Speakers
Kevin Ancelin, VITEC, VP, Worldwide Broadcast Sales
T-21 was acquired by VITEC in January of 2019. In his new role at VITEC as VP of worldwide broadcast sales, Kevin Ancelin is supporting VITEC product management and R&D, providing direction to employ VITEC-developed CODECs and pivot the company into the broadcast market. Since the acquisition, VITEC has introduced a new openGear based decoder and encoder purpose built with features, functionality, and market pricing to capture broadcast market share.
Ancelin founded T-21 with Intelligent Transportation Systems industry veteran Mehdi Daryadel. T-21’s first product, the T9261-D HEVC ultra HD platform, began shipping in September of 2015. T-21 delivered thousand of HEVC decoders globally, helping the industry as it transitioned from HD to UHD. T-21 blue box and openGear encoders and decoders remain available through VITEC.
Ancelin also served as VP of sales and business development for Artel Video Systems where he was active in sales, business development, and M&A activities.
Prior to founding T-21, Ancelin co-founded Adtec Digital and worked there for 28-years. He served Adtec in numerous roles including president, SVP of sales, SVP of business development, VP of operations, and design engineer. During the last decade with Adtec, Ancelin drove Adtec product and market strategy focused on displacing incumbents in the remote OU, DSNG, fiber, and emerging IP contribution markets. During the 10-year run including millions of air miles, he helped Adtec successfully deliver over $100M in contribution product and support revenue across the globe.
Ancelin graduated from the University of Central Florida in May of 1986. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology with a focus on embedded computing platforms.
Lionel Bentolila, Aldea Solutions, CEO
Lionel Bentolila is a founder of Aldea Solutions and has been its CEO since 2001. Aldea is a leading provider of high-quality, ultra-low latency, and reliable video services and solutions for the television and media industries.
Prior to Aldea, Bentolila held senior management positions in sales, marketing, and engineering at ABL Canada, a provider of broadcast video compression and networking equipment. His technology career began at Nortel Networks research and development labs.
Bentolila holds an engineering degree from Ecole Centrale de Paris in France and studied at McGill University in Montreal, Canada where he completed his M.B.A.
Eric Bolten, Zixi, VP of Business Development
Eric Bolten has worked with leading high technology companies with a focus on digital video on a global basis for the world’s most demanding customers. He has held executive, sales, marketing, and business development roles in markets that range from Australia and Asia to South America, Europe, and the United States, serving the biggest media and sports entities in the world and Fortune 1000 corporations.
Bolten previously worked for technology providers: Com Tech, PictureTel, Vela Research, Venaca, and Signiant in a variety of revenue-driven roles, helping companies grow from startup to multi-millions in sales. Projects have ranged from field and postproduction to primary broadcasts as well as web, mobile, and cloud applications.
He has extensive international streaming services experience with Fortune 1000 customers requiring a variety of complex video and audio technology solutions for global brands such as Exxon, P&G, IBM, Shell Oil, Zurich Insurance, British Telecom, IntelSat, and NTT.
Bolten graduated magna cum laude from Boston University with a dual major in finance and international management.
Scott Bounds, Microsoft, Media Industry Lead
Scott Bounds is Microsoft’s U.S. industry lead for media, engaging with enterprise customers in the media and entertainment sector. In this role, Bounds is responsible for identifying trends and opportunities in the industry and working with customers on solutions using Microsoft technologies. Bounds is a 20-year veteran of Microsoft, spending over 10 years in the media industry in a variety of management and technical roles.
David Chilson, Director of Broadcast Distribution Operations and Engineering
David Chilson oversees the CBS Transmission Center and CBS’ Affiliate Engineering. At the network, he has been central to the development, design, and operation of CBS’ global contribution video networks.
Chilson provides both engineering solutions and operations management for facilities that bring feeds in and out of the NY Broadcast Center. In addition, he manages the development and sustaining engineering for the network’s satellite distribution systems and the technical support for CBS’ affiliates.
Prior to CBS, Chilson was with ABC-TV for 14 years in a variety of increasing responsibilities involving engineering, studio tech management, advanced technology, and project management. He holds a B.S.E.E. from the University at Buffalo, and an M.B.A., with specialization in media management, from Fordham.
