Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Applauds the Communications Research Centre Canada for its Second Emmy Award

January 07, 2009

OTTAWA, January 7, 2009 — The Communications Research Centre (CRC) Canada will receive a second Emmy Award at a ceremony taking place today at the Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards Gala. In a statement, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, congratulated the CRC ─ the Canadian government's primary laboratory for research and development (R&D) in advanced telecommunications ─ for their contribution to the standard for digital TV.

“I congratulate the CRC and applaud their contribution which has garnered the organization such deserving attention,” said Minister of State Goodyear. “This second Emmy Award demonstrates the high standard of the government's performance in S&T.”

CRC is among four organizations being recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for their efforts in standardizing the ATSC Digital Television System to replace the analog NTSC television system. The transition will take place in Canada by August 31, 2011. CRC's Advanced Television Evaluation Laboratory conducted all subjective evaluation tests of picture quality and assessed the effects of transmission impairments. These results enabled the selection of the best HDTV format and digital transmission system that is defining a new era of digital television broadcasting to home viewers.

“I also salute the partnership developed by the CRC to undertake this work, in particular with Industry Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Telesat Canada,” said Minister of State Goodyear.

CRC won its first Emmy in 1987 with NASA for their joint role in developing Ku band satellite technology through the Hermes program.

Over the last 40 years, many CRC scientific and engineering milestones have been achieved, contributing to Canada's position as a world leader in wireless and satellite communications and broadcast technologies.