Dr David Wood (left) and Dr Mark Krivosheev with Vladimir Zworykin award in hand (EBU)

David Wood, whose career included over 30 years with the EBU, was recently honoured by the National Association of Broadcasters in Russia for his outstanding personal contributions to broadcasting.

Dr Wood’s career encompassed new television standards in digital television, high definition television, and recently Ultra High Definition Television. He continues today as a consultant to the EBU, and as Chair of the World Broadcasting Union’s Technical Committee.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in Russia instigated the annual award in memory of Vladimir Zworykin. Russian by birth, and educated at the University of Saint Petersburg, Zworykin is accredited with being the father of electronic television. While working in the United States for RCA in the 1930s, '40s and '50s, he invented the electronic TV camera and TV display tubes used for decades in television.  

The NAB made two Zworykin awards which were presented by the Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications, Mikhail Seslavinsky. Another award was given to Prof Mark Krivosheev, seen as the elder statesman of television. He started the world’s first 625-line television service in Russia in the late 1940s, and shaped broadcasting in Russia.

Dr Wood commented “it’s crazy to imagine I have made anything like the contribution that Zworykin made, but whatever I have done has been because of the great team at the EBU”.

You can watch David Wood's EBU Technology and Innovationon videos on TV standards.