Ed Hobson, NTC VP and Omneon Networks co-founder dead at 59

Edward P. Hobson II, a Vice President at National
Teleconsultants since 2002, a co-founder of Omneon Networks and a former Sony
employee passed away on Monday, January 28 in Nevada City CA. The cause of
death was cancer. He was 59.

Born in Trenton NJ, Hobson was an accomplished executive in
the television industry for more than three decades and a Past President,
Governor, and Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
(SMPTE). He served as a member of the International Broadcasting Conference
(IBC) board of directors and in 2006 was named a Fellow in the BKSTS. Hobson
graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, in 1971 with a B.S.
in Electrical Engineering. He worked at WRPI radio during college and began his
professional career as a broadcast and production engineer at WTEN-TV, Albany
NY, and WRGB, Schenectady NY.

Joining the Grass Valley Group in 1980, Hobson held several
positions during his 13-year career at the company, including field service engineer,
sales manager, and marketing manager. Hobson also worked in marketing
management for Graham-Patten Systems (Grass Valley CA) and at Sony Electronics’
Broadcast and Professional Group in San Jose CA. Hobson co-founded Omneon Video
Networks, Mountain View CA, before joining National TeleConsultants.

“Ed’s colleagues at NTC and throughout the media industry
mourn his untimely passing,” comments Chuck Phelan, NTC Managing Director. “He
was a media industry visionary who contributed greatly to NTC’s thought-leadership
in applying the latest technology solutions to the creative and commercial
needs of the broadcast and media industries. Ed’s influence was international
in scope and his work in the SMPTE, the IBC, and other organizations served to
advance motion imaging throughout the world. The television and media
technology world has lost one of its foremost innovators and advocates. Ed’s
wife Judy Seabridge, his parents, and his entire family have our sincere
condolences.”

Those wishing to send memorial contributions may do so to
the Hospice of the Foothills (www.hofo.org)
or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

A memorial service for Edward P. Hobson II will be held at 5
p.m. Saturday, February 2, at Hooper and Weaver Mortuary, 459 Hollow Way,
Nevada City CA. An East Coast memorial will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday,
February 16, at Grace St. Paul Episcopal Church, 3715 East State Street
Extension, Mercerville NJ.