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.

It’s no secret that the broadcast engineering community continues to age with fewer younger engineers entering the ranks, and that fact was on full display in April at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

I can remember commenting to one of my friends at the show that one day soon I wouldn’t be surprised to see the walkways between the halls looking like a NASCAR track as ageing engineers vie for position in their motorized scooters.

Little did I know that I might be joining their ranks—far sooner than I ever would have imagined.

In May, I suffered a stroke that took me off my game for the better part of two weeks. Looking back, it was the oddest thing in the world because as I was going through it, the thought never occurred to me that I was having a stroke—even though years prior I happened to be present when a loved one was having a stroke and clearly recognized what was going on looking at it from the outside in.

All I knew was that my legs felt so weak I could not stand (as it would turn out that “weakness” was likely due to my lack of control on the left side of my body). Normally, my crashing to the floor would have alerted my wife that something was seriously wrong, but she happened to be on a plane at that time returning from vacation.

A call to 911 summoned the paramedics and firefighters who arrived, evaluated me and took me to the hospital.

As my case progressed, the doctors wanted to find out the source of the clot that caused the stroke, which led to a cardiac catheterization that uncovered serious cardiac artery disease. At this writing, I am days away from open heart surgery to revascularize my heart.

All of this to communicate two points. First, while most would regard having a stroke as a major negative life event, I look at it now as a bit of good fortune because it led to uncovering a serious health condition that could end my life. Now, that can be addressed. Plus, as it turns out the stroke has not left me with any noticeable deficits.

Second, as I mentioned at the top of this column. None of us is getting any younger, so it might be worthwhile to learn the acronym the medical community has given to recognizing a stroke and taking action: B.E.F.A.S.T. Or,

B –Balance, sudden loss of balance or coordination.

E –Eyes, sudden change in vision.

F –Face droop on one side or numbness.

A –Arm weakness or numbness.

S –Speech is slurred.

T –Time to call 911.

I am looking forward to successful heart surgery, rehab and getting back in the swing of covering this ever-changing industry. See you then.

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.”

BOSTON—Regional sports network NESN has tapped Fahad Haider as vice president, operations and engineering, leading its broadcast operations, broadcast engineering and studio production operations organizations.

NESN televises Boston Red Sox baseball games, Boston Bruins hockey games and other events to a territory comprising the six New England states. Its programming is also available via direct-to-consumer app NESN 360.

A 20-year industry veteran, Haider most recently served as vice president and general manager of operations for FanDuel Sports Network. He also held engineering leadership roles at Spectrum’s SportsNet LA and had previously been NESN’s VP of broadcast engineering and CTO.

“Fahad is one of the most accomplished operations and engineering leaders in our industry, and his track record building and running large-scale live sports operations is the leadership NESN needs as we keep modernizing how we deliver content across every platform,” said David Wisnia, president and CEO of NESN and Sportsnet Pittsburgh. “We’re thrilled to welcome him back to the team.”

Over his career, Haider has been responsible for high-visibility live broadcasts for more than 50 Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and National Football League teams, NESN said, earning three Emmy Awards for live productions, operations and engineering.

“NESN holds a special place in my career, and returning to lead its operations and engineering organizations at this moment is a tremendous opportunity,” Haider said. “The network is building towards an ambitious future across linear and streaming, and I’m excited to help shape how NESN delivers that experience to fans.”

NEW YORK—The Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) has announced that its annual BFOA Giving Day will take place on Thursday, June 25 and is urging the broadcast industry to participate in a one-day fundraising effort to provide critical financial assistance to radio and television professionals facing acute hardship due to catastrophic illness, disaster, or other life-altering circumstances.

“We have a responsibility to stand beside our fellow broadcasters when devastating illness or catastrophe turns their lives upside down,” said Tim McCarthy, president of the Broadcasters Foundation. “Giving Day is an opportunity for every broadcaster — individuals and companies alike — to make a meaningful difference for colleagues facing unimaginable challenges. Our industry takes care of its own, and together we can ensure no broadcaster faces hardship alone.”

The BFOA has achieved the highest scores from two independent organizations that track commitment to accountability and impact for 501(c)(3) charities: a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid and a 100% Give With Confidence Score and a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator.

The Giving Day campaign seeks support from individuals and companies across broadcasting while raising awareness of the BFOA’s mission of helping industry colleagues when they need it most.

This year’s BFOA Giving Day coincides with the BFOA’s Media Mixer, which connects emerging professionals with senior broadcast executives. During this Media Mixer, legendary radio executive Dan Mason will share lessons and insights from his extraordinary career from behind the microphone to the helm of CBS Radio.

Anyone who wants to support the BFOA’s financial lifeline mission for past and current colleagues in our broadcast community on BFOA Giving Day, or any day, may click here.

WASHINGTON—At its annual NextGen Broadcast Conference this week, ATSC honored Julia Kenyon of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) with the 2026 Bernard J. Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award.

“Julia is an excellent consensus builder and techno-diplomat who is a graceful and very competent leader,” ATSC President Madeleine Noland said. “She knows how to help groups get things done efficiently and collegially, which is a real art. Not only has she led multiple ATSC committees, but Julia also has a terrific sense of humor and is able to blend levity with the serious nature of standards work. She is always curious, and most recently has been helping ATSC participants really lean into the benefits of developing artificial intelligence tools.”

Kenyon has served as Vice Chair of ATSC Specialist Group on Interactive Environment (TG3/S38), Vice Chair of ATSC Implementation on Conformance (IT-3), and Chair of ATSC Specialist Group on Management and Protocols (TG3/S33). Additionally, for more than three years, she has served as CTA’s lead technical representative for the NextGen TV Test Suite development, working not only with ATSC but as chair of CTA’s own groups that work with the test suite.

Kenyon also guided ATSC in the development of A/381, the recommended practice for use of the broadcaster application for NextGen TV.

“Julia Kenyon brings unique skills to the challenge of ensuring NextGen TVs work properly with the advanced services ATSC 3.0 broadcasts provide,” said Brian Markwalter, vice chair of the ATSC board of directors and senior vice president of research and standards for the CTA. “Besides her visible leadership in ATSC and CTA standards groups, Julia directs the TV testing program that backs the NextGen TV logo. CTA commends Julia on this recognition of all she has done for ATSC and the industry.”

“Julia is an exceptional contributor to ATSC 3.0,” added Dr. Paul Hearty of Technology Advisors, an ATSC board member and ATSC Technical Group 3 (TG3) chair. “She leads and contributes to standards and compliance development both in ATSC and in CTA, covering the spectrum from origination of services at broadcast to consumption at consumer devices. She maintains balance, fairness, and technical rigor—as well as humor—throughout.”

The Bernard J. Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award is given each year to an ATSC member whose technical and leadership contributions have been exemplary. It is named for its first recipient, the late Bernard Lechter, retired staff vice president, Advanced Video Systems at RCA Laboratories, whose 30-year career covered all aspects of television and display research.

Lechner Award recipients:

• 2000 – Bernard Lechner, Consultant
• 2001 – Rich Chernock, Triveni Digital
• 2002 – Regis Crinon, Microsoft
• 2003 – Glenn Adams, Extensible Formatting Systems
• 2004 – Graham Jones, National Association of Broadcasters
• 2005 – John Henderson, Hitachi
• 2006 – Art Allison, NAB
• 2007 – Mark Eyer, Sony Electronics
• 2008 – Michael Dolan, TBT
• 2009 – Wayne Bretl, Zenith/LG Electronics
• 2010 – Pat Waddell, Harmonic
• 2011 – Jim Starzynski, NBC Universal
• 2012 – S. Merrill Weiss, Merrill Weiss Group
• 2013 – Mark Aitken, Sinclair Broadcast Group
• 2014 – James Kutzner, PBS
• 2015 – Luke Fay, Sony
• 2016 – Madeleine Noland, Zenith/LG Electronics
• 2017 – Skip Pizzi, NAB
• 2018 – Mark Corl, Triveni Digital
• 2019 – Adam Goldberg, AGP/Sony
• 2020 – Jae-Young Lee, ETRI
• 2021 – Alan Stein, InterDigital
• 2022 – Youngkwon Lim, Samsung Electronics
• 2023 – Glenn Reitmeier, NBC Universal/Sarnoff Labs
• 2024 – Ali Dernaika, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• 2025 – Aldo Cugnini, AGC Systems
• 2026 – Julia Kenyon, Consumer Technology Association

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Networks, the managed network services division of The Riedel Group, has named Gudrun Scharler as CEO.

Scharler succeeds Michael Martens, who has led the unit since 2012 and will remain to support a structured handover until the end of August, the company said.

Scharler is a veteran telecom and technology executive with experience as chief operating officer of the German cable company Unitymedia as well as in executive roles at Nets Group, E-Plus, Sunrise Communications and Télefonica Germany, Riedel said. She also held executive roles at Canyon Bicycles and P2 eBike GmbH.

“Michael has shaped Riedel Networks with exceptional commitment, entrepreneurial spirit, and a clear sense for what customers need,” Riedel Group Chief Operating Officer Frank Eischet said. “We are deeply grateful for everything he has achieved over the past 14 years. At the same time, we are excited to welcome Gudrun as the new CEO of Riedel Networks. With her strong leadership background in telecommunications, operations, and transformation, she is the right person to guide the company into its next phase of development.”

Riedel Networks provides connectivity and telecommunications services to the company’s media, sports and enterprise customers.

