One in a series of interviews with manufacturers and suppliers about new offerings heading into the NAB Show. This is with Don Winget, president of Broadcast Tools Inc.
Q: What notable technology developments at Broadcast Tools should radio engineers know about?
Winget: Broadcast Tools continues to expand our Sentinel product line, introducing several new Sentinel products at NAB this year. The Sentinel products are Web-based remote control and audio monitoring devices that greatly expand access and control.
Q: You make a range of “problem solvers,” including remote controls, DAs, silence monitors and much else. What’s the growth area of your business right now?
Winget: With the accessibility of Internet continuing to grow, our Web-based products are a bright spot in our product arsenal. We also are experiencing growth in what has been the core of our business for over a decade, analog and AES matrix switchers.
Q: There’s a perception that consolidation among radio ownership has been paralleled by a consolidation of suppliers in our industry — that small entrepreneurial manufacturers are becoming a thing of the past. What’s your view?
Winget: Broadcast Tools plans to continue for years to come. Our small size and flexibility allow us to focus on our niche of products which expands beyond broadcasting. We have had a steady increase in business even in this economic downturn, and look forward to what the future holds for our company and our customers.
Q: Who owns your company? Where are you based, and how many employees do you have?
Winget: Broadcast Tools is a closely held privately owned company. Our office is in Sedro-Woolley, a small town in beautiful Skagit county, in northwestern Washington State. We operate our business with fewer than 10 employees.
Q: Anything else we should know about your direction or new products?
Winget: Broadcast Tools is always developing new products. We continue to look for needs that aren’t being met elsewhere, or where a solution can be simplified, and create products that meet those needs while still being affordable to our customers.
