Engineering grad’s company Telestream wins Emmy Award

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Shawn Carnahan, an Electrical Engineering grad from the Class of 1982, is co-founder and chief technical officer of Telestream. The company won an Emmy Award Sunday night for its innovative work in closed captioning.


HBO’s smash hit drama Game of Thrones wasn’t the only winner at Sunday night’s Emmy Awards.

Electrical Engineering grad Shawn Carnahan’s company Telestream also took home hardware for its pioneering work in closed captioning.

The Nevada City, California-based company has developed fast and simple ways to author and edit closed captions and subtitles for any type of video.

The company was named the winner of an Emmy Award for Technology and Engineering ahead of Sunday’s main ceremony.

“We award the Technology and Engineering Emmy to companies who are the ‘tool makers’ of the industry that have materially affected the television viewing experience,” says Robert P. Seidel, chairman, Engineering Achievement Committee, National Awards Committee.

“Just as screen actors are cited for Oscars and stage performers are similarly proud of their Tonys, so should the team at Telestream feel uplifted by its achievements in the demanding area of broadband captioning.”

Carnahan, co-founder of Telestream, also serves as its chief technical officer.

“The importance of captions goes far beyond legal requirements,” he says.

“From helping deaf and hard of hearing individuals enjoy television to assisting viewers with language ambiguity and allowing a weary traveler catch the news in a crowded airport, captions play a critical role in our society.

“To be recognized in this way is a fitting tribute to all the hard work that our team has invested. We feel honoured to have been recognized.”