“Riedel Networks is a great company with a strong team, a clear customer focus, and significant potential for further development,” Scharler said. “I am very much looking forward to getting to know the team and working together to continue the company’s transformation while preserving the flexibility, speed, and collaborative spirit that make Riedel Networks special. I would also like to thank Michael for the open and structured handover and for the strong foundation he has built.”

Since Martens took the helm of Riedel Networks in 2012, the business has grown from 2.8 million euros in revenue and 12 employees to 24 million euros and 70 employees, it said.

“Riedel Networks has been a defining part of my professional journey, and I am proud of the company we have developed together,” Martens said. “Gudrun is taking over a company with strong momentum, and I look forward to supporting her as she leads Riedel Networks into its next chapter.”

Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, died April 12 at his home in Redwood City, Calif.

Over a four-decade career, Pierce was instrumental in developing and standardizing DVD, Digital Cinema, HDMI/HDCP copy protection, and the Interoperable Master Format. He held more than 15 patents and was widely regarded as a rare figure capable of bridging deep engineering expertise with strategic industry leadership.

Pierce spent 13 years at Stanford Research Institute International before founding Eidesign Technologies, which led to his role launching the Digital Video Compression Center (DVCC) at Universal Studios—then the world leader in DVD authoring. During his 12 years at Universal, he served as an original studio representative to Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) and was active on the SMPTE DC28 committee. He subsequently served 11 years as technical advisor to the National Association of Theater Owners, 19 years as chairman of the Inter-Society Digital Cinema Forum, and 12 years as vice president of the Hollywood Professional Association, where he co-chaired the HPA Tech Retreat.

Known for his technical prowess, Pierce had a rare gift for aligning Hollywood, consumer electronics, and computer manufacturing stakeholders to bring new technologies to market—and for translating complex engineering challenges into their broader strategic implications. He loved mentoring others and building the collaborative teams behind many of the industry's landmark innovations.

"I am a strong proponent for getting the right image and sound in the theater to allow our filmmakers to deliver great stories and make the technology transparent to the audience," he said of his guiding philosophy.

Pierce is survived by his wife Barbara (Apffel) Pierce; daughters Andrea (Pierce) Koenig and Amanda Pierce; their spouses Martin Koenig and Melissa Lopez; three grandchildren; and his sisters and their families.

An avid backpacker and world traveler, he asked that those wishing to honor his memory take a walk in nature or volunteer in their community.

Leon Silverman offered this tribute:

Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, an influential figure in the entertainment technology industry and a devoted explorer of the natural world, passed away April 12, 2026, at his home in Redwood City, California. He leaves behind a legacy that fundamentally changed how the world experiences movies. Jerry was a rare bridge between the technical rigors of research and the creative demands of Hollywood.

A true Renaissance man of the high-tech era, Jerry was defined by his passion for the great outdoors, his technical expertise, instinct for innovation, and his keen eye for the beauty of the natural world. He successfully juggled three separate focuses in his rich life: as a technologist and innovator, a family man, and an avid outdoor enthusiast focusing on his photography, rowing and hiking. Each came with a vibrant community and individuals he worked and played with, mentored and joked with. How fortunate we all were to have experienced his expertise, humor, photos and caring.

Jerry was born on May 8, 1952, in Claremont, California. He spent his childhood in Claremont, moving to Joshua Tree with his parents while in high school. He graduated from Yucca Valley High School and attended Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. There he met his beautiful wife and best friend, Barbara, during his first year of college when she was looking for volunteers for a blues concert.

After graduating from UC Berkeley with a BSEE and Stanford University with a MSEE, Jerry and Barbara eventually settled in Redwood City where they raised their two daughters, Andrea and Amanda. His home life was spent surrounded by these women who loved him, volunteering with Girl Scouts, City Council campaigns, the History Museum and whatever activity Barbara was currently invested in.

In his professional life, Jerry was a master of controlled chaos and had an insatiable curiosity, making him uniquely qualified to tackle complex technical problems and herd groups of technical experts. His career spanned over four decades of rapid technological evolution. He spent 13 years at Stanford Research Institute International, conducting vital contract research in laser discs, inkjet printing, and non-destructive testing. His tenure there, including being issued over 15 patents, solidified his expertise in optical and digital media technologies that would directly inform his later work in the entertainment industry.

His brief involvement founding his own company, Eidesign Technologies, led him into learning about digital compression before DVD was even a thing. This became his introduction to Universal Studios, where he launched the Digital Video Compression Center (DVCC) on the lot as a joint venture with Matsushita. At the time, the DVCC was the world leader in DVD authoring, growing to a staff of over 50 under his leadership.

During his 12 years at Universal, Jerry was instrumental in the successful technical launch and standardization of DVD, Digital Cinema, High Definition products, and the Interoperable Master Format. He was a key architect in the adoption and deployment of HDMI/HDCP copy protection and watermark playback control.

He was active within the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers DC28 committee, where the initial industry-wide objectives for digital cinema were formulated and he served as chairman of its digital cinema mastering group. Jerry was an original Universal representative to the major studio joint venture, Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI), contributing many of the fundamentals included in the DCI Specification.

After Universal, he served 11 years as the technical advisor for the National Association of Theater Owners (now Cinema United) and spent 19 years as the chairman of the Inter-Society Digital Cinema Forum. He was a vice president of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) for 12 years and co-chaired the program committee for the highly-regarded HPA Tech Retreat. Jerry’s technical understanding and sense of humor ran through all his efforts, with a favorite being the “Jerry and Leon show” at the HPA Tech Retreat which was a highlight for attendees. It helped make sense of the complex topics of the day with Jerry's signature humor and the ability to end the day of technology with humanity.

Jerry was known not just for his technical prowess, but for his ability to align the interests of “rainmakers” across Hollywood, consumer electronics, and computer manufacturing to bring new technologies to market. He had the unique ability to understand the technology and engineering challenges, then translate it to non-techies. He grasped the big picture implications and issues and had the ability and tenacity to move things forward. Jerry loved to share ideas and mentor others, creating successful teams and friendships along the way to technical innovations. He was generous with his time and expertise at work and in all of his “communities.”

When asked about his philosophy during an interview, Pierce said: “I am a strong proponent for getting the right image and sound in the theater to allow our filmmakers to deliver great stories and make the technology transparent to the audience.” This philosophy drove his work in the movie industry.

Beyond the boardroom and the projection booth, Jerry was a man of the earth and water. He found his greatest peace documenting the world through a lens or moving across the water rowing or flying across the sky. Jerry was an avid backpacker and world traveler who saw the world through both a lens and a pair of hiking boots, meticulously documenting his hikes, rows, travels and photos.

His adventures took him across the globe, from the rugged peaks of the Sierra Nevada and Patagonia to the ancient wonders of Egypt and the wild landscapes of Yellowstone. Whether he was trekking the Appalachian Trail or navigating the Alpamayo Circuit, Jerry embraced the challenges of the trail with a spirit of exploration and a deep respect for nature. He shared his outdoor adventures with his hiking and rowing buddies and his urban adventures traveling with his wife Barbara and friends. He lived a full and adventurous life, creating friendships as he went, leaving far too soon, with so many adventures planned, but not yet done.

Jerry is survived by his wife Barbara (Apffel) Pierce, his daughters Andrea (Pierce) Koenig and Amanda Pierce, their spouses Martin Koenig and Melissa Lopez, and his grandchildren Miles and Analiese Koenig and Waverly Pierce-Lopez, his sisters Linda (Pierce) Picciotto and Janet (Pierce) Self, and their families. Jerry is lovingly remembered by his family, friends, and the global community of engineers, technologists and explorers that he touched. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests taking a walk in nature (Jerry-meandering) or volunteering in your community in his honor.

WASHINGTON—The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) announced that Cliff Jones has joined the agency as associate chief and chief of the laboratory division.

Jones joins the regulator from Verizon Communications, where he led operations for the telco’s private cloud infrastructure and the applications supporting its 5G wireless network, overseeing core-network modernization and large-scale cloud deployment.

He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in engineering, operations, customer service, research, equipment build and compliance roles with major telcos and media companies, the FCC said.

“Cliff brings the supervisory strength, technical authority, compliance expertise, and transformational leadership essential for this role,” Oiffce of Engineering and Technology Chief Andrew Hendrickson said. “His telecommunications experience, regulatory grounding, and RF background position him exceptionally well to support the Laboratory Division’s mission. He will be an outstanding addition to OET, bringing operational excellence, a customer‑first mindset, and the leadership needed to support the Commission and advance its agenda. I look forward to welcoming him to the team.”

Jones’ private-sector career as a technology executive spans some 33 years and includes expertise in RF technologies, point-to-point microwave, satellite, hybrid fiber‑coaxial, fiber to the premises, fiber‑optic transport, Internet Protocol streaming, private branch exchange systems and traditional and Voice over Internet Protocol telephony, the FCC said.

As an associate director at Verizon, Jones was instrumental in managing domestic and international core cloud infrastructure and operationalizing the 5G core network. He also led Verizon’s nationwide Fios Video Offices, where he directed large‑scale network operations and oversaw the super headend and video hub office architecture.

At Comcast, Jones contributed to major advances in hybrid fiber-coaxial networks, digital encoding and transmission, Emergency Alert Systems and cable modems, the regulator said. He was pivotal in Comcast’s efforts to modernize traditional facilities into state‑of‑the‑art video data centers, the FCC added.

