I’m still a relative newbie to the NAB Show, and in large part, the broadcast vertical. Over the past few years, the Pro AV world has crashed the Broadcast party, so walking the show floor was more familiar this year than I remembered from the last time I was here in 2024.

This is only my second show in person since joining Future B2B. In a sense, I’m a good marker, because if I walked away with one thing that I understood and could use on the Pro AV side of things, that means a good, innovative, and informative show was delivered.

Well, I didn't come away with just one thing. Instead, I walked away with five takeaways.

Broadcast AV is here.

Convergence has been a big buzzword for the past few years. We see it on our end, teaming with our fellow broadcast publication, TV Tech, to put out the annual AV for Broadcast ebook. We can continue to use terms like convergence to describe the overlap, but it is time to call it what it is.

Broadcast AV.

Sony, Shure, Ross Video, Panasonic, Riedel Communications. These are all huge players in the Pro AV market and they were here in Las Vegas for NAB Show with some of the largest and most filled booths on the floor. Yes, they were showcasing production-quality cameras, switches, and technology of the sort, but this is exactly what corporate AV and higher education wants in today’s office space and classroom. They want live-event production quality and standards inside the conference room. They want hybrid learning to be impactful and inclusive, and that includes similar, if not the same, immersive audio solutions and PTZ cameras used on television sets and in sports production. Is there still more work to be done? Absolutely, but the convergence is, well, converged. Full out Broadcast AV has arrived.

Leave your mark.

Our own Mark J. Pescatore wrote in detail about how impactful the creator economy was on the show floor. Both the Creator Lab and CineCentral were full of inquisitive attendees and inspirational thought leaders from their respective spaces. Whether you are a podcaster, video producer, or social media expert, you are the leaders of the next evolution of where the digital universe is heading and having the right tools and technology for the job is certainly of the utmost importance.

However, the biggest lesson I think Pro AV people can take from the creator economy is how important your brand is. MrBeast was constantly discussed throughout several panels. James Stephen Donaldson, aka MrBeast, is one of the originators of how to go viral and you can link video shorts, microdramas, and much of the current way content is produced back to him. Several speakers referred to it as the "beastification" of content. You want to talk about branding? When your name becomes the description for some of the biggest trends that are out there, you have yourself a high-quality branding and marketing team. Pro AV manufacturers should be thinking the same way. Make your name ubiquitous to whatever product you’re going all-in on and you could be the next Q-tip.

Production is cool.

I have always been a cinemaniac. And the cool part about the NAB Show is it takes you behind the scenes on how that movie magic comes to life. Along with checking out the mock production sets from FUJIFILM, Sony, Canon, and Panasonic (which were all very fun to watch), I got to sit in on Roger and James Deakins panel, where the dynamic duo discussed how technology can bring movie magic to life and allow filmmaking to tell great stories. It was mind blowing. Roger Deakins is one of the greatest cinematographers of all time having shot many of the Coen brothers films, Skyfall, and Sid and Nancy, while winning a pair of Oscars for Blade Runner 2049 and 1917. It was very technical, and while I didn't understand everything to a T, there was an overlying theme throughout his tale.

The biggest tech take away was not how cool Deakins and his partner in cinema (and wife) James are, because trust me, they are the living definition of cool. No, the biggest takeaway is that Deakins, now 76 years old, has done what Pro AV needs to do to survive the quickly evolving technological landscape: adapt. Deakins first film was in 1977, before there was fancy light tracking (he spoke of going to Home Depot to find bulbs for certain effects). He filmed before LED screens could make an outdoor background come inside and become something magical.

Whether it was the LED takeover of sets, new lighting capabilities, or the digital age, Roger and James were always open to technological change. A lot of cinematographers are set in their ways, James explained, but Roger was always readily willing to reinvent himself to use the technology when appropriate. Technology, Roger added, has only been necessary to create the world the director wanted. He was very adamant that he doesn’t embrace technology because he likes it; he embraced it because it tells the story of what he was trying to create.

Have you heard? AI is EVERYWHERE.

Yes, AI was all over the show floor. But it was much tamer this year than in the past. The show floor used to be showcasing auto tracking, noise reduction, and other automated features, but this is common place now. It’s like going to buy a car and telling me it has a steering wheel—if your products and solutions don’t have AI doing at least a little something, you’re well behind the curve.

Instead, the show focused more on how AI is learning to make the broadcast space even stronger. I won’t bore you with the details because Mark wrote a very good summation of what I was looking at on the show floor, so be sure to check out what he had to say.

Sphere outdoes itself every time I’m there.

OK, this was more NAB Show adjacent, but certainly Pro AV overload. I got out there a night early and got to see Phish in Sphere. If you follow our running Sphere blog, you know Mark and I have been in there a few times and have seen quite a few different things.

I can honestly say each time it gets better. This time Phish partnered with Moment Factory and Sphere Studios to create a digital canvas of mind-blowing content. Each song told its own story, giving them an opportunity to dive deep into what could be done on the world’s largest LED display. Check it out for yourself in my compilation video above.

Back home in the refreshed Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, with additional exhibits spread across the North Hall and West Hall, the 2026 NAB Show closed its show floor on April 23. According to show officials, there were more than 58,000 registered attendees, an increase from last year. Almost half were first-time attendees, and more than 20% of registered attendees were international, with 146 countries represented. Plus, there were 132 first-time exhibitors. Beyond the numbers, here were a few trends I observed.

[We Saw Phish at The Sphere, and the Video Content Had Us Bouncing around the Room]

Acknowledge the influencers.

Whether you call them creators or influencers, the important thing is that you call them. NAB 2026 put an emphasis on the creator community and with good reason: It's healthy and it's growing. I attended "How Fortune 500 Brands Are Betting on Creators," while SCN's Wayne Cavadi covered “State of the Creator Economy” at the Creator Lab, an area devoted to the creator community that celebrated its third year at NAB.

During “State of the Creator Economy," Alessandro Bogliari, co-founder and CEO of The Influencer Marketing Factory, explained the appeal of online influences. “The creator economy is a people business,” he said. “It’s a friend I’ve never met, and I follow them because you can see part of myself in them. AI simply cannot replace that.”

Of course, AI was also part of the discussion. Natalie Jarvey, editor of Ankler Media’s "Like & Subscribe" newsletter, said creators who once saw GenAI as a threat have now embraced it as a tool for making creative content. That said, she acknowledged it still has a different look and lacks the human touch. “Brands are all-in on everything AI these days: the good, the bad and the ugly,” agreed fellow panelist Pierre-Loïc Assayag, co-founder and CEO of Traackr.

Meanwhile, in "How Fortune 500 Brands Are Betting on Creators," Jennifer Cho, chief customer officer at CreatorIQ, said creator marketing now delivers more ROI than the traditional marketing funnel. That's why major businesses are using creators to drive social media campaigns. Brendan Ittelson, chief ecosystem officer at Zoom, said measurement and metrics are critical, and it's important to be able to define customer success and identify audiences.

How creators will impact the Pro AV industry remains to be seen. But between them and younger viewers embracing 9:16 content for shorter content on their mobile devices, there is the potential for serious disruption in the production status quo. That means new tools, new techniques, and new workflows—and customers looking to integrators for answers.

There's a new buzzword.

AI is still making the most noise in the industry, but another buzzword has quietly become part of an awful lot of conversations: security. Whether you call it network security, IP security, or cybersecurity, minimizing the risk of intrusion or cyberattacks via Pro AV hardware and software is now a point of emphasis. And just to bring this to a full buzzword circle, AI is a great tool for bad actors.

"Every device on-prem is a potential liability," agreed Frank Zovko, VP of engineering at AI-Media. The company used NAB 2026 to introduce its new LEXI Voice Encoder and LEXI Text Encoder for use in the creation of written and spoken captions, transcripts, and translations. Zovko said the company did its due diligence for security, with updated systems, an overhauled web interface, SOC 2 compliance, and more. AI-Media has also committed to quarterly updates for added security protections.

Security was top of mind for BeckTV at NAB, where the company launched BeckFlow, its web-based, broadcast-centric schematic documentation platform that doesn't rely on traditional CAD workflows. Matt Weiss, VP business development for BeckTV, has noticed there is more security awareness in the industry; in fact, he mentioned that BeckFlow is SOC 2 compliant and has authentication features.

NETGEAR is so serious about security that it acquired Exium, a cybersecurity company, last year. There was less concern about security when connectivity was defined by an HDMI cable, but today's IP-based workflows has "raised the bar for the need for security," according to NETGEAR AV's John Henkel. He advised keeping AV separated from other IT assets on its own network.

AI is getting some serious training.

"We've gotta use AI."

I wonder how many companies have declared mandates like this—and then promptly left their teams to their own devices to figure out how to do just that. Thankfully, I'm happy to report that there are Pro AV manufacturers that are avoiding vague "and it's got AI" declarations and really focusing their AI efforts into meaningful products and workflows.

