Michael Rosellini Will Receive NAB Digital Leadership Award
The National Association of Broadcasters named the Hearst Television executive as the 2026 award recipient.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in People
The National Association of Broadcasters will honor Michael Rosellini with the 2026 Digital Leadership Award. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on April 21, 2026, in Las Vegas.
Why it matters
The honor recognizes a broadcast executive who successfully drives digital innovation and transforms traditional operations into multi-platform media businesses. It highlights the industry shift toward integrating streaming and data services into standard broadcast models.
The National Association of Broadcasters established this award in 2015. Michael Rosellini currently manages teams overseeing product development, engineering, and data operations at Hearst Television.
The players
Michael Rosellini
He serves as the senior vice president of digital services at Hearst Television.
National Association of Broadcasters
This is the primary trade association that represents radio and television broadcasters in the United States.
Hearst Television
This company operates local television stations and the Very Local streaming platform.
The details
Rosellini, who became senior vice president of digital services at Hearst Television in 2023, is credited with designing and launching the company's suite of OTT and CTV applications. He previously served as the vice president of digital operations for ten years and currently oversees the modernization of digital video and advertising technology stacks.
Timeline
The Digital Leadership Award was established in 2015.
Rosellini was promoted to senior vice president of digital services in 2023.
The award ceremony will occur on April 21, 2026.
Market Landscape
This award highlights the ongoing transition of legacy broadcast entities into comprehensive multi-platform media organizations. By rewarding digital innovation, the association emphasizes the competitive necessity of mastering OTT and data technology stacks in modern broadcasting.
Viewers of Hearst Television stations and the Very Local streaming platform may experience improved digital interfaces as a result of these modernization efforts. These internal technology upgrades are intended to streamline video consumption across connected television devices.
The takeaway
The recognition of leaders in digital services reflects how deeply streaming technology has become embedded in traditional media business models. Industry professionals can view this trend as a mandate to prioritize internal product development for long-term growth.
What happens next
Michael Rosellini will receive the Digital Leadership Award at the We Are Broadcasters Awards Ceremony on April 21, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest leadership developments in the industry by visiting the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 4RFV.