One of OET’s missions is to manage spectrum resources and provide leadership to create new opportunities for competitive technologies and services for the American public, the FCC said. The office maintains the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations, manages the Experimental Licensing and Equipment Authorization programs, regulates the operation of unlicensed devices and conducts engineering and technical studies.

EMERYVILLE, Calif.—Advanced Systems Group said it has promoted Joe Marchetto to western regional chief technology officer, tasked with advancing tools, workflows and engineering alignment at the systems integrator.

He had been CTO of strategic accounts.

In his new role, Marchitto will oversee the management and evolution of ASG’s system design across pre- and post-sale functions to streamline project execution, deepen engineering engagement and deliver a more seamless and responsive client experience, the company said. He’ll report directly to ASG President Dave Van Hoy and work closely with Rob Wentz, ASG’s professional services manager, to align team objectives for the upcoming year while continuing to support West Coast presales engineering, ASG said.

“Joe possesses a great combination of technical depth and operational leadership,” said Van Hoy. “His experience managing engineering teams and supporting high-level enterprise clients positions him perfectly to elevate how we serve our customers.”

As CTO of strategic accounts, Marchitto provided pre-sales engineering support to West Coast enterprise clients, serving as a trusted adviser to customers, navigating complex technical environments and designing solutions that balance performance, scalability and cost, ASG said.

The promotion is meant to align ASG’s engineering resources more closely with client needs to deliver more efficient project implementation, expand client-tailored service offerings, improve collaboration between sales and engineering teams and enhance overall client satisfaction and value, ASG said.

“My new role is about building on what we already do well and extending it,” Marchitto said. “By strengthening how our teams work together and engage with clients, we can deliver even greater impact. We may realize this in several ways—through new services, improved workflows or deeper technical collaboration. I’m excited to be working with such a talented team and partnering closely with Rob and our broader organization as we position ourselves for success in this highly competitive market.”

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters has announced the results of tts 2026 NAB Radio and Television Board of Directors elections.

New board members will begin their two-year terms in June. New board members are listed below in italics; other members listed will retain their seats for the upcoming term.

NAB Television Board Members

• David Griffin, Griffin Communications
• Deb McDermott, Standard Media Group
• Amy Liz Pittenger, Bahakel Communications
• Nick Radziul, Hearst Television
• Pam Teague, Sarkes Tarzian
• Barry Fisher of Maranatha Broadcasting Co. was appointed to the seat previously held by Mike Steib.

NAB Radio Board Members

• Molly Draper Russell, Draper Radio, District 4 – Del., D.C., Md., Va.
• Chris Forgy, Saga Communications, District 6 – N.C., S.C.
• Ashley Tullos Fortenberry, TeleSouth Communications, Inc., District 8 – La., Miss.
• J Chapman, Woof Boom, District 10 – Ind.
• John Zimmer, Zimmer Communications, District 12 – Kan., Mo.
• Jeanna Berg, iHeart Media, District 14 – Iowa, Wis.
• Kelli Turner, Audacy, District 16 – Colo., Neb.
• Erik Hellum, Townsquare Media, District 18 – Southern Texas
• Ron Davis, Butte Broadcasting, Inc., District 20 – Idaho, Mont., Wyo.
• Tim Swift, Bonneville International Corp., District 22 – Ariz., Nev., N.M., Utah
• Jeff Warshaw, Connoisseur Media, District 24 – Southern Calif., Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands
• Mary Menna of Beasley Media Group was appointed to the District 2 (N.Y., N.J) seat.
• Heston Wright of Wright Media was appointed to the District 19 (Okla., Northern Texas) seat that was previously held by Will Payne of Payne Media Group.
• Erik Hellum of Townsquare Media was elected to the District 18 (Southern Texas) seat and previously held the District 12 (Kan., Mo.) seat.
• New board members were appointed to designated seats: Melody Spann Cooper of Midway Broadcasting, Bill Wilson of Townsquare Media and Javier Maynulet of Univision Radio.

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) will hold its annual NextGen Broadcast Conference at National Association of Broadcasters headquarters in Washington, D.C., next week.

The two day conference, June 2-3, will explore advances in datacasting, emergency communications, Broadcast Positioning System (BPS) technologies, hybrid broadcast-broadband architectures, cloud-native workflows, AI-enabled operations, and converged ATSC 3.0/5G Broadcast services.

The conference will also recognize individuals whose leadership and technical excellence continue to shape the future of broadcasting, ATSC said. Following tradition, the organization will unveil the winner of the 2026 Bernard J. Lechner Outstanding Contributor Award, which recognizes an individual representative of the membership whose technical and leadership contributions to ATSC have been invaluable and exemplary.

Mark Aitken, president of ONE Media Technologies, senior vice president of advanced technology for Sinclair and the recipient of the Mark Richer Industry Leadership Medal, will also be recognized.

“It will be a great honor to bestow the Mark Richer Industry Leadership Medal to Mark Aitken of ONE Media/Sinclair, recognizing the many achievements he has done to champion ATSC technologies throughout the world,” ATSC President Madeleine Noland said.

“The NextGen Broadcast Conference offers the opportunity to reconnect, exchange ideas, and continue building the future of broadcasting together,” Noland said. “The conversations taking place among engineers, broadcasters, policymakers, researchers, and innovators will help define how broadcasting serves viewers, communities, industries, and nations in the years ahead.”

Click here for more information.

NEVADA CITY, Calif.—Media workflow and processing provider Telestream has tapped Benjamin Desbois as CEO.

Debsbois, currently the company’s chief growth and strategy officer, will take over as CEO on July 1. He succeeds Dan Castles, Telestream’s co-founder and longtime CEO, who will shift to executive chair of the board as part of a planned transition.

“Telestream has always been built on trust—trust in our people, trust in our products and trust in the customer relationships that have defined this company for nearly three decades,” Castles said. “Benjamin understands that foundation deeply. He knows our customers, our markets and our technology, and he brings the leadership experience and industry credibility needed to guide Telestream into its next chapter.

“I am confident he is the right person to lead the company forward and I look forward to supporting him and the team in my role as executive chair,” he added.

Desbois has held leadership roles across the media and entertainment technology sector for over two decades, Telestream said. As chief growth and strategy officer, he was tasked with advancing Telestream’s go-to-market strategy and reinforcing its position as a trusted partner to broadcasters, content owners, sports franchises, postproduction teams, service providers and enterprises, the company said.

Desbois has also served as Telestream’s chief revenue officer, a job he left in 2023. He later held senior executive roles at Backlight, Avid Technology and Dalet, where he led commercial, product and strategic initiatives focused on media workflows, customer transformation and business growth, the company said.

“Telestream has an extraordinary legacy, and I am honored to take on this role at such an important moment for the company and the industry,” Desbois said. “Dan and the team have built a company with deep customer trust and exceptional technology. As AI and cloud reshape how media is made and delivered, my focus is to build on that foundation while accelerating our innovation in intelligent, AI-driven, and cloud-native workflows, ensuring our customers have the agility and confidence they need to thrive in a changing media landscape.”

Castles will continue as Telestream’s CEO through July 1 and the executive leadership team will also remain in their current roles, the company said.

As executive chair, Castles will support Desbois and the company’s board and executive leadership team on strategic direction, customer relationships and long-term value creation, Telestream said.

McLEAN, Va.—Tegna has named Patrick Paolini as the station group’s CEO, effective June 1.

He arrives at the broadcaster as a federal judge has issued a injunction in an antritrust lawsuit seeking to block Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, which prevents the two station groups from merging their operations.

Paolini will be responsible for Tegna’s daily operations, revenue-generating business strategies, local journalism and production, and growth initiatives. He will report directly to Tegna’s Board of Directors.

Tegna said Paolini brings more than 30 years of local broadcast management experience and a distinguished track record in sales, marketing, and news operations to his new role, including management of large-market television stations.

He joins the company from Fox Television Stations, where he had been executive vice president of advertising sales since 2023.

At Fox, Paolini was responsible for ad sales strategy, initiatives and efforts across the station group. He had been senior vice president and general manager of WTTG-WDCA, the Fox-owned duopoly in Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, the stations branded as Fox 5 (WTTG) and Fox 5 Plus (WDCA) became No. 1 in the market with expanded local news and lifestyle programming throughout the broadcast day, Tegna said.

“Patrick is an ideal choice to lead Tegna,” the company’s board said in a statement. “He brings deep expertise in the broadcast television industry, major-market station management, and high-quality local news, along with a proven track record of driving revenue growth across linear and digital platforms. He is an innovative thinker and a proven leader with an established history of success. We look forward to Patrick’s leadership of this great company.”

Before WTTG-WDCA, Paolini was senior vice president of Fox Stations Advertising Sales. Earlier, he was vice president and general manager of Fox-owned WTXF Philadelphia and sales director at Fox’s New York City duopoly of WNYW New York and WWOR-TV Secaucus, N.J.

“I am honored to be joining Tegna,” Paolini said. “I have tremendous respect for the Tegna brand, for the outstanding local news delivered across its 64 local television stations and hundreds of digital platforms, and for the company’s dedicated employees and local journalists. Tegna will remain committed to providing the exceptional service our viewers, advertisers and communities expect, while continuing to innovate and expand across the platforms that define the modern media landscape. I am excited by the opportunities ahead.”

EMERYVILLE, Calif.—Brian Gross has joined the audio team at systems integrator Advanced Systems Group as an account manager.

