San Francisco CA, May 4, 2009 - PBS named Steve Welch as the new chair of the PBS Enterprise Technology Advisory Committee (ETAC) for 2009. Currently serving as Northern California Public Broadcasting's (NCPB) Vice President for Engineering and Technology, Welch will oversee the committee charged with advising development and implementation of information management and technical operations strategies for PBS and its affiliate stations.
The PBS ETAC represents the diverse interests of all PBS member stations in the development and implementation of information management and technical operations strategies, including hardware, software, connectivity and business process innovations. The committee serves as a professional partner with PBS staff in the analysis, evaluation and application of evolving technologies and business processes in strategic support of long-term operations and maintenance activities at PBS headquarters, member stations, related regional networks and programming consortia. The committee is comprised of 12 members serving three-year terms and representing a cross section of all PBS stations - reflecting the differences in market size, licensee types and geography that is characteristic of the public television system.
Other newly-named committee members include:
- Jim Klas, Vice Chair; Director of Media Technology (WPT, Madison WI)
- Terry Harvey, Associate Director Technology and Planning (WSIU, Carbondale IL)
- Helge Blucher, Vice President Engineering and Technology (WTVS, Detroit MI)
Continuing their memberships are:
- Russ Abernathy, Director of Television and Technology (WKNO, Memphis TN)
- Kip Campbell, Director of New Technologies (UNC, Research Triangle Park NC)
- David Felland, Director of Engineering and Delivery Services (WMVS, Milwaukee WI)
- Bruce Jacobs, Chief Technologist (TPT, Saint Paul MN)
- Ron Kain, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (WITF, Harrisburg PA)
- Leon Messenie, Director of Television and IT (KPBS, San Diego CA)
- Alan Popkin, Director of TV Engineering (KLCS, Los Angeles CA)
- Bill Schwartz, Director of Engineering (WCEU, Daytona Beach FL)
Bill Hayes, former ETAC Vice Chair and Director of Engineering and Technology, Iowa Public Television, as well as Bob Boone, Senior Systems Engineer, WHRO in Norfolk, VA, are retiring from the committee after years of distinguished service.
"The combined skills and expertise of this outstanding group of station professionals greatly enhances the quality of service PBS can provide its member stations and the American people," said John McCoskey, PBS Chief Technology Officer. "In this time of unprecedented innovation and change in our field, the work of the ETAC is more important than ever. Steve's insight and depth of experience will be tremendous assets to the system as he assumes the important role of ETAC Chair."
In addition to his chairmanship, Welch oversees all technical and IT operations, including broadcast and production facilities, equipment and personnel, training, scheduling, and engineering for NCPB. NCPB is comprised of public television stations KQED, KTEH and KQET, as well as public radio stations KQED and KQEI.
Welch joined KQED in April of 2000 and has successfully led the operations and engineering departments through KQED's revolutionary transition to digital technology. He brings more than 30 years of television management experience to the senior team. Prior to KQED, he spent most of his professional career at KCTS TV in Seattle, where he began as a television producer/director and served nearly a decade as director of broadcast and production operations. He completed his tenure as director of HDTV production and facility marketing, a role in which he helped establish KCTS as the early leader in U.S. production of HD TV content.
Welch received the PBS Engineering Individual Achievement Award in 1995, among other honors. During the digital transition in Seattle, he traveled to Japan three times to study advanced television at NHK (Japan National Broadcasting). After leaving KCTS, Welch worked as an HD production and marketing consultant for KCTS, Convergence Services, Corbis Corp., WETA TV, American Production Services, and the Arnold Creative Group. He earned his B.A. at the University of Washington.
About Northern California Public Broadcasting, Inc.
(NCPB) (www.ncpb.com) is the most-watched public television and most-listened-to public radio broadcaster in the country. NCPB owns and operates public television stations KQED 9HD (San Francisco), KTEH 54 (San Jose), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); public radio stations KQED 88.5FM (San Francisco) and KQEI 89.3FM (Sacramento); KQED's Education Network (EdNet); and the Interactive platforms KQED.org, KQET.com, and KTEH.org. Audiences and users can also access NCPB content through: digital television channels Life, World, Kids, V-me, and KQED PBS Kids Sprout; and stream or download available content on www.kqed.org and www.kteh.org.
About PBS
PBS, with its 357 member stations, offers all Americans - from every walk of life - the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches more than 115 million people on-air and online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and Web site, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet.
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