Rick Clarkson, Signiant, Chief Strategy Officer
Rick Clarkson rejoined Signiant in 2018, filling the newly created position of chief strategy officer to steer the roadmap for new services that leverage Signiant’s market-leading SaaS platform and huge global footprint in the media and entertainment space. In his previous eight-year tenure at Signiant, Clarkson was one of the leaders in the company’s SaaS transition. His vision of using cloud technology to build a powerfully simple file transfer solution led to the category-defining Media Shuttle product, Signiant’s first SaaS offering.
With over 25 years in software technology, Clarkson spent his early career as an engineer and moved into leadership roles in product management and strategy working with companies to include SevOne, VidSys, Motorola, Sightpath, Cisco, and others.
Clarkson has a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts and an M.B.A. from Bentley University.
Chris Connolly, NBC Sports Group, Senior Director, Transmission Engineering and Operations
Chris Connolly had been with NBC Sports for over 6 years. He currently oversees all transmission engineering and operations for NBC Sports Group and is based out of its state-of-the-art broadcast center in Stamford, CT. This encompasses NBC Sports, NBC Digital, NBC Olympics, Olympic Channel, and Golf Channel.
Jason Dachman, SVG, Chief Editor and TranSPORT Program Director
Jason Dachman oversees all aspects of SVG’s North American editorial operations, including the thrice-weekly SVG Insider newsletter and SVG’s annual print publications. A member of the SVG team since 2009, Dachman also serves as program director for SVG’s RSN Summit, Sports Content Management Forum, Sports Graphics Forum, and TranSPORT event. Prior to joining SVG, he spent three years covering local sports for The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, MA, and two years on the production staff of SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s The Ron & Fez Show. Dachman began his career in the Sports Information Department at Northeastern University in Boston, where he also earned a B.A. in media communications and cinema studies.
Luke Fay, Sony, Senior Manager, Technical Standards
Luke Fay is a senior manager, technical standards for Sony Home Entertainment & Sound Products – America. Currently, Fay is involved with the development of the next generation of broadcast television in a variety of standards organizations and their efforts to educate members of the new possibilities available with ATSC 3.0. He has over 20 years of experience in digital communications systems engineering and receiver design.
Fay received a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Arizona and an M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the National Technological University. He has been granted over 13 patents in the area of digital signal processing.
Fay is currently serving as chairman of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) Technology Group 3 (TG3). He is also the recipient of the 2015 Bernard J. Lechner Award for technical and leadership contributions to the ATSC. Fay became a SMPTE Fellow in 2018.
Mike Flathers, IBM Aspera, CTO
Currently CTO of Aspera, an IBM Company, Mike Flathers has more than 20 years of software development experience. He has a passion for pushing the technology envelope and has been a primary contributor and visionary for Aspera FASPStream.
Throughout his career, Flathers has focused on enabling third-party technology integrations by creating software solutions and APIs. He has deep video experience having been CTO at Sorenson Media prior to joining Aspera. At Sorenson Media, Flathers led the development of Sorenson VCast, one of the industry’s first online video delivery platforms, and Sorenson VRS, a video relay service empowering communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Flathers also spent 14 years at Novell after the company acquired Excelan. He was a lead developer for the LANWorkplace product, the first suite of TCP/IP utilities for DOS and Windows.
Keith Goldberg, Walt Disney Television, VP, Global Operations; 2019 TranSPORT Committee Chair
Keith Goldberg has spent over 20 years managing the contribution and distribution transmission requirements for Fox Networks Group (FNG).
As a division of 21st Century Fox, FNG supported the entire Fox Network and cable groups to include entertainment, sports, and international channels, as well as the regional sports networks, which collectively produce and distribute thousands of events annually on both traditional linear and OTT distribution platforms.
Currently, Goldberg is focused on providing transitional service support between Fox and Disney operational teams to ensure that the highest levels of performance and efficiencies are being maintained during the migration period.