He’ll be a part of the Burbank, Calif.-based group led by Director of Audio and Post Hamid “Gadget” Hopkins and support clients across applications ranging from music recording to studio design to immersive audio, ASG said.

Gross’ career is rooted in recording studios, music production and audio post, ASG said, and he has designed, built and run commercial recording facilities.

“I love music technology, but when I’m working with clients, it’s not just about selling equipment,” Gross said. “I’ve been in their shoes. I know the problems they’re trying to solve, and I know how to get them there. I’m the first person to say when they don’t need something. It’s about nurturing relationships and providing real value to people.”

ASG said Gross’ experience should be particularly valuable as recording and postproduction studios transition to fully digital environments.

“Brian knows audio technology, has a deep curiosity about it, has run large studios and truly wants his clients to flourish,” ASG President Dave Van Hoy said. “He understands the nuances of music production and post workflows, which helps design systems that stay out of the way of creativity. That perspective, combined with his consultative approach with clients, is particularly valuable as immersive audio and next-generation studio design continue to evolve.”

Among Gross’ top emerging technology priorities will be immersive audio and modular studios, ASG said. The company recently inked an exclusive reseller agreement with Nu-Studio, which offers a modular, portable control room.

“I’m really excited about the Nu-Studio platform as well as immersive audio and helping push both forward,” Gross said. “At the end of the day, I want to give people the best possible environments to create.”

MONTREAL—Matrox Video today celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of innovation, engineering excellence, and customer-focused evolution from its headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

Since 1976, the company has continuously adapted to emerging technologies and changing markets. Throughout that time, Matrox Video has delivered technologies that help organizations around the world capture, process, stream, manage, and distribute video more effectively.

Matrox Video has helped drive some of the industry’s most important technology transitions. The company has played a role in advances ranging from multi-display computing and hardware-accelerated graphics to IP-based media infrastructures, AV-over-IP, and cloud-native video workflows.

Together with the broader Matrox organization’s past contributions to imaging and machine vision technologies, Matrox Video continues to build a legacy of technological leadership.

“Fifty years of innovation reflects the passion, creativity, and dedication of the people who have built Matrox Video over the decades,” said Lorne Trottier, CEO and Co-Founder, Matrox Video. “What has always driven us forward is our commitment to solving real-world challenges for our customers and our willingness to evolve alongside the industries we serve. Technology changes constantly, but our focus remains the same: building reliable, forward-looking solutions that help our customers succeed. I’m incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and excited about where we’re headed next.”

Continuing its tradition of driving major industry shifts, Matrox Video’s upcoming product launch introduces a new approach to delivering high-quality, low-latency video while significantly reducing network bandwidth requirements. The launch is scheduled for the first week of June, with attendees able to learn more at InfoComm 2026.

“While we are proud of our history, we are equally focused on the future,” added Trottier. “The video industry is entering another transformative era, and Matrox Video is committed to helping customers navigate it with technologies built for the next generation of workflows.”

NEW YORK—Andrea Stahlman, who began her successful news career as an intern at WLKY-TV, Hearst Television’s CBS affiliate in Louisville, Kentucky, and since 2012 has served as the station’s news director, has been promoted to president and general manager of the station.

The Louisville native succeeds Glenn Haygood, who is retiring later this month after more than four decades in television broadcasting.

“Andrea has devoted her entire professional life to her hometown of Louisville and WLKY,” said Hearst Television president Michael J. Hayes. “She knows this community like few other journalists ever have and is the ideal executive to shape and lead WLKY into the future.”

Following graduation in 1993 from Notre Dame -- where she was a member of the Fighting Irish volleyball team – Stahlman interned at WLKY and within a few months was hired full time as an assignment editor. She quickly rose to news producer, then executive producer and, in 1999, assistant news director before taking the reins of the news department.

Stahlman has led the multi-platform news team that today produces more than 45 hours weekly of live news as well as digital content and special projects.

The team’s output has earned WLKY Ohio Valley Emmy Awards for Overall Excellence seven times over the last dozen years, as well as a 2022 Kentucky Broadcasters Association Station of the Year honor, and three National Headliner Awards over the last two years.

Since 2008 alone, WLKY has garnered 17 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), including wins for Overall Excellence, Best Newscast, Best Website and Breaking News, as well as dozens of regional AP and Emmy awards.

Following nomination by an employee member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Stahlman was honored in 2024 with a Seven Seals Award. Bestowed by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense program, the award recognizes significant individual or organizational support for the National Guard and Reserve.

In addition to her bachelor’s in business administration from Notre Dame, Stahlman is a graduate of the Hearst Management Institute, Hearst’s executive leadership development program, and of the National Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcast Leadership Training Program.

A lifetime RTDNA member, Stahlman served as its board chair from 2020 to 2021. She is also a member of Leadership Louisville Center, a nationally recognized civic engagement and leadership development nonprofit founded in 1979.

ATLANTA—Gray Media has announced the appointment of new general managers in Louisville, Kentucky and Evansville, Indiana.

Jay Hiett has been named general manager of WDRB, WAVE, and WBKI in Louisville, Kentucky, and Jamie Bremer has been appointed general manager of WFIE, the NBC affiliate in Evansville, Indiana, effective immediately.

Hiett is a veteran broadcast executive with more than 25 years of experience driving station performance across news, sales, digital platforms, and audience development. He most recently served as general manager of WFIE (14NEWS), the NBC affiliate serving Evansville, Indiana. Under his leadership, the station maintained a strong market presence while advancing growth across ratings, revenue, digital platforms, and audience engagement.

Hiett joined WFIE as General Sales Manager in 2010 and has served as the station’s General Manager since 2015. Prior to WFIE, he held leadership roles at WTVW (FOX) in Evansville from 1999 to 2010 and at KARD (FOX) in Monroe, Louisiana from 1997 to 1999. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his focus on strategic revenue growth, cross-department collaboration, and innovative approaches to local news and community outreach.

Originally from Paducah, Jay earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Western Kentucky University.

Bremer replaces Hiett as the general manager of WFIE. She is a 13-year veteran of WFIE who has served in a variety of roles across the station. She began her career at WFIE as a Media Executive before transitioning into sales leadership, most recently serving as Director of Sales. She is known as a driving force behind new local direct and digital revenue for the station, bringing a strong focus on strategic partnerships, market development, and client success.

Bremer is also known for fostering long-term connections within both the business community and the station team. She serves as President of the board of Tristate Senior Wishes, a local nonprofit, and coaches several area soccer teams. Bremer is a graduate of Oakland City University.

LOS ANGELES—Fox Sports, America's English-language home for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and Fox Corporation have announced community impact initiatives leading up to the tournament that include a $500,000 commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).

The investment expands Fox Sports' dedication to growing access to soccer for youth and is part of a broader, multi-year community impact platform collaboration with BGCA and nonprofit organization, Common Goal, designed to create lasting opportunities for young people through soccer across the United States, the company reported.

"As Fox Sports prepares to present the largest FIFA World Cup in history, we have a unique opportunity to ensure the tournament's legacy is measured not only by unforgettable moments on the pitch, but by the lasting impact it creates in communities nationwide," said Eric Shanks, CEO and executive producer, Fox Sports. "We are honored to support the efforts of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Common Goal, U.S. Soccer Foundation and others to expand access to soccer and create opportunities for the next generation both on and off the field."

The $500,000 investment will support youth soccer programming offered by BGCA, expanding access to the sport and creating new opportunities for young athletes nationwide. The legacy commitment is expected to engage more than 26,000 new youth across the country, while helping to train coaches and create job opportunities for Club teens as referees. The donation also enables local clubs nationwide to host Soccer Forward Fests, community-based events designed by U.S. Soccer to celebrate and deepen engagement in the sport.

"Soccer can open up new opportunities for youth and this collaboration with Fox Sports will allow us to support young athletes across the country," said Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "This monumental donation will allow us to uplevel our support for players, coaches, referees and more, contributing to their success on and off the soccer field."

Building on its efforts from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, Fox Sports is expanding its community initiatives ahead of the 2026 tournament through such organizations as Common Goal, U.S. Soccer Foundation, and its own long running Fox Sports University program.

The company said that these combined efforts will increase access to the game, support mental health and create pathways for the next generation of players and professionals.

Fox Sports also noted that it is the only national broadcaster to take Common Goal's 1% pledge, committing one percent of its tournament coverage since 2022 to tell the story of soccer for social good across its platforms.

Together with Common Goal, Fox Sports will continue using the power of soccer to drive positive social impact through initiatives focused on inclusion, well-being and access to the game. This includes the company's commitment to the next chapter of "Create the Space," the mental health initiative led by Common Goal and launched in 2023 together with U.S. Women's National Team defender Naomi Girma and Fox Sports and Fox Corporation during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. The initiative delivers youth-focused mental wellness training programs to soccer-based youth organizations across North America and the Caribbean, equipping the next generation with the tools to thrive both on and off the field.

"I'm proud of the work we've been able to accomplish at Common Goal to bring more awareness around how mental health impacts athletes. This support from Fox Sports and Fox Corporation allows us to make even stronger and more meaningful impact and change for good," said Girma.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LONDON—Following an outstanding inaugural year in 2025, Rise AV has announced the return of its flagship leadership initiative, Elevate.

The program aims to accelerate the progression of women into senior leadership roles across the AV industry.

Past delegates have described the program as “transformative, insightful and energising,” highlighting the unique combination of practical tools, expert guidance, and a powerful cross-industry network.

