The NAB Show, the worlds largest annual conference and expo for professionals who create, manage, and distribute entertainment across all platforms, kicked off on April 8 with a State of the Broadcast Industry Address from Gordon Smith, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), a performance by “American Idol” superstar Chris Daughtry, […]
The NAB Show, the worlds largest annual conference and expo for professionals who create, manage, and distribute entertainment across all platforms, kicked off on April 8 with a State of the Broadcast Industry Address from Gordon Smith, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), a performance by “American Idol” superstar Chris Daughtry, and numerous sessions showcasing a slate of innovative and entertaining speakers, all driving this years theme of “metamorphosis.” More than 90,000 audio, video, and film content professionals from 150 countries are expected to attend the event, which runs through Thursday, April 11 in Las Vegas.
Gordon Smith, NAB president and CEO, addressed attendees on Monday morning, officially opening this years conference.
“Emerging technology presents a great opportunity for broadcasters to provide viewers with our highly valued content anywhere, on any device, anytime they want it,” said Smith. “As consumers’ appetite for local TV on-the-go continues to grow, broadcasters must continue to rise up to meet consumers’ desire for more live, local TV content.”
In the keynote conversation that followed between Gordon Smith and Chase Carey, President, CEO, and Deputy Chairman of News Corporation, Carey set the room abuzz while discussing piracy and the recent court ruling pertaining to the transmission of broadcast content by web television startup Aereo.
“We have no choice but to develop business solutions that ensure we continue to remain in the drivers seat of our own destiny,” said Carey. “One option could be converting the Fox broadcast network to a pay channel, which we would do in collaboration with both our content partners and affiliates.”
At the Television Luncheon, hosted by Nancy ODell, Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of “Entertainment Tonight,” “American Idol” showrunner Nigel Lithgow, judge Randy Jackson, and Trish Kinane, Executive Producer and President of entertainment programming for FremantleMedia North America were on hand to accept the induction of the top-rated television phenomenon in to the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Following the ceremony, attendees were treated to a special performance by Chris Daughtry, who played a selection of chart-topping songs and fan favourites.
Attendees were also given a rare peek behind the scenes of the broadcast late-night stalwart “Saturday Night Live,” as Rhys Thomas, director/producer of “SNL,” along with Stacey Foster, coordinating producer, Alex Buono, director of photography and Adam Epstein, editor, discussed how the live comedy show works their magic to create short films under a seemingly impossible 48-hour deadline.
