LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Opening Session of the 77th NAB Broadcast Engineering and Information Technology (BEIT) Conference began at NAB Show 2023 today, celebrating new advancements in broadcasting technology and services.
In his opening remarks, NAB Executive Vice President of Technology and Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny spoke about the progress of Next Gen TV, also known as ATSC 3.0. Matheny noted that the voluntary ATSC 3.0 TV transition is pacing 30% ahead of the mandated predecessor DTV transition at the same point in time after FCC adoption of the standard. He also said that broadcasters “need regulatory assistance to go further faster. It is difficult to have a market driven transition, with no new spectrum, while still mandating that legacy services be maintained and duplicated.” Ending on an optimistic note, he predicted that due to the industry’s hard work since its 2017 launch debut, Next Gen TV would “soon be an overnight success.”
“It is an honor to be with you at this centennial celebration and to explore the exciting innovations that will drive the next 100 years,” NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt told attendees as he welcomed the audience.
In special remarks from Jungsu Song, vice president and CEO of the Korea Radio Promotion Association, which is sponsoring “The Korean NEXTGEN TV Alliance” exhibit in the Futures Park area of the exhibit floor, he said, “ATSC 3.0 is an opportunity for innovation and a new growth engine for traditional TV broadcasting in Korea.”
The keynote speech was delivered by Renard Jenkins, senior vice president, Production Integration and Creative Technology Services at Warner Bros. Discovery and president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. In his expansive talk, he spoke about the importance of preparing teams for the present and near future and the challenges of recruiting and retaining highly talented staff in the fast-changing media industry.
In his talk titled “New Tools, New Opportunities: Preparing Engineers and Technologists for Longevity” he told the audience of media technologists, “Take advantage of what you have in front of you. We went into this business to have fun. Don’t lose that fire. The work you do impacts so many people.”
The NAB Best Paper Award was also presented at the opening session to Liam Power, systems engineer at ONE Media, for his paper in the NAB Proceedings of the BEIT Conference titled “Audio Services Over ATSC 3.0: A Proof of Concept.”
The NAB BEIT Conference runs through Tuesday afternoon, April 18.
More information about NAB is available at nab.org or nabshow.com.
NAB Show, held April 15 – 19, 2023 in Las Vegas, is celebrating its centennial year as the preeminent conference and exhibition driving the evolution of broadcast, media and entertainment. It is the ultimate marketplace for next-generation technology inspiring superior audio and video experiences. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms, NAB Show is where global visionaries convene to bring content to life in new and exciting ways. For complete details, visit nabshow.com.
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 nab.org.