“Data from the delegates’ post-event survey showed that the 2025 program delivered transformative results, equipping participants with the tools, confidence, and networks needed to lead with authenticity and impact,” said Rachael Hamilton, Managing Director, Rise AV. “We continue tracking outcomes throughout the year to monitor the ongoing impact of the program. Delegates reported significant growth in leadership capability, increased confidence, and stronger career direction, while employers benefited from improved performance, engagement, and retention of high-potential talent. Elevate returns in 2026 with an enhanced program designed to deepen that impact.”

Building on the momentum and impact of its first cohort, the Rise AV Elevate program is a high-impact, six-week leadership development experience designed specifically for women already making their mark, those managing teams, stepping into leadership roles, or leading without having had access to structured support.

The program combines immersive in-person learning with practical, real-world application. Participants begin with two intensive in-person days before splitting into small Active Learning Sets, where they collaborate on real leadership challenges across topics including leading from strength, inspiring and motivating teams, delivering impactful feedback, navigating change and ambiguity, and building commercial awareness. Over six weeks, participants apply their learning in a dynamic, peer-led environment, culminating in a final in-person presentation to the wider cohort.

The UK-based program includes three in-person events, which form the foundation of the program and are not available remotely.

The group stressed, however, that it welcomes applications from women outside the UK as long as they attend all three in-person sessions at their own expense.

A defining feature of Elevate is the role of the “Jedi”, experienced AV leaders who guide each group through the Active Learning process. Rather than providing answers, Jedis facilitate discussion, challenge thinking, and create the conditions for meaningful growth. Confirmed Jedis for this year include Daryl Clark (Workplace Vision), Gary Keene (University of the Arts), Joel Chimoindes (Konekt), Martine Dodwell-Bennett (Absen) and Danielle Myburgh, Pixel Global, each bringing deep industry experience and a shared commitment to developing future leaders.

Key dates for those interested in the program are:

• Applications Open: 18 May
• Applications Close: 17 July
• Program Launch Call: 27 October
• First In-Person Events: 4-5 November (Shure Rose Centre, London)
• Active Learning Phase: 6 November – 8 December (online)
• Final In-Person Event: 9 December (Neat London HQ, London)

Typically valued at £3,000 per delegate, the program is significantly subsidized thanks to the support of industry partners, ensuring wider access to high-quality leadership development across the AV sector.

To ensure accessibility across organizations of all sizes, the program is offered at a heavily subsidized rate:

• £550 per delegate – Small Business. (Fewer than 50 employees OR annual revenue between £1 million and under £10 million).
• £750 per delegate – Medium Business (Between 50 and 250 employees OR annual revenue between £10 million and £50 million).
• £950 per delegate – Large Business. (Over 250 employees OR annual revenue exceeding £50 million).

Rise said that this heavily subsidized program is made possible thanks to the generous support of industry sponsors, whose commitment allows Rise AV to deliver meaningful development opportunities and drive positive change across the AV sector.

Rise AV extends its thanks to our Global Headline Partner, QSC; our UK Gold Sponsors, Audiologic, Diversified, Sennheiser and Yorktel-Kinly; our Silver Sponsors, Aura, AV User Group, Shure, Epson, Electrosonic, iiyama, Lightware, Northamber, GVAV, Midwich Group, Konekt; and our Bronze Sponsors, AtlasIED, LTSMG, Unicol, Uniguest, Peerless AV, Project AV, Hewshott, ProAV, Project Audio Visual, SM&W, and Woop Jobs!

“Elevate is more than a leadership program; it is a long-term investment in the future of the AV industry and a direct response to the skills crisis that is breaking the AV industry," Hamilton said. "By developing confident, capable women leaders, we are helping to strengthen leadership pipelines, improve business performance, and drive meaningful progress in diversity and inclusion across the sector."

Applications are now open, and individuals are welcome to nominate themselves or be nominated by their employer. Businesses are also encouraged to put forward candidates on their behalf. The program has 30 places available and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

We ask all applicants to ensure they have the support of their line manager, as the program requires three in-person days away from the office. Manager engagement is also an important part of the experience, particularly in supporting the development planning element of the program.

More information is available at www.rise-av.com.

WATERTOWN, South Dakota—The Tower Family Foundation has surpassed a significant milestone, exceeding $3.5 million in total giving.

Since its inception in 2014, the Tower Family Foundation has awarded a total of $3,502,988 in direct financial assistance and scholarships to eligible tower workers and their families.

The Tower Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides financial assistance and scholarships to family members of a severely injured, permanently disabled, or deceased tower worker injured or killed in an accident stemming from working at heights on communication structures or other on-the-job related activities.

“From the start, the Tower Family Foundation has remained steadfast in its mission to stand beside industry workers and their families in the wake of workplace accidents and times of unexpected hardship,” explained Tower Family Foundation Board Member and Advisory Committee Chairman, Dan McVaugh.

“It is deeply meaningful to see how our support has helped ease the burden during some of life’s most challenging moments. No worker or family should have to face these circumstances alone, and we are committed to continuing this vital support for years to come.”

The Tower Family Foundation provides critical financial assistance to tower workers and their families in post-accident and emergency circumstance situations. Individuals who know of a tower worker or family recently affected by an accident, are encouraged to submit an application.

In alignment with the Foundation’s core mission, need-based educational scholarships are offered to support individuals who have been severely injured or permanently disabled in the tower industry, as well as to the dependents of workers who have lost their lives or become permanently disabled as a result of work-related incidents. These scholarships aim to provide a crucial financial bridge during the transition to higher education, alleviating the financial burdens that often arise in the aftermath of an accident or permanent disability.

The Foundation also offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships to NATE member company employees and their eligible dependents. Scholarship recipients are selected through a comprehensive review process based on academic achievement and responses to written essays. The deadline to apply for the 2026-2027 academic year is May 31.

Students interested in applying for a Tower Family Foundation Scholarship are encouraged to review the guidelines and complete the official application.

To learn more about the Tower Family Foundation or to make an online contribution, visit towerfamilyfoundation.org.

ATLANTA—Gray Media has announced that Joanie Vasiliadis will join the company in the new role of Senior Vice President for Transformation on June 1, 2026.

In the new role, she will be tasked with accelerating the company’s on-going digital transformation of its content gathering, creation, workflow and distribution initiatives.

She brings more than a decade of experience driving growth across digital, streaming and broadcast platforms, with deep expertise in editorial strategy, product integration, audience development and organizational change. She’s known for building high-performing teams, creating scalable workflows and pairing strong editorial judgment with data-driven decision-making.

Most recently, Vasiliadis served as Vice President of Content at Tegna, where she oversaw content strategy and operations across 64 brands. During her tenure, she led major initiatives focused on newsroom modernization and platform growth. She spearheaded the launch of their national breaking news desk, audience team and streaming team.

In her career, she has also led enterprise-wide operational transformation efforts, developed AI and digital training programs for thousands of journalists and partnered closely with executive leadership on long-term growth initiatives. Prior to joining the Tegna leadership team, she served as Digital Director at WUSA9, Tegna’s CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C.

She was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and Broadcasting & Cable’s Digital Dynamos list. She earned her degree in journalism from Penn State University.

MUNICH—ARRI has announced an expanded Management Board and a streamlined operating structure as part of an effort to strengthen innovation, execution, and global customer alignment.

As part of those changes, Frank Eischet and Marcel Koutstaal have joined ARRI’s Management Board alongside David Bermbach and Chris Richter.

The company said that the expanded leadership team combines operational, financial, product, and commercial expertise needed to support ARRI’s long-term growth and evolving role as a provider of integrated solutions across the Motion Picture, Live Entertainment, and Content Creation industries.

At the same time, ARRI is simplifying its organizational structure by consolidating responsibilities previously divided between the Camera Systems and Lighting business units. The new setup strengthens the focus on comprehensive solutions for our target markets rather than individual product categories, accelerates decision-making, and brings product development, operations, and commercial execution into closer alignment worldwide.

ARRI said that for customers, this translates into faster delivery of solutions and a more seamless experience across ARRI’s camera, lighting, and service portfolio.

“ARRI is entering a new phase focused on investment, integration, and scalable growth,” said Thomas Riedel, owner of ARRI. “By expanding the Management Board, we are strengthening the connection between technology, operations, and commercial execution. Frank Eischet deepens collaboration within the Riedel Group, while Marcel Koutstaal adds valuable international expertise to accelerate innovation and operational performance across the company.”

Frank Eischet joins ARRI’s Management Board as Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis. Coming from Riedel Communications, he will continue in his role at Riedel while supporting ARRI’s financial and strategic development, further strengthening collaboration within the group. The CFO position will be permanently filled in the upcoming weeks.

Marcel Koutstaal joins the Management Board as Chief Operating Officer and assumes responsibility for ARRI’s global operations and companywide product development activities. He brings extensive international leadership experience in large-scale operational optimization and high-end camera technology, combined with deep expertise across studio, outside broadcast, remote, and cloud-based production environments.

David Bermbach assumes responsibility within the Management Board as Chief Product Officer, leading ARRI’s unified product strategy across camera and lighting technologies with a strong focus on integrated solutions. He will strengthen alignment between innovation, roadmap, and customer needs across the portfolio and continue ARRI’s transformation into a provider of integrated solutions across hardware, software, and services for Motion Picture, Live Entertainment, and Content Creation.

