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PBS Joins NABA
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April 22, 2013 / TORONTO, Canada - We are pleased to welcome PBS back
as an Associate Member of the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA). PBS joins with
many other North American national broadcasters, regional networks and specialty service broadcasters
who are NABA members in defining, debating and suggesting solutions to the myriad of issues and challenges
broadcasters face both here in North America and around the world.
PBS will play an active role with NABA’s various Committees and Working Groups, particularly
those looking at the next generation of television, work flow and multi-platform delivery. Also,
we look forward to working with PBS through our reinvigorated Safety & Security Committee as they
have a great deal of expertise and knowledge to share on matters of emergency preparedness.
“I am very pleased to welcome our PBS colleagues back to NABA. They play an important role
in the broadcast landscape of the US giving them a thoughtful perspective on matters of current
and future interest. I look forward to their innovative approach and a fresh point of view to
the important challenges the broadcast community faces.”
-Michael McEwen, Director General, NABA.
Again, a big welcome to PBS from the NABA family!
About PBS:
PBS’ mission is to create content that educates, informs and inspires. PBS has transformed
itself from a solely broadcast organization to a multi-platform leader that serves Americans
through television, mobile TV, the Web, interactive whiteboards in the classroom and more.
PBS reaches 120 million people through television and nearly 28 million people online each month.
PBS is a private, nonprofit corporation, founded in 1969, whose members are America’s public TV
stations – noncommercial, educational licensees that operate more than 350 PBS member stations
and serve all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.
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NABA Remembers Preston Davis, Former ABC Executive
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Preston Davis Passes Away at Age 63
Dear NABA Member,
It was a shock today to learn of the passing of Preston Davis, a man many of us have known and respected for years.
His contributions to, and leadership of, our industry were both a legend and an example to us all. As a friend,
mentor, and colleague he will be missed by us all, but his accomplishments live on at Disney|ABC and throughout
our industry. In an earlier email Anne Sweeney, Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks and President Disney|ABC Television
Group paid tribute to her former colleague:
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I am very sad to report that Preston Davis, our wonderful, retired president of Broadcast Operations & Engineering for
ABC, passed away yesterday. Our thoughts are with his wife Michelle and their children, Ashley and Preston III, and I
hope they know how very much Preston will be missed by his ABC family, too.
For 35 years at ABC, Preston was a mentor and an advisor, to so many of us, but most importantly, a dear friend.
Preston led by example, and was the true definition of integrity.
In 1993, Bob Iger promoted Preston to lead ABC’s Broadcast Operations & Engineering, making him the first African
American president of any ABC/Cap Cities division in the history of the company. Bob asked that I express his
condolences and share with you how he will remember Preston. “Preston and I started at ABC around the same time.
He was a talented and tenacious leader who earned wide respect for his abilities, and was revered for his impeccable
integrity. When I had to choose someone to lead BO&E into the future, there was no question Preston was the right
person, and he led that team to great achievements for the better part of two decades. Preston was a class act and
a great guy who had a tremendous impact on everyone who knew him.”
Preston joined ABC in 1976, beginning as an engineer in Washington, DC, and subsequently moving into various positions
of increasing responsibility involving field and studio operations in Washington, Atlanta and New York. In 1988, he
was promoted to Vice President, Television Operations, East Coast, where he directed the efforts of studio and field
operations, electronic news gathering, telecommunications and the RF Operations & Engineering Group. In 1993, he was
named President of ABC’s Broadcast Operations & Engineering Group, and retired from that post in 2011.
Preston served in the U.S. Army as a specialist in communications technology and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.
He sat on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Minority Interests in Media, Inc., which provides programs
for bringing talented minority youth into the communications industry. He also served on the Board of Junior Achievement
of New York, was a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Museum Of Television and Radio, and served as a
member of the President's Council of Cooper Union College of Science & Art.
We will pass along any details that the family shares with us regarding services.
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Sad news, indeed and I know you join me in extending our deepest sympathies to Preston’s family.
-Michael McEwen, Director General, NABA.
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SSPI Announces the 2013 Satellite Hall of Fame Inductees: R. Bausch, D. Tauber, and R. Zitter
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SSPI to induct Romain Bausch, Robert Zitter, Susan Irwin, Prof. U.R. Rao and Dick Tauber into the Satellite Hall of Fame
13th Induction to Hall of Fame Will Take Place on March 19 at SSPI’s Annual Gala
New York City, February 5, 2013 – The Society of Satellite Professionals International announced five new inductees for the 2013 Hall of Fame, to be honored on March 19 during SSPI’s annual Gala. They
will join more than 40 Hall of Fame members including Dr. Arthur C. Clarke, Dr. Harold Rosen, Olof Lundberg, Eddy Hartenstein, Frederic d'Allest, Sidney Topol, Takayushi Yoshida, Mary Ann Elliott, Mary
Frost, Peter Jackson, and Robert Berry.
