[QuadList] NBC Broadcasting Pioneer Jack Weir Dies at 88--SportsVideoGroup magazine

[David C. Crosthwait]

Jack was well known when I was there. I don't recall If I met him or  
not. Perhaps on some of the early Ku sports uplinks when NBC  
contracted with Comstat


?Sometime in the mid ?50s, Jack and colleagues had an idea, or more  
like a vision,? Vacca says. ?He, Don Kivell, and Frank Badami sold NBC  
technical management on the concept of a central department where  
instant on-air management decisions would be made. From that idea  
evolved the BOC [Broadcast Operations Center], the go-to place for all  
operational decisions on breaking news, sports, and programs.?

Yes, BOC was the "go to place". They ran the operation. Most everyone  
I worked with in BOC was very professional and courteous. Burbank  
videotape was across the hall from BOC, so we conversed frequently,  
especially in hectic, last minute events."

"Weir also executed the first live satellite uplink for network news  
out of Selma, AL, during the days of civil disturbance.

Perhaps John Turner would know, but if I recall correctly, in 1963 or  
1965 Selma events, there was no commercial C band uplinks, and I doubt  
there was for news for at least 10 more years. Perhaps the writer  
means that Jack broke into the network round-robin at Selma to feed  
New York. But even that was a routine event for networks. So, I don't  
know which Selma disturbance she is talking about.

"Weir also worked on the 1972 Moscow games that weren?t."

Munich was '72. Moscow was '80.

David Crosthwait
DC Video
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Quoting Ted Langdell <ted at quadvideotapegroup.com>:

> Some folks might have worked with this gentleman during television's
> formative and maturing years:
>
> http://sportsvideo.org/main/blog/2010/06/03/nbc-broadcasting-pioneer-weir-dies-at-88/
>
> Ted
>
> Ted Langdell
> Secretary