(By Deborah Parenti) The NAB Show was, as usual, exhausting and exhilarating. No matter how good or bad the circumstances of the economy or the challenges facing broadcasters, there is something about a shared experience, which is what conventions and conferences offer, that provides opportunities for collaborative efforts or at least serves to open discussions toward that endpoint.
In addition to the always jam-packed agenda, this year’s convention provided lots of hallway conversations as attendees racked up many miles on foot traversing from one hotel to another and between convention halls. Those discussions included plenty of talk about the fate of AM radio, the connected car, and AI. In fact, AI was a predominant topic of discussion throughout the event – the dangers and the opportunities – how it could impact on-air “live and localism” which is a particularly interesting thought that needs more in-depth consideration in light of the battle to save AM. If AM is the lifeline to many during times of disaster, too much reliance on AI as a cost-saving measure might easily submarine that argument.
That said, there was a sense of optimism in the conversations I had with numerous group leaders at NAB Show. While all acknowledged the economic uncertainties that lie ahead, the general consensus seemed to be grounded in a more thorough understanding of the competitive landscape than ever before and with that, a sense that broadcasters are better positioned to handle those challenges ahead.
Deborah Parenti is President and Publisher of Radio Ink. She can be reached at [email protected]. Read Deborah’s Radio Ink archives here.