The 2013 Hall of Fame Honorees:
Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES. Since joining SES in 1995, Romain Bausch provided the leadership that transformed SES from a regional satellite company offering direct-to-home TV distribution
in Europe to a global satellite operator serving broadcasters, telcos, enterprise, and government customers. Under his leadership, SES became one of the big "consolidators” in the FSS industry,
integrating among others Nordic Satellite AB, GE Americom and New Skies Satellites, and also providing significant investment and support to O3B Networks. He managed this expansion program while keeping
SES on a solid financial footing, and took the company public in a successful IPO in 1998. Romain Bausch is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of O3b Networks, member of the Board of the
European Satellite Operators’ Association (ESOA), and a Director of Luxembourg’s Business Federation. In 2002, he was honored as Via Satellite’s Satellite Executive of the Year.
Robert Zitter, Executive Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer, Home Box Office. Robert Zitter is responsible for HBO’s technology interests worldwide, overseeing satellite-based distribution,
origination, production operations and engineering. Zitter’s career has included spearheading the introduction of digital compression technology, the development and launch of HBO HD and HBO On Demand
and the founding of HBO’s businesses in Latin America, Asia and Europe. "There are very few names that come to mind who have had as significant an impact on our industry as Bob Zitter,” said HBO president
and COO Eric Kessler. "His accomplishments and innovation have helped transform not just the business at HBO but the entire landscape.” Zitter was inducted into The Cable Television Hall of Fame in 2006
and is a recipient of the NCTA’s Vanguard Award for his leadership in science and technology. He also served on the FCC’s Technology Advisory Committee and as a director of the North American Broadcasters
Association.
Susan Irwin, President, Euroconsult US. Susan Irwin, one of the original founders and directors of SSPI, has more than 30 years experience researching and analyzing industry trends and developments on
the use of satellite communications for voice, video and data. She is responsible for business development and management of Euroconsult’s U.S. business. For 25 years, she headed her own consulting firm,
Irwin Communications, contributing her expertise in satellite markets and applications to start-ups, government agencies, NGO’s and private corporations worldwide. She was a pioneer of satellite distance
learning, teleconferencing and business television and has been a key contributor to the commercial advancement of innovations such as DTH, digital compression and satellite broadband. Susan is widely
published and a frequent speaker at conferences throughout the world. She has been Conference Chair of SATCON since its inception in 2001; Director Emeritus of the SSPI; Director Emeritus of the Arthur C.
Clarke Foundation, on the Board of Governors of the Pacific Telecommunications Council, and was recently elected Vice President, International, of the American Astronautical Society.
Prof. U. R. Rao, Chairman, the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad. Prof. U. R. Rao is an internationally renowned space scientist who has contributed to the development of
space technology in India and its extensive application to communications and remote sensing of natural resources since starting his career in 1960. More than any other single individual, Professor Rao is
responsible for the creation of India’s space and satellite capabilities and their application to the nation’s development. As head of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Rao undertook the
responsibility for the establishment of satellite technology in India in 1972. Under his guidance, beginning with the first Indian satellite 'Aryabhata' in 1975, over 20 satellites were designed,
fabricated and launched. Rao also accelerated the development of rocket technology in India, resulting in the successful launch of ASLV rocket in 1992 and the operational PSLV launch vehicle. He has
tirelessly promoted the use of space technology for broadcasting, education, meteorology, remote sensing and disaster warning. Rao, who has published over 360 scientific and technical papers in various
journals, has received many honors and awards, including the Padma Bhushan Award, a very high civilian award of the Government of India.
Dick Tauber, VP Transmission Systems & New Technology for the CNN News Group. Dick Tauber, a former member of the SSPI Board of Directors, is the current President of the Board of Directors of the Southeast
Chapter of SSPI, which he helped found in 2005. He has worked at CNN since 1981, when he joined the company as a satellite trainee. As the satellite technology leader for a global newsgathering and
distribution business, he has implemented technologies and solutions that allow this organization to gather its content from any place on the planet, any time a news story unfolds. He has also been the
Chair of WBU-ISOG since 1985. More recently, Dick has also served as Co-Chair of The Radio Frequency Interference - End Users Initiative (RFI - EUI), an organization that seeks to mitigate the risks of
satellite interference and develop quality assurance practices that programmers and distributors require for the collection and distribution of their content. Tauber has received three Emmy Awards for his
work at CNN - 1986 for his part in Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s Goodwill Games, in 2002 honoring CNN’s coverage of the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and a Technical Emmy in 2007 for CNN’s mobile, IP
newsgathering system.
The Hall of Fame was introduced in 1987 to recognize the valuable contributions of the visionaries and pioneers who have made possible the age of satellite communications — individuals who have devoted
their careers to the advancement of technology and to helping build the political and commercial foundations of the industry.
Ceremony at Gala 2013
The Hall of Fame Ceremony will open the 2013 Gala dinner on March 19 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington DC. Hall of Fame members are selected by a committee of industry leaders, chaired by Richard
Wolf, Senior Vice President, Telecommunications & Network Origination Services for ABC Television, and past Chairman of SSPI.
