Conference Blues

Perhaps it’s my own ignorance, but last week I checked out the National Association of Broadcasters NAB New York Show, and, having only been admitted to the exhibit hall, even as a media representative, found it a bit lackluster.

I guess I was expecting a lot more broadcasting content to be showcased in the exhibit hall, rather than aisles and aisles full of displays for audio and video hardware and equipment, such as sound mixing and recording, video cameras and editing, and other broadcasting hardware. I was also expecting some podcasting content to be showcased, since there were sessions on the conference agenda concerning podcasting.

The most prominent presence of podcasting on the exhibit hall floor was one small table crowded with business cards for something like 50 to 100 different small, lesser known podcasts. None of the big podcasting names such as Slate, NPR, Earwolf, Midroll or The Ringer were represented. Only one podcast distribution company of any consequence, VoxNest, had its own booth on the floor, and this company is focused mostly on hosting services, for small podcasts, although it does also provide such services on a larger enterprise level for companies, possibly from industries other than podcasting.

Again, possibly another aspect of ignorance, but it’s surprising that podcasting doesn’t have a better conference or exhibition in the New York market on a regular basis. There’s Podcast Movement, but that goes to different cities each year. This could be a prime opportunity for the right conference production company.