Brian Picard Email & Phone Number

• Local Product Team subject matter expert and liaison for Star Operations, Ad Sales, Distribution / affiliate support. • Responsible for the configuration of local products; ensuring that they play correctly on all Star platforms.• Provided technical support for deployment of the i2 Star platform and consultant for technical documentation. Participated in technical site surveys, managing shipping queues and installation. • Performs STAR and OTT final testing before promoting a new product or feature to air. • Produced and sent Emergency Management Bulletins to Star platforms during Hurricane and Tropical Storm coverage.• Supported Marketing with The American Red Cross, to deliver preparedness messages during severe weather.• Helped develop and configure Local Now products, rule sets, and customized playlists. • Works closely with Production, Editorial and Creative teams to secure and configure interstitials, video and audio assets for new or hyper-local markets. • Works well within a cross functional team to maintain playlist documentation and various SGA status. • Quickly learns new or emerging technical systems, including several that are unique to The Weather Group infrastructure. Familiar with xml, JSON and custom internal backoffice systems (Iboss, SCMT, OTT CMS).

• Managed a 3 person product support team for day to day product and sales support to provide the most relevant localized Weatherscan programming solutions. • Responsible for successful product delivery, including configuration of various lifestyle packages, programming clocks and creative assets for new and existing Weatherscan systems.• Worked closely with Distribution and local ad sales to create, plan and deploy marketing campaigns, media/advertising, sales collateral and company branding strategies. • Participated in a cross functional team to develop and launch new Weatherscan Lifestyle Packages. • Effectively managed Weatherscan operational budget.• Produced over 3000 voice-overs with on-air talent for Local on the 8's "Vocal Local" narrations using Sound Forge.• Worked closely with Doppler Studios to convert Vocal Local audio to 5.1 for the i2HD platform.• Developed and conducted training programs on STAR and Digital headend architecture for new Affiliate Operations and Distribution team members.• Curated music for Local On the 8's; worked with artists, labels, licensing entities and legal to verify and secure preforming rights. • Configured and maintained music playlists in Sourcebook for daily programming, special events, promos and stunt week specials.• Recorded Local On The 8's music into Enco, maintained documentation to produce quarterly spin reports. • Worked with brand marketing and Midas Records to produce 2 Weather Channel Smooth Jazz music CDs. • Produced and mixed 30 weather sound effects clips for the Local On The 8's Daypart Forecast product. • Team lead for developing requirements, conducting UAT and launching the new Ad Crawl Tool.• Managed i2xD beta test training and deployment. Successfully completed i2Jr upgrades on schedule and SAP launch in support of aural alerts.• Procured VOD content for TWC on demand initiative; delivered content, schedules and metadata to TVN content aggregator.

• Partnered with Distribution to pitch and launch Weatherscan to potential affiliates.• Supported sales in reaching sub goals; increased carriage over 4X and helped grow distribution revenue to become a profitable business.• Acted as the primary product and technical consultant for distribution and managed all new Weatherscan launches.• Produced training, marketing and sales campaign materials, demo reels and ad sales support content.• Point of contact for the early phase of interactive local usage reporting; Cable Bahamas, Insight. • Developed SLA and escalation procedures for technical support.

• Responsible for data monitoring, Star and Desktop support.• Performed in-house module level repair for the Star XD platform; IRIX OS.

• Lead Star Engineer - responsible for providing technical support to distribution partners in the field.• Skilled in troubleshooting and resolving Star or transmission problems quickly and effectively. • Provided technical support for the launch of The Travel Channel and Local Edition. • Worked closely with hardware vendors, software engineering and affiliate sales to develop requirements, user acceptance, beta test and successful roll-out of The Weather Star Jr (analog) Platform.• Created detailed installation and calibration and technical training documentation.• Set up live product feeds and represented tech support at various regional/state trade shows.

• Provided phone and field technical support for Distribution Partners on the STAR 1, II and III platforms.• Participated in testing and transition to sub-carrier data delivery. • Managed equipment order tracking, billing and relationships with 3rd party hardware vendors.

• Responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and support of the The Weather Channel's broadcast equipment.• Daily operational checks of the broadcast chain to ensure air signals meet industry performance standards.• Repair and maintenance of studio cameras, lighting grid and Panasonic M format tape machines.

• Manually switch video and audio sources on the live network feed as defined by the daily programming log.• Document air-times and continually monitor the broadcast signal levels to meet industry standards.• Work closely with on-air talent to coordinate studio segments and schedule make-goods.