Planning for the 2025 NAB Show is ramping up, and Radio World is asking exhibitors about their plans and expectations.
Matt Rigdon is chief technology officer of American Amplifier Technologies.
Radio World: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trend(s) that radio professionals should be watching for at the 2025 NAB Show?
Matt Rigdon: The most significant trends shaping the industry are AI-driven automation, remote/cloud-based control and mobile-first operations. Broadcasters need smarter, more proactive tools to monitor and manage their stations with minimal on-site intervention.
AI-driven diagnostics and predictive maintenance are becoming critical for identifying issues before they cause failures.
At the same time, remote control capabilities are evolving beyond simple dashboards — engineers require instant, mobile-first solutions that provide real-time alerts and actionable insights from anywhere.
AAT is at the forefront of this movement with our EmPower mobile app. By integrating EmPower into our EC product, RF Power Meters and a new Bridge device for third-party equipment, we are delivering a true mobile-first RF monitoring and AI-driven automation solution that helps broadcasters stay ahead of issues, reduce downtime and operate more efficiently.
RW: Your company is active in the RF sector. Briefly, what’s happening within this sector that readers should know about?
Rigdon: The RF sector is rapidly evolving with a strong focus on automation, energy efficiency and real-time monitoring. Broadcasters are under increasing pressure to maintain uptime while managing complex transmission infrastructure with fewer resources.
AI-powered monitoring and automation are becoming critical for reducing manual intervention and ensuring system reliability.
Intelligent remote-control solutions are replacing traditional monitoring systems, allowing engineers to manage infrastructure smarter and more efficiently.
Energy-efficient RF transmission is becoming a priority as broadcasters look for better ways to optimize power consumption.
AAT is addressing these needs with EmPower, the industry’s first true mobile-first RF monitoring and control solution, providing real-time access and notifications for broadcast transmission systems — anytime, anywhere and in the palm of your hand.
RW: Would you like to provide an update on the integration of Shively’s products into AAT’s offerings? How was the transition?
Rigdon: The integration of Shively Labs into AAT has strengthened our RF product line.
Our focus has been on improving availability, enhancing product capabilities and ensuring Shively’s RF systems integrate seamlessly into AAT’s broader ecosystem.
A key part of this strategy is preserving Shively’s legacy of quality and innovation while combining it with AAT’s forward-thinking approach. This ensures that broadcasters receive the reliability they expect from Shively, enhanced by AAT’s continued innovation.
RW: What will be your own most important product news or exhibit topic?
Rigdon: AAT will be showcasing our advancements in remote RF monitoring and true mobile-first control, including:
- EmPower mobile app — The first truly mobile-first RF monitoring and control platform, enabling engineers to manage transmission sites remotely with real-time alerts and control. AI-driven diagnostics and predictive maintenance tools are also on the roadmap.
- EC product — A next-generation hardware solution that provides real-time diagnostics and automation to protect transmission systems, integrating seamlessly with EmPower for a complete mobile-first monitoring experience.
- EmPower Bridge — Recognizing the power of EmPower, we are developing a bridge device that allows broadcasters to integrate any SNMP-enabled device into the EmPower ecosystem. While we work on natively integrating as many devices as possible, the bridge provides instant compatibility.
RW: If you are introducing a new product or feature, how is it different from what’s available on the market?
Rigdon: Most remote monitoring solutions are desktop-based with mobile-friendly interfaces as an afterthought. EmPower is built from the ground up as a mobile-first solution, meaning a fully optimized mobile experience, rather than just a scaled-down desktop interface.
[It includes] push notifications and instant alerts for real-time system updates; intuitive remote control and diagnostics, enabling engineers to take action on the go; AI-powered predictive maintenance that proactively identifies potential failures before they impact operations, bringing even more value to EmPower’s capabilities; and a simplified interface.
Gone are the days of having to build a complex remote control system. We streamline that for users so they can focus on monitoring and control, not custom designing the interface and features.
RW: Anything else we should know?
Rigdon: AAT is redefining RF infrastructure management by making mobile-first control the new standard. At the 2025 NAB Show, broadcasters will get a firsthand look at how EmPower and our EC, Power Meter, and Bridge products are transforming transmission site monitoring into a proactive, real-time experience.