Matthew Goldman, MediaKind, SVP of Technology
Matthew Goldman is senior vice president of technology at MediaKind, where he is focused on video processing and media delivery solutions. He has been actively involved in the development of DTV systems since 1992. He helped create the MPEG-2 Systems standard, and he has been influential in SMPTE, AIMS, ATSC, DVB, SCTE, and the Ultra HD Forum. Four of his projects have been later recognized by Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards. Goldman received BSEE and MSEE degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He holds six patents related to digital video transport. A SMPTE Fellow, he is also a senior member of the IEEE and an inductee of the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers. Goldman is currently serving as SMPTE past president.
Phil Green, Endeavor Streaming, SVP, Partnership Development
Phil Green is an award-winning versatile media executive with more than 25 years of experience working for some of the biggest brands in the sports, entertainment, and news industries, including Endeavor Streaming, ESPN, MLB Advanced Media, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), ABC News Radio, and WCBS News Radio. His expertise includes: digital media strategy and monetization, business development, strategic partnerships, content strategy, rights negotiation, video, mobile, social media, product development, live events, e-commerce, ticketing, and staff development.
In his current role as senior vice president of business development for Endeavor Streaming – the premier digital video platform for content owners wishing to deliver live and on-demand programming to any IP connected device (PC, mobile, tablet, gaming console, smart TV, etc.) – Green leads the team responsible for generating new business partnerships in the Americas.
Endeavor Streaming powers OTT services for the top programming brands in the world of sports and entertainment, including: NFL, NBA, UFC, ESPN, Rogers, Univision, UEFA, Big Ten Network, and WWE.
Imry Halevi, Harvard University Athletics, Assistant AD, Multimedia and Production
Imry Halevi joined Harvard University Athletics in 2012 as director of multimedia and production. He was promoted to his current role as assistant director of athletics in 2018.
Halevi manages Harvard Athletics’ multimedia team, and leads all department-wide multimedia and production initiatives. He has completely reorganized video board productions and live game broadcasting for the Crimson, bringing these efforts in house, and expanding their scope and reach. With the addition of newly streamed sports, the completion of two central control rooms, and the building of a NCAA-leading fully automated streaming infrastructure for tennis and squash meets, Halevi was able to more than double the online viewership and triple the subscription revenue for Harvard broadcasts within his first year.
Over the last few years, Halevi established partnerships between Harvard Athletics and ESPN, NESN (New England Sports Network), and other national and regional networks to broadcast the Crimson’s in-house productions of football, softball, water polo, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, and wrestling events – the first such relationship in the Ivy League. Staffing the productions almost exclusively with students from local area colleges, Halevi and the multimedia team have been able to provide real-world hands-on experience for dozens of students looking to develop their production and broadcasting skills.
While producing and streaming 32 of Harvard’s 42 varsity teams, Halevi has worked with his counterparts from the Ivy League office and the other seven league schools to launch and develop the league’s integrated platform for live and on-demand content – the Ivy League Network. In 2018, Halevi helped the Ivy League launch their new partnership with ESPN and establish the “Ivy League on ESPN” network.
Halevi is a member of the College Sports Summit Advisory Board and chaired the Sports Video Group’s 2016 College Sports Summit. Additionally, Halevi chairs the Ivy League Digital Strategy Committee, the Ivy League Multimedia Directors Group, and co-chairs the Harvard Athletics Multimedia and Technology Advisory Committee.
Steve Hellmuth, NBA Entertainment, EVP, Media Operations and Technology
Steve Hellmuth is the EVP of media operations and technology for NBA Entertainment. He is responsible for overseeing the league’s broadcast operations, engineering and stats, and analytics technology departments. The global delivery of video and statistics via satellite, fiber, broadband, and mobile falls under Hellmuth’s purview. He also oversees the development and implementation of the NBA broadcast facility standards for the design, construction, and operation of the NBA arenas, including lighting and camera placement in-venue.
Under Hellmuth’s direction, the NBA installed SportVU Player Tracking technology from STATS for the 2013-2014 NBA season in every venue, making the NBA the first major U.S. professional sports league to quantify and analyze the player movement in live-game action throughout an entire season. Player tracking is now done by Second Spectrum.
