Charlie Jablonski Courtesy of NATAS Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Charlie Jablonski, who won 12 sports Emmy Awards over a career at NBC and NBC Sports bringing the Olympic Games to TV viewers, has died. He was 69. Jablonski died on Oct. 25 at his home on Lake George in New York State, with no cause of death given, according to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), which organizes the Sports Emmy Awards. "It's with a heavy heart that we share the news of the sudden passing of our friend and colleague Charlie Jablonski," a NATAS statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter stated. Related Stories Movies Björn Andrésen, Teen Actor in 1971's 'Death in Venice,' Dies at 70 News Mark Sanchez Breaks Silence to Pay Tribute to Former New York Jets Teammate Nick Mangold During his 16 years at NBC, Jablonski was vp of engineering and technology, where he had responsibility for the Olympics and World Cups. Starting with the 1988 Games in Soeul, he was managing director for Olympics engineering. His tenure coincided with the introduction of new technologies to broadcast the Olympics, and the shift in TV operations and transmission from analog to digital technologies and high definition TV. While with NBC Sports, Jablonski earned 20 nominations for Emmy Sports Awards and 12 trophies for his work on the Olympics and World Cups. He was also recognized with an engineering Emmy for innovation for his work on the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Jablonski as an innovator in entertainment production and distribution continued as an advisor and consultant to NBC Olympics for its production of the Olympics until his death this weekend. That included consulting on how to bring major sporting competitions in challenging locations in the U.S. and internationally to the TV screen and digital platforms. NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said on news of Jablonski's passing: "Anyone who worked alongside Charlie for as little as a single meeting was instantly familiar with his superior technical intellect, quick wit, and skeptical humor. A legend in sports television, broadcast engineering, and the leadership of our Academy, he dedicated countless hours to the integrity of the Emmy competitions, the advancement of our industry, and the mentorship of those he championed." Jablonski was with NATAS for nearly five decades, most recently as vice chair of its National Awards Committee and chair emeritus of the Technology & Engineering Awards Committee after he chaired that body from 1988 to 2011. Born on Feb. 17, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, Jablonski graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1977 and joined NBC in 1983. "Charlie's influence can be found, not just in the breadth of his work, but in those called colleagues, friends, and family. At the helm of some of the industry's biggest changes, like HDTV, Surround Sound, and the move to IP networks to name a few, his contributions to the world of media cannot be understated," the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, of which Jablonski is an honorary member and a past president, said in its own statement. Jablonski is survived by his wife, Ellen. Memorial details will be announced at a later date, according to NATAS. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Live Feed Anne Rice's 'Talamasca: The Secret Order,' Explained After Premiere YouTube TikTok Is Not the Leading Social Media Platform for Microdramas, But You Won't Be Shocked by What Is Live Feed 'Mayor of Kingstown' Star Jeremy Renner Says "Buckle Up" for a Non-Stop Season 4 World Series World Series 2025: Where to Stream the L.A. Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays Online Without Cable Live Feed 'Nobody Wants This' Star Jackie Tohn on Her Defining Monologue and Uncertain Future After Season 2 Finale Taylor Swift 'Monday Night Football' Livestream: When and Where to Watch Washington Commanders vs. Kansas City Chiefs Online for Free Live Feed Anne Rice's 'Talamasca: The Secret Order,' Explained After Premiere YouTube TikTok Is Not the Leading Social Media Platform for Microdramas, But You Won't Be Shocked by What Is Live Feed 'Mayor of Kingstown' Star Jeremy Renner Says "Buckle Up" for a Non-Stop Season 4 World Series World Series 2025: Where to Stream the L.A. Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays Online Without Cable Live Feed 'Nobody Wants This' Star Jackie Tohn on Her Defining Monologue and Uncertain Future After Season 2 Finale Taylor Swift 'Monday Night Football' Livestream: When and Where to Watch Washington Commanders vs. Kansas City Chiefs Online for Free