026 that includes 125 carefully selected mentee-mentor pairings from the UK, Europe, ANZ, APAC, India and North America.

Participation in the program provides mentees with access to a range of professional development opportunities, including networking events, workshops and industry-led sessions designed to support long-term career growth. Each mentee also receives a minimum of two hours of dedicated one-to-one mentoring per month throughout the program.

Running over six months, the Rise mentoring program combines global collaboration with regional relevance. While all cohorts will take part in a number of shared international sessions, each territory will also follow a tailored program designed to reflect the unique priorities, challenges and opportunities within its local market.

The group said that the program is made possible by support from industry sponsors for 2026 including: Channel 4, BBC, Sky, Mimir & Saga (Fonn Group), Vizrt, Qvest , Arqiva, ITV, Ross Video, Appear and BFBS.

“Each year, the Rise Mentoring program continues to demonstrate just how transformative mentorship can be for everyone involved, said Deborah Cross, operations director at Rise. “It is incredibly rewarding to see mentees grow in confidence, develop new skills, and expand their professional networks, while mentors also gain fresh perspectives and meaningful connections through the experience. What makes the program especially impactful is that the benefits extend far beyond the individual participants. Mentees take the knowledge, skills and confidence they gain back into their workplaces, creating positive change within their own organizations and helping to shape a more inclusive, innovative and collaborative industry for the future.”

The full list of mentors and mentee pairings can be found here.

TitanTV, Inc. has announced that Mark Hadley has joined the company as a Technology Specialist.

In his new role, Hadley will support TitanTV’s technology infrastructure and help ensure the company’s systems, tools, and services continue to meet the needs of broadcasters, partners, and customers across the country.

Hadley brings a strong foundation in network and systems administration, server infrastructure, virtualization, technical support, enterprise networking, routing, and security to the new post.

He is an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and CompTIA Security+ certified professional. He also completed the full Cisco Networking Academy CCNA coursework, further strengthening his hands-on knowledge of networking and security.

In addition to his technical background, Hadley has served as president of a college Cyber Defense Club and is an Apple Certified Technician. His professional experience in finance adds analytical problem-solving and customer service skills to his technology expertise.

"Mark joined us as a promising new graduate and has already become an integral member of the TitanTV team,” said Michael Brown, IT director at TitanTV. "His enthusiasm for effective cybersecurity practices will help strengthen our ongoing commitment to providing safe and secure services for all of our clients."

ATLANTA—Gray Media has named Annie Cordell as the next General Manager of WMBF, the NBC affiliate serving Myrtle Beach and Florence, South Carolina effective July 13.

Cordell brings to the new role a distinguished career spanning broadcast television sales, management, and digital media. She most recently served as vice president of sales and director of digital for Bahakel Digital and WCCB (CW) in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she navigated the industry's shift from traditional broadcast to multiplatform distribution and launched an in-house digital agency.

Cordell began her career at WNUV (IND) in Baltimore, Maryland, and her affiliation experience spans ABC, CBS, FOX, and CW within the ownership groups of Group W, CBS Television, and Bahakel Communications.

She is a graduate of Goucher College where she earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Business and Communications.

McLEAN, Va.—Tegna has elevated four longtime executives to senior vice president, expanding their leadership roles in legal, content, human resources and finance.

Marc Sher was elevated to senior vice president and general counsel, overseeing all legal matters, including compliance, contracts, litigation, regulatory matters and risk management. Sher, who joined Tegna in 2013, was most recently vice president, associate general counsel and secretary.

Raquel Amparo advanced to senior vice president of content, leading Tegna’s content strategy, creation and content partnerships across platforms. Amparo, an Emmy-winning journalist and Kneeland Fellow with more than 20 years of experience, had been vice president of content for Tegna’s Texas markets.

Melissa Jones was named senior vice president of human resources, tasked with directing Tegna’s people strategy, including talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation and benefits and organizational development. Jones joined Tegna in 2016 as VP of human resources and leads the HR business partner team across Tegna’s 64 stations in 51 markets.

And Pamela Long was promoted to senior vice president of finance, managing Tegna’s financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and capital planning. Most recently VP of finance and operations, Long has been with Tegna since 2015.

“Each of these individuals has a proven record of measurable results built on experience, strong instincts and sound judgment,” CEO Patrick Paolini said. “As our leadership team continues to grow, these are the qualities that will shape Tegna’s future.”

