2014 NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference Topics

The NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference Planning Committee met on September 5 to discuss industry trends and to develop topics for the 2014 conference. The Broadcast Engineering Conference takes place at the NAB Show April 5-10, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nev.

2014 NAB BROADCAST ENGINEERING CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Shown left to right: Al Grossniklaus, Director of Engineering & Operations, Dispatch Broadcast Group; Robert Seidel, VP, Engineering and Advanced Technology, CBS Television; Sam Caputa, Chief Engineer, Emmis Communications – St. Louis; Jeff Littlejohn (Committee Chairman), Executive VP – Engineering and Systems Integration, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment; Roswell Clark, Director Technical Operations, Cox Media Group - Tampa/Orlando Radio; Ken Beck, VP Technical Operations and NTS Programming, Entercom Communications; Larry Oaks, Vice President of Technology, Local Media Group, Meredith Corporation and Fred Baumgartner, Ennes Educational Foundation Trust, Society of Broadcast Engineers. Not shown: Gary Nadler, General Manager, Telecommunications and Affiliate Services, ABC TV Network, Broadcast Operations and Engineering.

Conference attendees include broadcast engineers and technicians, engineering consultants, contract engineers, broadcast equipment manufacturers, distributors, R&D engineers plus anyone specifically interested in the latest broadcast technologies.

The following topics are considered by the committee to be key areas that are currently of interest to broadcast engineers: 

• Workflow for Radio
• Channel in a Box Solutions/Opportunities
• Technical Regulatory Issues
• Monitoring Data Services for Radio and Television
• Broadcast Facilities Monitoring
• Wireless Solutions for Ancillary Broadcast Services
• AOIP Interoperability
• Measuring Audience Anytime Anywhere Viewing
• Ultra High Definition Television
• Hybrid Radio Technologies
• Hybrid Television Technologies
• Advanced Technologies for Television
• Multimedia and Social Media for Radio
• Video Description and Captioning for Web Content
• Next Generation Sports Production and Delivery
• Advanced Technologies for Production

Additional topics will also be considered for the 2014 conference. Technical papers on advanced technology applications and solutions along with real-world case studies are welcome.
Technical paper proposals may be submitted here and are being accepted until October 18, 2013.

Regulatory Reminder: Mobile DTV must pass thru Video Description by October 8

As of October 8, 2013, stations that are subject to the FCC’s video description rules (top four network affiliates in the top 25 DMAs) that also operate a mobile DTV service, must carry (pass-thru) Video Descriptions on their mobile transmissions. This requirement was adopted in August, 2011 as part of the Report and Order that reinstated the requirement for broadcasters to carry video described programming. Broadcasters were given an additional two years to implement Video Description on their mobile DTV services. This is only required to the extent that the programming is subject to the current video description rules (i.e. programming from one of the top four networks or top five non-broadcast networks). See TVTechCheck from August 29, 2011. Essentially, this means that if a station broadcasts a video described program on their main DTV service and also broadcasts that program on their mobile service, the descriptions must also be carried on the mobile service. This will require the addition of a second audio channel to the station’s mobile transmissions.

September is National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is held each September and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. This year marks the ninth consecutive year that  NAB Member Benefit Program Partner Agility Recovery and the U.S. Small Business Administration have worked together to bring awareness and insights to business leaders, with this year’s theme being “Be The Hero,” as determined by the Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps.

Throughout National Preparedness Month, business professionals are encouraged to attend free, online, interactive webinars to get the information they need to secure their businesses. Visit www.agilitywebinars.com and sign up today.

For more information on National Preparedness Month and to access the 2013 NPM toolkit, click here.

Nominations now open for Women in Technology Awards

TVNewsCheck has opened nominations for the 2014 Women in Technology Awards. Presented each year at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention, the Women in Technology Leadership Award recognizes women who have contributed significantly toward advancing their industry technologically.

The Technology Women to Watch Awards shine a spotlight on women in radio, TV and digital who show significant promise of advancing their industry technologically.

Both awards support the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation’s Technology Apprenticeship Program, which places young engineers who are women or people of color in broadcast industry internships.

To nominate a colleague for the 2014 Women in Technology Leadership or Technology Women to Watch Award, please download a ballot here or call Kathy Haley, publisher, at 484 412 8297.

The September 23, 2013 TV TechCheck is also available in an Adobe Acrobat file. Please click here to read the Adobe Acrobat version of TV TechCheck.