NAB Show Express Receives 40,000 Participants Worldwide
Fri, 22 May 2020 08:33:13 -0400
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that an estimated 40,000 industry professionals have accessed the inaugural NAB Show Express since the online event launched on May 13. Participants from around the world engaged with content through social media streams, partner programs and directly via nabshowexpress.com. In total, participants consumed more than 1.6 million minutes of video content via the event’s broadcast channels, on-demand videos and social media streams over the past week.
The digital experience brought the annual NAB Show online with 24-hour access to premium content curated for the global media and entertainment community and an exclusive marketplace featuring 1,479 exhibiting companies. NAB Show Express continues to offer free access to more than 200 on-demand educational sessions, executive conversations, resources and exhibits. Registration remains open at nabshowexpress.com through the end of August 2020.
“We understand how important NAB Show is to our industry, and we are thrilled to offer NAB Show Express to help our community stay connected during this difficult time and provide critical information, inspiration and solutions to help the industry move forward,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “Thank you to our education partners, exhibitors and all who made NAB Show's digital experience a success.”
“NAB Show Express is only the beginning as we continue to develop our digital capabilities and platforms to better engage with our community year-round,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Conventions and Business Operations Chris Brown. “We see live and digital events as great complements to one another and look forward to offering hybrid versions of our events going forward to better serve the full gamut of the media and entertainment sector.”
Carr Announces Plan to Advance Broadcast Internet Services
Thu, 21 May 2020 09:04:59 -0400
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr announced that the FCC will vote on his plan to promote the build out of Broadcast Internet services. These are a range of innovative offerings that can be delivered over the same, powerful broadcast television spectrum that blankets U.S. communities today. These Broadcast Internet services are enabled by a new broadcast transmission standard known as ATSC 3.0 and delivered over an efficient one-to-many architecture.
“Broadcast Internet services are poised to offer a new and competitive broadband pipe,” Commissioner Carr stated. “These services can leverage the power and coverage of broadcast television spectrum to deliver high-speed, 25 Mbps Internet services,” Carr added.
“Broadcast Internet could play a pivotal role in autonomous vehicles, IoT, smart ag, and telemedicine, among other applications,” Carr noted. “These new Broadcast Internet offerings are part of a broader trend we’re seeing in communications. From innovative 5G offerings to high-capacity fixed services, providers from previously distinct sectors are competing like never before to offer high-speed Internet services through a mix of different technologies. ATSC 3.0 is the technology that will allow broadcasters to play an even greater role in this converged market for connectivity,” Carr added.
Commissioner Carr announced his plan at an event hosted by NAB and CTA.
“To boost the build out of next-gen Broadcast Internet services, we should remove the overhang of legacy media regulations,” Carr said. “The FCC will be voting on a measure that does just that.”
“NAB is grateful for the Commission’s ongoing support for NEXTGEN TV,” said Dennis Wharton, Executive Vice President, Communications at the National Association of Broadcasters. “Broadcasters are eager to leverage the ATSC 3.0 platform and the opportunities it affords to provide new and innovative services for consumers across the nation, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Commission as broadcasters explore the full potential of this technology.”
“We appreciate the FCC’s support for NEXTGEN TV and Commissioner Carr’s focus on the future capabilities of this technology,” said Jamie Susskind, Vice President, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®. “The transition to NEXTGEN TV brings a new era of TV innovation, giving consumers more anytime/anywhere access to immersive video features and interactivity. And the ATSC 3.0 platform gives broadcasters, developers and businesses new opportunities for future innovations in app development, revenue streams, programming and local emergency alerts.”
The FCC will vote on the item—a Declaratory Ruling and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking—at its June Open Meeting.
• The Declaratory Ruling would ensure that Broadcast Internet services are not weighed down by legacy media regulations by clarifying that the FCC’s broadcast television station ownership rules do not apply to leasing arrangements between broadcasters and third parties for the provision of Broadcast Internet services. This will help ensure that market forces determine the highest and best use of Broadcast Internet services and allow innovators to generate the geographic footprint that may be needed to deliver competitive offerings.
• The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would seek comment on whether to clarify or modify the FCC’s existing rules to further promote the deployment of Broadcast Internet services.
A copy of Commissioner Carr’s remarks from the event can be found here.
Register for DTV Audio Group Virtual Event: Expanding Virtualized Audio Production
Wed, 20 May 2020 08:58:19 -0400
The DTV Audio Group will host a virtual event entitled “Expanding Virtualized Audio Production: At Home, At Home?” on Wednesday, May 20. CLICK HERE to register now. Join a gathering of audio technologists and remote operations specialists to review the communications and monitoring solutions for remote personnel that are up and working now, and to explore the next steps required to fully virtualize audio operations for “at home, at home” production.
As professional sports gradually return to the air, broadcasters are being challenged to dramatically reduce headcounts for on-site production personnel. In the last few months, we have become accustomed to home-based on-air talent. Workflows continue to be refined, and we are likely to see this become a permanent component of sports production. Meanwhile, broadcasters are actively pursuing plans to allow a wide range of behind-the-scenes production personnel to perform their functions remotely from home or other off-site locations. How will this impact audio?
