Recognition for Outstanding Engineering Achievements Given to Irwin, Bialik by SBE
Broadcast Engineers Honoured at SBE Awards Dinner
In recognition of their outstanding contributions to the broadcast engineering industry, several professionals were awarded at the SBE Awards Dinner held during the Midwest Broadcast and Multimedia Technology Conference on September 24-25.
Doug Irwin, CPBE, AMD, DRB, of Burbank, CA, was named the 2025 Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year. Irwin, with nearly four decades of experience on both coasts, manages one of the most complex and influential radio operations in the United States. His leadership, dedication, and passion for broadcast engineering have earned him this prestigious award.
Irwin is also a longtime consultant and contributor to TV Tech sister brand, Radio World. His peers have praised him for his unwavering dedication and genuine passion for broadcast engineering. As the regional engineering lead for iHeartMedia Los Angeles, he successfully navigated the challenges posed by industry consolidation and evolving broadcast technologies.
In New York, David Bialik, CBT, of New City, NY, was awarded the 2025 James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year. Bialik is currently the director of engineering for MediaCo NY and serves on the SBE Education Committee and as co-chair of the AES Technical Committee for Broadcast and Online Delivery.
The Wisconsin SBE Chapters, in partnership with the 2024 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Media Technology Institute, received the award for Best Chapter or Regional Educational Event. This achievement significantly enhanced media access and connectivity across the region, uniting communities through broadcast for the first time on this scale.
Mark Lee of Compass Media, based in the Cayman Islands, was awarded the Facility Innovation of the Year award. Compass Media extended its WheatNet-IP audio network across 85 miles of underwater fiber to link its four radio stations with the two smaller Cayman Islands.
For the fourth consecutive year, SBE Chapter 15 New York, NY, has been recognized with the Best Chapter Communication Award. The chapter effectively engages its members through a variety of platforms, including email, the chapter website (sbe15.com), Twitter, Facebook, and Zoom.
Blackmagic Design received the SBE Technology Award for its DeckLink IP 100G.
The SBE Awards Dinner is presented by the state broadcast associations of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Terry Douds, CPBE, serves as the SBE Awards Committee Chair.
[1] Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) [2] Radio World [3] TV Tech
- The SBE Awards Dinner, presented by the state broadcast associations of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, honored Doug Irwin, a longtime consultant and contributor to TV Tech sister brand, Radio World, with the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year award for his dedication and passion for broadcast engineering.
- In New York, David Bialik, CBT, was awarded the James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year for his role as the director of engineering for MediaCo NY and his contributions to SBE Education Committee and AES Technical Committee for Broadcast and Online Delivery.
- The Wisconsin SBE Chapters, through partnership with the 2024 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Media Technology Institute, were honored with the Best Chapter or Regional Educational Event award, significantly enhancing media access and connectivity across the region.
- Mark Lee of Compass Media, based in the Cayman Islands, was recognized with the Facility Innovation of the Year award for extending its WheatNet-IP audio network across 85 miles of underwater fiber to link four radio stations with the two smaller Cayman Islands.
- The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) presented the Best Chapter Communication Award to SBE Chapter 15 New York, NY, for effectively engaging its members through various platforms, including email, the chapter website, social media, and video conferencing.
- Blackmagic Design received the SBE Technology Award for its DeckLink IP 100G, highlighting its advancements in broadcast video content technology and infrastructure workflows.
