RALEIGH — James F. Goodmon, CEO and President ofCapitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.(CBC), WRAL-TV's parent company, is being recognized for his leadership role and achievements in the advancement of digital television.

Goodmon is the recipient of the Digital Television Pioneer Award to be presented this April byBroadcasting and Cablemagazine.

The Digital Television Pioneer Award recognizes Goodmon's leadership in high definition broadcasting. In July 1996,WRAL-HDwas the first high definition television station in the country to go on the air and has carried HDTVfootball games,documentariesand aspace shuttle launch.

OnJuly 23,1996, CBC became the first broadcaster in the nation to transmit a high definition television (HDTV) digital signal over WRAL-HD.

WRAL-HD continues to broadcast on a daily basis and has accomplished a number of firsts in the industry -- including alocal documentary, sporting events and live news coverage. On October 29, 1998, WRAL-HD was a partner in thenationwide broadcastof John Glenn's return to space in HDTV.

The citation will recognize Goodmon for his leadership in bringing WRAL-HD to the air as the first station to use this new medium of television. HDTV provides viewers exceptional quality, detail, and sound. WRAL-HD is acknowledged nationally as a front runner in developing HDTV technology and programming.

The award will be presented during theNational Association of Broadcastersmeeting in Las Vegas on April 19. Goodmon follows in the steps of Joe Flaherty of CBS, who, last year, was dubbed the father of HDTV.