Welcome to the Broadcast Engineering blog for this year’s NAB.

Welcome to the Broadcast Engineering blog for this year’s NAB. We have almost a dozen reporters covering every key event over the next six days. If it involves technology, you’ll see it covered here.

Because of hard times, exhibitors and show organizers alike expect a lower attendance. How low? Outsiders don ‘t know and NAB isn’t talking.

Despite predicted lower attendance, I tell clients that fewer people just means those that do come are the important ones. The economy is a good filter. There’ll be few tire kickers at this year’s show.

What to expect?

Look for lots of talk, but mostly talk, about mobile. Yes, broadcasters say they want to transmit mobile video. Yes, vendors have products. Yes, surveys seem to indicate that there is an audience. But….There are still many questions.

Even so, Jim Goodmon Capitol Broadcasting’s CEO and president and technology leader is leading the charge to demonstrate MPH to the public. The station begin transmitting MPH to Raleigh, N.C buses on April 14th.

LG Electronics provided mobile DTV receivers, flat-screen monitors and project development and support. Harris is providing transmission equipment, the digital signage systems and development and support services.

Right now the system operates on only one bus. Four more buses are scheduled to be equipped with the reception gear by August. The city transit authority says it hopes to have 20 buses equipped with MPH reception capability by 2010.

This an excellent demonstration project, one broadcasters hope is repeated by other cities. So you’ll see lots of mobile at the show.

Now, back to NAB.

There will be plenty of new products and technology on display at the show. And with fewer people—maybe you’ll be able to get some one-on-one time with the exhibitors.

See something interesting? Tell me here and I’ll share it with everyone.