Chris Richter assumes the role of Chief Commercial Officer within the Management Board and continues to lead ARRI’s global commercial organization, including sales, rental, and corporate communications. He will drive a consistent worldwide approach to customer engagement, commercial execution, and brand positioning.

“We are bringing product, operations, and commercial leadership closer together to respond faster to evolving customer and production requirements worldwide,” said David Bermbach and Chris Richter. “Strengthening the operational backbone within ARRI allows us to set a clear focus on supporting the Media &

Entertainment industry in these times of change, scale innovation and deliver even greater value to our customers and partners globally.“

With the expanded Management Board and streamlined organizational structure, ARRI advances its vision as the “Trusted Technology Leader for the Next Generation of Media & Entertainment.”

IRVING, Texas—Nexstar Media Group has named Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Elizabeth Ryder to its board of directors.

The move comes as the company faces important legal challenges over its acquisition of Tegna.

Ryder had held the same role from 2017 to 2022, and before that was senior vice president and general counsel. At that time, she oversaw Nexstar’s legal and regulatory efforts related to its 2017 acquisition of Media General and 2019 purchase of Tribune Media. For the past four years, she has been Nexstar’s senior outside legal counsel. She joined Nexstar in 2009.

“We are very pleased to welcome Elizabeth back to Nexstar’s executive team on a full-time basis,” Perry Sook, Nexstar’s founder, chairman and CEO, said. “Her counsel over the past four years has been invaluable. She brings a depth of legal experience unmatched in the media industry, knows Nexstar and its mission intimately, and understands the evolving media landscape as very few do.”

Nexstar also promoted three senior executives to new posts:

• Scott Weaver has been promoted to executive vice president, government relations.
• Lindsey Knapp was elevated to executive vice president, human resources and associate general counsel.
• Jason Roberts advanced to senior vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant corporate secretary.

Weaver joined Nexstar in 2024 as senior VP, government relations, and has been responsible for setting the company’s legislative and regulatory priorities, representing Nexstar’s interests to the executive branch of the federal government, Congress, and a variety of regulatory bodies. He established Nexstar’s first Office of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C., shortly after joining. He will continue to report directly to Sook.

Knapp had been senior vice president, human resources and associate general counsel, since 2024, directing comprehensive due diligence during mergers and acquisitions and advising on workforce composition, culture and integration issues. She has also managed a variety of organizational changes designed to improve efficiency and productivity and was instrumental in the creation and implementation of Nexstar’s employment law compliance program. Ms. Knapp joined Nexstar in 2022 as VP, human resources and associate general counsel. She will report to President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Biard.

Roberts joined Nexstar as associate general counsel in 2019, following the company’s acquisition of Tribune Media, where he was assistant general counsel for 10 years, overseeing legal matters for approximately one-third of Tribune’s TV station portfolio, negotiating complex commercial contracts and advising on regulatory and content matters. He has had similar responsibilities at Nexstar while also managing the legal aspects of the company’s transition to ATSC 3.0 and establishing its regulatory training programs. Roberts will report to Ryder.

“Scott, Lindsey and Jason are talented and experienced leaders in their respective fields who are deeply committed to Nexstar’s long-term success,” Sook said. “Each of them has a keen understanding of our media businesses and our people, the forces that are shaping the industry and the critical role we play in the communities we serve. We are fortunate to have them as members of our management team.”

ATLANTA—Gray Media has promoted veteran executive James Fitch to senior director of news services.

Fitch had been the station group’s vice president of news services for the past 10 years, serving as the primary corporate liaison for the company’s news directors and managing key relationships with the vendors and suppliers of Gray’s news technology and third-party content. His promotion is a reflection of his contributions to Gray in various roles and his expanding portfolio of responsibilities, as well as the group’s increasing number of news programs across a growing number of distribution platforms, the company said.

Fitch has worked for Gray and its predecessor companies over the past 30 years, the station group said. As VP of news services, he launched Gray’s newsroom training program, which provides onboarding and advanced skills training for reporters, photographers and producers.

He has also served as a local-station news director, corporate regional news director and as a journalism trainer, Gray said. A former active-duty U.S. Marine, James began his journalism career in the military working for newspapers and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service overseas. He is a fellow in the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism and has completed the NAB Education Foundation’s Broadcast Leadership Training Program.

Atlanta-based Gray Media owns local TV stations and digital assets serving roughly 120 U.S. full-power television markets, reaching about 37% of U.S. TV households.

Broadcasting are among the industries hit hardest by the increasing use of artificial intelligence, according to a new report from Wiingy.

The research firm, a worldwide provider of professional tutoring services, ran a test based on three years of post-ChatGPT data—search trends, keyword volumes, government wages, employment records—and compared them to predictions made by Oxford (2017) and WEF (2025) about the potential of task automation and future hiring.

The Oxford Future of Employment study (2017) ran 702 U.S. occupations through a machine learning model that looked at the tasks each job involves and calculated an automation probability from 0% to 99%. Meanwhile, WEF's Future of Jobs report (2025) asked 1,000-plus employers across 55 countries what they expect to hire more of—and less of—by 2030.

The two studies broadly agreed that physical, hands-on, interpersonal, and creative-performance skills are hard for AI to replace, while text processing, data handling, and routine digital tasks are very easy for AI to replace.

To arrive at these numbers, Wiingy used Google Trends to track how much people searched for each of 29 defined skills every month from January 2020 to March 2026—covering more than two years before ChatGPT launched and more than three years after. The researcher wanted to know whether search demand for a skill would go up or down once AI tools became mainstream with the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022.

Job numbers are U.S. only for radio and TV.

“The number we use to measure this is called the Temporal Resilience Score (TRS). It is simply the average search interest after ChatGPT divided by the average search interest before ChatGPT,” the researcher said.

Predictably, the professions expected to be the most AI-proof for the foreseeable future were labor-intensive, hands-on work like yoga and fitness at +21% and massage therapy at +11.3%, along with artistic professions such as professional dancers and musicians.

But when it came to jobs that included text processing, data handling and routine digital tasks, the outlook was more negative.

Topping the list was broadcasting, which, based on Wiingy's research, saw 36.2% job loss between May 2022 and May 2024 and real wages down 19.5% during the same period.

“This is the largest real wage decline of any occupation in the study,” Wiingy said. “AI content tools are visibly restructuring media employment at both the wage and headcount level simultaneously.”

Following, but far behind in comparison, were data entry with 14% of jobs eliminated between 2022 and 2024 and copywriting at 11.5% and web design at 11%.

But it wasn’t all bad news for media production. Wiingy noted that AI is not killing video editing jobs, just changing it. While some roles are shrinking, the report suggests a "barbell effect" for technical creative skills like video editing. Despite AI tools like Runway or Sora, search demand for learning video editing remains high, the researcher said.

“Someone learning video editing in 2025 is not competing with Runway or Sora,” the researcher said. “They are learning to direct AI video tools, understand what good editing looks like, and supervise AI output. The skill is changing, not disappearing. Search demand persists because the human oversight role persists.”

The full report is available here.

Today marks the 100th birthday of broadcasting icon Sir David Attenborough.

Born on May 8, 1926, in Isleworth, England, Attenborough is known throughout the world for his work with the BBC Natural History Unit, but he’s also moved with the times and in recent years has fronted shows on streaming services.

The middle of three brothers (older brother Richard was a BAFTA and Oscar-winning actor and director), Attenborough joined the BBC in 1952, despite the fact that he didn’t own a television.

Apparently, he was discouraged from a career in front of the camera because it was thought his teeth were too big! But, after the original presenter fell ill, Attenborough made his on-camera debut in 1954 with “Zoo Quest,” a program about an animal-collecting expedition for the London Zoo.

In the 1960s, he left the BBC to pursue a postgraduate degree in social anthropology at the London School of Economics, fitting in filming around his studies. However, he failed to finish the course after accepting an invitation to become controller of BBC Two in 1965. Amazingly, he managed to negotiate a clause in his contract that would allow him to still make programmes, travelling to Tanzania later that year to film elephants.

During his time at BBC Two, the channel broadcast some of its most iconic programmes, including The Old Grey Whistle Test and Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It also helped showcase the BBC’s new UHF colour television.

In 1969, Attenborough was promoted to director of programmes, making him responsible for the output of both BBC One and Two. When he was touted as a possible BBC director-general in 1972, he told Richard he had no appetite for the job. Early the following year, he left his role to return to full-time programme-making.

This led to Attenborough’s most prolific time as a natural history presenter, educating the nation with the likes of Life on Earth, The Living Planet and The Life of Birds.

Over the past 10 years, Attenborough has spread his wings, working with the likes of Sky, Netflix and Apple TV.

Technology
As a presenter and producer, Attenborough has never been afraid to embrace new technology to help tell a story. For The Life of Mammals in 2002, low-light and infrared cameras were deployed to reveal the behaviour of nocturnal mammals.

In 2011, he discussed how 3D filmmaking (which was a big thing back then) could help bring “transcendental” images to screens, but tended to take a lot longer to film. “3D works under certain circumstances and depends on how you produce it,” said Attenborough. “Right now the technology is limiting, although the results can be liberating. It takes four to five people to lift the cameras and 30 minutes to change a lens, which is no way to react to fast-moving animal behavior. The systems are very temperamental, which means you could be sitting around for an hour and half while the cameras are aligned.”

(Also Read: The Evolution of 3D, According to Sir David Attenborough)

Also that year, IBC presented Attenborough with its International Honour for Excellence, celebrating his then 60-year career for its “significant advancements in filming techniques and bringing groundbreaking documentaries to audiences.”

