WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) will honor Patricia Smullin with the Chuck Sherman Television Leadership Award at the NAB Small Market Television Exchange (SMTE), held September 12 – 14 in Austin, Texas. “Patsy’s passion for excellence in small market local television is unmatched,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “She exemplifies the […]
Lets Do Away With Anti-Retrans Quinquennials
Every five years, satellite operators ask Congress to renew the law that gives them the right to import network affiliated broadcast signals into “white areas” where subscribers cannot get local affiliates off air. And every five years, the operators and their cable allies try to dirty the bill with provisions that will make it more difficult for broadcasters to negotiate for retransmisson consent fees. NAB’s job is clear: Convince Congress to kill the renewal legislation or pass a “clean” bill and make it permanent.
The association’s director of media relations, Zamir Ahmed, is promoted. He will shape messaging for NAB communications in the public policy arena and serve as an occasional spokesman in dealing with trade and consumer press.
In addition, Emily Barr becomes TV chair and David Santrella was elected radio chair.
When it comes to those opposing modifications to the FCC’s media ownership rules, the National Association of Broadcasters is not holding back in its most recent comments. The organization wrote that comments submitted in opposition to reform are “fundamentally backward” in this new media marketplace.
She is promoted from vice president to succeed the retiring Marcellus Alexander as head of the NAB Leadership Foundation.
Exclusives
NAB Show Rebooting For The Future
While most broadcasters and equipment vendors still view the annual NAB Show as an essential stop, attendance and exhibitors have declined the past few years. Show organizers are being proactive by tweaking the schedule of next year’s show in an effort to attract fresh traffic.
NAB announced the promotion of Trish Johnson to chief financial officer and senior vice president, finance effective today. Johnson, who joined NAB in March 2017, previously was SVP and controller, finance. Johnson has led the NAB finance department since June 2017 and was promoted to senior vice president and controller, finance in September 2017. In […]
Broadcasters have told the FCC not to pay attention to the tech companies seeking to harpoon the great white (spaces) whale by preventing broadcasters from using vacant channels to help in the transition to next-gen ATSC 3.0 TV transmissions. That came in a call this week between NAB execs and officials at the FCC’s Media Bureau and Incentive Auction Task Force.
Broadcasters and satellite operators are at odds over who would be burdening whom under a new carriage election proposal the FCC is considering. The NAB and NCTA have joined in proposing changes to the carriage election — must carry or retrans — process, which the FCC is looking to streamline as part of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s deregulatory weed-whacking initiative.
