For those that don’t know, COMDEX was a computer centric convention that ran in Las Vegas from 1979 to 2003 before lagging attendance from competing conventions and the convergence of consumer electronic devices ultimately made it uninteresting and killed it off.
Back in November of 2007 Avid, currently facing too much competition from Final Cut software and currently trading at its lowest point since early 2003, declared it would not have its usual ginormous booth at the convention, but would still have a presence there conducting meetings with customers in an attempt to regain their “focus”. Their disappointing financials and not-so-optimistic view of their 2008 expectations undoubtedly had something to do with this decision. Continue reading ‘Is the NAB Show going the way of COMDEX?’
Traditional, over-the-air TV broadcasters are pretty screwed. Time and technology are rapidly shooting past and only now are they collectively looking for ways to recapture a lost audience. Only now are they, as a majority and as part of a coordinated effort, actively promoting the DTV transition, by way of shutting off the analog transmitters under the government’s plan, that is scheduled to occur February 17th, 2009.
Ashamedly, even though they have had digital transmitters operational for several years because of the government digital transition mandate, most broadcasters have flat out refused to promote that fact to their viewers outside of the addition of the new call letters on an hourly legal ID. Many broadcasters were hoping for and using the NAB to lobby for yet another delay in the analog shutoff.
In much the same way the Emperor felt superior in his new clothes, broadcasters felt secure in their lobbying arm, the NAB, and their sizable ad revenue which they wore like a protective cloak of invulnerability. If it were not for the SHVIA act, retransmission consent, must-carry and syndicated exclusivity laws that essentially force local market broadcasters onto a regional cable head-end’s television set, it is extremely likely that television broadcasters would now be a much leaner business - as radio has become. As it stands, even these legal protections are unable to completely stem the hemorrhaging of viewers to alternative entertainment outlets. Continue reading ‘TV Broadcasters struggle to remain relevant. Probably too little, too late.’
Not many people get inside Sutro Tower, so I consider myself pretty fortunate. My current employer doesn’t have transmit facilities or other interests at Sutro, so I was escorted through the gate and into the facility by a contract engineer, John Buckham, that our SF station has who also maintains a radio station there for another employer of his.
This was a unique opportunity for a few reasons; since I don’t work there, getting access is impossible unless you know someone and can get something arranged. This is a historically interesting site and it is a unique tower engineering design that has currently weathered 25 years of use. Continue reading ‘Visiting an SF Landmark. Sutro Tower.’
