The spring NAB Show is approaching. Between now and then Radio World will conduct several short Q&As with manufacturers about their plans and offerings, to help you get the most out of the big annual trade show. Dan McQuillin is managing director for Broadcast Bionics.
Radio World: What are you hearing from your customers about their business outlook this year? In what areas should we expect growth or the most interesting projects?
Dan McQuillin: Radio is now confidently and ambitiously using our visualization and social media technology to reach new listeners by sharing video clips or streaming interviews and features on Facebook Live, YouTube live and Periscope. In the year ahead, I think we will see increasing opportunities for radio’s content to be shared, discovered and consumed on new platforms. It is an exciting time for our industry.
RW: You’ve been active in the software development market for 25 years. What’s the biggest problem or challenge facing users in this segment right now?
McQuillin: The audience is running ahead of broadcasters in the way they are demanding and consuming content. The pace of technical change and managing all the different tasks and platforms that broadcasters now need to support is a challenge for them. Broadcast Bionics is hugely focused on preserving the speed and simplicity or radios workflow while delivering a complex array of media across multiple, diverse platforms.
RW: What new goodies will your company be showing? Why should attendees visit your booth? (Booth N8331)
McQuillin: In partnership with Microsoft we will be launching Skype TX for Radio, an incredible new way for radio broadcasters to make high-quality audio calls with millions of Skype users. If you go to the time and effort of coming to Las Vegas the aim for our stand is that you will see something you never saw before, think something you never thought before and go away excited about the future of radio. Last year we left many visitors speechless and one sleepless after visiting us! This year’s stand is labeled “Radio’s future is here,” and we will show radical advances in visualization, transcription and object-based production. We look forward to exciting and intriguing people about the opportunities ahead for radio.
RW: There’s been some considerable rearranging of booths over the last couple of years when it comes to radio industry companies. Your booth this year is in the North Hall, how do you like the new hall/floor layout?
McQuillin: While there is increasing crossover between TV and radio technology, and we have much to learn from each other, it does help visitors if most of the audio and radio technology can be consolidated in one place. I look forward to spending more time with customers and less time wandering lost through halls of drones!
RW: You’re a show veteran, what’s your favorite thing about the show? What’s your least favorite thing?
McQuillin: My least favorite thing is being considered a veteran! It is a long trip and a tiring show, but we love meeting people who get excited by radio. When visitors come by our booth it is fun to see them blown away by the vision of radio they see. Year after year, people come back asking us what we are up to now. This year we are more certain than ever that the trip will be worth it for both them and us. Come and put us to the test.
For more NAB Show-related news and features check out our NAB Show News page.