Key Firms Donate to SMPTE Centennial Campaign

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), has announced that the Walt Disney Company, Panasonic, and Dolby Laboratories have made contributions totalling $1 million (over £600,000) to the SMPTE Centennial Celebration Campaign's Next Century Fund.

Vince Roberts, executive vice president of Global Operations and chief technology officer, Disney/ABC Television Group, said: "It is our great pleasure to lend our support to SMPTE, both in terms of leadership and financial support, as the Society prepares for its Centennial Celebration.
"For almost 100 years, SMPTE has played a critical role in advancing the art, science, and craft of the moving image and its sound. We are proud to partner with SMPTE as it continues its groundbreaking work in moving-imagery education, engineering, and research."
Kunihiko Miyagi, director, Professional AV Business Unit, Imaging Network Business Division in Panasonic Corporation's AVC Networks Company added: "We can't think of any organization more worthy of our support than SMPTE.
"The ongoing role the Society plays in advancing standards and technical education for our industry is absolutely critical to our success, and to that of all SMPTE members. Panasonic salutes SMPTE as it enters its second century of advocacy and advancement for the field of moving imagery."
The SMPTE Centennial Campaign has been established in recognition of the Society's 100-year anniversary in 2016. The campaign is led by an advisory committee consisting of Wendy Aylsworth and Chuck Dages (retired) of Warner Bros.; Peter Fannon of Panasonic; Richard Friedel of Fox; Charles Jablonski of SMPTE; Peter Ludé of RealD; William Miller of Miltag Media Technology; Chuck Pagano (retired) of ESPN; Bob Ross of CBS; and Larry Thorpe of Canon.
The Next Century Fund will support specific SMPTE standards activities that speed the development, adoption, use, and understanding of new industry standards, as well as creating tools such as a repository for test materials that are crucial for certifying new IP-based workflows. In the area of membership development, SMPTE's goals include international Section expansion as well as improving programming and networking for students. In education, the Society will focus on creating educational programs that support rapidly changing industry needs; establishing regular conference events throughout the world; and developing and deploying educational programs that serve all levels of membership.

Further information about the SMPTE Centennial Campaign is available at smpte100.org.

(MH/CD)