The Television Academy is set to honor the developers of eight groundbreaking technologies used in television during the 75th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 18th, following the recent announcement that the Primetime Emmys would be moved to January due to the ongoing writers and actors strikes. The Creative Arts Emmy presentations will also be rescheduled to January 6th and 7th.
One of the highlights of the award ceremony will be the presentation of the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award to Birney Dayton, a pioneer in TV technology. Dayton was not only one of the founders of the broadcast tech firm NVISION, but he also served as its CEO and CTO for 20 years. His contributions to the industry have been instrumental in shaping the television landscape.
Additionally, the National Association of Broadcasters trade group will receive the Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award. This prestigious recognition acknowledges the significant contributions made by the organization to the development and advancement of television technology.
During the ceremony, several Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards will be presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field. Chris Deighton, Richard Mead, Adrian Jeakins, and Evangelos Apostolopoulos will be honored for their work on the Brompton Technology Tessera SX40 LED video processor. This technology has been instrumental in enabling the use of LED screens for virtual production, revolutionizing the way television content is created.
Another notable honoree is Steve Rosenbluth, Thomas E. Burgess, Konstantin Smola, and Glen Winchester, who will be recognized for their work on the Concept Overdrive motion system. This innovation has proven to be an invaluable tool for virtual production and augmented reality, further pushing the boundaries of what is possible in television.
Raymond Drewry and Jim Helman will be awarded for their development of the Entertainment Identifier Registry. This groundbreaking technology aims to standardize content identification and has been developed through the joint venture MovieLabs. The International Telecommunications Union’s radiocommunications study group 6 will also receive an Emmy for their efforts in standardizing high dynamic range television.
Other individuals to be honored include David Eubank for his work on the pCAM Pro mobile software app, which includes cinematography tools, and Thomas Riedel, Jake Dodson, Wolfgang Fritz, and Jiou-Pahn Lee for their contributions to the Riedel Bolero wireless intercom. Jeffrey Gray, Russell Hocken, Barrett Phillips, and Greg Smokler will be recognized for their work on the SmallHD monitor platform, while Meir Shashoua, Yaniv Alon, and Shai Fishman will receive an Emmy for the Waves Clarity Vx Pro noise-reduction plugin.
The recipient of the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award, Birney Dayton, has played a pivotal role in the development of television technology. He is credited with building the first fiber-optic transmission system for over-the-air television, which was used during the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Olympics. In addition, Dayton chaired the systems analysis working party of the Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service in the late ’80s. This committee was responsible for testing and selecting technologies to establish the digital television distribution standard that is still in use today in North America. Dayton’s contributions to the industry extend to his involvement in the development of analog and digital component video standards and his co-chairmanship of the SMPTE HD electronic production working group. He has been recognized with SMPTE’s highest honor, the Progress Medal.
The 75th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards will serve as a testament to the innovative spirit and technological advancements that continue to shape the television industry. These honorees have made significant contributions that have not only transformed the way television content is created but have also pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the field. Their work has paved the way for further advancements in television technology, ensuring that audiences around the world can continue to enjoy high-quality and immersive viewing experiences.