Matthew Azzarto
Hoboken,NJ
Summary
Experienced business leader gifted in building strategic industry partnerships, coordinating tactical plans and devising proactive strategies focused on enabling growth and maintaining marketplace flexibility. Oversees Media Technology workforce planning and improvements and brings 24 years of Media industry experience.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director, Media Systems Operations
Disney
New York, NY
06.2021 - Current
- Established a new global Edge Ops team covering 24x7x365 with staff on east coast, west coast and in Europe. Developed process and procedures to support the Disney CDN deployment.
- Cross-trained SysOps and Edge Ops teams to create a resource pool supporting over 8,000 media systems/hosts across the DTC platform.
- Worked with software development on requirements foe DEC (Disney Edge Controller)
- Launched 10 sites in POPs globally to serve Disney+ DTC content, delivering 2.5Tbps traffic volume on the Disney EDGE CDN.
- Aligned Disney Streaming and Hulu resources under new team to support 1200+ linear channels for Hulu Live Product bundle.
- Led cross functional team to execute key live events including Lollapalooza, Bonaroo, and Austin City Limits as part of 2-year deal with Live Nation
- Wrote reports and technical documents in easy-to-understand terminology for leadership
Director of Media Technology Engineering
HBO-WarnerMedia
New York, NY
06.2017 - 05.2021
- Designed and lead build-out of HBO’s AWS cloud-based linear playout systems and delivery to affiliates for over 30 channels.
- Worked with finance to build financial model to validate cost of cloud migration for linear
- Presented cloud linear playout solution at AWS Re-Invent (see link below)
- Head of Advanced Systems Engineering with 25 engineers with 3 direct reports, providing Production and software solutions for CNN, TBS, TNT, and the NBA.
- Worked to integrate several PCRs into SMPTE 2110 architecture at Techwood campus in Atlanta and CNN/Hudson yards.
- Regularly tested security technologies and implemented network penetration assessment tools.
- Created business continuity plan to protect data in event of natural disaster or long-term outage.
Director of Media Operations
Akamai Technology
Cambridge, MA
10.2015 - 05.2017
- Led design and build of new Operations Center in the company headquarters.
- Operationalized new processes, procedures, and POC for Akamai-developed software (BOSS)
- Worked closely with software development on requirements for BOSS tools
- Launched a Managed Service with team of 15 experts to support OTT Live linear services.
- Met with C-level media company executives to pitch BOCC managed service
- Orchestrated strategic business plans and oversaw execution by streamlining customer support calls and enhancing customer experiences.
Senior Director of Engineering
NBCUniversal
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
10.2011 - 09.2015
- Led 3 teams across Content Prep, On-Air and Transmission systems in execution of key projects and 24/7 support for over 25 networks within NBCUniversal’s cable properties.
- Managed Budgets, Support Contracts, and LRP projections.
- Key projects: Multiplex builds/upgrades, Network Migrations of Master Control to the NOC, Comcast-NBCUniversal Asset Integration, Edit Systems and Centralized Media Prep.
- Scheduled engineers for specific parts of projects.
- Coordinated Cisco CCNA training for team members
Director of Engineering
NBCUniversal
New York, NY
03.2009 - 10.2011
- Led a team of 10 Broadcast Engineers and 5 Systems Engineers in support of 24/7 technical operations at NBC’s Broadcast Operations Center at 30 Rock.
- Directed technical projects: Dateline transcode and digital delivery, Content ingest migration to EC, Cable DR, Tonight Show content delivery, NBC HD Satellite distribution and SD Shutdown
- Managed capital improvement projects to keep expenses within operational budgets.
Manager of On-Air Engineering
NBCUniversal
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
03.2006 - 03.2009
- Led a team of 10 Engineers in support of 24/7 technical operations for 10 NBCU cable networks (USA, SCI-FI, Bravo, etc.) with 25 outbound feeds.
- Managed technical rollout of Chiller network and migrations of Oxygen and Mun2 to EC.
- Maintained high standards in hiring staff; prioritizing flexibility, resourcefulness and drive.
Broadcast Systems Engineer
NBCUniversal
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
02.2005 - 03.2006
- Created Engineering Process & Procedures for On-Air Systems to establish 5-9s reliability.
- Designed/built Remote Dubs for NBC Universal’s NOC to enable remote ingest of content.
- Integrated & tested broadcast automation and video systems for EC_NOC Master Control.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ05.1997
Skills
- Broadcast and Streaming media systems
- live linear workflows
- Infrastructure
- Disaster Recovery
- Storage systems
- Encoding/Compression systems
- CDN and related content delivery systems
- Team Building
- Team Collaboration
- Team training
- Technical Troubleshooting
- Strategic/Tactical Planning
- Technical problem solving
- Culture Transformation
Affiliations
- Awarded TECHNICAL EMMY for AFD Implementation at NBC
- Awarded NAB Best in Show for Akamai BOCC
- Member of National Association of Television Arts and Science
Additional Information
Online reference material:
HBO Cloud Linear Playout at Re:Invent (my portion starts at 11m20s into clip)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZO1mgD9yJI
Akamai BOCC at IBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCNHBLk5e0A
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.
John Cage
Timeline
Senior Director, Media Systems Operations
Disney
06.2021 - Current
Director of Media Technology Engineering
HBO-WarnerMedia
06.2017 - 05.2021
Director of Media Operations
Akamai Technology
10.2015 - 05.2017
Senior Director of Engineering
NBCUniversal
10.2011 - 09.2015
Director of Engineering
NBCUniversal
03.2009 - 10.2011
Manager of On-Air Engineering
NBCUniversal
03.2006 - 03.2009
Broadcast Systems Engineer
NBCUniversal
02.2005 - 03.2006
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey