RALEIGH -- WRAL-Digital received the 2001 Local DTV Broadcaster of the Year by the Academy of DTV Pioneers, the second time the station has won the award in as many years. The Academy of DTV Pioneers presented the award at a luncheon during the Consumer Electronics Association's digital-TV summit in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 24, 2002.

These awards recognize outstanding achievement in bringing digital television to consumers.

"The networks and individuals we recognize today will forever be remembered as true pioneers in the transition to HDTV," said CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro in presenting the Pioneer awards. "They are the ones who are breaking down the walls and taking risks - true signs of the vanguard - helping HDTV continue its steady move to mass market."

CBS, the affiliated network for WRAL, also received several honors at the event, including Best DTV Network and Best DTV Sporting Event for its HD broadcast of the 2001 Superbowl. CBS continues to broadcast a majority of its primetime schedule in HD, which can be seen locally on WRAL-DT channel 53.1 or WRAL's Time Warner Digital Cable channel 255.

About WRAL-DT:
WRAL-TV received the nation's first experimental high definition television (HDTV) license in 1996 and has continued to lead the local and national industry in digital television. The sister digital station created by WRAL-TV, WRAL-DT, broadcast the world's first all-digital newscast from the North Carolina State Fairgrounds on October 13, 2000. Then the station built a state-of-the-art digital studio that launched after Superbowl XXXV on January 28, 2001, becoming the world's first news operation to gather and present high definition local news on a continuous basis.

About the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers:
The Academy of Digital Television Pioneers is a select group of more than 150 individuals who have played a significant role in the decade-long effort that made digital television a reality for consumers. The distinguished group includes individuals from broadcasting, program development, consumer electronics, manufacturing and retail industries, present and former government officials, and members of the media.

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) represents more than 1000 companies in the consumer technology industry. The organization provides market research, networking opportunities, educational resources and represents the needs and interests of its members.