DVB Steering Board votes EBU’s Peter MacAvock as new chair

The DVB has announced that Peter MacAvock (EBU) has been elected to the role of DVB Chairman. At the 83rd meeting of the Steering Board, MacAvock was chosen to take over from Phil Laven who has served in the position since 2008. MacAvock was DVB Executive Director for 14 years before taking up his current position of Head of Delivery, Platforms and Services at EBU Technology & Innovation.

MacAvock takes over at an busy time for DVB as it engages in the ongoing development of UHDTV with decisions on HDR, HFR and Next Generation Audio; future transmission systems; Study Mission Groups on Virtual Reality; amongst others. With the rising importance of OTT, Hybrid TV, and other methods of delivery, the DVB environment is changing, and DVB will adapt to meet the new challenges the TV industry is currently facing.

DVB continues to be the focal point for the technical development of the core systems used by millions of people around the world to enjoy TV. It is unique in its success at standardising a set of technologies which meets the demands of an ever changing industry, and in doing so gathers together all the stakeholders and decision makers in the industry.

Commenting on his appointment, Peter MacAvock said, “I look forward to the challenges ahead. Chairing DVB is a huge honour, and it remains at the centre of the way we do TV. DVB needs to stand on the shoulders of its past successes to prepare for an exciting future: no small challenge in today’s ever changing environment.”

Phil Laven, a former Technical Director of the European Broadcasting Union, served as Chairman of DVB for the past eight years. During this time, amongst other achievements, he oversaw the introduction of DVB-T2 which was instrumental in bringing HD services to millions of people across five continents.