About SSPI
The Society of Satellite Professionals International (www.sspi.org) is a nonprofit member-benefit society that serves satellite professionals throughout their working lives. With chapters in the Americas,
Europe and Asia, SSPI works to attract new talent to the industry, helps satellite professionals advance in their careers, works to increase the professional standing of members and honors extraordinary
achievement by satellite professionals and the companies they work for.
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Glenn Reitmeier Elected ATSC Chairman of ATSC Board for 2013
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NBCU tech chief will lead industry organization
CARMEL, IND. -- The board of directors of the Advanced Television Systems Committee has elected Glenn Reitmeier to
serve as the Chairman of the ATSC Board for 2013, it was announced Wednesday.
Reitmeier is senior vice president of Advanced Technology at NBCUniversal, leading the company's technical efforts
related to industry standards, government policy, advanced engineering and anti-piracy technical operations.
Reitmeier is widely recognized as a pioneer of digital television. He spent 25 years in digital video research at
Sarnoff Labs, where he led the development of one of the original digital HDTV system proposals.
He played a leading role in the formation of the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance and the development of its best-of-the-best system that
culminated in the ATSC Digital Television standard. Since joining NBC in 2002, Reitmeier was involved in the creation
of NBC's first high-definition cable channel, Universal-HD, launching DTV multicast programming, the creation of
mobile broadcasting and the Dyle joint venture, and the distribution of NBCUniversal content to new digital consumer
devices.
“Glenn has been a key contributor to the ATSC for many years and a great leader of strategic planning efforts for the
organization,” said Mark Richer, ATSC president. “We’re pleased to welcome him back as the board’s chairman. ”
Reitmeier previously served on the ATSC board of directors from 2004-09 and as its chairman from 2006-09. He is also
a board member of the North American Broadcasters Association, a contributor to TV Everywhere standards as president
of the Open Authentication Technology Committee and a contributor to the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem work
on the UltraViolet digital ecosystem.
He is a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and is a recipient of the Society ’ s
Progress Medal and the Leitch Gold Medal. In 2012, he received the National Association of Broadcasters Television
Engineering Award for lifetime achievement. He is also a charter member of the (Consumer Electronics Association ’ s
Academy of Digital Television Pioneers and received Broadcasting & Cable Magazine ’ s coveted Technology Leadership
Award. He holds more than 50 patents in digital video technology and is recognized in the New Jersey Inventors Hall
of Fame.
ATSC board members for 2013 are: Mark Eyer of Sony Electronics; Richard Friedel of Fox; Kevin Gage, NAB; Ira
Goldstone, Univision: Brett Jenkins, LIN Media; Jim Kutzner, PBS; Brian Markwalter, CEA; Sam Matheny, Capitol
Broadcasting/WRAL; Glenn Reitmeier, NBC Universal; Andy Scott, NCTA; Robert Seidel, CBS; Dave Siegler, COX Media
Group; Peter Symes of SMPTE; John Taylor of LG Electronics USA; and Yiyan Wu of the IEEE.
Click here to access original article.
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Rogers Broadcast Joins NABA
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January 23, 2013 / TORONTO, Canada - We are pleased to welcome Rogers Broadcast as a new Associate
Member of the North American Broadcasters Association. Rogers Broadcast joins with many other North American national
broadcasters, regional networks and specialty service broadcasters who are NABA members in defining, debating and suggesting
solutions to the myriad of issues and challenges broadcasters face both here in North America and around the world. Rogers
Broadcast looks forward to playing an active role with NABA’s various Committees and Working Groups, particularly those looking
at the next generation of television, work flow and multi-platform delivery, where Rogers has a great deal of expertise in Canada.
The NABA Board of Directors enthusiastically welcomes this membership.
“I am very pleased to welcome our colleagues from Rogers Broadcast. Rogers’ participation strengthens Canada's voice on
broadcasting issues faced by all North American broadcasters and further on to global forums and institutions. Rogers
will initially focus on technical and operational areas of NABA’s work and I look forward to their innovative approach
and a fresh point of view to the important challenges the broadcast community faces.”
-Michael McEwen, Director General, NABA.
Again, a big welcome to Rogers Broadcast from the NABA family!
About Rogers Broadcast:
Rogers Broadcast is a division of Rogers Communications who are a diversified Canadian communications and media company.
They are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers
of cable television, high speed internet and telephony services. Through Rogers Broadcast they are also engaged fully in
radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital
media. For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit www.rogers.com.
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DOLBY Joins NABA
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January 23, 2013 / TORONTO, Canada - NABA is pleased to welcome Dolby Laboratories Inc. as an Affiliate Member. Dolby joins many other service providers and
vendors who are involved in the business of broadcasting and have a direct interest in many of the items in the NABA Work Plan via NABA’s Committees and Working Groups. Dolby also looks
forward to playing an active role in the WBU’s International Satellite Operations Group (WBU-ISOG).
The NABA Board of Directors enthusiastically welcomes this membership.
“In joining NABA, Dolby brings to the discussion a worldwide recognition as a leader of audio/video standards and products and their delivery and distribution. Their work with
broadcasters and the entertainment industry makes their experience and advice most welcome. Support for the work of our Association and comments on the issues of the
day are always welcome from our Affiliate members and I’m very pleased that Dolby has added their voice. Welcome!