For example, I learned about Shure's Action Isolator software during a Sunday afternoon session in the Broadcast Engineering and IT Conference. Shure's Chad Wiggins, associate VP of innovation, and Brent Shumard, senior staff acoustic engineer, had a fireside chat with John Clark, NAB's chief innovation officer and SVP of emerging technology about why audio has lagged behind with AI.

Beyond a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality, Shumard said audio is often messy and chaotic. However, AI adoption for processing is starting. Action Isolator uses AI to remove unwanted sounds. So, if you're shooting a basketball game, you can have the sounds of the basketball hitting the rim, dribbling the ball down the court, and even the squeaking of the sneakers all on one fader, minimizing the sounds of the crowd, band, or PA announcer.

How does Action Isolator do it? The first part is the right hardware. Shure's DCA901 broadcast microphone array offers eight channels of audio with very steerable pickup zones that can identify and prioritize key sounds in real time. But the secret sauce is training. The company is currently training the software for basketball, baseball, and hockey. Shumard said the trick is getting clean audio data for training the AI.

On the video side, Vizrt introduced AI Keyer at the show. Vizrt's chief marketing officer, Chris Black, said the company wants its AI applications to be transformative and capable of simplifying human workflows through agentic AI. AI Keyer is certainly designed to simplify VR and XR workflows, because it enables a production to change backgrounds and insert graphics without a greenscreen or special lighting. Indoor, outdoor, on a set, on location—it doesn't matter.

Again, AI training is the key. Vizrt is training its AI to recognize human shapes, maintaining the key while allowing your talent to walk and chew gum (and handle objects) at the same time. Vizrt is also working on training the AI to recognize hats and hairstyles, too.

Is it perfect? No. But like previous technological leaps in our industry, this first generation is the worst it's ever going to look. And it's already more than good enough for prime time. All I'm saying is that if you've been keeping extra stock of green paint for the cyc, you might as well use it now, because you probably won't need it in the near future.

Major businesses are engaging the services of creators to attract audiences and drive campaigns across social media platforms. Think of it as creator content at enterprise scale.

[LIVE FROM NAB SHOW: We Saw Phish at The Sphere, and the Video Content Had Us Bouncing around the Room]

Amy Salazar, EVP of client services for The Team's creative group, served as moderator for "How Fortune 500 Brands Are Betting on Creators" at the Creator Lab Theater.

Salazar said creators now deliver a higher conversion than any other marketing effort and are the fastest-growing piece of the marketing pie.

Jennifer Cho is chief customer officer at CreatorIQ, which manages influencer marketing campaigns for large brands through its AI-powered software platform. She agreed that creator marketing now is essential, delivering more ROI than the traditional marketing funnel. The challenge at the creator level is scale.

Jen Adams, co-founder of GoToLinks and Drivven as well as the creator behind Interiordesignerella, emphasized the importance of evaluating a potential partnership. As a creator, she wants to understand the pain points of a brand and assess if she can be of value. "Brands need trust with the creators representing them," she said.

Cho said CreatorIQ offers creator workflow management as well as analytics. The industry is still evolving, but the importance of metrics cannot be overstated. She also said it's essential that a collaboration between a brand and a creator makes sense.

To that end, Adams has turned down clients because they weren't a good fit. "We want it to be a productive partnership," she said. "We are absolutely data-driven."

Brendan Ittelson, chief ecosystem officer at Zoom, is driving the company's collaborative platform expansion. He said creators on the brand side bring an "amazing perspective," applying truth and authenticity to use cases in real-world situations. "ThatÕs what's so powerful," he said.

What are the biggest trends in the creator space? Cho is excited to see the continuation of creator-created brands, while Ittelson emphasized the importance of numbers. When it comes to measurement, Ittelson said it is important to evaluate how the customer defines success and determine who the audience is early in the process.

"Measurement and metrics really matter," Ittelson said. "Being able to lean into knowing those metrics is just so critical."

Adams is excited about entrepreneurship. She makes the effort to figure out how to serve her community and make her content about them. Essentially, it's a CEO mindset first, creative mindset second. She advised creators not to post something because it's pretty; post it because it drives sales.

Salazar closed by asking panelists to make predictions about the creator industry in 2027.

While organic remains important, Adams said, ads will grow in importance. Cho expects to see stronger relationships, with creator marketing being seen as its own channel.

Ittelson went even further, anticipating that creators will move beyond social channels and expand into their own media groups.

This article is posted with the consent of NAB Show. © NAB

This article originally ran on our fellow Future B2B site, TV Technology courtesy of NAB (© NAB).

One of the highlights in Central Hall at NAB Show is the Creator Lab, which gives attendees the chance to examine how new media styles are transforming the way content is created, produced and distributed.

[LIVE FROM NAB SHOW: We Saw Phish at The Sphere, and the Video Content Had Us Bouncing around the Room]

Drew Baldwin, founder and CEO of Tubefilter, moderated Sunday morning’s “State of the Creator Economy” panel to kick off a myriad of insightful discussions to come over several days.

Baldwin was joined by Alessandro Bogliari, co-founder and CEO of The Influencer Marketing Factory; Natalie Jarvey, editor of Ankler Media’s Like & Subscribe newsletter; and Pierre-LoÏc Assayag, co-founder and CEO of Traackr to break down the now and the future of content creation, looking at both the brand and content creation sides of the mix.

The four dissected emerging trends like AI, new styles of content, the niche audience and opportunities that are coming to drive the creator economy of the future.

“Brands are all-in on everything AI these days,” Assayag said. “The good, the bad and the ugly.”

The real benefit of AI in the creator economy, he said, is the taking of datasets to connect facets that were once in silos into a unified stack where creators no longer have to fill any individual role.

Jarvey said that the perception of generative AI, once seen as an existential threat, has shifted as creators see the value in such tools. And while there are ways to make fun, creative content with it, AI still looks and feels different than real content with the human touch.

“The creator economy is a people business,” Bogliari said. “It’s a friend I’ve never met, and I follow them because you can see part of myself in them. AI simply cannot replace that.”

There has also been a shift in content from popular to compelling—from going bigger for wider appeal, to a period in which niche content creators may be at an advantage, Jarvey said.

The “Beastification” of content—a creator becoming as massively popular as YouTuber MrBeast—may never happen again, she said. Now most growth is from smaller, more niche creators who return higher engagement due to a more devoted community, allowing for higher conversion.

New types of content, such as clipping and microdramas, are leading to longer-term partnerships in branding and marketing. Microdrama platforms, for example, use short-form video to get people interested in stories, ultimately sending people back to an app where they pay to watch a series in full. Creators are the ones who are going to own the microdrama space, Jarvey said.

The panelists closed by discussing the state of live video and the creator studio of today and tomorrow.

Live video is in an ebb tide, said Baldwin, as creators realize the magnitude of roles that go into it—a subject matter expert who can answer questions on the fly, a moderator for real-time comments, or a production person behind the video. Creation factories, like Mr. Beast or sports-themed comedy troupe Dude Perfect, are becoming studios, not simply removing themselves from video but bringing in talent to expand their platforms further.

NAB Show 2026 is just days away. The Las Vegas Convention Center will welcome Broadcast AV enthusiasts on the show floor opening for exhibits on April 19 until April 22. Before the LVCC opens its doors, SCN will preview some of the can't-miss booths you should add to your to-do list.

[AVNetwork's Trade Show Coverage]

Today, take a look at AJA Video Systems, Bittree, Cobalt Digital, ENCO, Matrox Video, NDI, Panasonic, and PlexusAV.

AJA to Debut SMPTE ST 2110 and openGear Solutions 

AJA Video Systems will unveil a host of products and updates that simplify and accelerate SMPTE ST 2110 transitions and optimize signal flow across broadcast, production, post, and proAV environments at booth N1927.

AJA’s new BRIDGE LIVE IP ST 2110 gateway device and IP25-R Mini-Converter update advance interoperability in hybrid production settings that leverage both IP and baseband media and equipment. OG-GEN10, an openGear HD/SD/AES-11 sync generator, solves common timing challenges, while Desktop Software v18 delivers new improvements that enhance downstream keying and expand I/O bandwidth for select KONA and Corvid products.

Get a deep dive on AJA's latest solutions, and demo them at NAB 2026.

Bittree to Highlight Diverse Patching Solutions for Convergence of Media Networks

Visitors to Bittree’s booth C6985 in the renovated Central Hall will find a host of video, audio and patching solutions for IP and baseband transport layers. Flush-mount, high-density, modular keystone patchbays for IP and data-centric workflows feeding ST 2110, AES67, and other modern networks. The series supports fiber, copper and mixed configurations, with connectivity options for ST, LC and SC fiber, RJ45 CAT6 and CAT6A punchdown, or feed-through, shielded or unshielded adapters.