In 2016, the BBC launched its own Attenborough app. “The Story of Life” app marked his 90th birthday with over 1,000 clips of Attenborough’s most memorable moments. “To keep sharing those stories in a digital age means taking them online, and I hope ‘The Story of Life’ will reach and inspire a whole new generation,” he said.

In more recent years, Attenborough has helped lead the move into augmented reality. At an AR experience based on 2022’s “The Green Planet” in London, visitors were guided through six digitally enhanced worlds—including rainforests, freshwater and saltwater worlds, the changing seasons and desert landscapes—by an AR version of the presenter.

The series itself employed new filming technology to take the audience to the highest branches and the lowest fauna, using a camera rig re-engineered into a field robot christened the Triffid, after John Wyndham’s science fiction book. Using the system, the production team were able to film plants in the field, not only in time lapse, but in real time, exploring their world all the way down to macro scale.

(Also Read: How a Triffid Captured ‘The Green Planet’)

Attenborough has also worked with virtual production, specifically on “Dinosaurs: The Final Day with David Attenborough,” when producers used the 25.5 meter-by-5 meter curved screen at MARS’ London facility to recreate the series’ background.

All of this shows that Attenborough is one of the most prolific presenters and producers on British television. In fact, he holds a Guinness World Record for the longest career as a natural historian and presenter in television.

With “Wild London” and “Secret Garden” already airing in 2026 and “Tiger Island” awaiting broadcast, it looks like Attenborough’s 60+ year career on screen and off shows no sign of stopping. Long may it continue!

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand TVBEurope.

LONDON— The Media Talent Manifesto (MTM) has announced the return of the World Skills Café at IBC2026, positioning the event as a critical industry forum to confront the widening talent, skills and diversity gap across the media and entertainment sector.

Taking place Thursday, Sept. 10, 2 PM - 5 PM at the RAI Amsterdam just prior to the show opening, The event will open with a keynote from Evan Shapiro, widely known as the industry’s “Media Cartographer,” who will deliver a data-led perspective on the structural shifts reshaping the workforce and the urgent need for change.

The World Skills Café has rapidly become the industry’s global focal point for tackling workforce challenge—bringing together leaders from across the industry to drive practical solutions and collective accountability, according to Shapiro.

“Let’s stop pretending this is a pipeline problem,” said Evan Shapiro. “The map of media has been completely redrawn by creators, platforms and new economics. But our approach to talent hasn’t caught up. The World Skills Café is where the industry comes to face that truth and start doing something about it.”

Alongside the event, IAMT will publish a new report, ‘Talent Trends in MediaTech’, offering fresh insight into how skills demands are shifting across the sector and where the most urgent gaps remain. The findings will help inform discussions at the World Skills Café and support industry-wide action.

The World Skills Café will once again feature a series of keynotes, panels and expert-led discussions designed to move beyond conversation and toward tangible commitments. Attendees will collaborate to identify the most critical skills gaps, explore new pathways into the industry, and accelerate diversity and inclusion across all levels of the workforce.

Carrie Wootten, Co-Founder of MTM, said “The pace of change across our industry is only accelerating, but the way we attract and develop talent hasn’t kept up. The World Skills Café is about bringing the industry together to address that disconnect head-on. What makes this initiative powerful is its focus on action – ensuring that the ideas and commitments made translate into real progress year-on-year.”

Jo Mayer, Head of Marketing at IBC, added, “Talent and skills development are central to the future of the industry. The World Skills Café plays an important role in bringing these conversations into focus at IBC, creating a space where the industry can come together to address shared challenges and drive meaningful progress.”

The Café will also cover initiatives such as On Air, the world’s largest student-led global broadcast, have emerged directly from the collaboration and ideas generated through the World Skills Café. First launched in 2025 with more than 500 students participating worldwide, the initiative is expanding significantly in 2026 into a multi-channel global broadcast spanning news, sport, film and culture, providing hands-on experience across the full media workflow.

IBC2026 takes place Sept. 11-14 at the RAI Amsterdam. Registration to attend the World Skills Café is now open here. The World Skills Café at IBC2026 is sponsored by AWS, Deluxe, DTG, IAMT, Platform Communications and Vizrt.

WASHINGTON—Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr announced a number of staff promotions that will see Adam Chan, Anthony Patrone, Allison Howell, Connor Glisson, Erin Boone and Alex Sanjenis assume wider roles.

“The FCC’s talented staff represent the best in public service,” Carr said. “I continue to be impressed every day by their dedication and the great results they deliver for the American people. I am honored to announce these promotions.”

The promotions include a new Acting Chief of the FCC’s Media Bureau, which rules on many issues facing broadcasters, including station license renewals and ownership caps.

The FCC described the promotions as follows:

• Senior National Security Counsel. Adam Chan has been serving as Chairman Carr’s National Security Counsel, and he is now promoted to Senior National Security Counsel.
• Senior Counsel. Anthony Patrone has been serving as a Legal Advisor in the Office of Chairman Carr, and he is now promoted to a Senior Counsel to Chairman Carr. Anthony’s portfolio will include advising the Chairman on matters before the Enforcement Bureau.
• Legal Advisor. Allison Howell has been serving as an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Chairman Carr, and she is now promoted to a Legal Advisor to Chairman Carr. Allison’s portfolio will include advising the Chairman on matters before the Media Bureau.
• Director, Office of Legislative Affairs. Connor Glisson has been serving as a Senior Legal Advisor in the front office of the FCC’s Space Bureau, and he is now promoted to Director of the FCC’s Office of Legislative Affairs. Previously, Connor served as Tech Policy Counsel to Senator Marsha Blackburn and as Legislative Correspondent to Senator David Vitter. In addition to his experience on Capitol Hill, Connor also brings years of valuable experience from his prior roles in the private sector and in public service, including at USAC, NTIA, and FCC.
• Deputy Chief of Staff. Erin Boone has been serving as a Senior Counsel to Chairman Carr. She will now serve as a Deputy Chief of Staff covering a range of issues in coordination with the FCC’s Chief of Staff, Scott Delacourt.
• Acting Bureau Chief. Alex Sanjenis has been serving as a Deputy Bureau Chief in the FCC’s Media Bureau. He will now serve as the Acting Chief of the FCC’s Media Bureau.

Full bios are available on the FCC’s website at: https://www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr/staff

Ted Turner, the founder of CNN and Turner Broadcasting System and a larger-than-life entrepreneur who had an outsized and enduring impact on the development of TV industry, has died at 87.

No cause of death was given by his family and Turner Enterprises, which announced his death May 6. In 2018, Turner disclosed that he suffered from Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder.

Turner is best known for founding CNN, the first 24-hour news network, which would dramatically upend the news business by providing viewers with around-the-clock access to news, creating a continuous 24-hour news cycle.

Turner, however, was also a pioneer in a host of other initiatives that would have a profound impact on the media landscape. After his father committed suicide and Turner inherited a nearly bankrupt billboard-advertising business in 1963. He moved into TV with his 1970 purchase of a struggling Atlanta UHF TV station. He later bought the Atlanta Braves as a way to boost the station’s ratings.

In 1976, he put that station, WTCG, up on satellite, creating the pioneering cable Superstation WTBS, which later became the cable network TBS.

That launch helped the financially struggling cable industry, which had mostly retransmitted broadcast stations in its early years, greatly expand its appeal in the late 1970s and 1980s by offering a large bouquet of original programming. His programming of Atlanta Braves baseball games on WTBS was also an early example of the shift of sports rights from broadcast to cable.

'Chicken Noodle Network'
In June of 1980, Turner took his vision one step further with the launch of the 24-hour Cable News Network. CNN was widely dismissed in its early years as the Chicken Noodle Network with its low-budget operations and no-name anchors. Over time, the public’s desire for 24-hour news access, rather than a morning newspaper or half-hour evening TV news broadcast, had forever changed the journalism business. That trend became particularly evident during the 1992 Persian Gulf War, when CNN provided around-the-clock coverage, including from behind enemy lines in Baghdad.

Turner was also instrumental in pushing U.S. media companies into international markets with the launch of CNN International in 1985.

Building on his belief in original programming, Turner was also a pioneer in the rapidly consolidating media landscape of the late 1980s and 1990s, with the $1.5 billion purchase of MGM Studios in the mid-1980s. He used its library to create Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and the Cartoon Network.

In 1996, he sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner Inc. for $7.5 billion, creating the kind of horizontally integrated media company, with cable networks (HBO, TBS, CNN, TNT), cable systems and Hollywood studios, that currently dominates the traditional media sector. He stayed on as vice chairman of Time Warner but, following the disastrous merger between AOL and Time Warner, Turner resigned as AOL Time Warner’s vice chairman in 2003.

Gambling Big
Throughout his career, Turner took big bets and on several occasions nearly pushed himself into bankruptcy. Following his MGM purchase, Turner was forced to give cable companies and operators like John Malone an equity stake in his company and they kept a tighter rein on his finances.

Over the years as a philanthropist, sportsman and environmentalist, Turner was known for his outspoken views, including some racist comments in his early career, and his longstanding feud with Rupert Murdoch. As a philanthropist, he donated over $1 billion to the United Nations.