-Michael McEwen, Director General, NABA.
Again, a big welcome to DOLBY from the NABA family!
About DOLBY:
Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Founded in 1965 and best known for
high-quality audio and surround sound in environments from the cinema to the living room to mobile devices, Dolby creates innovations that enrich entertainment at the movies, at
home, or on the go. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby®technologies, please visit www.dolby.com
Click here to access full press release.
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NAB Elevates its Membership in NABA
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January 23, 2013 / TORONTO, Canada - We are pleased to announced that the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has elevated its membership in the North American
Broadcasters Association (NABA) to an Associate Member. NAB will continue to work at an enhanced level with many other North American national broadcasters, regional networks and specialty
service broadcasters who are NABA members in defining, debating and suggesting solutions to the myriad of issues and challenges broadcasters face both here in North America and around the world.
The NABA Board of Directors enthusiastically welcomes this elevated membership.
“I am very pleased to welcome a strengthened role for NAB within NABA. Their experience and expertise enhances NABA's ability to identify issues and provide solutions and practices which benefit our
industry as a whole. . As we face the broad challenges of new technologies and shifting policies and regulation, the NAB will play an important role in helping NABA members meet these challenges.
-Michael McEwen, Director General, NABA.
Again, a big welcome to NAB from the NABA family!
About NAB:
The National Association of Broadcasters is a non-profit trade association that advocates on behalf of local radio and television stations and broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal
Communications Commission and other federal agencies and the courts. Learn more at www.nab.org.
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Univision Joins NABA
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January 22, 2013 / TORONTO, Canada - We are pleased to welcome Univision
Communications Inc. as a new Full Member of the North American Broadcasters
Association. Univision joins with many other North American national broadcasters, regional
networks and specialty service broadcasters who are NABA members in defining, debating
and suggesting solutions to the myriad of issues and challenges broadcasters face both here
in North America and around the world. Univision is already playing an active role with
NABA’s various Committees and Working Groups, particularly those looking at the next
generation of television, content and rights protection, work flow and multi-platform delivery,
where Univision has a great deal of expertise. The NABA Board of Directors enthusiastically
welcomes this membership.
“I am very pleased to welcome our colleagues from Univision. Their experience and
expertise strengthens NABA's ability to identify issues and provide solutions and practices
which enhance our member's efficiency, quality and relevance to their markets. Univision’s
participation strengthens NABA's voice on broadcasting issues faced by all North American
broadcasters and further on to global forums and institutions. Along with our members from
Mexico (Televisa and TV Azteca) Univision brings a unique perspective on serving Spanish
speaking markets both in their domestic market and around the world. I look forward to their
involvement in all aspects of our work.”
-Michael McEwen, Director General, NABA.
Again, a big welcome to Univision from the NABA family!
About Univision:
As the leading media company connecting Hispanic America to the content it loves Univision
has been dedicated to the mission to Inform, Entertain and Empower Hispanic America. Now
more than ever, Univision delivers the content Hispanic America craves, from news to
novelas, from sports to reality shows, across television, radio, digital and mobile.
In recent years, Univision has grown exponentially with the launch of Univision Deportes
Network, a 24/7 sports network, Univision telenovelas, a network dedicated to broadcasting
the all-time best novelas, and ForoTV, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to news. Leaders
in providing content Hispanics crave, ABC News and Univision News also recently
announced an unprecedented multiplatform joint venture dedicated to informing,
empowering and inspiring Hispanic Americans in English.
Read more: http://corporate.univision.com/corporate/#ixzz2Id46gfkY
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ATSC Elects Three NABA Board Members to their Board of Directors
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Kutzner, Friedel, Goldstone, Matheny, Reitmeier Terms Begin in January
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2012 – Members of the Advanced Television Systems Committee,Inc. (ATSC) have elected four new members of Board of Directors. Ira Goldstone; Univision; Richard Friedel, Fox; Sam Matheny, Capitol Broadcasting/WRAL; and Glenn Reitmeier, NBCUniversal have each been elected to three-year terms, beginning January 2013.
James Kutzner, PBS; was re-elected to serve a second term on the Board of Directors. He will also continue to chair Technology Group 3 (TG3) on the development of ATSC 3.0.
Other current directors whose terms continue in 2013 are: Lynn Claudy, NAB; Mark Eyer, Sony; Brett Jenkins, LIN Media; Brian Markwalter, CEA; Andy Scott, NCTA; Bob Seidel, CBS; Dave Siegler, Cox Media Group; Peter Symes, SMPTE; John Taylor, LG Electronics; and Yiyan Wu, CRC (representing IEEE).
The ATSC thanks retiring board members whose terms expire at the end of 2012: current Chairman John Godfrey, Samsung; Jay Adrick, Harris Broadcast; Tony Caruso, CBC, Craig Todd, Dolby Laboratories; and Wayne Luplow, Zenith (representing IEEE).