Nexstar Media Group acquired Tegna in March, but the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on April 17 issued a “Hold Separate Order” delaying the integration of the two companies as antitrust challenges work their way through the courts.

DENVER—Imagine Communications has appointed Greg Garmon as senior vice president, Americas video sales, a new position at the broadcast technology, playout solutions and ad tech provider.

Garmon, who most recently was president, media and entertainment at Conference Technologies (CTI), will be responsible for sales and business development efforts for the company’s playout and infrastructure portfolio across the region, with a focus on driving account growth.

“We are very pleased to welcome Greg to the Imagine team and confident that he will make an immediate impact on our business,” Glodina Lostanlen, chief revenue officer at Imagine, said. “Greg brings a rare combination of hands-on channel and SI experience and a proven track record of leading high-performing teams and driving operational and commercial performance. That combination is exactly what we need to accelerate our Americas business and deliver meaningful value for our customers.”

Garmon brings to Imagine more than 20 years of experience in the M&E and technology sectors, the company said, in posts spanning sales leadership, enterprise operations, P&L ownership and investor management.

Prior to CTI, Garmon held several executive leadership roles at Diversified, including chief operating officer and president, media and entertainment. He also founded IT consulting and managed services firm Alltek Holdings, which developed and marketed on-prem and cloud-based offerings, Imagine said.

“What drew me to Imagine was a strong alignment between the company’s strategic direction and the markets I have spent my career serving,” Garmon said. “Having worked on the systems integration side of the business, I understand firsthand what both partners and broadcasters need to succeed. There is tremendous opportunity to strengthen our partner ecosystem and expand into the markets they serve. I look forward to working with the Imagine team to make that happen across the Americas.”

For more information on Imagine, visit its website.

AMSTERDAM—Axel Gallant has been named as the new CEO of Irdeto, a digital platform cybersecurity firm owned by French media company Canal+.

Gallant succeeds Doug Lowther, who had served as Irdeto’s CEO since 2015 and will step down from the company.

Gallant has worked at The Canal+ Group since 2013, managing various pay TV businesses across Africa, Europe and Asia.

“This track record gives him the experience and perspective to guide Irdeto through its next phase of growth and innovation,” Stéphane Baumier, chief technology officer at Canal+, said.

During Lowther’s tenure as CEO, Irdeto more than doubled its video security market share and developed new businesses in video games and smart mobility, the company said. Prior to being named CEO, Lowther had been executive vice president, digital TV, expanding Irdeto’s product line into new services such as video-on-demand and streaming TV.

“Doug has provided strong leadership during a pivotal period in Irdeto’s history,” Baumier said. “On behalf of the Canal+ Group, we thank him for his contributions and commitment to Irdeto.”

Lowther and Gallant will work together to ensure a seamless leadership transition for customers, partners and employees, the company said.

“The last decade has been marked by constant change in the world and in the industries we serve, and it’s been a great honor to lead the incredible people at Irdeto during that time,” Lowther said of his 11-year tenure. “I’d like to thank our customers, partners, and stakeholders for the trust they have placed in us and the privilege of working with them.”

For more on Irdeto, visit its website.

This week organizers for the annual IBC Show offered a preview of its plans for the upcoming annual event, Sept. 11-14 at the RAI Amsterdam.

IBC CEO Mike Crimp said the show will increase its emphasis on networking opportunities both at the show and online.

To that end, the show is launching the “Braindate Lounge” an initiative that will help attendees prepare in advance of the show.

Braindate Lounge will enable attendees to form their own peer groups online prior to the show and will be seeded with expert discussions from IBC consultants and from the show’s conference program around key topics, according to Crimp.

“People can go on there and form their own key topics and gather a group of people around them to do that,” he said. “I suppose the power of IBC is, in a way, is the power to convene, so all of those people will be able to take their meetings online to create an actual meeting between them on site in the Braindate Lounge, and they will be able to sit down, discuss their topics, discuss what they've seen, create their own knowledge networks.”

The show’s “Future Tech” zone, in Hall 14, will increase its focus on startups with the launch of “Future Tech Ignite,” dedicated to startups, emerging tech, future talent, and the creative community, according to Joe.

“We're also extending our partnership with EIT Culture and Creativity, and they are going to become the Future Tech Ignite innovation partner, which will really help strengthen IBC links with Europe's creative innovation communities,” said Jo Mayer, head of marketing for IBC.

