Steven J. Pontillo, P.E.
Senior Vice President, Broadcasting,
Information Systems and Technology
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
As senior vice president of broadcasting, information systems and technology, Steven Pontillo is responsible for technology development, broadcasting and information technology across all Rainbow Media business units. He oversees all engineering and operational business development functions for Rainbow Network Communications (RNC), Rainbow Media’s full-service technical division that provides origination and distribution services to more than 40 national and regional television programming channels. He was named to this post in 2004.
During his 29-year professional career, Mr. Pontillo held a number of key positions within Rainbow Media and its parent company, Cablevision Systems Corporation. His previous position was senior vice president and general manager for RNC.
Mr. Pontillo is credited with many technological achievements at Rainbow Media, including the design and implementation of the Rainbow Broadcasting and Technology Center, which is located in Bethpage, NY. This state-of-the-art technical marvel consolidates both origination and satellite communications functions in one 62,000 square foot facility and keeps Rainbow Media at the forefront of technology, providing both standard- and high-definition digital infrastructure. During his tenure, he has been responsible for the technical facility and distribution design of many major programming services, including those for Rainbow Media owned and operated networks AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central; Cablevision’s MSG Varsity, as well as third party clients fuse, MSG Network, MSG Plus and numerous other regional and national sports networks. Mr. Pontillo spearheaded the design and implementation of RNC’s Media Asset Management system, which allows for digital asset storage and retrieval of all media types along with the implementation of Rainbow Media’s RightsLogic rights management system. He was one of the key architects of the design, construction and launch of the Rainbow-1 spacecraft that was originally used for distribution of Rainbow Media’s VOOM HD Networks.
Mr. Pontillo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the New York Institute of Technology and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of New York. He is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), National Society of Cable Television Engineers (SCTE) and serves on several advisory boards in the cable and broadcast industries.