Ira Goldstone, Vice President of Engineering for Univision Television group, is a long-time participant in the ATSC and industry digital TV efforts, including previously serving on the Board
of Directors. Goldstone is the 2004 recipient of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Engineering Lifetime Achievement, recipient of the Tribune Broadcasting Company’s Onward and Upward
award for leadership and implementation of HDTV to the Tribune family of television stations; he also received the 2001 Broadcast & Cable magazine "Technology Leadership Award" for outstanding
contributions to TV technology. He is a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and continues to serve on numerous technology-related boards and committees including the
NAB Television Engineering Committee, OMVC Technology Advisory Group, and STE. He has also served in various capacities as advisor to Emerson College, including serving on Board of Overseers,
supporting the College in development of new facilities and curriculum for students.
Richard Friedel oversees FOX Networks Engineering & Operations, the News Corporation unit responsible for engineering, operations and technology supporting FOX’s national and regional television
businesses. He manages the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles, which provides facilities and technical services for FOX Broadcasting Co., FOX Sports, FOX Cable Networks Group, Fox International
Channels including MundoFox and the Twentieth Television syndication division. In addition, Friedel is in charge of the Fox Network Center-Houston, home of FOX Sports’ regional networks, as well as
providing technical support for their regional production centers. Prior to FOX Networks Engineering & Operations, Friedel was a member of the team that launched FOX News Channel. Before joining FOX,
he served in various positions at Capital Cities/ABC, NBC News and several television stations. A graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia, Friedel is a fellow of the SMPTE and a member of AES,
SBE and SCTE. He serves as President of the Video Services Forum, is a member of the IEEE BTS Adcom and is the FOX representative on the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA)
Board of Directors. Friedel contributes to the ATSC S6, S6-3 and S6-4 working groups.
Glenn Reitmeier is Senior Vice President of Advanced Technology at NBC Universal, leading the company’s technical efforts on industry standards, government policy, commercial agreements, anti-piracy
operations and advanced engineering. A former ATSC Chairman, Reitmeier spent 25 years in digital video R&D at Sarnoff Laboratories. Early in his career, he was instrumental in establishing the ITU 601
component digital video standard that is the basis for SDI and HD-SDI. Glenn led the Sarnoff-Thomson-Philips-NBC development of Advanced Digital HDTV, which pioneered the use of MPEG compression,
packetized transport, and multiple video formats. He was a key member of the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance, which ultimately lead to establishing the ATSC digital television standard. Reitmeier served
as Chairman of the ATSC from 2006-2009. He is President of the Open Authentication Technology Committee, and a NABA Board member. Reitmeier is a Fellow of the SMPTE and is a recipient of the Progress
Medal and the Leitch Gold Medal. He is also an inaugural member of CEA’s Academy of Digital Television Pioneers and a recipient of the NAB Television Engineering Award for lifetime achievement. He
holds more than 50 patents in digital video technology and is recognized in the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame.
The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for the entire range of advanced television systems. The ATSC member
organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite, and semiconductor industries.
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Canada's Supreme Court Rules Against Retransmission Fees for Broadcasters
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The highest legal bench said the CRTC, the country's TV regulator, has no jurisdiction to order so-called value for signal compensation from cable and satellite TV providers.
TORONTO – Canadian cable and satellite TV operators have won their fight in the Supreme Court of Canada against having to pay out retransmission fees for local TV signals.
The high court on Thursday in a narrow 5-to-4 decision ruled the CRTC, the country’s broadcast regulator, has no jurisdiction to impose a so-called value for signal regime on the broadcast industry.
“The provisions of the Broadcasting Act, considered in their entire context, may not be interpreted as authorizing the CRTC to implement the proposed value for signal regime,” Supreme Court justices McLachlin, LeBel, Fish, Rothstein and Moldaver said in their majority decision.
The win for cable and satellite TV operators marks a reversal from an earlier Federal Court of Appeal ruling that held the CRTC can allow domestic broadcasters to negotiate first-time compensation from carriers for their local TV signals.
The CRTC started the country’s retransmission debate when it referred the issue to the Federal Court of Appeals to secure the right to impose carriage fees for local TV signals.
As in the U.S., Canadian broadcasters have sought first-time compensation from cable and satellite TV operators as they argue their business model can no longer be sustained by advertising revenue alone.
But the Supreme Court, in ruling over-the-air TV should remain free for TV viewers, criticized the CRTC for over-reaching.
“Policy statements are not jurisdiction conferring provisions and cannot serve to extend the powers of the subordinate body to spheres not granted by Parliament,” the high court wrote.
Supreme Court justices Abella, Deschamps, Cromwell and Karakatsanis in a dissenting opinion said the CRTC’s regulatory jurisdiction under the Broadcasting Act did extend to allowing a proposed value-for-signal regime, and that there was no conflict with the federal Copyright Act, as cable and satellite operators argued.
The latest stage in Canada’s retransmission debate follows industry consolidation, which has seen major cable and satellite TV operators like BCE and Shaw Communications now avoid paying for local TV signals to newly-acquired conventional TV networks.
