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Two big names in transmitter sales inked a strategic alliance this morning at the NAB show in Las Vegas.
Peter Conlon, president of Nautel Ltd., and John Uvodich, president of Continental Electronics, signed the agreement during the opening hours of the convention.
In their first joint interview on the show floor, the leaders of the companies told RW Online that the agreement will allow both manufacturers to offer customers a complete range of HD Radio digital systems and products, while playing to each company’s strengths: Continental will be able to offer solid-state Nautel gear in the United States, while Nautel will be able to offer Continental high-power tube equipment in Canada.
“This gives broadcasters single-point access to Nautel’s rich expertise in solid-state and digital adaptive precorrection FM exciter designs in conjunction with Continental’s cost-effective high-power tube technology employing innovative linearization techniques,” they said in the announcement.
RW Online learned that the deal has been simmering for at least a year; in fact Nautel’s Jorgen Jensen and Continental’s Adil Mina have been discussing possible alliances for several years. The decision by Continental to use a Nautel exciter in the 816HD transmitter, introduced last year, encouraged more formal cooperation.
The companies’ booths are located across the aisle from each other here at NAB.
