Charlie Jablonski, who won 12 sports Emmy Awards during his career at NBC and NBC Sports bringing the Olympics to viewers, has died. He was 69 years old.
Jablonski died on October 25 at his home in Lake George, New York, without any cause of death, according to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), which organizes the Sports Emmy Awards.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the sudden passing of our friend and colleague Charlie Jablonski,” NATAS said. The Hollywood Reporter declared.
During his 16 years at NBC, Jablonski served as vice president of engineering and technology, where he was responsible for the Olympics and World Cups. By the 1988 Games in Seoul, he was general director of Olympic engineering. His tenure coincided with the introduction of new technologies to broadcast the Olympic Games and the shift in television operations and transmission from analog to digital technologies and high-definition television.
While at NBC Sports, Jablonski earned 20 Sports Emmy Award nominations and 12 trophies for his work on the Olympics and World Cups. He also received an Engineering Emmy for Innovation for his work on the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jablonski, as an innovator in entertainment production and distribution, continued as an advisor and consultant to NBC Olympics for its production of the Olympics until his death this weekend. This included advice on how to bring major sports competitions held in challenging locations across the United States and around the world to television screens and digital platforms.
Adam Sharp, Chairman and CEO of NATAS, said upon news of Jablonski’s passing, “Anyone who worked alongside Charlie for even a single meeting became immediately familiar with his superior technical intellect, keen wit and skeptical humor. A legend in sports television, broadcast engineering and leadership of our Academy, he devoted countless hours to the integrity of Emmy competitions, to the advancement of our industry and to the mentorship of those he champions. »
Jablonski has worked at NATAS for nearly five decades, most recently serving as vice chair of its national awards committee and chair emeritus of the Technology and Engineering Awards Committee after chairing that body from 1988 to 2011.
Born February 17, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan, Jablonski graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1977 and joined NBC in 1983.
“Charlie’s influence is seen not only in the scope of his work, but also in those we call his colleagues, friends and family. Leading some of the biggest changes in the industry, such as HDTV, surround sound and the move to IP networks to name a few, his contributions to the world of media cannot be understated,” said the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, of which Jablonski is a member. honorary member and former president, in his own statement.
Jablonski is survived by his wife, Ellen. Details of the memorial will be announced later, according to NATAS.