There are already reasonably well-established work-from-home solutions for workstation-based video editing, playback, and graphics functions. Up to now, US broadcasters have not aggressively pushed the envelope to fully virtualize primary audio mixing and communications functions to allow these to be performed completely remotely. Under pressure to minimize on-site personnel and the attendant risk of travel, this is likely to change. Are broadcasters now ready to explore the possibilities to take remote audio operations one step further to enable work-from-home?
The session will be introduced by Roger Charlesworth and moderated by Tom Sahara with the following speakers:”
Henry Goodman, Product Development Director, Calrec Audio
Karl Malone, Director of Sound Design, NBC Sports and Olympics
Henry Rousseau, Associate Director Remote Production Operations, ESPN
Glenn Stilwell, Senior Audio Engineering and Operations Manager, PAC-12
Lucas Zwicker, Technical Product Manager, Audio Production, LAWO
Shure, Q5X Unveil New Series Of Axient® Digital-Enabled Wireless Transmitters
Tue, 19 May 2020 08:35:58 -0400
As sports broadcasts look to return to live events, bringing the sounds from players, coaches, and game officials to fans watching and listening at home will be more essential than ever.
Finding the right equipment and technology to bring sound to sports fans is critical. Microphones must be discreet enough to pick up the audio without interfering with the game action; the wireless transmitter must be small enough, safe enough, and flexible enough to handle the rigors of up to three continuous hours of in-game activities; and the transmission should have the ability to be encrypted so others can’t access the audio feed from coaches, players, and officials. Sound quality and spectrum efficiency is paramount.
Wireless microphone developer Q5X and Shure, a leader in professional audio solutions, announced a collaboration to combine their expertise to provide superior sound quality and security that today’s sports broadcasts require. Together, Q5X and Shure have developed specialized Axient® Digital-Enabled Q5X Wireless Transmitters that deliver the latest wireless digital technology with unparalleled RF stability, encryption, and spectral efficiency.
“With the combination of Q5X and Shure, this is really the best of both worlds,” said Jens Rothenburger, Director of Pro Audio Marketing at Shure. “The new Axient Digital-Enabled Q5X Wireless Transmitters provide sound engineers and the sports industry with a complete solution in a superior, already-established form factor.”
Developed to directly address ongoing technical challenges plaguing major sports organizations, the Axient Digital-Enabled Q5X Wireless Transmitters incorporate the most innovative wireless technology in the world. With outstanding signal quality in even the most complex venues and congested RF environments, Axient Digital provides maximum stability, range, and clarity for professional productions that demand flawless execution.
“Q5X prides itself on developing transmitters to solve difficult wireless audio problems for our customers,” says Paul Johnson, CEO of Q5X. “Now, we have a proven digital technology that can be placed in literally any form factor.”
The combined sports mic and technology expertise from Q5X and Shure will enable audio designers to capture sound without compromising the safety or comfort of the wearer. The Axient Digital-Enabled Q5X Wireless Transmitters will benefit sports leagues, broadcasters, and production companies resulting in an enhanced audience experience.
The Axient Digital-Enabled Q5X Wireless Transmitters will be available this summer 2020.
IBC Cancels 2020 Show Due to COVID-19
Mon, 18 May 2020 08:44:47 -0400
IBC has decided to cancel its 2020 show amid concerns about the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was made with a “heavy heart,” said Chief Executive Michael Crimp, who highlighted that it would not be possible to “guarantee” a “safe and valuable” event this year.
“It has also become evident, through our dialogue with the IBC community, that an early decision is preferential for the industry so it can plan for the future,” he added.
This is the statement in full:
I hope you are safe and well, as we continue to adapt to the changing world in which we find ourselves. Following on from my previous statement I wanted to give you an update on the developments and situation at IBC.
As previously outlined, the IBC team has been focused on assessing and developing appropriate plans for IBC2020 this September at the RAI Amsterdam.
Within these plans, it is crucial that IBC can deliver a safe and successful environment. However, as governments announce the route forward, it has become clear that a return to (a new) normal is unlikely to be achieved by September.
Right now, despite the best work of the IBC team and our Dutch colleagues, there are still many unknowns. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to deliver a safe and valuable event to the quality expected of IBC.
It is also evident that important aspects of a large-scale event such as IBC will be greatly altered by social distancing, travel restrictions, masks etc. so much so that the spirit of IBC will be compromised.
With that in mind and based on what we know at this point, it is with a heavy heart IBC has made the difficult decision to cancel the IBC2020 show. You may have seen IBC and the IABM surveys on this topic. Evidence gathered from these IBC stakeholders helps to confirm this decision.
Whilst this is hugely disappointing for us all, IBC will continue to play a vital role in supporting the industry to get back on track wherever we are able.
For more than 50 years, IBC has provided the central annual meeting place for the Media, Entertainment & Technology community. For example, over the coming months IBC will continue to engage with the industry through its digital platform IBC365. Details of our plans will follow soon.
My very best wishes to all of you during this time of unprecedented challenges and I look forward to welcoming you next year at IBC2021, in Amsterdam.
Ross Video and Panasonic had already announced that they wouldn’t be exhibiting at the show this year.
IBC 2020 was due to take place at the RAI in Amsterdam Sept. 11-14.
If you have suggestions, questions or concerns regarding IBC’s decision and announcement, a dedicated email address has been set-up by the organizers: [email protected]