Expanded from a single day to all four days of the show, “Ignite Stage”in the Future Tech area, will feature startup pitches, future-focused sessions, and talent/skills content across all four days of the show, Mayer added.

Key themes for this year’s show are: the transformation of sport, trust and authenticity, and new commercial models, which tie into the show’s three guiding pillars of shifting business models, transformative tech, and increasingly, people and purpose, according to Crimp.

“Those pillars are a consistent framework for the conversations that matter most to the industry,” he said.

Exhibition space itself should exceed 45,000 square meters this year with more than 1,200 exhibitors across 14 halls, according to Steve Connolly, IBC’s director of sales.

Last year, the show had 46,000 square meters of exhibition space and an estimated 1,300 exhibitors.

“Some key areas of the show are performing particularly strongly,” Connolly said. “Future Tech in Hall 14 and Content Everywhere in Hall 5 are both significantly ahead of last year in terms of bookings.”

Crimp said that they’re confident that attendance will be strong and that they'll be able to weather some of the issues that plagued the NAB Show in April, where attendance was softer than previous years.

“I think at the moment we are tracking really strongly against last year,” Crimp said. “We're an international show and a very welcoming show. Who knows what’s going to happen in the Middle East, if that's going to get worse, but I at the moment we're very confident that we will deliver numbers sort of in line with last year."

To register for the show, visit https://show.ibc.org.

WASHINGTON—The NAB Leadership Foundation has graduated its 16-member 2026 Broadcasting Leadership Training class, an executive MBA-style program designed to equip senior-level executives with the strategic and operational skills to lead TV and radio organizations.

With this year’s graduating class, the program—now operating for more than 26 years—brings its alumni network to more than 448 leaders, NABLF said.

The 2026 graduating class was the first under Co-Deans Trila Bumstead and Mark Jaromin, both BLT alumni. The deans have evolved the program’s curriculum to address today’s media landscape, NABLF said, with training on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

This year’s graduates represent a diverse cross-section of the industry, NABLF said. They are:

• Fletcher Brown, operations manager and program director, Big River Broadcasting
• Jerome David Crumpton, general sales and marketing manager, Courtney French Broadcasting LLC
• Jennifer Dale, vice president of recruiting, Gray Media
• Joey Figueroa, vice president and director of sales, Univision Orlando, TelevisaUnivision
• Whitney Grover, general manager and director of sales, KJRH Tulsa, The E.W. Scripps Co.
• Valerie Guyton, president and general manager, KWES; KIDY/KXVA; KYTX and KBMT/KJAC, Tegna
• Ryan Hatch, senior vice president and market manager, Phoenix, Bonneville
• Tiffany Hickman, vice president and general sales manager, Holston Valley Broadcasting
• Andria Langston, founder, Legacy Media Productions; owner, WDKX Radio
• Jaimie León, vice president and general manager, WSLS, Graham Media Group
• Samantha Linn, controller and chief accounting officer, Morgan Murphy Media
• Pamela McKay, vice president and market manager, Radio One Atlanta
• Allison Smith, president and general manager, KETV, Hearst
• Katelin Tinley, vice president and market manager, CMG Long Island Radio, Cox Media Group
• Haley Townsend, regional director of digital content, Northeast, Fox TV Stations
• Scott Trabandt, news director, CMG Pittsburgh TV, Cox Media Group

“This year’s class demonstrated exceptional curiosity, collaboration and strategic vision, particularly in exploring how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping media,” Michelle Duke, president of NABLF, said. “Their passion for the business of broadcasting and commitment to innovation give us tremendous confidence for the future of our industry.”

STAMFORD, Conn.—Charter Communication’s Spectrum operating brand has awarded $1.1 million in 2026 Spectrum Digital Education grants to 56 nonprofits. Since 2017, Spectrum Digital Education has distributed over $12 million in grants to 233 organizations across the U.S.

This year’s grants will support programs that help people build digital skills and access the technology needed to learn, work and stay connected.

As part of the program, Sectrum Digital Education partners with local nonprofits on programs that expand access to technology and digital skills training in the communities Spectrum serves. Grants have helped create computer and learning labs, provide devices for individuals and families in need, offer digital literacy programs for seniors, deliver career readiness and workforce training to adults and introduce students to hands-on STEM learning.

