Former ITN head of communication engineering, Mike Neusten, has died aged 80.

His son, Neil Neusten, paid tribute to his father who he described as “a technical genius”.

“His influence over ITN’s reputation for technical innovation in the 1970s to the 1990s cannot be understated”, he said.

“Mike virtually invented the prototype of the modern fly away SNG using the then new Ku band to enable the use of smaller dishes. From the first prototype UKI 007 for ITN which was quickly developed into a segmented dish and flight cases to create a truly flyaway SNG.”

Mike Neusten received an RTS technical award for SNG development and oversaw ITN’s introduction of ENG cameras which replaced film crews. 

A funeral will take place on 1 June. Flowers are welcome but in view of his love of the sea the family has asked for donations to be made to the RNLI, c/o Co-Operative Funeralcare, 42 High Street, Stevenage. Tel: 01438 746903

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