NAB 2019 Preview

NAB Show Floor
(Image credit: Image courtesy of Robb Cohen Photography & Video)

Thousands of pro AV professionals will descend on Las Vegas for the 2019 NAB Show this month. Held April 8-11, the event is billed as the “ultimate event for technology professionals looking for new and innovative ways to create, manage, deliver, and monetize content on any platform,” according to the show’s website.

With over 100,000 attendees from 160-plus countries, there is sure to be an excited energy on the show floor. What trends will cause this excitement?

“In today’s fast-paced world, video is the preferred method of communication from the perspective of both content creators and viewers. But as video inputs change, the need for a reliable and consistent delivery platform that can manage all video sources has never been greater,” said Bryan Reksten, vice president of marketing, VITEC. “For AV integrators, this translates into needing solutions that will allow their customers to manage all their video channels—from high-frame-rate 4K down to video from a mobile device—from one comprehensive system.”

“Add to that, customers fully expect a user-friendly interface with scalable capabilities that will allow them to harness new business models enabled by their investment in robust IPTV and digital signage solutions for years to come,” Reksten continued. “AV installers should be looking for partners like VITEC that have a proven track record of leading the next wave of innovation while offering a flexible solution that can be integrated into almost any video workflow.”

NewTek’s Brian Olson, the company’s vice president of product management, agrees on upping the IP ante. “I expect to see more IP connectivity for both audio and video. The wave has already started, and it’s not going to stop,” he said.

[Growing IP Video]

As the worlds of broadcast and pro AV continue to blend, attendees can expect to see more pro AV solutions at the show. “The bridge between broadcast and commercial AV solutions is firming up over time, and it has been a necessary evolution,” according to Andy Fliss, executive vice president, sales and marketing, tvONE. He added that integrators should “watch for changes in GPU technologies that provide output that will match up better with large-format display technologies. Key in this vein is color management and correction. The requirements of on-screen displays continue to be much different than live, direct view displays, and on-screen LED displays need help from video processors like tvONE to get it right.”

Get Excited

What are people looking forward to at the 2019 show? Is it the huge number of classes available? New tech introductions? Networking?

Sticking with the AVoIP theme is on Fliss’ list. “I am looking to see the exhibits that explain how AV over IP is meshing with traditional broadcast environments,” he said. “Many challenges still exist, but the barriers to full, end-to-end IP networked systems are coming down steadily. I am looking forward to discussing these trends with the broadcast engineers and IT managers of broadcast ecosystems.”

NewTek’s Olson is interested in changes in cloud technology. “I’m looking forward to seeing what else has moved into the cloud. Many challenges still exist, but the barriers to full, end-to-end IP networked systems are coming down steadily,” he explained.

With new technology and new applications—like NAB’s inaugural Esport Experience focused on online gaming trends and content delivery technologies—there is sure to be something for everyone at the 2019 show.

Products to See at NAB 2019

Scroll through the gallery below to see  what manufacturers—like Black Box, Clear-Com, Shure, and more—will be showcasing at NAB 2019.

Megan A. Dutta

Megan A. Dutta is a pro AV industry journalist, and the former content director for Systems Contractor News (SCN) and Digital Signage Magazine, both Future U.S. publications. Dutta previously served as the marketing communications manager at Peerless-AV, where she led the company’s marketing and communications department. Dutta is the recipient of AVIXA's 2017 Young AV Professional Award and Women in Consumer Technology's 2018 Woman to Watch Award. Dutta is co-founder of Women of Digital Signage, an organization designed to provide a pathway to promote networking, mentoring, and personal growth.