Said to be
Monday April 9, 3:47 pm Eastern Time
Digital Video Pioneer Bob Rast to Head DemoGraFX, L.A.-based High Tech Video Firm
Digital Pioneers Join Forces To Bring New Compression Technology to Market
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2001--Robert M. Rast has been named president and CEO of DemoGraFX Inc., a provider of video compression technology developed by digital film pioneer Gary Demos.
Rast will lead the expansion of the DemoGraFX management team to commercialize Demos' ``Visually Perfect'' video compression for applications ranging from digital cinema to DTV, including satellite and digital cable TV, DVDs, PCs and the Internet.
``Bob Rast is a visionary who played a decisive role in shaping the future of digital television. I've known him for years, and admire and respect his contributions to both DTV and digital cinema,'' said Caltech-educated Gary Demos, founder and chief technology officer of DemoGraFX, and a pioneer in the convergence of film and digital technologies for visual effects in motion pictures. ``I am delighted that we are joining forces. Bob provides the business experience we need to bring our innovative technology to the marketplace.''
Rast's pioneering role in HDTV was documented in New York Times reporter Joel Brinkley's book Defining Vision. Rast was a vice president at General Instrument from 1990 to 1998. He joined General Instrument shortly after its historic proposal for an all-digital HDTV system for United States broadcasting. He led the company's effort to establish the DTV standard, and was its principal interface with the FCC Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service. In 1993, when the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance was formed from the four remaining digital HDTV proponents, Rast became one of its leaders. The Grand Alliance built the Emmy award-winning HDTV system which was the basis for the FCC digital television broadcast standard.
Rast joined Dolby Laboratories in 1998, where he was vice president of business development, leading efforts in digital cinema, DTV, computers, games and music delivery. Rast's personal focus was on digital cinema. He is vice chairman of the Society of Motion Picture-Television Engineers (SMPTE) technology committee developing digital cinema standards. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), which develops and coordinates DTV standards.
Rast began his career at RCA Laboratories' David Sarnoff Research Center in 1970. He transferred to the RCA Consumer Electronics division in 1978. In 1981, Rast was named vice president, research and development, for Time Inc.'s cable TV business, ATC.
DemoGraFX Inc. is a provider of ``Visually Perfect'' compression algorithms yielding superior picture quality at competitive bit rates for the movie, television, cable, computer and Internet markets. DemoGraFX has received research and development funding from the Department of Defense, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the state of California. DemoGraFX was founded by Gary Demos, who has been honored as the co-recipient of three Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' awards for his work. He is also an Associate Member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).
For additional information, contact Phyllies Wreagh at 310/452-7587, or e-mail: [email protected].