Hellmuth also was production manager for Super Bowl XX, produced the Emmy-nominated opening telecasts for the 1986 World Series, and coordinated the production of Olympic profiles for the 1980 Moscow games. He produced Larry Bird Night for the Boston Celtics and the All Century Team Celebration on field at the 1999 MLB All-Star game, as well. Hellmuth graduated from Princeton University in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in art history.
Joseph Hopkins, LTN Global, SVP, Sales and Business Development
Joseph Hopkins is chief revenue officer at Make.TV, a division of LTN Global and the leading provider of solutions that open pathways for hyper-local live video to be created and shared between content creators, producers, programmers, and advertisers with scale, speed, and relevance previously not possible.
An experienced digital media leader, Hopkins brings more than 16 years of management and technical experience in streaming media, finance, mergers & acquisitions, and executive and partner management to Make.TV. Prior to Make.TV, he spent nearly 4 years turning Verizon Digital Media Services (Oath:) into a recognized leader in the video streaming industry, first running the Global Media and Entertainment Sales and Partnership Organization, before being promoted to chief revenue officer. Prior to that, he served as senior director of channel sales and strategic partnerships at iStreamPlanet, where he developed and managed partnerships with brands and companies including Google, YouTube, AT&T, NBC Sports, and the USOC. Subsequently, iStreamPlanet was acquired by Turner Broadcasting in August 2015.
Hopkins is a graduate of Michigan State University where he studied communications and economics. He is a board member of the board of directors at the Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California. Hopkins lives in Los Angeles, CA.
Jason Justman, SinclairDigital, Senior Principal Architect
As a senior principal architect at SinclairDigital since 2015, Jason Justman is focused on developing next-generation cloud-based solutions for converged OTT, digital, and broadcast systems. While at Sinclair, Justman has helped architect and deliver digital products to innovate capabilities across all touchpoints of media workflows, with a focus on embracing cloud solutions for both VOD and live workflows. This investment in digital products has allowed Sinclair to bring new tools and capabilities for news and sports production to help deliver the right content, to the right audience, on any device.
With almost 20 years in startup environments, Justman has helped deliver ground breaking innovative high quality, end-to-end software and hardware systems for Disney, Toyota, Lexus, Accenture, and Fiat. A serial entrepreneur at heart, with skills in startup principles and on-the-shoulders of giants thinking, he is focused on transforming ideas into results. Justman is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.S. in computer science and B.A. in telecommunications.
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial Services
Ken Kerschbaumer is co-executive director of editorial services for the Sports Video Group and SVG Europe. He was a co-founder of SVG along with Paul Gallo and Marty Porter in 2005 and has been writing about how sports networks and leagues use video and audio technology to deliver a quality TV experience since 1991. Kerschbaumer began his career in 1991 at Television Broadcast magazine before joining Cahners where he was founding editor of Digital Broadcasting magazine. In 2000, he joined Broadcasting & Cable magazine as senior editor of technology where he covered all aspects of broadcasting, cable, and internet content creation and distribution.
Ryan Korte, CenturyLink, Senior Director, Architecture
Ryan Korte has more than 23 years of experience in developing and managing advanced fiber-optic network architecture for both Fortune 500 enterprise companies and nationwide telecommunications carriers. In his current position as senior director of architecture for CenturyLink, he is responsible for the strategic technology direction of the global Internet networks, content distribution network (CDN), and video networks for both consumer and broadcasters.
Before joining CenturyLink, Korte held a number of positions with MasterCard International, where he was integral in determining the strategic direction and technology for the global MasterCard transaction networks.
Korte is a board member of the Video Services Forum which is an international association dedicated to interoperability, quality metrics, and education for video network technologies. He is also a board member of the Streaming Video Alliance which is a global consortium of organizations dedicated to helping shape the future of streaming video through industry collaboration.
Korte has a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Kansas State University and a master’s in business administration from Maryville University.
Jon Landman, Teradek, VP, Sales
Jon Landman serves as vice president of sales for Teradek, managing worldwide sales, consulting, and broadcast systems integration. Landman has over 30 years of experience in the industry, with expertise in AVC, HEVC, and cellular bonding technologies, as well as many other forms of IP video deployment.
