Sam Matheny, vice president of policy and innovation at Capitol Broadcasting, is leaving the Raleigh-based company to become chief technology officer at the National Association of Broadcasters.

Capitol is the parent firm of WRAL TV, WRAL.com, WRAL TechWire, the Durham Bulls, and various other properties.

Matheny led a variety of technology efforts at Capitol in mobile, broadband and social media. He had served in the vice president spot since 2012. Previously at Capitol he worked in a variety of roies for Capitol ventures, including News Over Wireless and DTV Plus.

“NAB is thrilled to have Sam Matheny joining the team as our new CTO,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith in a statement. “Sam’s roots are in broadcast localism and service to the community, but he is also a technology strategist determined to push broadcasters to embrace digital and Internet opportunities that generate revenue.

“Today, tens of millions of our listeners and viewers are legally accessing broadcast programming on platforms and devices that are IP-based, portable and mobile. We believe Sam is the right choice to press these digital strategies forward and lead our industry’s technology future.”

Jimmy Goodmon, vice president and general manager of Capitol Broadcasting’s New Media Group, praised Matheny.

“The bad news is Sam Matheny is leaving CBC to join NAB,” Goodmon wrote in an email to Capitol employees. “The good news is Sam will continue to lead our industry’s technology future in his role at NAB.

“During his tenure at CBC, Sam was instrumental in securing patents enabling distribution of broadcast content via the Internet; working with state emergency management officials in developing mobile emergency alert services (M-EAS); and represented CBC interests on various industry specific boards and committees,” Goodmon added.

Matheny, who joined Capitol in 1995, assumes the NAB position as of July 15. 

NAB noted that Matheny “has guided strategic investment decisions in new media, secured patents enabling distribution of broadcast content via the Internet; engaged North Carolina state emergency management officials in developing emergency services using the ATSC Mobile Alert System (M-EAS) to enhance the use of broadcast airwaves as a lifeline in times of crisis. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and chairs its Standards Transition Subcommittee as well as having served as chair of the Specialist Group on ATSC 2.0 broadcast standards.”

Matheny already is a member of the FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council and the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers.

“I’ve admired NAB and its seasoned leadership team for many years, and it’s an honor to be joining such a well-regarded organization,” said Matheny in a statement. “This is a fantastic time to be leading NAB’s Technology Department, which has a tremendous responsibility to help forge our industry’s leadership well into the future. Broadcasters reach hundreds of millions of users every day, and we are increasingly doing this on multiple digital platforms. This is a critical time of change and technology development, and I look forward to building on the NAB’s strong track record of success, innovation and service.”

Matheny is a graduate of East Carolina University and earned an M.S. in Technology Management from North Carolina State University.