LAS VEGAS – Despite having pushed back hard enough against the wireless industry to make sure a recent Congressional Bill on the reclamation of spectrum would not harm his members, National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Gordon Smith urged vigilance and innovation – at both the national and local level – when addressing delegates at the NAB Show in this morning’s opener.
Wireless companies in the States insist they need more spectrum in which to offer more services and have been attempting to spread the message here that over-the-air broadcasting is yesterdays technology standing in the way of progress – and that TV broadcasters should be forced to cough up some of their very valuable spectrum.
The bill that passed allows local broadcasters to volunteer to give their spectrum up for auction – but they can not be forced. “Working in unity – small and large market stations … networks and affiliates… together with radio stations across the country – we averted a spectrum grab from misguided friends who would have you believe that broadcasting is yesterday's technology.”
Pointing to how radio and TV stations continued to operate so they could inform their listeners and viewers during various natural disasters – while everyone’s cell and telecom networks failed, Smith preached to the converted that their work is essential to everyday Americans.
Smith noted that broadcasters used every arrow in their quiver to engage their listening and viewing public and force congress to listen. In fact, the NAB’s effective strategy of engaging as many as possible in the issues through as many outlets as possible was even copied by tech giants who fought against the SOPA and PIPA attempted copyright bills earlier this year.
“The idea behind SOPA and PIPA was simple and straightforward: Don't steal our creative content,” Smith added. “But it didn't matter. The technology community – the Googles and Wikis – used their medium just as we did – to create a powerful megaphone to change forever how battles are won, or lost, inside the Beltway. Like us, they used every tool at their disposal to sway public opinion.”
And they altered the debate, spinning it on its axis. “Shockingly, ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ became ‘Do not censor the Internet.’ I share this to remind you that while we have been successful on two major issues facing broadcasters, we should never rest on our laurels.”
Smith also cautioned delegates that the wireless industry views the voluntary portion of the recent spectrum bill as just the beginning of the end for over-the-air TV broadcasting – and to help battle Verizon, AT&T and the like, broadcasters must innovate and beat the wireless giants with their own game. That is, take your TV signal digital (not just HD), multicast it, and make it mobile.
“We must continue to fight for our future. We are harnessing the power of technology in Washington, D.C. My question to you is, are you prepared to do the same in the marketplace?” he asked.
Pointing to cars that Tweet, post items on Facebook and buy movie tickets, where does the AM/FM radio fit into that, he continued?
“On the TV side, we need to be aggressively pushing mobile and ultra HD,” Smith added. “I was thrilled to hear just this morning that more stations and networks have joined the effort to launch mobile in 35 markets.” (The Open Mobile Video Coalition is leading that, where devices have been built which plug into mobile phones and tablets to deliver live, off-air TV to those devices.
“Delivering live, local and national news, sports and our great shows to viewers on the go – this is where our business is going. We must continue to look for ways to integrate the power of broadcasting and broadband to improve the viewer experience,” he explained. “Our adversaries – your competitors – are doing this. They're smart. They're ruthless. And they are well-financed.”
Those ruthless adversaries, wireless and other tech companies, with their relentless push into video, is trying to recreate something that broadcasters are already in position to offer.
“I have always heard broadcasting described as ubiquitous… But ubiquity tomorrow must mean broadcasting's availability to all people at all times in all places and on all devices,” said Smith. “The wireless industry wants to replicate what we do. In fact, they are developing their own mobile-TV network…but they say they need more spectrum. And they could get what they want… pending approval from the government.
“So let me get this straight. Wireless carriers want to roll out a mobile TV service, just like ours. And they are asking the government for more of our spectrum to do it. And their service, most assuredly, would not be free. It seems to me that the government could be in the position of picking the wireless industry as the winner and the consumer as the loser.”
Cartt.ca editor and publisher Greg O’Brien is in Las Vegas this week covering the annual NAB Show.