“Digital access is important for strong communities – it’s at the center of how people learn, work, access services and stay connected to the people and information that matter most,” said Rahman Khan, Group Vice President, Community Impact. “As America’s Connectivity Company, we understand the role technology plays in everyday life, and Spectrum Digital Education supports nonprofits that give communities the skills, tools and support to make the most of it.”

Spectrum also reported that since 2017, Spectrum Digital Education has delivered 438 grants to 233 unique organizations; helped to distribute more than 20,000 laptops and devices; sponsored more than 50,000 digital education classes; supported programs benefitting nearly 225,000 community members across the U.S.

This year’s grants include:

• Fund for Public Housing (New York City): Expanding an intergenerational technology program that helps youth and community leaders build digital skills for education, career readiness and community engagement.
• Los Angeles Urban League (Los Angeles): Supporting workforce training that equips job seekers and workers with digital skills, career coaching and pathways into high-growth fields.
• CARDBOARD Project (Dallas): Providing laptops, digital skills training and workforce preparation for adults experiencing homelessness and other underserved populations.
• Acton Digital Inc. (O‘ahu): Supporting a teen-led program that helps seniors build confidence using technology, from telehealth and online safety to everyday digital tools.
• MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries (St. Louis): Delivering digital skills workshops and employment resources through a mobile workforce unit.

For more information, visit corporate.charter.com/digital-education/grants.

MCLEAN, Va.—Tegna CEO Patrick Paolini has announced that Kurt Rao has been named executive vice president and chief technology and digital products officer.

In this newly created role, Rao will lead the end-to-end strategy and execution for Tegna’s digital products and technology platforms, uniting product management, technology, engineering and operations to deliver local news and information across broadcast, streaming, mobile, and digital platforms.

“As audience behaviors continue to evolve, innovation must be at the center of everything we do,” said Paolini. “Uniting our technology, digital, and product organizations creates a stronger, more agile Tegna – one that can move faster, serve consumers more effectively, and position our company for long term growth in an increasingly competitive media landscape.”

Rao joined Tegna in 2018 as senior vice president and chief technology officer. In this role, he has been leading Tegna’s digital transformation, overseeing all facets of Tegna’s technology strategy, including the creation and implementation of proprietary AI tools. He has been responsible for next-generation technology solutions in the areas of content, media distribution and advertising insights, while also leading broadcast operations and information technology.

“I’m excited to take on this new role,” said Rao. “New capabilities and technologies are redefining how we deliver local news. By bringing our broadcast, digital, and product teams together, we can adopt these tools quickly and at scale to create better, more engaging experiences for our viewers and advertisers across every platform.”

Rao is the first officer named to Tegna's executive leadership team reporting to CEO Patrick Paolini.

SMPTE, has announced that it is making its entire Standards catalog is free to the global media technology community. This includes all published SMPTE Standards, Recommended Practices, Engineering Guidelines and Registered Disclosure Documents (RDDs), as well as all future releases.

For more than a century, SMPTE Standards have provided a foundation for the entertainment technology industry. By removing barriers to access, this milestone is expected to accelerate adoption and implementation, strengthen interoperability, and help drive the next generation of innovation.

“This was a decision we did not make lightly,” says SMPTE President Rich Welsh. “For 110 years, SMPTE has evolved alongside the media technology industry, helping to drive change and innovation — and we’re not stopping now.

“Our industry is confronting transformative shifts, from IP-based workflows to AI authenticity and content provenance, and we find ourselves at another inflection point. We listened to our Members, Partners and the global Standards community, and the answer was clear: Interoperability is essential to the future of media. Now is the time to open the gates and ensure the next generation of media technology is built on a stronger, more accessible foundation.”

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced the results of the 2026 NAB Executive Committee elections, with Nick Radziul, executive vice president of Hearst Television, being reelected as television board chair.

Chris Ripley, president and chief executive officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, was reelected as first vice chair; RaMona Alexander, vice president and general manager of WDBD, was reelected as second vice chair and Dan York, president and chief executive officer of Cox Media Group, was reelected as third vice chair.

Susan Fox, executive vice president of Government Relations at the Walt Disney Co., was designated as the television network representative.

In terms of the radio board elections, Chris Ornelas, executive vice president and general counsel of Beasley Media Group, was reelected as radio board chair.

Allen Power, president of Broadcast Media at Salem Media Group, was elected first vice chair and Julie Koehn, president and chief executive officer of Lenawee Broadcasting Company and Southeast Michigan Media, was elected second vice chair.

