This year’s AES show in New York, Oct. 29–Nov. 1, is planning a number of high-profile events and sessions.
Just announced is a special Oct. 29 session at the Empire State Building to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the installation of the FM master antenna that made the building the transmission home to so many stations.
The invitation-only event will be hosted by David Bialik, chairman of the AES broadcast and streaming program. Scott Fybush, Radio World contributor and well-known “tower guy,” will moderate a panel on the topic. There will be a tour of the historic broadcast site and an anniversary cake is rumored.
Due to space limitations, reservations are required. Interested parties can sign up starting Oct. 28 at the Jacob Javits Center.
Bialik said, “This event will bring AES to new heights as we meet on top of one the tallest broadcast facilities in the world to discuss the history, technology and the future. This will be a one of a kind event.”
The Empire State Building’s FM master antenna, developed by Andrew Alford and Frank Kear, was the first of its kind, allowing for the use of a single mast by multiple stations via proper arrangement of smaller antennas. That made it ideal for multi-user transmission from facilities with limited space, such as the top of buildings. The original 1965 master antenna is still installed at the Empire State Building and serves as a backup.
