The annual National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas provides a good indicator of the state of the U.S. television industry, and by extension, what the Canadian industry can expect. That’s why Canucks have traditionally headed down to the show in large numbers – NAB2001 had more than 3,500 Canadian attendees from the broadcast, production, post, and new media sectors and 66 exhibitors on the trade show floor. Despite an economic slowdown, NAB is expanding this year, taking advantage of even more space added to the gargantuan Las Vegas Convention Center, accommodating primarily multimedia companies. More exhibitors will set up camp at the Sands Expo Center.

Much has transpired since NAB2001. Last April, the industry was reeling under fears of writers’ and actors’ strikes, and although new contracts were eventually negotiated, Hollywood had apprehensively shot projects in advance of possible strike actions. With all this work in the can, it turned out to be a slow production summer in North America, the residual impact of which was felt by the post community, many of whom go to NAB to see the equipment on display. But just as things promised to pick up in the fall, along came 9/11 and a resultant economic downturn. NAB organizers admit they expect this year’s numbers to be down from NAB2001’s 113,363 attendees, yet NAB spokesperson Stacy Perrus says she is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the overall turnout.

Some post shop owners told Playback they will not be going to NAB2002 because the harder economic times have made manufacturers’ salespeople more aggressive throughout the rest of the year. Additionally, post houses are relying increasingly on the Web – the very medium the convention works so hard to promote – to provide equipment info.

‘[At NAB] you’re able to make your own calls, see a variety of vendors offering similar services and make informed decisions, rather than just basing them on sales calls,’ Perrus counters. ‘You’re also able to make personal connections with people, which makes it easier to make decisions.’

Last year, the Washington, D.C.-based NAB organization introduced the Xstream convention, which addresses broadcasting over the Internet, featuring both exhibitors and sessions. Unfortunately, the venture came when the new media sector was largely reeling from the dot-com stock crash. In order to maximize Xstream attendance this year, NAB has made the program part of the annual Vegas show.

Considering the cost of the flight to Vegas, accommodations and registration (the latter alone US$860 to US$960) – and factoring in the steep exchange rate for Canadians – Perrus says NAB is trying to ‘offer attendees the bang for the buck.’

The Internet has triggered many rights concerns, which will be addressed in a panel entitled ‘The Regulatory Face-Off.’ Three members of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission will be participating in the discussion focusing on issues relating to new media as well as ownership, digital television and radio and equal employment opportunity.

Digital production and exhibition

The impact of digital technology will be everywhere at NAB2002, from the show floor to a number of new sessions. Several sessions will provide hands-on instruction on digital video production, while the Digital Cinema Summit will inform content creators and motion picture professionals on the slow but inevitable shift towards digital capture and exhibition. The exhibit will likewise include the ‘Digital Cinema Pavilion’.

Cancon at NAB2002 will include Colette Watson, president and GM of CPAC and VP Rogers Television, Michael McEwen, secretary-general, NABA, and Erika Kramer, director, technical operations VisionTV group of channels, on Digital Horizons panels focusing on business models and standards for DTV. Elsewhere, CBC will be receiving the International Broadcasting Excellence Award at the International Dinner April 10. CBC is being recognized in the network category for its National Satellite DVC Project, which permitted it to convert its satellite distribution network from analog to digital in 2000.

Equipment certainly makes up a large part of the NAB menu, and we have included overviews of what some of the major hardware and software manufacturers have in store for this year’s show. We have also asked a picture post and audio post shop to let us know what they will be looking for in the desert oasis.

NAB2002 conferences run April 6-11, and exhibits April 8-11.

-www.nab.org