Eddie Harrell Jr., co-president of Audio at Urban One, Inc., was reelected as the major radio group representative.

Collin Jones continues the second year of his role as joint board chair. The position is elected every two years.

The elections took place at the NAB Board of Directors meeting, held June 8-9.

BALTIMORE and CHICAGO—Sinclair is working with Feeding America to launch “Sinclair Cares: Summer Hunger Relief,” an awareness and fundraising campaign to help provide meals to children and their families across the U.S. this summer.

The initiative aims to address the fact that while more than 21 million children eat free school meals during the year, food banks need to step in to help get nutritious food to children and families during the summer months when school is out of session and school meals are no longer available.

Through financial contributions, viewers can help provide access to meals to children and families in their local community. Campaign donations will directly support the local Feeding America food bank, based on the ZIP code on the donor’s credit card.

Through Feeding America, every $1 donated helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks, Sinclair reported.

In partnership with Feeding America, Sinclair will produce content to air throughout the campaign, and Sinclair will also produce a 30-minute special which will spotlight ways to help children stay nourished and healthy throughout the summer, featuring interviews with Feeding America partner network members across the country.

The special, hosted by The National News Desk anchor Angela Brown, will air on Sinclair’s television stations June 27 & 28, and the stations will stream an extended version of the special on their respective websites on June 26.

“Sinclair Cares: Summer Hunger Relief” will also be supported through public service campaigns across the company’s owned and/or operated television stations as well as diginets Comet TV, CHARGE, The Nest and Roar.

The campaign, which began June 10, is supported by a $25,000 donation from Sinclair.

The stations will also host a planned day of giving on June 25.

“With one in five kids facing hunger in America, this initiative is crucial in addressing the food insecurity that many children face during the summer months when school is not in session,” said Rob Weisbord, chief operating officer and president of local media for Sinclair. “At Sinclair, our mission is rooted in Enriching Local Lives, and caring for people in need is one of our core principles. Through our partnership with Feeding America and the reach of our local stations, we are able to raise awareness, inspire action, and help provide meals to children and families in the communities we serve. We are proud to once again support this important effort and encourage viewers to join us in making a meaningful impact this summer.”

Said Feeding America President and Chief Operating Officer Linda Nageotte: “Together with Sinclair and its generous viewers, we can help kids get consistent access to summer meals—and summer fun. Every donation strengthens the support kids and their families can count on, keeping them fed and free during the summer.”

Click here to donate to the Sinclair Cares: Summer Hunger Relief campaign or learn how to volunteer at a local Feeding America food bank.

WASHINGTON—The House Appropriations Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies this week proposed zero funding for local public broadcasting stations’ educational content and services in its fiscal year 2027 appropriations bills.

Congress nixed funding for PBS’s “Ready to Learn” children’s educational program—which provides competitive grants for local community educational initiatives—when it eliminated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2025. CPB voted to dissolve the organization earlier this year.

This week’s refusal to restore funding elicited a strong response from America’s Public Television Stations, which just last week held its virtual “Protect My Public Media” campaign.

“In addition to being deeply disappointed, as we noted last week, that the House Appropriations Committee did not restore funding for local public broadcasting stations in its FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education bill, we now know that the bill also neglects to fund the Ready To Learn program, a critically important education competitive grant program that supports the creation and distribution of educational media content and services to millions of children across America,” said Kate Riley, president and CEO of APTS.

“It is deeply disheartening that the House Appropriations Committee proposes to eliminate a proven educational program that provides trusted, free access to content and local services for our nation’s youngest learners—content that is especially important for the over 50% of three- to four-year-olds that do not attend a formal preschool.

“For over three decades, this highly successful program has been proven to prepare children for success in school and life by using the power of public television’s on-air, online, mobile and on-the-ground educational content and services to build the science, math and literacy skills of children ages two to eight, especially those from low-income families.

“The program combines the ability of public television to reach nearly 97% of Americans with a free over-the-air signal, with on-the-ground local station engagement that helps families and teachers make the most of these media resources locally,” she concluded.

Riley pointed to a recently released report from the Education Development Center documenting the significant positive impact Ready to Learn content and the wraparound local-station community outreach services have on the educational outcomes for our nation’s youngest learners.

“Ready to Learn provides parents and caregivers with scientifically based, state standards-aligned media tools to improve their children’s literacy and STEM skills,” she said. “It also builds community engagement through partnerships facilitated by local public television stations to effectively target services where they are most needed.