Per Lindgren, Net Insight, Co-Founder and CTO of Media Networks
Per Lindgren is CTO of media networks at Net Insight and is a founding member of the company. Previously, Lindgren was an assistant professor at the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology, where he worked on optical network technologies and EU projects involving high-speed optical networks and multimedia services. Lindgren has authored numerous articles in scientific journals and participated in various international conferences. In addition, he is the inventor or co-inventor of more than ten patents. Lindgren holds a Ph.D. in telecommunications from the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm.
Al Nuñez, MediaLinks, SVP of Sales, Americas & EMEA
Al Nuñez has a wealth of experience that includes an established track record in regional & international sales and distribution channels, as well as spearheading business development in new and emerging markets.
Prior to joining Media Links as SVP of sales – Americas & EMEA, Nuñez led the Americas Video Business unit for TANDBERG Television and Ericsson where he consistently drove the division towards accomplishments in sales, service, and leadership strategies. Through strong relationships with broadcasters, TV stations groups, and service providers, Nuñez led and motivated teams to achieve first-in-market successes and outstanding growth in a variety of media markets. His collaborative way of working has helped Nuñez implement strategic and operational transformations to embrace the rapidly changing media and entertainment environment.
Daniel Pisarski, LiveU, VP of Engineering
Daniel Pisarski is an engineering leader in the online, video, and broadcast industries with over 20 years of experience. With a broad background in software and hardware design, product development, research and analysis, and quality assurance, Pisarski understands how to take complex technology solutions from inception to delivery and beyond.
As a tech visionary, Pisarski is a recurring contributor to articles and white papers communicating both practical know-how and forward-thinking knowledge to help bring the live video industry to the next level. He is also a frequent presenter sharing his technological expertise at industry conferences around the country with sessions ranging from 5G and open-source solutions to bringing linear channel infrastructure online for OTT services.
Dan Pope, Cingularity, Managing Director
Dan Pope is a telecoms industry veteran and former managing director of TeliaSonera, staying with the company as it was acquired first by Hibernia Networks and later by GTT. He founded Cingularity in 2018 to build a global broadcast network for remote production. The company’s design principles ensure its customers are always live, with perfect transmission every time. Pope shares his time between his twin bases in Stockholm and London, as well as traveling the world to ensure the success of client projects.
Andy Rayner, Nevion, Chief Technologist
Andy Rayner is chief technologist at Nevion. As well providing technical direction for the evolution of the company’s media solutions, he heads up the Nevion UK technology centre.
Nevion provides award-winning media transport solutions to broadcasters, telecom service providers, governmental agencies, and other industries.
Prior to joining Nevion in 2010, Rayner was head of the broadcast technology at BT. In this role, he was responsible for the design of the BT Global Media Network and oversaw the development of key video interfacing, monitoring, and protection technology. Rayner has filed many patents – both with BT and Nevion.
Bryan Samis, AWS, Senior Specialized Solutions Architect
Bryan Samis is a specialized solutions architect at Amazon Web Services, focusing on video transport, processing, and distribution in the cloud. He has over 10 years of experience working with leading media companies on their media workflows.
Mark Senecal, Imagine Communications, VP, PLM and Engineering
Mark Senecal is the vice president of PLM and engineering at Imagine Communications, where he is responsible for product line strategy and development across playout and networking product lines. He has more than 20 years of experience in the digital video business supporting solutions for distribution, channel origination, and live production markets.
Prior to Imagine Communications, enecal was with Cisco Systems and Scientific Atlanta as the product manager of their primary distribution platforms.
Paul Spinelli, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Director of Engineering
Paul Spinelli has been the director of engineering for Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG) since 2014. Prior to this he served as the engineering manager of Sinclair Television Group’s corporate facilities. He has held various operations and engineering positions with SBG for the past 12 years. Before his time at Sinclair he spent time working at WBOC, PSAV, and QVC.
Spinelli is active in many broadcast-related technical organizations such as the ATSC, Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), and the Avid Customer Association (ACA). He has been an SBE certified member and an Avid certified support representative for the past 10 years.
