Someone You Should Know

Posted on February 2, 2015 in ATSC News

Dave Siegler

VP of Technical Operations, Cox Media Group

Dave Siegler is Vice President of Technical Operations for Cox Media Group (CMG) at the company’s Atlanta headquarters.  He’s responsible for leading and growing the integrated media company through the rapidly changing technologies and consumer demands.

Siegler began his career in television in this hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. – first part-time at WJKS and later full-time at WJXT. He progressed up through various engineering management roles with Post-Newsweek Broadcasting at WPLG in Miami and then at WDIV in Detroit.

“I left day-to-day TV station work in late 1999 – and dodged the whole Y2K thing – to join Turner Broadcasting as an Engineering Manager for Live Events,” says Siegler. “After 5 ½ years with Turner, I realized that ‘broadcasting is in my blood’ and joined Cox in 2005, moving to WSOC in Charlotte.”

That role at the Charlotte station was the onramp for his promotion to his corporate role at CMG.  Today, Siegler leads CMG’s Technical Operations groups to integrate new technologies and processes across various platforms for CMG’s 14 broadcast television stations, one local cable television station, 57 radio stations and eight daily newspapers.

 Benefits of ATSC Involvement

“It’s critical for broadcasters to stay current in today’s rapidly-changing technology and business world. The ATSC provides a mechanism to not only stay up to date, but also to be a part of shaping our future,” says Siegler. “There is no better way to be involved than jumping in with both feet and make contributions in your area of expertise.”

Siegler continues, “Cox believes it’s really important to be involved in the communities where we live and work. We believe it’s important for our company to help shape our collective future and put substantial resources toward that, including investments in technology that will better serve our viewers.

“That’s why I am keenly interested in ATSC 3.0 and seeing through its successful rollout into the commercial and consumer ecosystems.”

Great Technical Minds’ Collaborating

Collaboration is a key to success, and Siegler walks the talk.  He serves as a Vice Chair of the ATSC Board of Directors. And, building on his chairmanship of the former ATSC 2.0 Implementation Team (IT), he chairs the ATSC new Personalization and Interactivity IT. His broad industry knowledge and good humor also are major contributors to the ATSC Board’s Communications Committee.

Outside of the ATSC, he’s the Chairman of NAB’s Television Technology Committee. He’s also an active member of the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the Society of Broadcast Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Broadcast Technology Society.

Siegler says, “One of the most fulfilling things about ATSC participation is seeing a large number of great technical minds work closely together, solve technical challenges, and accomplish an end goal – all the while (mostly) getting along with one another!”

When he’s not travelling to ATSC meetings, Siegler says he enjoys travelling internationally. “I also love to be outdoors: hiking, kayaking and nature photography.”

Posted in ATSC News