Wilt Hildenbrand

Senior Advisor
Engineering and Technology

Wilt Hildenbrand serves as senior advisor of engineering and technology for Cablevision Systems Corporation, one of the nation's leading telecommunications and media companies. Widely acknowledged and respected for his technology expertise, Mr. Hildenbrand has played a major role in Cablevision's success over the past three decades.

Most recently, Mr. Hildenbrand served as executive vice president of engineering and technology for Cablevision, overseeing the company's engineering and technology department as well as the company's New York metropolitan area network. He was responsible for the technology relating to Cablevision's digital strategy including the development and integration of best-of-class components for the company’s next generation digital entertainment platform.

Today, that platform is used to deliver Cablevision's portfolio of innovative services, which are available to nearly 6 million households and businesses in the New York metropolitan area. The company’s Optimum-branded digital television, digital voice and high-speed Internet services all boast industry-leading penetration rates.

Previously, Mr. Hildenbrand held the positions of senior vice president of technology and vice president of engineering support and customer relations. From 1979 to 1986, he served as director of engineering for Rainbow Media Holdings, the former Cablevision programming subsidiary now known as AMC Networks Inc., which became a separate public company after its spin-off in June 2011. While at Rainbow in the 1980s, Mr. Hildenbrand designed and built a microwave network that cablecast baseball games and later became the SportsChannel. He also designed and built the company's satellite uplink facility. He began his tenure at Cablevision as chief engineer of the company's Long Island system in 1976.

Prior to this, in partnership with Synchronous Communications and Jerrold Electronics, Mr. Hildenbrand developed a scrambling device compatible with FM fiber-optic equipment for use in hub-to-hub transmission. He also was instrumental in promoting the 1550 nanometer wavelength for AM fiber, which garnered support throughout the industry.

In 2005, Mr. Hildenbrand received the Vanguard Award for Science and Technology. One of the cable industry's highest honors, this award is given to individuals who have played a dominant role in product improvement and design, and the development of engineering techniques that benefit the industry.

Mr. Hildenbrand developed his keen interest in electronics and technology in the U.S. Air Force. He lives on Long Island with his wife. They have two grown children, two grandsons and a granddaughter.