The NAB Show is the ultimate event for anybody in radio and TV broadcasting and tech. It shows us what’s new, what’s coming, and how the world is consuming it. Our team spent a few days (powered by a lot of coffee) taking it all in. Here are a few highlights:
Voice is getting louder
It’s no secret that audio is experiencing a renaissance and that was validated this year at the NAB Show. Voice is getting louder and people are listening. Companies are experimenting with everything from completely voice controlled connected cars to using voice assistance with local media.
A few years ago, conversations about voice were vague and businesses kept their statements pretty high-level. This year, those discussions changed into something more practical. “The voice conversation has matured,” says Eric Ronning, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at Jelli. “Businesses are honing in on their plans for voice and it is obvious that there is a deeper understanding of the future state.
A big focus on machine intelligence and VR
Remember when people started talking about streaming audio and businesses weren’t quite sure what to think? VR and machine intelligence seem to be in a similar place this year. It’s an area of focus that’s getting a lot of attention, but many businesses aren’t quite sure what to do with it yet.
There were at least 20 sessions attached to the AI/Machine Learning track this year so one thing is for sure, people are paying attention. “Engineers are starting to focus on applying AI to programmatic tech,” says Dylan Hecklau, Director of Product Management at Jelli. “When it comes to advertising, the goal is always to increase ROI and allow for the most accurate and efficient targeting.”
Traditional radio is a hot topic
There was a lot of buzz around audio, but more specifically traditional radio. There was a big presence of digital shops that do end-to-end attribution, but this year they were focusing on the power of radio. One of the Business of Broadcast sessions, “Radio: From The Streets and The C-Suite,” focused on leadership and the future business of radio. The broadcast world is changing as people embrace IoT devices and screenless advertising, and the impact of radio just keeps getting better. "People have an emotional connection to radio like to nothing else,” says Brian Black, Senior Account Executive at Beasley Broadcast Group. “No one says, 'Channel 5 is my favorite TV station. Whatever is on, I'll watch it.' But they will say that about our Country station."
The future of media and tech is looking bright and it's refreshing to see everyone embracing audio. Did you attend the NAB Show? If so, we’d love to hear about your favorite moments. Feel free to chat with us on Twitter!
