NAB Show Floors Largest Show in a Decade in Las Vegas

April 13, 2014
NAB Show Floors Largest Show in a Decade in Las Vegas alt

From the Cloud to net neutrality and the coolest cameras and software, the future of broadcasting and digital media was the focus of the National Association of Broadcasters’ NAB Show 2014 that took place April 5-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Not only the products and discussions were impressive here, but also the show featured the largest floor in more than a decade. It was up 7 percent from the previous year, spanning 945,000 net square feet and showcasing 1,746 exhibiting companies. Attendance was at 98,015, an uptick of more than 4 percent from 2013.

"NAB Show continues to reign supreme as the leading global showcase for cutting-edge technologies covering all stages of media and entertainment production," said NAB Executive vice president of communications Dennis Wharton.

The showfloor is evolving with the times. The Connected Media World area, dedicated to the technologies and devices behind content consumption, and Sprockit, an initiative to connect market-ready startups with influencers in the industry, have doubled in size since their launch last year.

To get the most value out of their NAB Show experience, attendees were invited to participate in two guided tours that included companion briefings or go on a self-guided audio tour as part of the mobile app. The tour options included a general “decipher the showfloor,” one dedicated to online video, one focused on branded entertainment and one for a military/government segment.

Whether after a tour or just after a day on the floor, attendees could take advantage of the new “arc@des,” a set of decompression zones set in various locations around the floor, featuring gaming tables, audio headsets, fun with paints and prizes.

This year, for the first time, the show featured the NMX New Media Lounge, home to live streaming video shows, podcasts and interaction with industry professionals the creators of Blogworld and New Media Expo.

"What better place for New Media content creators to network, learn and geek out on the most amazing gear on the planet?” said Rick Calvert, CEO and co-founder of NMX Events. "We are thrilled to be hosting the NMX New Media Lounge at the NAB Show this year. This is an indicator of the convergence of new and traditional media."

Live streaming and mobile storage solutions were at the top of the list for attendee William Wood Jr., director of content for Usefnetwork.

“Our budgets are growing, we’re buying a lot of new stuff and building a new trailer,” he said about his job in the production of video for horse shows.  

Finding the right distribution platform remains a challenge because things are changing so quickly. “Long term, broadband speeds of quality are going to go way up,” Wood added. “You’ll be stream live your T.V.”

German-based exhibitor Archiware, a backup and archive software provider, also had a productive show.  

“It’s tougher for us to get a good space,” said Sophie Walker, marketing manager for Archiware. “But we do a lot of pre-show work with our customers, and all the major players are here. It’s our most important show in the U.S.”

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