Andrew G. Setos has spent his entire career innovating at the cutting edge of the audio-visual industry, including the strategic and tactical aspects of production, distribution and exhibition and in virtually every form of content play. He has collaborated with some of the industry's most prolific business executives and creative talents and identified opportunities and emerging threats.

He is CEO of BlackStar Engineering Inc., a firm that advises on the intersection of technology and media.

He rose to President, Engineering for the Fox Group during a 24 year stint at that company, where he has innovated in almost every aspect of content creation and distribution, melding technologies to the needs of creative and business imperatives. He was the lead engineering and operations executive at the company that launched MTV Music Television, VH-1 and Nickelodeon. Before that he spent several years at WNET as Chief Engineer where he was involved in many innovative, award winning productions, such as Live from Lincoln Center, Dance in America, Bill Moyers Journal and the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour and the transition to satellite distribution for PBS.

He has applied for and been granted a variety of patents.

Along the way he has received many distinctions, including being elected a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and accepted three Emmy's for Engineering from the Television Academy, the most recent being the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science.

He is most comfortable when involved in efforts that have never been attempted before but is equally proficient at managing large operations on a day to day basis, achieving unsurpassed cost efficiencies, responsiveness and reliability.

Major Commercial Transactions

• Negotiated over $1bn in satellite service contracts, worldwide
• Developed 2 satellite neighborhoods for cable programming, U.S.
• Negotiated "fiber" telecom service contracts totalling $1/2 bn, U.S.
• Closed ~1mm sq ft of real estate deals, land and developed properties, U.S.

Innovation Highlights

• Collaborated with IBM on the Linear Tape File System (LTFS), 2009, Emmy Award, 2011
• Developed "digital copy" as a feature for packaged media (DVD and Blu-ray), 2008
• Filed patent application for time replacement of commercials, led to C3, 2007
• Contributed security and interactivity features for Blu-ray format, released 2006
• Developed resolution and security features for D-Cinema specification, released 2005
• Use of MPEG stream-splicer for HD broadcast TV, 2004, Emmy Award, 2010
• Introduced "file based workflow" for national network television, 1996
• Designed first mixed digital-hand drawn animation facility 1995, Anastasia rel. 1997
• Conceptualized, designed and oversaw the manufacture of the first "local into local" spacecraft for ASkyB, 1995, flown for DirecTV, 1998
• Conceptualized and implemented the "Fox Box", first graphics scoreboard overlay for live television sports, 1994, now used by virtually all sports producers worldwide
• First use of national fiber network for regularly scheduled sports, 1993
• Designed and built first high resolution archive system for film (Fox Movietone Newsreels) 1992
• First use of national fiber network for television, AMW, 1988
• Designed systems for MTV, first TV channel produced and distributed in stereo sound 1981

Management

• Built from scratch and operated Fox Networks Group physical operations: ~1,000 people, ~$300mm opex, ~$500mm capex
• Transitioned Fox Studios' 54 acre campus into "modern" era while reversing large annual loses

Distinctions

• Elected to the TV Academy, 2019
• Accepted the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award from the TV Academy, 2011
• Invited to deliver the Magill Lecture at Columbia University, 2008
• Received Technology Leadership Award, B&C 2004
• Elected Fellow of the SMPTE, 1992

Government Relations
(primarily spectrum and copyright matters)

• FCC
  • invited member of three Technology Advisory Councils
  • represented Warner and Fox to Commissioners and staff
  • introduced new concepts into regulation
• Legislative
  • contributed to legislative language
  • testified before committees
  • represented Warner and Fox to Members of both Houses
• Administration
  • represented Fox to West Wing staff

Service

• Serves on the Executive Committee of the Science and Technolgy Peer Group
• Served on the Board of Governors of the SMPTE
• Served on the Board of Directors of the North American Broadcasters Association
• Appointed to the Board of Directors of the Advanced Television Test Center
• Appointed to the Board of Directors of the Advanced Television Systems Committee
• Served on the Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service
• Served on the Board of Visitors of Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science