A session featuring engineers from New York-area AM radio stations is among the planned highlights for radio attendees at the NAB Show New York. The show will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center Oct. 24–26.
Appearing on the convention’s Tech Stage, Engineers Andy Gladding of Salem Media Group and Dan Hirschl of Red Apple Media will discuss technical issues and decisions that AM broadcasters face, including antenna system optimization, use of metadata and the possibility of implementing all-digital operations. Their moderator is Jeff Schick of Sprite Media.
Another Tech Stage session will explore virtualization of radio stations and feature Alex Roman, CTO of MediaCo Holding.
“Software-based solutions for broadcast radio infrastructure are being developed at an ever-increasing pace, promising to greatly simplify operations and providing a host of benefits such as improved redundancy and enhanced remote control and monitoring capabilities,” organizers say.
NAB is partnering with the New York chapter of the Society of Broadcast Engineers on those two sessions.
The convention will feature some other major radio components.
An executive seminar on Wednesday titled “Radio Insights” has four sessions exploring important trends.
They include “The Business of Radio,” featuring speakers from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Beasley Media Group, Cox Media Group and Alpha Media, moderated by Collin Jones of Cumulus Media.
Artificial intelligence is very much in the spotlight, and the executive track has a session on “AI Insights: Audience, Implementation and Policy.” Participating will be speakers from Futuri, SmithGeiger Group and the National Association of Broadcasters. The moderator is Sam Matheny of NAB. Another session will feature Joe D’Angelo of Xperi and John Clark of NAB PILOT discussing innovative technologies to help diversity the radio business.
Wednesday night brings the NAB Marconi Radio Awards, honoring stations and air personalities for excellence in radio. Sportscaster Rich Eisen will host, and record producer and radio host DJ Scratch will return as DJ. “NFL Today” host James Brown will receive NAB’s Distinguished Service Award.
Diane Sutter, president/CEO of ShootingStar Broadcasting, will receive the National Radio Award from the NAB during the Marconi Awards ceremony.
Sutter is founder and dean of the NAB Leadership Foundation’s Broadcast Leadership Training program, a 10-month MBA-style course that teaches people who want to be owners or senior executives the fundamentals of purchasing and running radio and TV stations. Some 400 broadcasters have graduated from the program; 59 went on to own stations and 10 serve on the NAB board.
“Diane exemplifies the commitment to service that lies at the heart of broadcasting,” said NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt in the announcement.
Preservation talk
On Thursday, a new Broadcast Content Summit will feature dual tracks for radio and TV people. It targets “content producers, programmers, talent, production and creative professionals.”
Consultant Buzz Knight will moderate a session about AI in radio. Ginny Morris of Hubbard Broadcasting will participate in a session about winning strategies for AM stations. Caroline Beasley and Justin Chase of Beasley Media Group will talk about connected cars and deployment of tools like DTS AutoStage.
Also Thursday, the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation and the NAB will co-host a session called “Your Content Is King: Preserve It!” The organizations are cooperating to raise awareness of the importance of documenting and preserving broadcast history.
Steven Portnoy, national correspondent with ABC Audio, will moderate this panel, which will explore the “why” and “how” of station content preservation. The preservation session will include others from ABC Radio, Hearst Television and the Texas Archive of the Moving Image.
The first LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award will be presented to broadcasting archivist David Gleason in recognition of his dedication and commitment to preserving broadcast history. He runs the website www.worldradiohistory.com.
Gleason has worked for 64 years in ownership, management, sales, programming and engineering. He owned a station group in Ecuador, worked in management positions and consulting in Puerto Rico over 25 years and has worked for or consulted to Univision, Emmis, Metromedia and other owners in Latin America.
Other events at the show include an AI Creative Summit, a Visual Storytelling Conference and a Cybersecurity for Broadcasters Retreat.
Its exhibit floor will be open Oct. 25 and 26, starting at 10 a.m. on both days. The floor runs to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and 5 p.m. on Thursday.
The organizers expect around 270 exhibitors. Among names familiar to radio broadcasters are Broadcast Software International, Calrec Audio Ltd., Dalet, Digigram Digital, ENCO Systems, GatesAir, Lawo, Orban Labs, Rohde & Schwarz, Tieline, Wheatstone and Xperi. Here’s the list.
In addition to the Tech Chat Stage, the exhibit area will include a new Photo+Video Lab and a Cine+Live Lab.
Last year’s show in New York drew around 9,500 attendees.
Attendees also will have access to the Audio Engineering Society show floor. The AES again plans to hold its show concurrently in the same building.
AES NY 2023 runs Oct. 25–27. The society is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Its demonstration rooms will be on Levels 1 and 2, behind the escalator down from the Level 2 concourse. Technical Program rooms with special events, workshops and papers are located in Hall 1E, as usual.
