It has been one month since broadcast media industry leaders and influencers traveled to Las Vegas for the 2024 NAB Show. Now that it has concluded, the NAB’s Managing Director and EVP/Global Connections and Events and the association’s President/CEO are looking back with pleasure, calling this year’s affair “a true testament to the expanding reach of the broadcast, media and entertainment industry.”
“We were overwhelmed seeing those who came to network, learn and discover the newest innovations impacting the future of our business,” Karen Chupka and Curtis LeGeyt said in a jointly written communiqué sent Monday to all NAB Show attendees.
They noted how artificial intelligence “spanned the show,” with more than 135 exhibits and a dedicated show floor tour navigating AI and Machine Learning in place in Las Vegas. “Through workshops and sessions, attendees had over 140 opportunities to focus on the possibilities created by AI,” the NAB executives note.
In particular, Chupka and LeGeyt place a spotlight on “Ameca,” an autonomously AI-powered humanoid robot who appeared at a welcome session alongside Futuri‘s Daniel Anstandig.
Chupka and LeGeyt also share how the “Creator Economy” is thriving. Pioneering creators and digital disruptors like Sean Evans, host and co-creator of “Hot Ones”; Mark Hustvedt, president of MrBeastYouTube; Casey Neistat, YouTube personality, filmmaker, digital creator and co-founder at Beme; and Sean Sotaridona, creator of SeanDoesMagic, addressed “packed rooms full of creators hungry for their collective insights.”
For an association focused on broadcast TV and its abilities to monetize its linear content through digital platforms, the focus on content found on non-broadcast portals was certainly new for the NAB.
Meanwhile, Virtual Production shared the spotlight through exhibits, a show floor tour and over 100 sessions. “With advancements in tech and solutions, the door to virtual production opens to more opportunities in the business,” Chupka and LeGeyt say. “The full content lifecycle continues to benefit through this continued evolution.”
INNOVATION IS THE BACKBONE
The NAB leaders also shared how an ATSC 3.0 Pavilion emphasized HDR and continued innovation by broadcasters in delivering the next generation of television.
Then, there were radio industry-focused sessions that explored how connected cars are providing radio with “amazing, timely insights into how, when and where listeners are engaging with their station’s programming.”
Live demonstrations of a fresh approach to EAS alerting for radio’s increasingly virtual, IP-driven world were showcased, while Xperi Inc. was presented with the NAB Technology Innovation Award for their demonstration of in-vehicle gaming features for DTS AutoStage.
“It’s hard to put into words all the buzz and excitement from the 2024 NAB Show,” Chupka and LeGeyt conclude. “The fresh and new were palpable. First-timers represented over half of those who joined. Over a quarter of attendees were from outside the U.S., representing 162 countries and including 34 delegation buying groups from around the world. Creators, streamers, members of our broadcast community and so many more immersed themselves in the trends and technologies impacting the industry. Until we see you again, thank you.”
