NEW YORK, March 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HC2 Holdings, Inc. (“HC2”) (NYSE:HCHC), a diversified holding company, announced today that its subsidiary, HC2 Broadcasting Holdings Inc., (“HC2 Broadcasting”), has appointed industry veterans Kurt Hanson and Louis Libin to accelerate the growth of HC2 Broadcasting as a premier over-the-air (“OTA”) distribution platform.
Mr. Hanson, formerly Vice President, Engineering Services and Systems Support at ABC Television Network, will serve as Chief Technology Officer for HC2 Broadcasting. Mr. Libin, previously Senior Director of Advanced Technology at Sinclair Broadcast Group, will oversee revenue and growth opportunities as HC2 Broadcasting’s Managing Director of Strategy.
“I am delighted to welcome Kurt and Louis, two well-respected industry experts, both highly accomplished in helping grow broadcasting platforms,” said Phil Falcone, HC2’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. “Our vision is to build the country’s most comprehensive OTA distribution platform for content, and put in place a world-class management team to help that platform grow.”
With 30 years of experience in broadcast engineering and technology, Mr. Hanson has held leadership roles at top television networks including ABC Television Network and WABC-TV, helping pioneer and broaden business partner efficiencies and workflows, perform strategic technology planning, and oversee facility operations. As Vice President, Engineering Services and Systems Support at ABC Television Network, he led the IT and Engineering teams in all aspects, and oversaw the transformation to an IP/digital infrastructure. Mr. Hanson received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology from the University of Hartford. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Society of Broadcast Engineers and the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers.
Mr. Hanson said, “Having spent my entire career in OTA broadcasting, I am truly excited and energized by what HC2 is doing with their OTA vision and strategy. HC2 has built a collection of broadcast assets across the country that will be an outstanding platform to bring valuable content to viewers over-the-air. I look forward to working closely with Phil, Louis and the entire HC2 Broadcasting team to execute this vision.”
Mr. Libin is well respected as a professional advisor, educator and speaker in the spectrum, television, telecom, software and communications industries. He is founder of Broad Comm, Inc., a technology consulting group specializing in cyber security, advanced television broadcast, interactive TV, intellectual property and wireless communications. He was appointed by the FCC to coordinate wireless use at the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Mr. Libin is also the executive director of the Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance, an association of low power television (“LPTV”) broadcasters, owners and operators, and allied industry organizations and companies. He studied physics at Yeshiva University, Engineering at Pratt Institute, received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from California Miramar University and completed the Executive Management program of Optical Electronics and High Speed Videography at MIT. Mr. Libin is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers. Mr. Libin was also a guest lecturer at Arizona State University in Phoenix on Media Entrepreneurship.
Mr. Libin said, “OTA broadcasting stands at the brink of a new era, and HC2 is well positioned to be a leader in this changing landscape. The next generation ATSC 3.0 standard creates new opportunities to distribute many kinds of content to an increasing number of viewers. I am excited to work with the HC2 Broadcasting team to capture these opportunities, build strategic relationships with industry partners, and thereby fuel growth.”
About HC2 Broadcasting
HC2 Broadcasting strategically acquires broadcast assets across the United States. The Company’s vision is to capitalize on opportunities to bring valuable content to more viewers over-the-air and position the Company for a changing media landscape. HC2 Broadcasting currently operates 135 operational stations, including 4 full-power stations, 34 Class A stations and 97 LPTV stations. In addition, HC2 Broadcasting has 476 silent licenses and construction permits. The total HC2 Broadcasting footprint, excluding construction permits, covers approximately 60 percent of the U.S. population, in over 110 U.S. markets, including nine of the top ten markets across the United States.
About HC2
HC2 Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded (NYSE:HCHC) diversified holding company, which seeks opportunities to acquire and grow businesses that can generate long-term sustainable free cash flow and attractive returns in order to maximize value for all stakeholders. HC2 has a diverse array of operating subsidiaries across seven reportable segments, including Construction, Marine Services, Energy, Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Insurance and Other. HC2's largest operating subsidiaries include DBM Global Inc., a family of companies providing fully integrated structural and steel construction services, and Global Marine Systems Limited, a leading provider of engineering and underwater services on submarine cables. Founded in 1994, HC2 is headquartered in New York, New York. Learn more about HC2 and its portfolio companies at www.hc2.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains, and certain oral statements made by our representatives from time to time may contain, forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the commencement or completion of the offering. Generally, forward-looking statements include information describing the offering and other actions, events, results, strategies and expectations and are generally identifiable by use of the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “might,” or “continues” or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding our expectation regarding building shareholder value. Such statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of HC2’s management and the management of HC2’s subsidiaries and portfolio companies. The Company believes these judgments are reasonable, but you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, both positive and negative, that may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Such important factors include, without limitation, the ability of our subsidiaries (including, target businesses following their acquisition) to generate sufficient net income and cash flows to make upstream cash distributions, capital market conditions, our and our subsidiaries’ ability to identify any suitable future acquisition opportunities, efficiencies/cost avoidance, cost savings, income and margins, growth, economies of scale, combined operations, future economic performance, conditions to, and the timetable for, completing the integration of financial reporting of acquired or target businesses with HC2 or the applicable subsidiary of HC2, completing future acquisitions and dispositions, litigation, potential and contingent liabilities, management’s plans, changes in regulations and taxes.
These risks and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release.
You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to HC2 or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and HC2 undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For information on HC2 Holdings, Inc., please contact:
Andrew G. Backman
Managing Director
Investor Relations & Public Relations
abackman@hc2.com
212-339-5836