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Supreme Court Nixes 'Fee for Carriage' Broadcast Plan
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Canada's highest court has struck down a fee for carriage system that could have seen cable companies required to pay TV stations for their signals, a cost that could have been passed on to consumers.
On Thursday morning, the Supreme Court of Canada weighed in on a long-running dispute between cable companies and private television networks.
Under the current system, cable companies are allowed to pick up private channels' broadcast signals and retransmit them on their networks without having to pay for them.
The networks have argued for years that the current system is unfair, and that they deserve compensation if the cable companies retransmit their signals. They want to implement a system similar to the one seen in the U.S., where networks like NBC, CBS and ABC have been able to offset declining advertising revenues by getting more money from cable providers for giving them content.
For their part, the cable companies say the proposed system amounts to a "TV tax," and that consumers should expect a fee hike of a few dollars per month on their cable bills if they're obligated to comply.
Cable provider Rogers Communications welcomed the ruling, which it said was good for consumers.
"There have been dramatic changes to the industry in Canada since the CRTC first looked at the issue more than two years ago," said Phil Lind, vice-chairman of Rogers Communications.
"We believe that value for signal has no place in today's broadcasting landscape where the major players are enjoying significant profits."
But Bell Media, which owns CTV and 30 specialty TV channels, said it was disappointed. The broadcaster said a fee-for-carriage system would have given local TV stations much needed money at a time when advertising revenue is no longer enough to cover costs.
"Local news, entertainment and other programming distinguishes Canadian broadcasting from everything else on TV," said Mirko Bibic, Bell's chief legal and regulatory officer.
In 2010, Canada's major "over the air" networks went to the CRTC and asked the broadcast regulator to allow them to implement fee for carriage — also known as a "value for signal" system.
Canada's broadcast regulator agreed, but first asked the Federal Court of Appeal if it had the right to do so. That court said it did, but the cable companies appealed that, punting the issue up to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Fee issue may not be over
In Thursday's decision, Canada's highest court overturned that decision.
"The value for signal regime would rewrite the balance between the owners’ and users’ interests as set out by Parliament in the Copyright Act," the court said in its decision. "Because the CRTC’s value for signal regime is inconsistent with the purpose of the Copyright Act, it falls outside of the scope of the CRTC’s licensing and regulatory jurisdiction under the Broadcasting Act."
Effectively, that's the court's way of saying that the issue falls outside the CRTC's mandate.
"The creation of such rights is too far removed from the core purposes intended by Parliament and from the powers granted to the CRTC under that act," the court ruled in the 5-4 decision.
The ruling brings an end to this legal question, but the issue could still be taken up through other means, such as a move by the federal government. So the door is theoretically still open to a system of fee for carriage in future, but the court has decided the CRTC is not the proper agency to do it.
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HBO Names Xbox Co-Founder Berkes CTO
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 HBO has elevated Otto Berkes, one of the original creators of Microsoft’s Xbox game platform, to the position of chief technology officer to take over the reins from longtime CTO Bob Zitter, who is stepping down from the post in March 2013.
As CTO and executive vice president of technology, Berkes will be responsible for overseeing all technology efforts worldwide, including consumer technology, distribution, origination, production operations, engineering and IT.
Berkes joined HBO in 2011 as senior vice president of digital products, heading up the development of HBO’s consumer technologies, including HBO Go, Max Go and HBO.com. He and his group also formulated the technical strategy for HBO’s consumer technology and advanced software development aimed at delivering the most innovative technology and experiences possible.
“Over the last year, Otto’s experience and functional expertise have helped elevate HBO’s technological agility, enabling us to meet the growing needs of our subscribers in an era of constantly emerging new media platforms,” HBO president and chief operating officer Eric Kessler said in a statement. “Under his leadership, we believe that HBO will remain at the forefront of the industry.”
An 18-year veteran of Microsoft, Berkes held a number of positions at the software giant, including senior software developer, partner-level architect and general manager. He is one of the four original founders of Xbox.
Berkes’ responsibilities at Microsoft included leading the DirectX and OpenGL graphics technology development organizations in Windows, developing mobile architectures and user interfaces in Microsoft Research, and driving advanced development reporting to Microsoft chief software architect Ray Ozzie.
HBO's TV Everywhere service, HBO Go, is available to subscribers via the Xbox 360 as well as other devices, including iPads, iPhones, certain Android smartphones and tablets, Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon.com Kindle Fire tablets and the Roku Internet set-top.
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HBO CTO Zitter to Step Down
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 Bob Zitter, the technology virtuoso who helped build HBO into a powerhouse cable brand, is retiring after more than 30 years at the premium network.
Zitter, HBO’s executive vice president of technology and chief technology officer, is credited with leading the charge on several industry firsts—including the adoption of satellite distribution, digital video, HD and video-on-demand.
To Zitter, the biggest innovation he’s been involved with over the course of his career is the transition from analog to digital TV.
“There’s been no bigger change in the television industry,” he said in an interview with Multichannel News. “For HBO, it meant we could do multiplex [services], which was important for our business, and digital TV has been a precursor to on-demand and everything that’s followed.”