Also, on display will be Bittree’s Patch32A, streamlines the integration of analog audio and Dante network patching while providing professional, transparent A/D>D/A cross-conversions. This patchbay streamlines the integration of analog and digital network audio patching and establishes a foundation for interconnectivity across central equipment rooms, production studios, IT closets and more. Be sure to also check out the high-performance, wide-bandwidth 12G+ BNC Patch Panels for HD, 4K and 8K Applications, supporting data rates up to 48Gb/s and offer 75-ohm impedance with low return loss. Available in 1x16, 1x24, 1x32, 2x16 and 2x24 jack configurations to support a variety of densities and connectivity scenarios in SDI baseband and hybrid environments.

Cobalt Digital to Unveil Additions to End-to-End IPMX and ST 2110 Ecosystem

Cobalt Digital will showcase numerous additions to its end-to-end IPMX and ST 2110 ecosystem at booth N1340. From new standalone processors to IPMX-native audio monitoring, multiviewers, gateways, and mini converters, Cobalt is building the bridges that support SDI and IP.

Making its debut at NAB, COBALT blueCORE is a family of 1RU fully featured standalone signal processors. Cobalt is also introducing fixed-function openGear cards designed as cost-effective entry points with license-based expansion for scalability as workflows evolve.

The new 9925-FSx Frame Sync openGear card is an entry level one path frame sync card that supports license upgrades up to four paths per card, and an audio processing license upgrade for AES, MADI, and DANTE 64 support. The new 9981-LUTx Color Processor openGear card is an entry level color processing card that supports license upgrades up to four paths per card along with options including: SCALER, BBC LUT, COLOR, 4K, LOGO, and ANC.

ENCO enSpeak Adds Real-Time Voice Translation to Captioning and Translation Workflows

ENCO will introduce enSpeak, a new real-time voice translation solution that expands its industry-leading captioning and translation ecosystem, at booth C2116. The new technology adds natural-sounding, low-latency voice translation to ENCO’s existing workflow, enabling audiences to hear live programming in their preferred language alongside translated captions.

ENCO’s captioning and translation workflow begins with its enCaption platform, which uses advanced speech-to-text technology to generate highly accurate live captions from audio and video sources. These captions feed ENCO’s enTranslate engine, which delivers real-time multilingual text translations for broadcast workflows. enTranslate Mobile extends those translations to smartphones and browsers for in-venue and AV environments, including classrooms and auditoriums.

With the introduction of enSpeak, ENCO now adds a critical new layer to that workflow. enSpeak converts translated text into natural, expressive speech in real time, giving users the option to listen to content in their chosen language in addition to reading captions. The result is a more complete and immersive multilingual experience for global audiences.

Matrox Video to Showcase the Next Era of Software-Defined Media Production

Matrox Video will showcase its vision for the future of live production at booth N2451, highlighting how broadcasters and media organizations can evolve toward modern, software-defined infrastructures designed to enhance operational flexibility and efficiency. The company will present its portfolio of devices powering end-to-end broadcast workflows, linking today’s open standards-based IP infrastructures with the software-defined production models shaping the future.

At the center of Matrox Video’s NAB presence is Matrox ORIGIN, an asynchronous media framework and deployment-ready foundation for the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) Dynamic Media Facility (DMF) vision. Running on standard IT infrastructure—on-premises or in the cloud—Matrox ORIGIN replaces bespoke hardware interconnected by clocked, synchronous protocols such as ST 2110 or SDI with distributed media services operating in COTS environments. At its core, Matrox ORIGIN Fabric provides an MXL-compatible, uncompressed media exchange layer that enables secure, application-level content sharing across vendors.

Complementing Matrox ORIGIN at NAB is Matrox Video’s IP-based production tools that support live production workflows from capture through delivery. This includes Matrox Monarch EDGE for secure, low-latency encoding and decoding for remote production and distribution workflows; Matrox ConvertIP, enabling zero-latency bridging between SDI and ST 2110/IPMX workflows; and Matrox Vion, a multi-channel 4K IP gateway for encoding, decoding, transcoding, and cross-conversion across live and cloud production environment; and Matrox Avio 2, an ST 2110/IPMX and NMOS-enabled IP KVM extender supporting high-resolution extension over standard networks. Together, these devices provide practical, scalable pathways to IP within existing infrastructures.

NDI Brings Its Ecosystem Booth to Las Vegas

NDI will showcase the breadth and depth of its ecosystem at booth N2161 in the North Hall through live demonstrations and the latest advancements in NDI 6.3. The booth will feature live partner integrations across cloud workflows, AI-enabled metadata and creator tools, alongside a podcast studio and an expanded product wall.

On the show floor, NDI will bring together hardware manufacturers, software developers, system integrators, and cloud platforms under one roof to demonstrate real-world workflows. The NDI booth will feature 12 licensee pods from partners including AVer, AWS, Central Control, Mavis, MaxHub, SalrayWorks, Tractus, Vizrt, Yamaha, Z CAM and Zoom, alongside 15-shelf partner product wall spotlighting devices from BirdDog, BOLIN, NEO iD, and OBSBOT.

NDI will highlight its certification program, what it means, how it works, and why it matters to system integrators and manufacturers alike. Cloud-native video transport capabilities will also be demonstrated, showing how NDI can bridge traditional broadcast infrastructure with modern, distributed production. Lastly, NDI's dedicated demo station will showcase NDI 6.3, featuring enhanced visibility and control of video sources with real-time stream insights and performance tracking.

 Panasonic Showcases IP/IT Production Solutions

Panasonic Video and Audio Systems will showcase its IP and IT-based production solutions for sports, broadcast, and live entertainment at booth #C3509). The showcase will also highlight a new collaboration with NEP Group that combines NEP platform and Panasonic's KAIROS to enables service providers to deploy flexible and scalable workflows that bridge traditional and IP-native infrastructure.

Flexibility and scalability are essential as broadcast and content production shift toward hybrid and distributed workflows. Panasonic is focused on making that transition easier by building an ecosystem where IP and IT sit at the center, connecting cameras, switchers, and audio into one cohesive, future-ready workflow.

A focus will be on its Media Production Suite. Launched in February, the Image Adjust Pro plug-in is a software-based remote operation panel that centralizes control of Panasonic studio and PTZ cameras, enabling distributed, collaborative production workflows while reducing physical infrastructure without compromising performance.

PlexusAV Showcases Open, Interoperable AV-over-IP Ecosystem

PlexusAV will highlight its growing ecosystem of standards-based AV-over-IP solutions at the Sencore Booth W1933 in the West Hall, demonstrating how open technology and IPMX interoperability are simplifying AV system design. The NAB exhibition takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, 19-22 April.

Built around IPMX, PlexusAV’s portfolio is designed to remove vendor lock-in and give integrators greater flexibility when designing scalable, future-ready AV environments across corporate, education, broadcast and live event applications.

Showing for the first time in North America will be the IPMX-certified P-AVN-4E encoder and P-AVN-4D decoder, delivering high-quality, ultra-low latency video over IP for demanding AV environments utilizing JPEG-XS. All three are validated to comply with published IPMX transport, control and interoperability standards. Also on display, will be the IPMX-certified P-AVN-4 Transceiver, a versatile, high-performance AV over IP device capable of both encoding and decoding video, and the P-AVN-2E encoder and P-AVN-2D decoder, which provide efficient H.264/5 streaming options for projects where bandwidth and cost need to be carefully balanced, without compromising performance.

Haivision has launched Falkon X4. The newest addition to its Falkon family of 5G mobile video transmitters was unveiled days before its premier at NAB Show 2026. Purpose-built for remote production of live sports and 24/7 news, Falkon X4 delivers uninterrupted connectivity, even in congested network environments, making it the ideal solution for capturing content with dynamic camera angles from virtually any location and bringing audiences into the story like never before.

[NAB 2026 Product Watch: 5 Booths Simplifying Streaming and Production]

“We are excited to unveil Falkon X4 as the newest member of our groundbreaking Falkon series,” said Jean-Marc Racine, chief product officer and EVP, Broadcast at Haivision. “Falkon X4 meets the demands for performance and live workflow versatility required for efficient productions over public and private 5G, as well as 4G and LEO satellite networks.”

Falkon X4’s four-modem architecture, each with 2x2 MIMO for eight total cellular antennas, provides exceptional connectivity, throughput stability, and multi-network resilience. When operating on private 5G networks, Falkon X4 delivers end-to-end, ultra-low latency, a critical requirement for live sports productions where interactivity and responsiveness are needed. Furthermore, Haivision’s advanced SST technology enables bonding 5G, 4G, WiFi, Ethernet, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connections, ensuring continuous, reliable transmission even in the most challenging environments.

Meeting the demands of premium broadcast productions, Falkon X4 supports pristine-quality video and outstanding image fidelity. With Falkon X4, broadcasters can confidently transmit 4K/UHD, HD, and HDR video streams from anywhere. Powered by advanced HEVC and H.264 encoding, Falkon X4 maximizes bandwidth efficiency while maintaining exceptional image quality.

