With our deepest regret we have to inform you that on 16th October 2018 Mark Iosifovich Krivosheev, Doctor of Engineering, Professor, well-known scientist and specialist in the field of TV broadcasting, scientific adviser of FSUE NIIR, has passed away at the age of 96.
Mark Iosifovich Krivosheev was born on July 30, 1922. While still a student at the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI), he participated in the preparation and conduct of the first post-war TV program in Europe on May 7, 1945. In 1946 he created the original scanner and for the first time achieved the highest quality of TV-image at that time under the national 625-line standard. The scanner was later implemented in the first television sets utilizing this standard.
In 1946 he graduated from MTUCI and was assigned to work at the Moscow Television Center (MTC). In 1947 he was appointed head of the MTC's hardware and studio division. On September 3, 1948 he was entrusted to broadcast the world's first TV program under 625-line standard.
In 1950 he joined the USSR Ministry of Communications, which at that time was in charge of all means of TV broadcasting; he worked as the head of the television department of VHF FM broadcasting and radio relay lines in the Main Radio Control Department. He contributed immensely towards designing and developing the domestic TV broadcasting network and VHF FM broadcasting, participated in laying the foundations of the Ostankino television complex. In 1959 by Order of the Minister of Communications of the USSR, Mark Krivosheev was transferred to the Radio Research and Development Institute (NIIR) and was appointed the head of the TV and TV measurement laboratory department. Mark Krivosheev made a decisive contribution towards developing the initial provisions of the Federal Target Programme concept, which marked the transition of our country from analog TV broadcasting to digital.
Professor Krivosheev is a well-known figure around the world. For more than half a century there hardly was a milestone in the television technology development which did not have Mark Krivosheev's touch. Starting from 1948, when CCIR Study Group 11 of the ITU-R was established, Mark Krivosheev was occupied with the matters of TV broadcasting standardization. In 1970 he was elected Vice Chairman of SG 11, and in 1972 he was appointed acting Chairman of the SG. He was instructed to prepare and hold the meeting of CCIR SG 11 (July 5 - 18, 1972), which for the first time presented the initial international decisions on digital TV broadcasting and HDTV. Mark Krivosheev was repeatedly re-elected as Chairman of SG 11, serving as its long-time Chairman for about 30 years.
Under his chairmanship and with his creative participation, as a result of the collective work of leading specialists of many countries, more than 150 recommendations were developed for TV centres, terrestrial and satellite TV broadcasting, and the receiving network. This marked the global implementation of digital TV broadcasting.
In 2000, when SG 11 became a part of its successor SG 6, Mark Krivosheev became its honorary Chairman and worked there until the very last day. Since starting the work on TV broadcasting in SG 11, and then later in SG 6, Mark Krivosheev personally put forward many forward-looking initiatives, which successful implementation facilitated the evolution of TV broadcasting.
He is the author and co-author of more than 90 inventor's certificates as well as domestic and foreign patents, many printed publications, including more than 30 books.
Mark Krivosheev received a lot of accolades throughout his career. He was decorated with the Order of Red Banner of Labor, the Order of Friendship and "For Merit to the Fatherland" (grades III and IV), he is the laureate of the USSR and the Russian Federation State Prizes, the Officer of the French National Order of Merit, the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, he is the member of the International Informatization Academy and International Telecommunication Academy as well as The USA Television Academy.
In 2015 Mark Krivosheev was bestowed ITU 150 Award in honor of the 150th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), becoming both the first Russian Federation and the television field representative to do so. Mr. Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General, wrote in his letter of 7th April 2015 to Mark Krivosheev: "I have the honour to inform you that following the lengthy discussion process with the 193 ITU Member States you were selected to receive this year's prestigious ITU 150 Award. It would be difficult to separate and name the contributions you have made to the work of the ITU in particular and to the ICT field in general, since this letter is simply not enough to cover all the contributions you have made due to their enormous value. Please accept my assurances that ITU recognizes and truly appreciates your unique contribution to ICT field."
We deeply mourn the death of Mark Iosifovich Krivosheev which is an irreparable loss.
The memory of Mark Iosifovich Krivosheev will live forever in our hearts.
