More than 1400 exhibiting companies, 15 conference blocks and 100,000 potential visitors are more than enough reasons to ensure that NAB is actually the largest annual electronic media fair. But not only the figures help to build this fame; also contributing is the fact that this is where the new trends and technologies that will shape the industry in the coming years are presented. Video podcasting and MoTV are, for example, among others, some of the new concepts that are added this year to the glossary of terms to which those who work in the production and distribution of audiovisual content will have to get used to.
Conferences and workshops
The conference program, which will begin on April 14 and run through April 19, will cover major industry-related areas such as post-production, broadcasting, digital cinema, IPTV, MoTV, MPEG, and developments for the internet and mobile devices. Cross-cutting issues such as regulation, regulations, administration, and technologies for production, and other specific ones such as coverage of sporting and religious events, will also be addressed. There are a total of 15 large areas, each consisting of dozens of sessions.
The post-production block and the broadcast block, the longest ones, each take six days. The first of these will consist mainly of certification workshops and high-level information sessions on the latest applications for editing, graphics and effects creation, and digital workflows. Certification workshops will be held in Avid Xpress Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, Apple DVD Studio Pro, Adobe After Effects, podcasting, HD workflows and digital video production, among other topics that will be covered by the 200 sessions that make up this block of conferences.
For its part, the block of conferences on broadcasting is divided into four themes: broadcast engineering, radio management, television administration and regulatory and legislative framework of distribution. The permanent technological changes have opened the doors to new forms of content dissemination. This new situation poses a challenge to audiovisual production and distribution companies, who must rethink their business model, adapt to the new environment or resign themselves to disappearing.
From a more technical point of view and, above all, much more novel, there are the blocks of conferences on IPTV and the Super Sessions. The protocol for the internet, better known simply as IP, continues to revolutionize telecommunications. Its characteristics structure a new type of market based on audience niches and the atomization of programming. However, how long it will take to develop and gain strength this new type of business; what should be the new form of content licensing; how IPTV will modify the current map of television providers (cable operators and satellites). These and other questions will be resolved on Wednesday, April 18, when this block of conferences will be held.
The Super Sessions are not much further from the horizon to which the IPTV conferences point, that is, the Super Sessions will also be a space for reflection on the future of the industry. First of all, its current state will be presented: dominant technologies, market situation in economic terms, main players, etc. Then the possible future of the industry will be analyzed, where the large investments, emerging technologies and market demands are being made.
Commercial sample
The trade show will run from Monday, April 16 to Thursday, April 19. In parallel, the commercial exhibition of the Association of News Directors for Radio and Television --RTNDA- (who also have a program of conferences on the subject) will also be developed.
Repeat visitors will find that the fair expanded its exhibition area, and will see in new locations companies that traditionally occupied other spaces. Among some of the many products that suppliers will present at the fair is the new version of Thomson's LDK 4000 camera, which now features 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion, aimed especially at the small and medium-sized production house segment.
Hitachi, meanwhile, will have on display its full line of HDTV cameras for studio and field production, models SK-3200, SK-3020P, SK-32B, DK-H32 and DK-H32S10. Also in the field of cameras, Panasonic will demonstrate the operation of its 16GB P2 card to increase the recording capacity of the company's P2 camcorders and decks.
In the area of digital cinematography, this year at NAB the presence of 4K equipment will be important for all stages of the workflow, including projection. Proof of this is the clipster digital intermediate workstation, from DVS, which allows zooming and panning, cuts and color correction in real time in 4K.
Finally, Snell & Wilcox will introduce Alchemist Ph.C -- IP, the software version of the eponymous converter family, which enables bidirectional conversion of video, audio and metadata between the 50 Hz and 60 Hz television standards.
NAB Services
For international visitors, the NAB fair has arranged a series of services both online and on site that will help them get the most out of the event.
Before arriving, those who register will be able to use the MyNAB Show system, which offers detailed information on which companies, people and products will be present at the fair. Based on the visitor's profile, the system also offers recommendations on events, commercial presentations and even the most common searches made by people with a similar profile. Finally, MyNAB Show allows the visitor to build an agenda with the interviews they want to do, stands that need to be visited and conferences to attend.
Already during the days of the fair, the international visitor will be able to access the International Trade Center, where they will find translation services, representatives of the United States Department of Commerce, access to an information system on import and export of products, and spaces to carry out business meetings.
Inscriptions
Registration can be done via the internet or on the day of the start of the fair. Of course, the costs vary from case to case. For international visitors, pre-registration is the best option. In addition, NAB issues a letter of invitation, at the request of the interested party, which can help with the visa procedures.
Admission to the trade show as well as to each of the conferences has a separate cost, which also depends on whether you are a member of the National Association of Broadcasters, the organizing entity of the event, and the date of registration for it.
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