Designed for both camera operators and broadcast engineers, Falkon X4 can be easily managed and configured in the field using either an intuitive touchscreen for fast, on-site operation or a responsive browser-based interface that works on laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Furthermore, Falkon X4 can be managed and controlled remotely, freeing camera operators to focus on capturing the action. With a rugged, portable design, Falkon X4 can be camera-mounted or carried in a backpack and includes an internal backup battery to ensure uninterrupted transmission during battery swaps. Altogether, Falkon X4 liberates production teams to capture the action with complete freedom of movement.

The Las Vegas Convention Center is set to open its doors to NAB Show 2026 on April 19-22. As SCN continues to preview products to watch, today we turn our attention to some insightful events and panels you won't want to miss.

[AVNetwork's Trade Show Coverage]

Make sure you add Diversified, #GALSNGEAR, IABM, IP Showcase, JB&A, and Rise to your NAB Show calendar, and check out what's in store below.

Hear from Diversified Pro Sports and Faith Production Experts

Diversified will be at the Amazon/Diversified Networking Lounge in the Central Hall Lobby to connect on topics such as broadcast infrastructure, sports production, and enterprise AV strategy.

On Sunday, April 19, at 11 a.m. local time Tim Corder, VP Diversified, will speak at Cinematic IP and Streaming for Faith Broadcasters. Faith broadcasters are rethinking everything, from how content is captured to how it reaches audiences. In this live discussion with a leading faith media organization, we’ll talk through the real decisions behind that shift. What’s driving the move to IP? How does cinematic storytelling impact system design? What does streaming-first distribution require operationally?

On Tuesday, April 21, Duane Yoslov, Diversified and Kevin Callahan, VP field operations and engineering, Fox Sports, host Rack, Stack, and Roll: Fox Sports' BRISK Approach to Distributed IP Production in the Central Hall lobby from 11-11:30 a.m. local time. BRISK (Broadcast Remote IP Studio Kit) is a modular, field-deployable SMPTE 2110 production platform designed to extend a centralized control room anywhere in the world. From Super Bowl rooftop studios to the scale of World Cup 2026, BRISK connects remote cameras, fan zones, and global stages directly into Fox's Los Angeles production hub without building full trucks or standalone control rooms on site. Fox Sports and Diversified go inside the architecture: portable IP cores, fly-pack integration, rapid deployment engineering, and the operational model that makes distributed production repeatable, not experimental.

#GALSNGEAR Returns to the 2026 NAB Show 

#GALSNGEAR will host a series of meetups, panel discussions, and networking events during the 2026 NAB Show. The organization’s programming is designed to provide women and allies in media, entertainment, and technology with opportunities to connect with peers, engage with industry leaders, and navigate the show’s conference sessions and exhibit floor. Sessions will reflect key industry trends, including artificial intelligence, evolving production workflows, and the convergence of media and technology.

#GALSNGEAR Events at NAB Show 2026

Live Podcast Recordings and Daily Meetups
April 19–21 | 11 a.m.–noon PT
B&H Booth, Central Hall (C8516)

Birds of a Feather Meetup (Post|Production World)
April 20 | 5:15 p.m. PDT

Tech Talk and Happy Hour
April 21 | VideoNext Theater, West Hall (W2457)
4:30–5 p.m. PDT | Panel Discussion

IABM to Host Breakfast Event with "Major Announcement"

IABM said that it will host a hot breakfast at Room N250 on the morning of April 19 beginning at 8 a.m. local time during which it will make “a major announcement impacting the future of the Media Tech industry.”

As the media technology landscape undergoes a rapid transformation across broadcast, streaming, enterprise, and emerging sectors, the IABM said that its announcement “reflects a significant step in how the industry connects, collaborates, and evolves moving forward.”

Attendees will gain early insight into a major strategic development from IABM, hat it signals for the broader MediaTech ecosystem, ew opportunities for industry alignment, growth, and innovation, opportunity for follow-up interviews with IABM leadership, and, after the briefing, press are welcome to stay for IABM’s flagship State of MediaTech report giving you a clear view of where the market is heading, where investment is accelerating, and how to focus your time at NAB for maximum impact.

The IP Showcase Returns to the 2026 NAB Show

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), and the Video Services Forum (VSF) confirmed the return of the IP Showcase. Taking place in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the IP Showcase will focus on how open IP standards enable the Pro AV and broadcast industries to bridge deterministic real-time production with increasingly cloud-native and distributed workflows — with the recently finalized and certified IPMX standard taking center stage. At the 2026 NAB Show, educational opportunities will also extend beyond the IP Showcase itself with onsite training sessions and the introduction of AIMS’ IPMX Training Series online portal.

AIMS will feature demonstrations of certified IPMX products in booth W1355, highlighting interoperability and practical implementation across a range of use cases in room W317, AIMS will present a series of IPMX training sessions, giving attendees an opportunity to gain hands-on insight into IPMX architecture and implementation.

As in previous years, a core component of the IP Showcase at the 2026 NAB Show will be the IP Showcase Theater, where industry professionals will give presentations on a wide range of topics. Taking place in the Tech Chat Theater in the West Hall, this year the IP Showcase will feature 12 presentations. Topics will include overviews of SMPTE ST 2110, IPMX, AES67, AMWA NMOS, and VSF TR-1001, along with updates on monitoring, quality control, and post-deployment maintenance in IP-based environments. Additional topics explored in the Tech Chat Theater will include security across WANs, remote production, ground-to-cloud integration, dynamic media facilities (DMF), an emerging architectural model using XML-based descriptions to define and orchestrate media infrastructure, and communicating IP concepts beyond engineering teams, as well as real-world case studies on media organizations and facilities that have transitioned to IP.

JB&A Announces Pre-NAB 2026

JB&A has announced its Pre-NAB Technology Event, returning for its 20^th year, April 17-18, at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Find out more and register here.

JB&A has already confirmed a strong first wave of exhibitors, including: Ashly Audio, Backblaze, Barco, Bitfocus, Bolin Technology, CAD Audio, Christie, Elgato, ENCO Systems, INFiLED, LiveU, Lumens, Matrox Video, Mark Roberts Motion Control, NETGEAR, On-Stage, PTZOptics, Quantum, VITEC, and Vizrt. Designed to maximize time and value in a busy show week, Pre-NAB provides a focused, exhibition space where attendees can expect to get hands-on with technologies spanning the full broadcast and AV ecosystem, including video walls and projection, PTZ cameras, live production and graphics, AV over IP networking, contribution and encoding, captioning and accessibility workflows, storage, robotics, and more.

Visitors will benefit from exclusive previews of new products ahead of NAB; access to leading manufacturers and technology partners; opportunity to have energetic conversations and demonstrations; direct engagement with JB&A’s sales and engineering teams for project support; insightful market updates from industry experts, including Nick Smith; live broadcasting of interviews with customers and partners; and exclusive attendee-only offers, promotions and prize giveaways.

NAB Show 2026 heads back to the Las Vegas Convention Center, with the show floor opening for exhibits on April 19 and running until April 22. Before the LVCC opens its doors, SCN will preview some of the can't-miss booths you should add to your to-do list.

[AVNetwork's Trade Show Coverage]

Today, take a look at Magewell, Marshall, PTZOptics, Riedel Communications, and StreamGuys.

Magewell Connecting Any Source, Anywhere, in Any Form Factor 

Magewell will be at booth C6113 with several new product introductions and integrations with new and existing technologies and refine user interfaces across all of its product lines. Magewell will unveil the new Pro Convert IP to AIO 4K decoder, the second model in the company's new generation of multi-format IP decoding devices. Pro Convert IP to AIO 4K includes all of the rich features of the recently released Pro Convert IP to HDMI that debuted at ISE 2026 and builds on them with 4K decoding at 60FPS and output via both HDMI 2.0 and 12G-SDI with support for HDR10 and HLG.

The new device supports a wide range of popular IP and streaming technologies (including NDI High Bandwidth, NDI HX2, NDI HX3, and H.264 or H.265 delivered via SRT, RTMP, RTSP, HLS, MPEG-TS, Zixi, RIST ,and more), while an integrated multi-viewer displays up to four HD IP input streams in preset dual or quad layouts.

Providing centralized configuration and control of multiple Magewell streaming and IP conversion solutions across one or more locations, the Control Hub software has become the core of Magewell conversion environments. Demonstrations will showcase a new version of Control Hub that features an enhanced user interface to easily accommodate large deployments with multiple Modator rackmount frames. The Modator platform brings the reliability and extensive functionality of Magewell's standalone encoding and decoding devices to a scalable, high-density form factor, with each Modator 2U chassis hosting up to 10 hot-swappable modules.

Marshall Electronics to Launch Its First 4K, All-IP, All-Weather NDI|HX3 POV Camera

Marshall Electronics will introduce its first all-IP 4K POV camera, the CV574-WP, at booth C8339. The CV574-WP supports NDI|HX, providing ultra-efficient, low-latency video transport over standard Ethernet networks. Adding the IP67-rated weatherproof design for reliable outdoor operations makes this camera the perfect addition to any REMI workflow.