Zitter, 65, will officially step down as HBO’s CTO on March 31, 2013, and will continue consulting for the company for several months afterward “while my successor gets up to speed.” HBO is expected to name a replacement for Zitter as early as this week; network representatives declined to identify the new CTO.
“Bob is one of very few in any industry where you can legitimately pose the question ‘what would we have done without him?’. His contributions in technology crafted the consumer experience that is taken for granted today,” Richard Plepler, newly named HBO CEO, said in a statement. “He is brilliant, insightful and a gentleman in every sense of the word. We thank him for all he has done and for the amazing team he groomed and leaves to carry the HBO tradition of excellence forward.”
Born in Los Angeles, Zitter moved with his family to East Meadow, N.Y., on Long Island when he was 5 years old. Originally, Zitter was planning to be a medical doctor: He attended Colgate University, studying on a pre-med track and earning a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1968. But he became hooked on electronic media when he managed the school’s radio station and then launched its on-campus television station.
Zitter joined HBO in 1981 as director of network operations. Two years later, he oversaw the rollout of the network’s nationwide satellite scrambling program and acquired the company's satellite capacity. Since then, he has led the launch of HBO’s HD feed, the first national high-definition cable network, in 1999; and the industry’s first subscription VOD service, in 2001. More recently he established the technology underpinnings of the programmer’s TV Everywhere services, HBO Go and MAX Go.
In addition, Zitter was part of the executive team that established HBO’s businesses in Latin America, Asia and Europe.
Zitter is the recipient of several industry honors, including the National Cable & Telecommunications Association’s Vanguard Award for leadership in science and technology in 2004, and was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame in 2008. Zitter said he’s actually taken more personal satisfaction when members of his staff are recognized in the industry.
“I feel proud I’ve been able to assemble a great team at HBO and what this team has been able to accomplish,” he said.
Before joining HBO, Zitter worked for Schurz Communications, where he ran the company’s cable system in Hagerstown, Md., before heading its electronic media operations. Prior to that, he supervised network operations for ABC in New York, where his first job was typing the network schedule for $85 a week.
He currently serves on the FCC’s Technology Advisory Council and is a director of the North American Broadcasters Association, duties he expects to relinquish next year. Zitter also is president of the board of the Bi-Cultural Day School in Stamford, Conn.
“When you love what you do and you love the people you do it with… It’s been very difficult for me to figure out, ‘Well, when do I want to stop?’” Zitter said. “It’s best to do it when you’re at the top of your game.”
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Sirius FM-4 Broadcasting Satellite Donated to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
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One of the first satp>ellites designed to provide space-based digital radio service to consumers in the United States and Canada was donated by SiriusXM Radio and Space Systems/Loral to the Smithsonian today. The Sirius FM-4 broadcasting satellite was built as a flight-ready back-up for a constellation of three satellites developed by SiriusXM and manufactured by Space Systems/Loral. The FM-4 satellite will be on display in the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar of the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
"The availability of a flight unit like Sirius FM-4, which was never launched, is extremely rare and will be a significant addition to the museum’s collection," said Martin Collins, space history curator. "Whether experienced in our cars or homes, the remarkable innovations offered by satellite services are often taken for granted—one indicator of how the space age has changed our lives."
"We are honored that our FM-4 satellite will help the National Air and Space Museum tell the story of modern satellite communications and its powerful impact on everyday life," said Robert Briskman, SiriusXM co-founder and technical executive. "Satellite radio now takes its place as one of the great innovations of our time to inspire the next generation of broadcasters."
"Rob Briskman’s concept of three satellites in a Highly Inclined Elliptical Orbit was an extremely inventive solution for providing programming to millions of listeners," said John Celli, president of Space Systems/Loral. "It is an honor to participate in the donation of the original spare satellite, which we are pleased to say was never needed to assure continuous service."
Historically communications satellites have been the space-based application most robustly developed and integrated into day-to-day life. A field that at first consisted mostly of government-related programs began shifting in the mid-1970s to private industry. By the end of the Cold War, this move toward private activity and the provision of satellite service directly to individuals accelerated and has become a defining feature of the satellite business. SiriusXM was part of this development, providing digital satellite radio service to individuals. For a century, radio was mostly a local medium, defined by the limited reach of ground-based transmission towers. Using space-based technology, SiriusXM has greatly expanded the scale and reach of commercial radio to cover most of the North American continent.
The National Air and Space Museum is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., at Sixth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. The museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Va., near Washington Dulles International Airport. Both facilities are open daily from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25).
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Extraordinary IBC 2012 Gathering Yields Unprecedented Standards Collaboration Across Media Ecosystem, Speeds Key IP-Related Initiatives
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AMWA, EBU, IEEE BTS, NABA, SMPTE, VSF and WBU organizations pledge to meet regularly, coordinate efforts, and accelerate foundational FIMS and MXF standards development
White Plains, NY, 5 October 2012 – As the use of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networks for real-time workflows accelerates, the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE), the worldwide leader in motion-imaging standards and education for the media, entertainment, communications, and technology industries, the European Broadcast Union (EBU) and the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) are intensifying their collaboration with other industry organizations to coordinate efforts and to simplify an increasingly complex – and interconnected – digital landscape.