In announcing his death, Turner Enterprises noted that he donated “over a billion dollars, saving imperiled and endangered species, preserving more than two million acres of land and serving bison in his Ted’s Montana Grill restaurants. He was also a man known for his no-holds-barred delivery, endearing sense of humor, and undying loyalty to those around him. He charmed people he met with his warmth and general lack of conceit, despite his many successes and celebrity—an attribute made apparent in his response to anyone who addressed him as ‘Mr. Turner’—he’d always reply, ‘Call me Ted!’”

He is survived by his five children, Laura Turner Seydel (Rutherford), Robert E. (Teddy) Turner IV (Blair), Rhett Turner, Beau Turner (Georgia), Jennie Turner Garlington (Peek), fourteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In a statement, Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said: “Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement. He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world."

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav called Turner "a visionary, a trailblazer, and a foundational force behind many of the brands that are central to Warner Bros. Discovery today.

"Ted’s entrepreneurial spirit, creative ambition and willingness to take risks changed the media industry forever," Zaslav added. "He believed deeply in the power of ideas, in doing things differently and in building platforms that could inform, inspire and connect people around the world. That belief inspired generations of leaders, myself included. He did not just disrupt media. He transformed it.

“In 1980, many questioned the logic of launching CNN, the world’s first 24-hour news network,” Zaslav continued. “Ted believed the world deserved access to news as it happened, and he acted on that conviction. CNN fundamentally changed how the world experiences history in real time, and its impact on journalism continues to be felt every day through the work of our teams.

"With the launch of TNT in 1988, and through the sports legacy he built across Turner Sports, he helped redefine sports television and created a platform that brought iconic moments into millions of homes. In founding Turner Classic Movies in 1994, Ted ensured that great films and the history of cinema would be preserved and celebrated. TCM stands as a testament to his belief that great storytelling has no expiration date, and that honoring the past is essential to shaping the future.”

Riedel Communications has named Marc Engroff as chief financial officer and will transition Frank Eischet to group chief operating officer under a strategic initiative to strengthen its operational management, the company said.

The restructuring follows Riedel Group CEO Thomas Riedel’s purchase of camera and lighting technology maker ARRI and is meant to bolster the management structure of Riedel Communications while enhancing coordination and governance at the Riedel Group, the company said.

In his new role as CFO, Engroff assumes responsibility for finance, control, M&A, global purchasing and IT, among other key corporate functions, Riedel said.

Eischet’s new priorities will include a greater focus on strategic alignment, operational scalability and the continued development of global structures, Riedel said. He will continue as a managing director of Riedel Communications.

“Frank has been instrumental in building the structures that have enabled Riedel’s growth over the years,” Thomas Riedel, Riedel Group CEO and founder of Riedel Communications, said. “With Marc, we are appointing a highly capable and trusted leader from our own ranks who combines strong financial expertise with a proven ability to translate data into strategic direction. This evolution strengthens Riedel Communications operationally while further developing our leadership at the Riedel Group level.”

Eischet joined Riedel in 2011 as chief financial officer and managing director, the company said. During his tenure, Riedel grew from a company with less than 50 million euros in revenue to one generating more than 250 million euros alongside significant international expansion, Riedel said.

Engroff joined Riedel in 2024, most recently as director, group controlling. Prior to Riedel, he held several finance leadership roles at Deutsche Telekom, a company he joined in 2008.

“I am very grateful for the trust that Thomas and Frank have placed in me,” Engroff said. “I take on this responsibility with humility, supported by my outstanding team, which has been with me along the way, and by many great colleagues across the organization. Looking ahead, I am excited to continue shaping Riedel’s development while ensuring we support its growth in a sustainable and resilient way.”

Added Eischet: “Riedel’s success has always been a team effort. I am proud of what we have achieved together over the past years and grateful to have been part of this journey. With Marc taking on the CFO role, we are strengthening our operational foundation even further. I look forward to focusing more on the broader development of the Riedel Group and driving the next phase of our growth.”

For more on Riedel, visit its website.

NEW YORK—Operative, a provider of software that helps media companies manage and sell ads across TV, streaming and digital platforms, has named Dang Ly as chief product officer.

Ly, the former senior vice president and chief technology officer at Universal Destinations & Experiences, is tasked with leading Operative’s product strategy and road map across a portfolio that includes AOS, Operative.One, Adeline AI and STAQ; deepening its data-unification capabilities; expanding its omnichannel intelligence layer; and accelerating AI integration across its product suite, the company said.

“Media and advertising is evolving rapidly, and the companies that can unify trusted data and turn it into personalized audience experiences will define the next era,” Ly said. “Omnichannel engagement and AI only deliver value when the data underneath is connected, reliable and activated intelligently. Operative sits at exactly that intersection and I’m energized to help our customers turn connected data into measurable, outcome-based growth.”

Ly has spent more than 20 years scaling customer-facing products in media, entertainment, hospitality and retail, and building the data platforms that support them, Operative said. At Universal Destinations & Experiences, the theme-park unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, he oversaw a global enterprise strategy that leveraged data and AI to unify customer, operational and transactional data into workflows, automation and personalized guest experiences, the company said.

Previously, Ly spent nearly a decade leading NBCUniversal’s core ad sales technology and engineering teams.

“Dang brings something rare,” Operative CEO Mike Napodano said. “He has built audience data platforms at scale, and he has used them to deliver products that transform the way customers manage their business. He understands that 360-degree audience understanding isn’t a dashboard or a report, it’s an end-to-end discipline that starts with how you capture data and ends with how you act on it. That perspective is exactly what will shape Operative’s product roadmap as we help our customers grow in an AI-driven world.”

Ly’s appointment sets up Operative’s strategic focus on omnichannel data strategies and advanced analytics, the company said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

SALISBURY, Md.—Bill Vernon was named president of Draper Media, a broadcast group that owns seven television stations and 12 radio stations across the Delmarva Peninsula region of Delaware and Maryland, effective May 1.

Vernon had served as vice president of the company since December of 2024.

“Bill has demonstrated exceptional leadership at every level of this company since the day he arrived,” Draper President and CEO Molly Draper Russell said. “In less than six years, he has grown the Delmarva Sports Network from a startup venture into a thriving local sports destination, taken on oversight of our radio portfolio, and earned the trust of everyone he’s worked with. Bill is the right person to lead Draper Media into its next chapter, and I have complete confidence in his vision for this company.”

Vernon joined Draper Media in 2020. He served as general manager of the Delmarva Sports Network, a 24/7 sports network focused on local high schools, regional colleges and local minor-league sports, and took it to profitability. He later served as station manager before his promotion to VP, where he added oversight of the company’s radio group to his duties.

WASHINGTON—Ben Arden, formerly a special counsel in the FCC’s Media Bureau, has joined the National Association of Broadcasters as senior vice president and deputy general counsel.

Arden will lead NAB’s policy and legal advocacy before the Federal Communications Commission, the group said, advocating broadcasters’ priorities on such issues as media ownership, competition policy and the evolving media marketplace. He’ll report to Rick Kaplan, NAB’s chief legal officer and executive VP of legal and regulatory affairs.

“Ben brings an exceptional depth of experience in communications law and policy, along with a proven ability to navigate complex regulatory challenges,” NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said. “His leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we continue advocating for policies that ensure local television and radio stations can compete and thrive.”

As FCC Media Bureau special counsel, Arden advised Carr’s office and FCC senior leaders on a wide range of issues, including media ownership, transaction reviews, foreign ownership, retransmission consent and emerging technologies, NAB said.

Arden was with the FCC for 15 years and held multiple leadership roles. Prior to the Media Bureau post, he served as chief of staff and legal adviser to then-commissioner Carr, playing a role in shaping communications policy and coordinating with congressional officers and industry stakeholders, NAB said.

Prior to the FCC, Arden was an associate attorney at law firm Williams Mullen, representing communications clients before Congress, the FCC and other federal agencies, NAB said. He earned his law degree from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from Arizona State University.

ALAMEDA, Calif.—Clear-Com has named Brian Grahn as market outreach manager, Americas, and Ben Turnwell as business development manager, EMEA live, expanding their roles to work more closely with customers, consultants and partners in those regions.

Grahn, who joined the intercom and communications system provider in 2022, now leads consultant-focused outreach and technical engagement across such markets as themed entertainment and cruise lines, the company said. Formerly regional sales manager, Southwest U.S., Grahn will work across sales, marketing and product management and engineering teams to support system design conversations, refine messaging and help translate real-world workflows into future product direction, Clear-Com said.

“I am very much looking forward to building deeper connections with consultants, shaping how we tell our story in the market, and helping deliver communication solutions for some truly complex and creative environments,” Grahn said.

Added Kris Koch, Clear-Com’s director of sales, North America: “Brian has a unique ability to connect the technical and human sides of what we do. He understands how systems are used in the field, but also how to communicate that value clearly. That’s critical as we continue to engage more closely with consultants and end users.”

The U.K.-based Turnwell will lead business development across the live production sector in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), working with production companies, venues, promoters and other stakeholders to identify new opportunities and support sustainable business development across the region, Clear-Com said. He brings to the company more than a decade of experience in live sound, system design and technical sales, it said, with a background in touring, theater and large-scale live productions.

“Ben brings a practical understanding of how our customers operate in high-pressure, real-world environments,” Chris Willis, vice president of worldwide sales at Clear-Com, said. “He’s focused on building trust and long-term partnerships, which is exactly how this industry works and how Clear-Com continues to grow globally.”

Turnwell will also work closely with Clear-Com’s internal teams to ensure alignment on commercial strategy, product capabilities and customer expectations across the market, the company said.