The CV574-WP POV cameras feature an interchangeable M12 lens mount that comes with a high-quality 4.0mm lens with a 77-degree horizontal angle of view. Featuring an 8.46 Megapixel 1/2.8-inch 4K UHD sensor at up to UHD 3840x2160p60 video output over IP with up to 1080p50/60 for NDI|HX, the camera supports multiple streaming protocols, including NDI|HX3, NDI|HX2, RTSP and RTMP. Its IP-centric design ensures efficient H.264 and HEVC encoding support and secure SRT streaming over Ethernet.

Also on display will be the new CV356-10X, its latest compact 10X camera that offers Full HD with simultaneous SDI and HDMI outputs. Featuring a 10x optical (12x digital) zoom and flexible 3GSDI/HDMI simultaneous outputs, this new compact camera is ideal for various broadcast and AV applications that also require unobtrusive positioning.

PTZOptics to Showcase Intelligent Video and Camera Control 

PTZOptics will showcase its vision for intelligent video and advanced camera automation at booth N1902. Through immersive demonstrations and technology previews for broadcast, sports, and Pro AV workflows, PTZOptics will highlight the combination of its Move 4K PTZ cameras and Horizon, its next-generation, web-based control platform.

PTZOptics’ Move 4K with Horizon is now fully available, delivering a complete, intelligent video solution designed for modern production environments. The Move 4K series provides broadcast-quality 4K video, flexible connectivity, and proven reliability across a wide range of industries. Horizon introduces a browser-based control experience that centralizes camera management, automation, and system integration, enabling users to control cameras from anywhere without dedicated hardware. Together, they unlock advanced capabilities including intelligent tracking, automation, and continuous software-driven innovation.

PTZOptics will also preview a new broadcast-focused camera platform for the first time at NAB Show, offering an early look at a next-generation system scheduled for release later in 2026. Built for professional production environments, the camera features a 1-inch sensor, 4K60 output, precision motion, AI-powered subject tracking, and complete broadcast integration including 12G-SDI, Genlock, and Timecode, representing a major step forward in PTZ performance. Powered by Horizon, the platform is designed to become increasingly intelligent, adaptable and continuously evolve – delivering new features, integrations, and AI-driven capabilities over time.

Riedel to Simplifying the Story of Modern Live Production 

Riedel Communications opens with a clear message to the North American market: production technology does not have to be complex. This year at NAB, the company is setting the stage for a broader narrative about how modern productions come together. Across video, audio, intercom, networking, and control, Riedel is focused on simplifying infrastructures while strengthening performance, flexibility, and scalability.

At the heart of this story is control with the introduction of hi human interface—a powerful, browser-based, vendor-agnostic control system designed to bring clarity to complex broadcast and AV environments. Platform-independent and intuitive by design, hi enables operators to configure, control, and manage routers, multiviewers, mixers, and third-party SDN controllers through a single, unified workflow tool. Quick to deploy and easy to scale, it supports both baseband and IP infrastructures, integrating seamlessly into Riedel environments so operators can stay focused on production rather than individual components.

This unified control approach is especially powerful in combination with MediorNet, Riedel’s hybrid SDI-IP media network. With its modular architecture and app-based concept, MediorNet continues to evolve alongside changing industry standards and production requirements, uniting decentralized baseband devices such as MediorNet MicroN UHD with the hybrid MediorNet HorizoN platform to enable flexible signal transport, routing, and processing across SDI and IP environments, forming a backbone that is both resilient and adaptable.

At NAB 2026, Riedel will also unveil the new MediorNet HorizoN ST 2110 MultiViewer App, expanding native IP capabilities and reinforcing HorizoN’s role in modern ST 2110-based infrastructures. The company will also highlight its MediorNet FusioN ST 2110-to-Monitor Gateway bundles—compact IP edge-conversion solutions that bridge ST 2110 video, audio, and ancillary data directly to HDMI and professional SDI monitors. This results in simplified display connectivity in IP-based environments, where complexity is reduced and workflows remain fluid.

StreamGuys to Showcase Enhanced ULLS Platform

StreamGuys will unveil significant enhancements to its Ultra-Low Latency Streaming (ULLS) technology at ENCO's booth C2116, expanding the in-venue simulcast experience for sports fans while opening new revenue opportunities for clubs and broadcasters.

Originally introduced in 2024, StreamGuys ULLS service eliminates traditional streaming delays to perfectly synchronize live game action with radio broadcasts and video streams. Designed to recreate the classic in-stadium AM/FM radio simulcast experience on modern mobile devices, ULLS enables fans attending a game to listen to live play-by-play commentary in real time through a team or broadcaster mobile app—now with support for both Android and iOS devices.

Also new for 2026, StreamGuys has introduced dynamic pre-roll ad insertion to the ULLS experience. Before the live simulcast begins, teams and broadcasters can deliver sponsor-supported audio pre-roll messages aligned with in-venue promotions, broadcast advertising and digital sponsorship packages. The approach ensures monetization without disrupting live game action, as ads run only at stream initiation.

Chyron 2025 Designer of the Year Competition—which to be awarded live during the 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas—is now open. Anyone with design experience and proficiency using Chyron PRIME Designer is eligible. PRIME Designer is the common design interface for PRIME CG, PRIME Video Walls, PRIME Touchscreen, and PRIME Branding and offers innovative design, animation, data integration, and playout management functionality driving some of the most recognized live video productions in the world.

“Chyron recognizes that our work is a creative collaboration, inspired by the needs of our customers, developed by our software ideation and design process, and brought to life by the many talented Chyron end users,” stated Carol Bettencourt, Chyron VP of marketing. “This award honors some of the best work of our end users. It gets harder each year to select a winner, because there are so many excellent Chyron designers out there.”

[5 Sentiments from NAB Show 2024]

Previous winners include Zack Millican (NAB 2023) an in-demand sports graphics freelancer, Perry Littman (IBC 2023) graphics operator at MOOV, Kyle Taragowski (NAB 2024) for his work with Academy of Lower Thirds for CPAC-Canada, and Tom Gray (IBC 2024) graphics implementation specialist at MOOV.

"TV graphics are constantly evolving, and with creative departments and production companies becoming more demanding and ambitious with how they want graphics to animate and what information to display, Chyron Prime has all the tools I need to recreate their designs with the polish and flexibility expected in today's broadcasts," said 2024 Chyron Designer of the Year winner Gray.

[5 Booths That Caught Our Eye at NAB 2024]

Anyone is eligible to enter by submitting four or more broadcast quality scenes, created with Chyron PRIME. The scenes must include animations, and the use of data integration, base scenes, style sheets and playout control panels is encouraged. Tom Gray’s winning show reel may be seen here. The deadline for entries is March 20, 2025. Designers may submit work created specifically for this competition, or may submit work created for a customer or employer, with their permission.

As you read this, I’m probably just back from the ISE conference in Barcelona. For those who aren’t familiar, ISE is a massive event that brings together the best and brightest in the AV and collaboration industries. It is a visual feast of sprawling halls, endless rows of exhibitors, and impressive displays of technology—an event designed to showcase the scale and breadth of innovation in our field.

Yet, as spectacular as these large-scale events are, I can’t help but reflect on how different things were in the early days of my career. There was a time when the industry wasn’t all about scale and grandeur, but focused instead on intimate, personalized communications. It was an era when connections were built one meaningful conversation at a time. And those moments often happened at smaller, regional conferences.

Rise, Fall, and Rebirth

I still vividly remember the first time I met one of my future employers. It was at an InfoComm event in a city that, admittedly, my memory has blurred over the years. While the exact location escapes me, what remains crystal clear is the impact of that encounter. I was giving a presentation on unified communications, speaking to a modest audience of about 30 people.

[Tech Perspectives: Videoconferencing Industry in Same Sandbox but with Different Toys]

After the session, someone from the audience stood up and said, “I’ve heard about unified communications from dozens of people over the last few years, but this is the first time I really understand what it is. Thank you.” That simple yet profound moment stuck with me.

It wasn’t about dazzling crowds or landing a viral soundbite; it was about genuine engagement, clarity, and shared understanding. Experiences like these were far more common in the intimate settings of regional shows than they are in cavernous halls packed with thousands of attendees.

For a time, these smaller, regional conferences faded away, overshadowed by the rise of massive, international events like InfoComm and ISE. While large-scale gatherings offer a unique opportunity to see nearly the entire industry in one place, they often lack the intimacy and accessibility that foster real connections and meaningful learning. Fortunately, the tide seems to be shifting, and regional events are making a comeback.

One shining example of this resurgence is the work being done by the nonprofit Interactive Multimedia & Collaborative Communications Alliance (IMCCA). Last year, the IMCCA hosted a series of events in New York City as part of the post-pandemic return of its UC Week. These sessions were spread across multiple venues around the city, each accommodating 50-100 people. The setup encouraged the kind of close-knit conversations and interactive educational sessions that were hallmarks of the regional events I once cherished. If you’re interested in experiencing this for yourself, mark your calendar for this year’s UC Week in late February. (Details are available at imcca.org.)