Spinelli has expanded SBG’s linear and file based acquisition and distribution strategies and technologies. He attended Salisbury University on Maryland’s Eastern Shore where he earned a B.A. in communications, B.A. in theatre, and played football. He remains active in the Salisbury University Maroon & Gold Club to support fundraising efforts for student athletes.
Bobby Stevens, SES, Director of Sales, Sports and Events
For nearly two decades, Bobby Stevens has managed multiple, secure video transmissions for major events throughout the world, including the distribution of live sports and event coverage over satellite, fiber, and the Internet.
Stevens joined SES in January of 2018, bringing his vast experience in the media and entertainment industry to the world’s leading satellite operator and global distributor of video content. Countless world-class sports events have relied on his deep expertise in multi-site and network contribution and distribution transmissions around the world, including the Super Bowl, NASCAR, NBA, MLS, Indy Racing, and Major League Baseball.
Stevens is extremely involved in the industry, as president of the Southern California Chapter of SSPI and a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers.
Laurence Venner, V-Nova, Professional Video Product Manager
Laurence Venner is the product manager for V-Nova’s professional video portfolio: including the high-performance AI-powered software library which is the basis for SMPTE VC6 (ST-2117), as well as the deployment of LCEVC into markets for news gathering and non-broadcast markets. Venner has over 20 years of experience in the industry moving from Thales and Panasonic to V-Nova with extensive technical depth experience. He is a self-confessed biker-bore and will put you to sleep with his monologues on high performance electric bikes.
Adam Whitlock, ESPN, Associate Director, Remote Traffic Operations
Adam Whitlock oversees the daily operation of ESPN’s Remote Traffic department, which is responsible for the acquisition of all live event contribution transmissions for ESPN linear and digital networks, both domestic and international. Since joining ESPN in 2001, Whitlock has provided transmission planning and on-site support to a variety of remote event productions including the Super Bowl, World Cup, World Series, X Games, and NBA Finals, as well as Monday Night Football.
The three-time Emmy recipient also oversees all remote telecom services, managing a voice-over-IP system used to support more than 1,000 remote events annually. In 2014, Whitlock supported the SEC Network launch by designing and implementing a completely fiber-optic video and data network across more than 100 athletic venues within the conference to facilitate unlimited campus productions and ESPN Remote Operations events.
Whitlock is currently focused on the UFC property and the creation of a conference-wide fiber optic video and data network in support of the 2019 ACC Network launch, while overseeing more than 50,000 satellite, fiber optic, and IP based transmissions annually.
Abe Zerbib, TAG Video Systems, CEO
CEO of TAG Video Systems, Abe Zerbib is a 30-year veteran of the broadcast and media industry. He launched his career as a video editor in the 1990s, working for high-profile studios in Paris such as Captain Video and Modern Video Film. With his intimate understanding of production workflows and the tools needed, Zerbib successfully transitioned into business development where he held high-level management positions in international technology companies before joining TAG in 2013. Originally tasked with introducing the company’s 100% IP, software platform to the U.S. market, Zerbib’s success in the region led to global responsibility before he was selected as CEO by the Board.
Zerbib credits his, and in turn TAG’s, success on the company’s ability to deliver solutions that allow broadcasters and content distributors the greatest scalability and flexibility available in the market. Today TAG is a leader in 100% software-based integrated IP probing, monitoring, and multi-viewing software solutions and manages over 40,000 channels globally across the four primary broadcasting applications: live production, playout/master control, distribution, and OTT.
Ben Ziskind, Fox Corporation, Executive Director, Live Video Platform
Ben Ziskind is the executive director of live video platform for Fox Corporation, where he is responsible for audience facing video solutions and operations across the company’s portfolio of sports, news, and entertainment apps/website.
Since joining Fox, Ziskind has led an overhaul of the live video platform focusing on quality of service and delivering a “better than TV” customer experience. Recently, Ziskind led the launch of 4K UHD live streaming in the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps with the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and NFL Thursday Night Football.
Ziskind holds a B.S. in information & decision systems and human-computer interaction from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.B.A. from USC Marshall School of Business. He has 10 patents and patents pending in the areas of video streaming, digital rights management, messaging, and digital marketing automation.
