Our Innovation Story

NAB worked with Facebook and Google this spring to help broadcasters apply for journalism grant opportunities. Roughly $2.25 million of the $16 million was awarded to 29 broadcasters. Recipients of the Google Journalism Relief Fund grant included 131 broadcasters.

We also provided free online cybersecurity courses for broadcasters to keep their stations safe.

In addition to these programs, PILOT continued to provide a space for innovators, educators and advocates to foster and implement new media opportunities.

To learn more about our innovation efforts, click here.

In collaboration with the television industry, NAB has been engaged in activities surrounding the launch of Next Generation TV broadcasts in over 20 markets and announcements of over 20 Next Gen TV products from major TV manufacturers in 2020. Next Gen TV relies on the ATSC 3.0 technical standard, which is the platform that will propel television broadcasting forward in the media ecosystem for years to come, providing ultra-high definition TV, interactive features and personalized and customized content that enhance the viewing experience. The ATSC 3.0 standard will also allow broadcasters to offer innovative new services and features in the future. Progress is expected to accelerate with many more market rollouts and product announcements in 2021. A consumer awareness campaign is also rolling out as markets and products are launched. PILOT's summer webinar series helped stations seeking to build out a Next Gen TV station.

NAB, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) worked together to launch a logo certification program in 2020 for Next Gen TV consumer devices. The NEXTGEN TV logo identifies consumer TV sets that are compliant with the ATSC 3.0 technical standard. Manufacturers must successfully pass an initial set of over 100 conformance tests via a self-certification process in order to use the consumer-facing NEXTGEN TV logo on their product. NAB and CTA continue to improve and expand the conformance test plan to include new capabilities that will be made available in receivers in future years.

Learn more about Next Gen TV here.

The PILOT Innovation Challenge recognizes creative ideas that leverage technological advances in the production, distribution and display of engaging content. The program also provides support to the winners for development.

Participants of the fourth annual Innovation Challenge submitted their original ideas for artificial intelligence applications that would allow broadcasters to have conversations with individual viewers and listeners.

Submissions were judges by a diverse panel of experts from the broadcast and artificial intelligence industries. Winners were chosen and began development on their solution in early 2020 and presented their prototypes during NAB Show New York.

Innovation Challenge winners:

Jukebot from the University of Minnesota: From the University of Minnesota's Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jukebot is a chatbot API capable of answering simple questions and getting feedback from listeners for radio stations.

DeepTalk: From Michigan State University's NextGen Media Innovation Lab, College of Communication Arts and Sciences; i-PRoBe Lab, Department of Computer Science and Engineering; WKAR Public Media, DeepTalk is a conversational agent that can be trained through deep learning to deliver information in the voice of a local broadcaster.

In response to the cancellation of the 2020 in-person NAB Show, a digital experience was planned for May. NAB Show Express offered 24-hour access to premium content curated and customizable for the global media and entertainment community. And a marketplace connecting attendees to the NAB Show exhibitors.

Hundreds of sessions aired on three channel types:

• BEIT Express – focused on broadcast engineering and information technology
• NAB Show Experience – trends and topics covered through a variety of panels, fireside chats and product innovation showcases
• Tech Talks – an NAB Show LIVE Special Edition, produced by Broadcast Beat and showcasing relevant conversations with community influencers

Extended content was offered through partner programs:

• Executive Leadership Summit, produced in partnership with Variety
• Cybersecurity & Content Protection Summit, produced in partnership with CDSA and MESA
• Post|Production World Online, produced in partnership with Future Media Conferences

A Robust Marketplace

Almost 1,500 NAB Show exhibitors offered company-hosted events, press conferences and special offers for those interested in exploring new products.

Top Broadcast Sessions

• ATSC 3.0 - Building Media Networks for Next Gen TV
• Demonstration on Next-Generation Immersive Audio in a Live Broadcast Workflow
• FCC Chairman Ajit Pai discussed the impacts of the pandemic on the industry
• Hybrid and Digital Radio: What Every Broadcaster Should Know
• Latest Update on NEXTGEN TV’s Commercial Launch 2020
• NAB Show Opening featuring the State of the Broadcast Industry by NAB President and CEO Gordon H. Smith
• Visions of Broadcasting's Digital Future - Then and Now

Awards

• NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame awards: “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and John Records Landecker
• Distinguished Service Award: Television Pioneer and Puppeteer Jim Henson
• Crystal Heritage Award: KCVM-FM
• NAB Digital Leadership Award: J.D. Crowley, chief digital officer, Entercom
• NAB Radio Engineering Achievement Award: Jeff Welton, regional sales manager, Central US, for Nautel Limited
• NAB Television Engineering Achievement Award: Jim Stenberg, principal broadcast RF engineer for American Tower Corporation

PILOT kicked off an initiative with global broadcasters to advocate for and improve the integration of radio for Android Automotive. The goal is to ensure that Android Automotive has proper support for broadcast radio to flourish in an increasingly connected and competitive cockpit.

We continue to expand our efforts to advocate for broadcasters on voice platforms like Alexa and Google. This includes monthly tests to gather data on station discovery and consumer experiences which is helping to strengthen our position with these platforms as we advocate for functionality that provides stations more control over their content.

NAB supported the industry proposal to allow all-digital AM operation on a voluntary basis, which was authorized by the FCC in the fall. The FCC decision depended heavily on all-digital AM testing performed by PILOT over several years. We are also supporting electric vehicle testing as well as preliminary planning for field tests of advanced FM-band HD Radio modes of operation.