Another great example of regional conferences making a comeback comes from cavlo. Spearheaded by industry veteran Mike Brown-Cestero, cavlo events are purposefully designed to serve cities that are often overlooked by larger industry players. The next event is expected this fall.

Mike’s vision is simple but powerful: Create a space where the focus isn’t on the size of your booth but on the quality of your conversations. As he likes to put it, “You can have whatever size booth you want, as long as it’s one of the three sizes we offer.” This level playing field eliminates the flashy marketing castles that dominate larger shows, putting the emphasis back on the solutions being presented and the substance of the discussions.

Why Small Events Matter

When I asked Mike about his inspiration for bringing back these intimate gatherings, he explained, “When I published a magazine about clubs, my partner and I planned a trade show at a Native American casino resort, complete with a golf tournament and awards gala. The Great Recession ended that, but years of attending Vegas shows convinced me that our industry doesn’t need another big spectacle. Instead, we need smaller, high-quality spaces where vital manufacturers and contractors can connect as equals. At cavlo, smaller firms aren’t relegated to the back—they’re front and center.”

[SCN Goes Inside: NSCA Boosts Next-Generation Integration at XBO Experience]

His words encapsulate the importance of fostering genuine human connections in an industry that can sometimes get lost in its own spectacle. The return of smaller, regional conferences is more than just a nostalgic nod to the past—it’s a critical evolution for our industry. These events offer several distinct advantages.

Deeper Engagement: In a smaller setting, attendees have the time and space to ask questions, share insights, and truly connect. The conversations are richer and the learning is more impactful.

Equal Opportunity: By standardizing booth sizes and limiting the scale of the event, smaller events ensure that exhibitors compete on the merits of their solutions, not the depth of their marketing budgets.

Accessibility: Regional events make it easier for professionals who might not have the resources or time to attend global conferences to participate and benefit from industry gatherings. It also gives smaller firms the ability to send more people.

Substance: Without the distractions of over-the-top displays, parties, and crowds, smaller events create an environment where the technology and its applications take center stage.

A Balanced Approach

Don’t get me wrong, I have immense respect for large-scale conferences like ISE, NAB, InfoComm, and even CES, which I never miss. They are unparalleled in their ability to showcase the full breadth of our industry and provide a platform for global networking. But as dazzling as these mega-events can be, they shouldn’t overshadow the importance of smaller, regional gatherings.

These local events serve as the industry’s grassroots, nurturing the kind of intimate, meaningful interactions that large conferences often struggle to replicate. They are the spaces where industry newcomers can find their footing, professionals can engage in honest dialogue, and innovative ideas can be explored without the pressure of spectacle.

As I return from ISE, I’m reminded of the need for balance in our industry’s approach to events. Yes, we should celebrate the grandeur of large conferences, but we must also champion the quiet power of regional gatherings. The latter offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect, learn, and grow in ways that large events simply cannot replicate.

[Tech Perspectives: The Emperor Has No Clothes]

So, while you’re planning your calendar for the year, consider leaving room for both. Attend the large-scale industry events to see the big picture, but don’t overlook the value of local, intimate conferences. It’s in these smaller settings that the real magic of our industry often happens.

Whether you’re walking the expansive halls of InfoComm or sitting in a room with 30 peers, remember this: Our industry thrives on connection. And sometimes, the most meaningful connections happen in the smallest of spaces during the briefest of moments.

NAB Show 2024 is almost here. Before the show kicks off in Las Vegas on April 13-17, check out some of the booths you should see on the show floor. 

Matrox Video Enhances Production and Distribution with Two New Solutions

Matrox Video will exhibit in Booth SL5073 providing product demos and featuring customer stories that illustrate how the company helps broadcasters, live event producers, developers, and manufacturers implement and improve their IP and IT-based media workflows. Booth visitors will discover products and solutions for remote production (REMI), contribution, distribution, operations and control, and Tier 1 live production in the cloud, along with the latest innovations for SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX. Experts from Matrox Video will present on IP and IT technologies for media during the Broadcast Engineering and IT (BEIT) conference, and the company's products will be showcased across the show floor in partner demonstrations of IP video workflows.

NEW Matrox Video Solutions You Must See

• Matrox DSX SDK 10.5: The latest updates to the Matrox DSX SDK offer Ultra-Low Latency for both DSX LE5 and X.mio5 ST 2110 NIC and 12G SDI I/O cards. The ULL feature enables sub-field or sub-frame video transfer at inputs and outputs, allowing low latency broadcast applications to achieve a minimum delay of 1-frame for interlaced video and 2-frame for progressive video. The new "large canvas" feature enabled on X.mio5 ST 2110 cards allows customizable regions of interest from a large canvas to be output as multi-channel 1080P and UHD resolutions for flexible and advanced multi-screen display workflows. DSX SDK 10.5 also supports ST 2110-22 with JPEG-XS encoding and decoding and adds native support for AWS S3 with the Flex Reader and Writer for cloud-based applications.
• Matrox DSX LE6 D100 ST 2110 Network Interface Card: This new 100 GbE ST 2110 network card is designed for high-performance media environments including broadcast and virtual production. Featuring dual QSFP 28 connectors, this PCIe Gen 4x8 card offers up to eight channels of UHD@p60 or two channels of 8Kp60 input and output, all with ST 2022-7 redundancy. The card has hardware-based PTP to provide nanosecond-range ST 2059-2 accuracy and offloads all ST 2110 packet processing from the CPU, which is essential for high-density and high-resolution applications. This card also offers ultra-low latency to minimize in-to-out latency for multichannel 4K and 8K applications.

PPDS Joins Forces with DVG, FX Design Group and tvONE for 'Total Broadcast' TV Studio Solutions

Exhibiting on booth C3544 (Central Hall) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, PPDS teams will be joining industry specialists, FX Design Group and Digital Video Group (DVG) on a special ‘TV studio’ designed stage, as part of a combined ‘total solution’ studio offering. 

[New Philips LEDs Take Center Stage at ISE 2024]

Rounding out the solution combination is tvONE, a leader in video processing, who’s CORIOmaster2 will be utilized to drive all content to the various displays throughout the booth. CORIOmaster2 is the first choice video processor for broadcasters around the globe due to its broadcast compatible inputs combined with stunning pixel accurate scaling, multi-windowing, eye-catching transitions, and 24/7 reliability.

Recent projects completed by DVG in which Philips Professional Displays are a prominent (if not exclusive) fixture, include WAVY TV (Norfolk, VA), KTLA-TV (Los Angeles), CBS 4 (Indianapolis, IN), and KHON TV (Honolulu, HI), to name just a few. 

Barix to Launch New Audio-over-IP Broadcast Codec

Barix will introduce its new LX400 offering a secure, low-latency IP audio encoding solution for point-to-point and cloud networking applications at booth C2348. 

The new LX40 represents the successor to the Barix Exstreamer 500, a tried-and-true solution that remains an important product in Barix’s broadcast portfolio. The LX400 carries over many of the same features that Barix customers rely on, including multiple contact closures, relays and a USB port for direct-from-device playout. It adds several important new features that introduce new benefits and efficiencies to broadcasters and is customizable to support legacy point-to-point and cloud networking scenarios such as syndicated program distribution.

Top of the advanced new features list is the addition of premium quality software codec options, including OPUS and AACplus for compressed transport, and PCM to support uncompressed transmission. The LX400’s inclusion of the OPUS codec is especially attractive given its high-efficiency bitrate performance, ensuring broadcasters the best possible audio quality for compressed transmission. OPUS essentially delivers lossless quality audio to listeners while using far less bandwidth, reducing audio contribution and distribution costs for broadcasters in the process.

Find out more here. 

JVC Highlights NDI and vMix Partnerships

JVC Professional Video will feature special guests, including NDI technical director Roberto Musso and vMix senior systems engineer Heath Barker, at the JVC booth C4720. These onsite events will focus on the benefits that each brand’s solutions provide for remote production workflows, using JVC PTZ and handheld cameras, and other video production tools. 

[NDI Reigns over AVoIP Protocols]

Initially rolled out as a free firmware update that ensured customers would not need to replace their existing hardware, NDI technology can now be found in many of JVC’s PTZ and handheld cameras to provide users with a greater level of flexibility. Musso will discuss the advantages of utilizing NDI technology to streamline video production. The NDI guest appearances will include interactive discussions and a Q&A as well as a brief demo of JVC’s latest product developments. These engagements will take place  on Monday, April 15 at 3 p.m. and Tuesday, April 16 at 3 p.m. local time.

vMix is a complete live video production and streaming software solution that can be used with several of JVC’s latest workflow production tools. Barker will be onsite at the JVC booth for an open dialogue and Q&A regarding how JVC customers can create, mix, switch, record, and live stream professional productions with the new vMix 27 software. Barker’s vMix demonstration will be held one time only on Monday, April 15 at 1 p.m. 

