Expense budgets being what they are, a state or regional conference may provide a radio manager or engineer a more affordable option for some networking and education. Exhibitors meanwhile are able to meet with customers much more economically.
“Unlike massive international expos, where smaller voices get drowned out, smaller regional conferences offer a focused platform where ideas really resonate,” said Tessa Potter, president of the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers (WABE), which is marking the 75th year of its own event.
The second half of 2025 offers a number of opportunities to see why state and regional trade shows are still valuable. Popular topics at these events include artificial intelligence, virtualization, advanced analytics, the fast-changing FCC regulatory landscape, possible changes in EAS rules and ways for sales teams to compete in today’s media marketplace.
Here’s a sampler:
TAB Show
When: Aug. 6–7
Where: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Round Rock, Texas
Info: https://tabshow.org
Highlights: The Texas Association of Broadcasters event is the largest state broadcast association show in the country; it draws around 1,200 people and typically features 125 booths. Tech sessions include talks such as “Drone-based Trouble Shooting at Tower Sites” by Paul Shulins of Over the Air RF Consultants; “Transmission Site Security Virtualization” with Matt Leland of Burk Technology and Pat Moore of Broadcast Construction Solutions; and “SNMP for Remote Control /Transmission Line Imaging” with Tony Peterle of Lawo.
Alabama Association of Broadcasters Annual Conference
When: Aug. 7–8
Where: Ross Bridge Resort, Brimingham
Info: https://al-ba.com/wp2/
Highlights: Among sessions on Aug. 7 is an all-day engineering workshop featuring a talk by Greg Martin of Rohde & Schwarz with a look at advancements in radio and TV transmitters. There will also be a talk on sizing and installing diesel generators, and Larry Wilkins of the ABA discussing the importance of good audio quality. The broader event also features sessions on AI, public media, federal broadcast policy and other topics.
Nebraska Broadcasters Association Convention
When: Aug 12–13
Where: Embassy Suite, La Vista
Info: www.ne-ba.org
Highlights: The conference features a series of talks covering management, technical, programming, sales and newsroom issues. SBE Chapter 74 is helping put together the presentations for engineers; those speakers will include Davina Sashkin of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, Dan Hyatt from DNAV, Jacob Daniluck of Tieline and Jing Zhou from Harmonic Inc.
Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic
When: Sept. 15–17
Where: Madison Marriott West in Middleton, Wis.
Info: https://broadcastersclinic.com/
Highlights: The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, the Minnesota Broadcasters Association and two chapters of the Society of Broadcast Engineers team up to produce the clinic, which dates to 1956. The NAB’s Sam Matheny will discuss technology transitions and how broadcasters are adjusting, talking about “tectonic trends impacting broadcasters, including metadata and connectivity,” according to the session description. Other engineering topics include advances in FM antenna technology with Nicole Starrett of Dielectric, transmitter site tips from Nautel’s Jeff Welton, project planning with Paul Stewart of Summit Technology Group, and Workbench tips from John Bisset of Telos Alliance.
Midwest Broadcast & Multimedia Technology Conference
When: Sept. 24–25
Where: Columbus, Ohio
Info: https://mbmtc.oab.org/
Highlights: It’s two days of sessions and technology for broadcast engineers and multimedia professionals, produced jointly by five state broadcast associations. The agenda was pending as of late June. The Society of Broadcast Engineers will hold its national meeting in conjunction with this event.
WABE Media & Entertainment Technology Conference
When: Sept. 29–Oct. 1
Where: Telus Convention Centre, Calgary
Registration: https://wabe.ca/home/conference/attend/
Highlights: The conference from Canada’s Western Association of Broadcast Engineers offers a blend of education, networking and celebration. This year WABE celebrates 75 years. The event moves around; last year’s in Edmonton drew about 400 people. Organizers say broadcast and entertainment technology professionals are welcome to share ideas, explore solutions and shape the future of the industry. Tech sessions offer an opportunity to gain insights and do a dive deeper into the topics shaping the broadcast industry. Free exhibits-only passes are available.
CCBE/OAB Conferences
When: Oct 27–28
Where: Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre
Info: https://ccbe.ca/2025-ccbe-conference/ and https://oab.ca/conference/
Kirk Nesbit, representing the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, at a past event.
Highlights: The Association of Central Canada Broadcast Engineers moves its annual event to Toronto this year, and to a later date than in the past. And for the first time it will be held jointly with a conference of the Ontario Association of Broadcasters. CCBE organizers say a list of broadcast engineering sessions and papers for 2025 will be published soon.
A Few More Shows
Here are a few more upcoming events that may be of interest. In some cases, agendas and details were not yet posted as we finalized this issue of Radio World:
The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Conference and Excellence in Broadcasting Awards takes place on Aug. 18 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn.
The Georgia Association of Broadcasters’ GABCON is set for Sept. 19–20 at Truist park in Atlanta. Ga.
The Kansas Association of Broadcasters Convention will take place on Oct. 6 in Manhattan, Kan.
Meanwhile on the national convention scene, NAB Show New York returns to the Javits Center on Oct. 21–23; we’ll preview it in an upcoming issue.
And the annual AES Show heads to California’s Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center Oct. 22–25.
