LAS VEGAS – The NAB Show, the world’s largest annual conference and expo for professionals who create, manage, and distribute entertainment across all platforms, today kicked off with a State of the Broadcast Industry Address from Gordon Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), a performance by "American Idol" superstar Chris Daughtry, and numerous sessions showcasing a slate of innovative and entertaining speakers, all driving this year’s theme of "metamorphosis." More than 90,000 audio, video, and film content professionals from 150 countries are expected to attend the event, which runs through Thursday, April 11 in Las Vegas.
Gordon Smith, NAB president and CEO, addressed attendees this morning, officially opening this year’s conference.
"Emerging technology presents a great opportunity for broadcasters to provide viewers with our highly valued content anywhere, on any device, anytime they want it," said Smith. "As consumers' appetite for local TV on-the-go continues to grow, broadcasters must continue to rise up to meet consumers' desire for more live, local TV content."
In the keynote conversation that followed between Gordon Smith and Chase Carey, president, chief operating officer, and deputy chairman of news corporation, Carey set the room abuzz while discussing piracy and the recent court ruling pertaining to the transmission of broadcast content by web television startup Aereo.
"We have no choice but to develop business solutions that ensure we continue to remain in the driver’s seat of our own destiny," said Carey. "One option could be converting the Fox broadcast network to a pay channel, which we would do in collaboration with both our content partners and affiliates."
At the Television Luncheon, hosted by Nancy O’Dell, Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of "Entertainment Tonight," "American Idol" showrunner Nigel Lithgow, judge Randy Jackson, and Trish Kinane, executive producer and president of entertainment programming for FremantleMedia North America were on hand to accept the induction of the top-rated television phenomenon in to the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Following the ceremony, attendees were treated to a special performance by Chris Daughtry, who played a selection of chart-topping songs and fan favorites.
Attendees were also given a rare peek behind the scenes of the broadcast late-night stalwart "Saturday Night Live," as Rhys Thomas, director/producer of "SNL," along with Stacey Foster, coordinating producer, Alex Buono, director of photography and Adam Epstein, editor, discussed how the live comedy show works their magic to create short films under a seemingly impossible 48-hour deadline.
Embeddable, broadcast-quality clips from these sessions and more are available here.
About NAB Show
NAB Show, held April 6-11 in Las Vegas, is the world's largest electronic media show covering filmed entertainment and the development, management and delivery of content across all mediums. With more than 90,000 attendees from 151 countries and 1,600+ exhibitors, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for digital media and entertainment. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms and countless nationalities, NAB Show is home to the solutions that transcend traditional broadcasting and embrace content delivery to new screens in new ways. Complete details are available at www.nabshow.com.
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About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.