Pliant Technologies Debuts CrewWare 2.0 Software Update

Pliant Technologies will present its new CrewWare 2.0 software update at Booth C5310, marking the first substantial update since its introduction of CrewCom in 2017. CrewWare is Pliant’s revolutionary software tool created specifically for CrewCom system construction, device control, and live monitoring.

This enhanced software makes major advancements in setup, control, and monitoring and includes the additions of multi-platform (Mac and PC), multi-client, multi-system support along with many graphical user interface (GUI) improvements. These latest advancements result in a straightforward and clean interface that simplifies accessing a CrewCom system from anywhere in the world from any type of device with access to a browser.

 “We are excited to debut these significant updates to CrewWare at NAB 2024, as we have made the software platform more accessible and feature packed for the needs of today’s user, while retaining its straightforward architecture and ease-of-use,” said Gary Rosen, VP of global sales for Pliant Technologies. “CrewWare 2.0 will aid our customers in facilitating graphical-based planning and implementation of any CrewCom system, whether simple or extensive.”

For the first time, NAB Show and Diversified will demonstrate the future of a seamless orchestration of premium technologies in the cloud, on-premises, or in a hybrid environment in its activation in the Connect Zone at the upcoming NAB Show. 

Exploring decentralized production, streamlined workflow orchestration, and software-defined production integration, Intelligent Orchestration at the Connect Zone will shift media and broadcast on more successful path towards advanced dynamic, adaptable content production and distribution environments. NAB Show attendees will gain actionable insights from Diversified for managing and scaling decentralized media environments and expanding total addressable market.   

[SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators 2023] 

“Intelligent Orchestration powered by Diversified at the Connect Zone marks a significant departure from traditional methods of design and implementation, creating integrated infrastructure that harmonizes cutting-edge technologies, paving the way for a transition from conventional, inflexible facilities to agile, responsive content centers.  This forward-thinking approach emphasizes continuous optimization, ensuring that technological capabilities are consistently aligned with the evolving demands of the media and entertainment sectors,” said Jared Timmins, VP of innovation at Diversified.

NAB Show attendees can look forward to exploring several key aspects of Intelligent Orchestration, including decentralized production, streamlined media workflow orchestration, and software-defined production integration. These components are crucial for enhancing the efficiency, scalability, and adaptability of production environments. Diversified's comprehensive suite of services extends beyond technology, encompassing advisory and consulting around complex solutions, management of contribution sources, configuration of production environments, show production as a service including graphical and stage elements, integration of workplace solutions, and day-two support to facilitate the creation of holistic, end-to-end production setups.

DPA Microphones will unveil its new compact 2012 Cardioid and 2015 Wide Cardioid Microphones. Featuring a durable, reinforced construction to withstand the rigors of a busy live event set, the new mics are ideal for a variety of instruments, from loud and booming audio to gentle and elusive tones, the 2012 and 2015 mics stand to become trusted solutions for live sound professionals. DPA will present these new solutions at NAB 2023 (Booth C6113).

“We are so pleased to share these new solutions for sound professionals in the broadcast event and live performance industries,” said Helga Volha Somava, product management director, DPA Microphones. “The 2012 Cardioid and 2015 Wide Cardioid Microphones continue to build upon our other live microphone solutions, offering the same natural sound quality that people know, love and trust, with sonic and physical properties specifically designed to meet the needs of the live stage. Thanks to the superior SPL handling and excellent transient response, these microphones will serve as versatile and durable solutions for audio professionals everywhere.”  

[NAB Show 2023 Hub: News and Products You Won't Want to Miss] 

The 2012 Compact Cardioid Microphone acts as a reliable, all-around, generalist pencil mic that performs well on any instrument. This mic combines a robust design with intricate sound pickup for accurate close miking on any stage setup. From horns and percussion to acoustic or electric guitars, bass cabinets and more, the 2012 can capture crystal clear, single instrument pickup with ease, making it perfect for live broadcast productions. Unlike the dynamic mics frequently used for close miking applications, the 2012 features an extended frequency range and flat frequency response in a small-form factor. The 2012’s unmatched transient response also allows it to cope with high SPLs while being able to capture the most delicate of sounds. 

While the 2012 excels at single instrument pickup, the 2015 Compact Wide Cardioid Microphone performs particularly well as a stereo pair on drum kits and instrument groups. Featuring uniform, wide cardioid directionality and a linear frequency response, a selected pair of 2015 mics offers spacious sound for horn groups, vibraphones, xylophones and other large instruments. When closely positioned, the mics are also ideal for large grand pianos or for use as overheads for drum kits. This stereo pair can capture balanced sound of the entire instrument with minimal bleed from the stage, which is ideal for broadcast applications. Additionally, the compact design of the 2015 allows for unobtrusive placement on-stage―leaving the set unobscured to at-home viewers, while its durable, reinforced construction means it will last from production to production.

[Running from Fears in Pro AV] 

Both solutions are pre-polarized condenser mics, each with a specifically designed 17mm (0.67-inch) capsule that is perfectly tailored for its intended application. Like most DPA mics, the 2012 and 2015 come in a practical zip pouch, along with a microphone holder and windscreen. Additional accessories such as a stereo boom, gooseneck mount and corresponding shock mounts are also available.

The hardest part is over. After a COVID-19-induced hiatus, NAB Show got back to business last year in Las Vegas. Now, as the organization celebrates the show's 100th anniversary, the National Association of Broadcasters is hoping to build on that momentum in mid-April. In an exclusive interview, Chris Brown, executive vice president and managing director of NAB Global Connections and Events, shared his thoughts on last year's return and what attendees can expect in 2023.

SCN: NAB Show’s 100th anniversary is quite the milestone. How will you celebrate at the show?

Chris Brown: As we commemorate 100 years since the first NAB Show in 1923, we are offering opportunities for attendees, exhibitors, and other stakeholders to share their memories, engage online and onsite, and connect via a range of networking opportunities.

We launched a website that provides an interactive journey through NAB’s history with a timeline detailing landmark achievements, moments in broadcasting and at NAB Show, along with image galleries, broadcasters’ stories, and a digital NAB Hall of Fame detailing radio and television legends inducted throughout the years.

We also kicked off “Share Your Story,” a community campaign, encouraging individuals to share special memories, serendipitous moments, or remarkable stories about broadcasting and NAB Show. Additionally, we are planning registration incentives, contests, special events and activations, and recognitions of exceptional past NAB Show participation.

[Deadline for NAB Show Excellence in Sustainability Awards Entries Is April 3]

Above all, we are focused on creating a vibrant marketplace as well as programs and services that deliver substantial direct value to our community. This centennial year more than ever, we are striving to create meaningful connections that educate, spur innovation, facilitate partnerships, and drive growth for the industry. 

SCN: Last year’s NAB Show was about getting back together after a three-year hiatus. Looking back, how successful was the show?

CB: It was an incredibly successful event, far exceeding expectations on every dimension. The NAB Show community is highly passionate about what they do. This is their opportunity to come together to see, feel, touch, get inspired, and soak in the industry—and above all reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

NAB Show is where that all happens. And this dynamic led to nearly 55,000 industry executives coming together for the show in April. They represented every facet of the media and entertainment landscape—business, technical, and creative—and came from every part of the world, with over 25% from outside the U.S. What we witnessed was a euphoria at being able to finally come together in person. With the memory of that experience, we are expecting the total attendance number to jump to 70,000 or more this year.

More and more, the show is bringing the right people together—those who are coming to do business and engage in true knowledge exchange, and those who are on a mission and serious about their participation. Last year, this made for one of the most productive shows in recent history, with a higher buyer-to-seller ratio than we have seen. The show’s nearly 1,000 exhibitors, including the leading technology product and service providers in the business, were especially pleased. The show received the highest satisfaction scores from these companies in its history.

[NAB: Broadcast Quality for the Next Generation]

By and large, trade shows are coming back strong as pandemic concerns subside and people get back to doing business in person. We are encouraged about what’s to come. 

SCN: Like last year, the exhibit hall will open on a Sunday. What has been the reaction from attendees regarding the weekend start?

CB: Last year, we opened the show on Sunday for the first time, versus the traditional Monday opening, and we closed on Wednesday instead of Thursday. This was implemented to make participation easier for those involved in live and other studio production projects, as well as those who may find it difficult to get away during the week or want to minimize time away from work. The feedback we received on this new schedule was overwhelmingly positive, and we think it will continue to help boost attendance and maximize exhibitors’ time with customers. 

SCN: How will NAB Show be organized this year?

CB: We will be carrying forward the organization we introduced in 2022, with all aspects of the show tied to a set of uniquely curated content pillars. The three core pillars, or destinations—Create, Connect, and Capitalize—reflect how the industry works and make it easier for every attendee to navigate the show and find what is most relevant to them. Both the show floor and the educational programs are organized around these themes.

