The Toronto-based North American Broadcasters Association has formed a radio committee. Network broadcasters in the United States, Mexico and Canada, plan to work together to provide a common voice for the North American broadcast community.
Mike Starling, vice president and executive director of NPR Labs, is a member of the NABA board. Starling proposed the group, which NABA says will benefit existing members with radio operations as well as new members from both the operations and manufacturing side of broadcasting.
The NABA Radio Committee will meet later this month to develop a formal mandate and a work plan to support that mission. The new committee will also meet at a NABA’s annual general meeting in mid-February 2014 in New York City.
The NABA Radio Committee will report to the board and its mandate will include technical, operational and best practices. The group will recognize those in context with developments for digital radio, hybrid radio (e.g. Radio DNS), radio in mobile devices and two-way radios, whether via Wi-Fi or 4G/LTE. Workflow efficiencies, multiplatform delivery and audience analytics will also be a major focus of the radio committee.
Radio’s continuing importance in emergency situations will also be discussed within the NABA Radio Committee, as the topic is with the Risk Awareness & Continuity Committee. The committee will explore some of the specific areas of radio expertise in emergency situations, best practices, special responsibilities and then share that with the board.
