Mark Warner named Advanced Broadcast Solutions VP

Premier
systems integration firm Advanced Broadcast Solutions (ABS) has appointed Mark
Warner, former director of Microsoft Studios, as its vice president. In his new
role, Warner is charged with managing the company’s headquarter office and
scaling its growth smoothly. He joins ABS on the heels of a highly
distinguished career, including the receipt of five Emmy Awards.

As the
former director of broadcasting for RealNetworks, Inc. in Seattle, Warner
selected ABS to design a digital broadcast streaming and hosting facility for
Real, which develops solutions to create, send and receive audio, video and multimedia
over the Internet. The proposal from ABS was a fraction of the cost of other
proposals offered to develop the network. “Their approach was very forward
thinking, and it saved us millions of dollars,” said Warner. “That’s the kind
of company I want to be with.

“My
experience in new media, broadcast, and on the enterprise side gives me the
confidence to know I’m with the right people to move this industry into digital
broadcasting. They’re all over it.”

In the
short term, Warner will assist ABS as it provides its TV station clientele with
low-cost alternatives for the 2009 digital transition, but he is also focused
on helping broadcast and enterprise customers manage the convergence of all
media types and delivery media over an IP network.

“ABS has
done a great job in developing and building systems for broadcast. As we move
into the digital delivery age, I can help ABS with developing systems and
process that will deliver more content more effectively for less money,” added
Warner.

As vice
president of ABS, Warner will oversee all project management, systems
development, and overall company organization. Warner expects the firm’s
business to double within the next two years. “This company knows the business
so well that it will be the center for excellence for delivering the digital
transition,” said Warner.

“Mark’s
background, personal style and expertise is exactly what we need to move ABS to
the forefront of providers enabling company’s with their IPTV and mobile tv
delivery needs, television stations transition to digital, and any organization
looking to progress into a digital environment,” explained Mark Siegel,
president of ABS. “I’m extremely optimistic about our future success with Mark
on board. His thirty plus years in the broadcasting and new media businesses,
providing cutting-edge solutions, award-winning programming and business
leadership offers our business and our customers’ unique and cost-effective
insights.”

In
addition to his former positions at Microsoft Studios and RealNetworks, Warner
was also a project manager for Louth Broadcast Automation (now a part of Harris
Corporation) and operations manager for the Seattle-based KING Broadcasting
(now Belo Broadcasting) and a producer/director for KIRO-TV,

Seattle’s CBS affiliate. Warner has a long
list of television directing and producing credits. He’s won five Emmy Awards,
including one as the director of NBC’s Summer Olympic Game coverage in 1988 and
an Emmy in 1985 for directing NFL football.