A fourth area is Intelligent Content, which is all about data and the enormous influence it is having across the content creation and distribution chain. Programs and exhibitors tied to the Connect, Capitalize, and Intelligent Content pillars will be located in the West Building of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Create will be featured in the North and Central Buildings. 

SCN: Walking the show floor is always good exercise for systems integrators (in more ways than one), but what other attractions should be on their radar at this year’s show?

CB: Given the way the industry has evolved, systems integrators have had to extend their services to match advances in technology and the broadening needs of their customers. It is no longer just about connectivity, interoperability, and networking. The needs of media companies extend to the full range of production and content creation tools, and there is no event that covers that end of the content lifecycle more thoroughly than NAB Show. Virtually all the leading players and the newest technologies on this side of the business will be at the 2023 NAB Show.

[Editorial: NAB 2022 Delivers Solid Crowds and Plenty to See]

Integrators will also benefit this year from the return of many of the leading AV display companies, including Roe Visual, LG, Vanguard Displays, and Planar. And there are special exhibits that focus on workflows that should be of interest to integrators. The best example of this is the IP Showcase, returning with education and demonstrations on the latest in IP integration.

Finally, an area of the show that deserves some focus is the Intelligent Content space in the West Hall. Advancements made around AI, machine learning, data science, and analytics will be featured here. These technologies help integrators learn how to design, prepare, and build smart, cost-efficient, and sustainable facilities for today and tomorrow. 

SCN: Every NAB Show has its own buzz. What do you expect to be the hot topics on the show floor in 2023?

CB: There are some unique developments impacting the media and entertainment business. On the broadcast side, for example, NextGen TV in the U.S. (ATSC 3.0) is steadily advancing as there are more stations, more receivers, more viewers, and more new opportunities around better picture, sound, and interactivity to drive engagement. 5G production techniques, particularly around live events, is another growth area, and when combined with cloud workflows, it borders on revolutionary in terms of how broadcasters can source, produce, and publish their content.

And there is no doubt, streaming media—whether it be audio or video, ad supported or subscription, live or on-demand, via handheld remote or voice controlled—is an exciting and growing way broadcasters and media companies are reaching consumers.

[AVoIP Standards: The Fight to Get It Right]

On the production and post-production side, virtualization and remote production tools continue to drive new dynamics, as do advances in VFX technology via game engine technology and exciting tools like “volume” screens. Another growing trend is the way that tools, traditionally leveraged exclusively for high-end cinema production, are now finding adoption with content creators across broadcast, enterprise, and more creative communities; this is a focus of our new CineCentral area on the show floor

There is a lot of buzz around the Metaverse, Web3, AI, and data-driven personalization. New immersive content experiences are imminent, from pure AR/VR or mixed reality variations to the full-blown promise of new digital worlds with users as the central character.

And we certainly see data as a critical driver for the future. Data allows content creators to produce content that the consumer wants, and to serve it up when the consumer wants it. It allows broadcasters and other media players to target and contextualize advertising, so advertising becomes a more seamless part of the content experience. It is powering more efficient production and post-production workflows. Understanding the power of data and how it can be put to use now and in the future is what the Intelligent Content area at NAB Show is all about.

PILOT, NAB's technology innovation initiative, is now accepting submissions for the PILOT Innovation Challenge through 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 3. The program will provide mentorship and promotion for winning proposals, along with an opportunity to exhibit at NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 15-19, 2023.

[NAB Show Launches Excellence in Sustainability Awards]

The initiative is seeking startups and growing companies providing solutions to some of the key challenges and opportunities facing broadcasters over the next 2-3 years. PILOT is specifically seeking products or prototypes that align with three focus areas of the 2023 NAB Show associated with the content lifecycle: 

• “Create” is focused on content creation from pre-production to post, including the latest tools and advanced workflow solutions to elevate storytelling.

• “Capitalize” is focused on reach and ROI, including next-generation technologies creating new revenue streams and fueling the content economy.

• “Connect” is focused on content distribution and delivery, from cloud computing to new media infrastructure.

“PILOT is excited to kick off the 2023 Innovation Challenge spotlighting the innovative ideas and proposals seeking to tackle the evolving challenges in broadcasting,” said John Clark, PILOT executive director. “This is an exciting opportunity for applicants to elevate their cutting-edge breakthroughs at NAB Show and help broadcasters find solutions to take their operations to the next level.”

Individuals, teams, companies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply subject to the Challenge’s official rules of participation. Up to 10 finalists will be selected by a panel of industry experts by early March, with up to three winning proposals to be announced the week of March 27, 2023. Participants can review the judging criteria on the PILOT website.

[NAB: Broadcast Quality for the Next Generation]

Winners will be selected to receive relevant mentorship, feedback, numerous opportunities to engage with broadcasters, and a trip to the 2023 NAB Show. They will also be provided exhibit space on the NAB Show floor to demonstrate their prototype to potential customers, investors, and partners.

On Aug. 18, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) executive vice president of global connections and events Chris Brown issued a letter to the NAB Show community regarding health and safety plans for the 2021 NAB Show. 

NAB's Health and Safety Protocols Update

Dear NAB Show Community,

With less than 60 days until the start of NAB Show and associated co-located events scheduled for October in Las Vegas, we are filled with excitement and anticipation to welcome you to what promises to be the ultimate reunion at which to get back to business, reconnect and reinvigorate the industry.

While the enthusiasm is building, we are keenly aware of health and safety concerns tied to the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant and want to assure you that we are putting in place a comprehensive, data-driven plan that prioritizes safety and creates a productive environment at these events.

We have worked for the past several weeks to finalize protocols that will maximize the experience and safety of all members of the NAB Show community. This process has involved extensive consultation with health and safety experts, gathering feedback from a range of exhibitors and attendees, and review of the safety measures recommended by national and local health authorities, including Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak’s important announcement this week regarding large events.

Taking this all into account, we will require all attendees and participants to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. We think this is a positive step in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and will provide further details on implementation as well as other safety measures under consideration.

Multiple indicators show a strong eagerness among the NAB Show community to return in person, including steady attendee registration. The continued buildout of the Show Floor is bringing together hundreds of new and returning companies, including major brands like Amazon Web Services, AJA, B&H, Canon, Grass Valley, MediaKind, Panasonic, Ross, Sony, Verizon and more.

We are also finalizing a full conference program featuring premium education content, high-profile speakers and world-class training opportunities. Additionally, major industry events, such as the Radio Show, Sales and Management Television Exchange and AES Show, will co-locate in Las Vegas, broadening the base of attendees and adding value to their experience.

NAB Show is a momentous opportunity for the industry to reengage. We are ready to provide an unparalleled forum for inspiration and innovation while safeguarding those in attendance with sound health and safety protocols.

We genuinely appreciate the support, participation and feedback of the NAB Show community and look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas and connecting throughout the year on NAB Amplify.

Sincerely,
Chris Brown
EVP & Managing Director, Global Connections and Events
National Association of Broadcasters

The What: The Switch will launch The Switch eSports at this year’s 2019 NAB Show (Booth SU3714).

The What Else: The Switch eSports, which integrates eSports production, transmission, and distribution from anywhere in the world, is the latest addition to The Switch’s managed, private cloud services for linear and streaming broadcasters around the globe.

The Switch eSports combines elements of The Switch’s global transmission network, including its dedicated connections to the world’s leading content producers and distributors, with The Switch Digital Connect, the company’s digital media distribution service, and the company’s extensive remote production capabilities.

The Bottom Line: By utilizing The Switch eSports, game organizers, publishers, and distributors can produce and distribute their content to linear and streaming services across the globe.

Fourteen leading developers of the NDI video/IP protocol will join together at NAB 2019 to exhibit their latest products and solutions. NewTek, the developer of the royalty-free standard, will host the event from the NDI Central Pavilion. Those who can’t make it to NAB will be able to watch the exhibition on NewTek’s Twitch livestream. The stream will showcase NDI developers and creators who are at the forefront IP video production.

Since its introduction in 2015, NDI has become a popular industry standard for sharing video on a standard Ethernet network. The protocol is now in use by thousands of products and millions of users worldwide and is potentially the most widely used protocol of its kind.

“These fourteen companies represent some of the best innovators among the roughly 1,000 companies incorporating NDI into their products. NAB attendees will be able to explore the NDI ecosystem and discover the amazing devices and applications powered by NDI,” said Michael Kornet, executive vice president and general manager of NDI for NewTek. “These developers share our vision of the end-to-end all IP workflow that is a reality today and we’re excited to bring them together at the NDI Central Pavilion.” Located at booth #SL5516, the NDI Central Pavilion will be home to:

· AJT Systems

· Boinx Software

· Changsha Kiloview Electronics

· Production Bot LLC

· Easy Media Suite

· Etere

· FingerWorks Telestrators

· LiveXpert by 3D Storm

· Medialooks

· NewsMaker Systems

· NIXUS · Panasonic

· RT Software

· Stream Circle

The livestream starts at 10am on Monday 4/9, and at 9am each day after.