“Notwithstanding today’s committee action, we remain hopeful that the strong bipartisan support for local public media’s educational services, both in Congress and among the American people, will ultimately result in full funding for Ready to Learn as the appropriations process moves forward.”

WILSONVILLE, Ore.—Eric Reese has been named vice president of Audix, the Videndum Creative Solutions-owned manufacturer of professional microphones for stage, studio and broadcast use.

He’ll be tasked with overseeing all of the company’s functions including sales, marketing, product development and operations, Audix said.

“My goal is to increase the awareness of Audix products and technologies with engineers, artists, and system designers, and to challenge more people to take the ‘Audix Challenge’ and listen to what they’ve been missing for over 40 years,” Reese said. “I look forward to utilizing my varied skillset and industry knowledge to collaborate with the team at Audix to continue the brand’s legacy and usher in a new era of quality audio.”

A 26-year veteran of the AV and entertainment industry, Reese began his career as a reliability engineer at Peavey Electronics. Since then, he spent 11 years with Sennheiser and five years with Shure, and has also worked for Peavey, Ford Audio-Video, AVI-SPL and Blizzard Lighting. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University and an Executive MBA from Marquette University.

He also owns and operates live sound production company Loud and Clear Productions and is the frontman for a John Mellencamp tribute band.

“Audix has been an iconic, product-focused brand for over 40 years," Reese said. "Its passionate following is due to its dedication to unique products, for engineers and musicians, designed and built by engineers and musicians right here in the USA.

“Ironically, as a professional live sound engineer, my exposure to the full span of their catalog was limited, aside from their industry-leading drum microphones, which are ubiquitous,” he added. “Now that I’ve dug deeper into their products and technologies, I believe that Audix is the best-kept secret in microphones.”

WEST LONDON, England—Andrew Beaudet has joined video processing and control systems provider Brompton Technology as head of sales, Americas.

Beaudet, who brings almost 30 years of experience in the music and digital signage industries, will help lead Brompton’s sales efforts in North and South America as the company looks to expand its presence in the region.

“I have always sought out companies and products that give real value to their customers, rather than selling for selling’s sake,” Beaudet said. “Brompton offers superior image processing quality with a workflow and mindset to match. I am most looking forward to working with the team, getting to grips with the amazing work they’re doing and, of course, joining them at the forthcoming InfoComm show to meet existing and potential customers.”

Beaudet joins Brompton after a career that included work with major LED display manufacturers as well as 10 years in Barco’s live event and retail division. He brings extensive experience working with LED makers and end users in the live event and digital signage markets, Brompton said.

Brompton Sales Director Lotta Schiefer said Beaudet brings valuable experience to its senior sales team.

“His knowledge of LED manufacturers and experience of guiding end users to the correct product for their application will be key to our continued expansion in both North and South America,” she said. “We are excited to see how his leadership skills and industry knowledge complement our existing teams.”

Beaudet will be part of the Brompton team on hand at InfoComm in Las Vegas, June 17–19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

MONTREAL, Quebec—Grass Valley has named Sam Craig as vice president, global pre-sales.

In the new U.S.-based role, Craig will work closely with Grass Valley’s regional pre-sales leadership across the Americas, APAC and EMEA to further strengthen collaboration, standardize back practices and support strategic customer initiatives to accelerate adoption across the Grass Valley Media Universe, the company said.

He returns to Grass Valley from Diversified, where he was vice president of advisory services, leading its technical consultancy and solutions organization.

“Sam brings a unique combination of technical expertise, operational leadership, and deep knowledge of the media technology industry,” Grass Valley Chief Revenue Officer Tim Banks said. “Having previously played an important role in the evolution of our global pre-sales organization, he understands both our customers and our business. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the team.”

In his prior, seven-year stint with Grass Valley, Craig had been VP, global pre-sales. A 20-year veteran with experience in broadcast engineering, enterprise AV, live production, IP-based media infrastructure and cloud-enabled workflows, he has held leadership roles across systems integration, broadcast operations and media technology operations, Grass Valley said.

“Our customers are navigating a rapidly evolving media landscape, and they need trusted partners who can help them move forward with confidence,” Craig said. “Grass Valley’s unique combination of software-defined innovation, proven mission-critical hardware and deep workflow expertise gives customers a practical path to modernize, transform their operations and protect their investments. I’m thrilled to be returning at such an important time and to help accelerate the impact we can deliver for customers around the world.”