The effort already has accelerated two key initiatives with cross-industry application: the Framework for Interoperable Media Services (FIMS) and the Materials eXchange Format (MXF).
That acceleration was the outcome of an extraordinary meeting held at the IBC 2012 where executives representing the Society, EBU, AMWA, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Broadcast Technology Society (IEEE BTS), North American Broadcasters Association (NABA), Video Services Forum (VSF), and World Broadcasting Unions (WBU).
This is a who’s who of leading broadcast organizations focused on one thing: coordinating our standardization efforts as critical shifts and evolutions emerge across all sectors of the motion-imaging industry,” said Brad Gilmer, AMWA executive director. “I’m pleased to say that we’re already making advances on two key efforts – FIMS and MXF.”
“Just as important as working together, these groups are also committed to creating educational opportunities for the next generation of talent who will provide leadership across the digital media ecosystem,” said Hans Hoffmann, head of the unit on Media Fundamentals and Production Technology in the EBU Technology and Development department and SMPTE vice president of standards.
Leaders of Industry Organizations Praise Effort
Leaders representing media enterprises and industry organizations spanning the digital media ecosystem praised the joint meeting convened during IBC 2012 – and also emphasized the critical role of collaboration in accelerating globally compatible standards and ensuring industry health.
“VSF's contributions to the SMPTE 2022 video transport standard shows the value of collaboration between industry organizations and standards bodies,” said Richard Friedel, president of the VSF and executive vice president and general manager, Fox Networks Engineering and Operations. “VSF fully supports the coordination of industry efforts as the media business continues its move into a connected IP-based world.”
IEEE and WBU leadership also praised the proactive effort between the different associations following the IBC gathering to accelerate their collaborative efforts.
"The global distribution of content has long demonstrated the inherent weakness in incompatible standards. Digital technology provides the opportunity to eliminate many of these,” said William Meintel, president of the IEEE BTS. “Meetings like the one held at IBC this year help to establish the relationships, share knowledge, and encourage collaboration necessary to reach consensus and create globally compatible content and standards."
"Cooperation between broadcasters, technologists and standard setting bodies has never been more important. Education, defining requirements and speaking with a common voice will help us all adapt and thrive. We are pleased to be a part of this cooperative initiative,” said Robert Plummer, vice chair of the WBU and NABA technical committees.
FIMS: Moving Toward Cross-industry Standardization
The concept of FIMS is straightforward: as digital tools become more widely used in broadcast, production, post production and archiving, broadcasters need to ensure that they can communicate easily while avoiding unnecessary tasks and redundant operations.
The FIMS specification was initiated as a joint project between the AMWA and the EBU and supports content stored as files transmitted around IP networks. At IBC 2012, FIMS was approved as an EBU Technical Document and an AMWA specification. Both organizations then announced that they will jointly submit the work to the SMPTE as a Registered Disclosure Document (RDD) as a step toward standardizing the FIMS specification. SMPTE will begin its review of the document in October 2012 and expects the process to take about six months.
MXF for Versioning (AS-02)
MXF, like FIMS, takes aim at interoperability but from the content side. Often described as a wrapper it allows, among other things, a file to be passed among multiple video editors without an operator having to worry about the format in which the file was originally created. It is the result of a collaborative effort between manufacturers and industry, standards organizations, including the Pro-MPEG Forum, the EBU, and the AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) Association (now the AMWA).
As new digital devices and formats continue to proliferate, there is a need for MXF to keep pace. Thus the new MXF for Versioning specification (AS-02) helps overcome issues associated with the lack of a common file format – particularly issues related to codecs and essence – in facilities that need to handle many input formats and create multiple output formats.
At IBC 2012, the AMWA agreed to submit its work on MXF for Versioning (AS-02) to SMPTE as an RDD.
For more standards updates, read the September issue of the SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal, available in the SMPTE digital library at http://library.smpte.org
Updates on SMPTE Standards: 2012 SMPTE Annual Technical Conference
More updates about standards, as well as foundational technology initiatives across the broadband, broadcast, and cinema industries, will be shared at the 2012 SMPTE Annual Technical Conference, which takes place 23 – 25 October in Hollywood, CA., USA. A special pre-conference symposium – High Frame Rates for Digital Cinema – will take place on 22 October. Registration and program information are available at www.smpte2012.org.
As the premier event for motion-imaging industry, the annual SMPTE conference enables technical and high-level business professionals hear from and engage with academic, engineering, executive, and standards thought leaders across the broadcast, cinema, and IT industries.
The SMPTE Annual Technical Conference lives up to this standard, with scheduled presentations from the BBC, Belden, Cisco, Dolby Laboratories, Ericsson, FUJIFILM, Harmonic, Harris, HBO, IBM, Microsoft, NHK, NVIDIA, Motorola Mobility, Qualcomm, Snell, Skywalker Sound, Sony Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Technicolor, and Verizon. Also participating will be leading vision-science researchers from around the world – as well as representatives from the EBU and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
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