When the NAB Radio Show returned after the demise of the World Media Expo, New Orleans played host to the event. That show was well attended, and New Orleans proved itself to be a worthy convention city. Four years later, the NAB Radio Show is making its way back to the Big Easy.

The Fall show covers three days, with sessions beginning several hours before the exhibit floor opens. The biggest change this year is the creation of the NAB Xstream convention, held simultaneously with the Radio Show in the Morial Convention Center. While the two shows are being treated as separate events, registration for one qualifies you to attend the other.

On the following pages you will see a glimpse of some of the products that will be unveiled on the show floor. While most major product introductions are made at the Spring convention, there are numerous new products unveiled here as well. Also, some products debuted as prototypes in April will now be shown as working units.

In the sessions

Just as important as the exhibit floor, the sessions provide a wealth of information. The session tracks cover technical, management, programming and sales topics. We have assembled this session overview to help you plan the best use of your limited time. For complete session information, check the NAB Convention Program.

Wednesday. Since the exhibit floor does not open until the evening on Wednesday, there is plenty of time to attend one of the sessions during the day. Making its annual appearance for a full-day session is the AM/FM Antenna Certification Workshop. This detailed look into the final element of the broadcast system has been updated and will include information on maintenance and inspection of antenna systems. The final portion will address the new engineering considerations when evaluating safe lifting capacities for gin poles.

At 1pm, the session The Portable People Meter is Coming will look at the technology and discuss the results of its first test in the United States (The Arbitron Portable People meter was outlined in the July 2000 issue of BE Radio). This session will provide new insight into the future of radio ratings.

Nearly every station has some kind of Web presence. The session at 1pm will provide information on determining a station's Web strategy and what type of content to make available.

At 2:15, the session Steering Clear of FCC Fines and Forfeitures will look at topics such as indecent programming, failure to maintain public inspection files and improperly installed EAS equipment. The Chief of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau and several radio legal counselors will steer you clear of the FCC's fines and forfeitures.

Thursday. Radio's future is digital. The day-long session on Thursday called Digital Radio Certification Workshop runs from 10:30am to 5pm. It is expected that 2002 will be the year for the commercial start of IBOC. Attendees will gather practical implementation information needed for budgeting and implementing an IBOC system.

Panelists include representatives from iBiquity Digital and several manufacturers that cover areas affected by the conversion to IBOC.

In a less-intensive session called Understanding New Technology & Radio (3pm to 4pm), attendees can learn about radio's role in the changing entertainment landscape.

Friday. The counterpart to the Wednesday session is the AM/FM Transmitter Certification Workshop. Also a day-long session (8am to 3pm), this covers the ins and outs of the transmitter facility and offers some helpful tips and techniques that will find quick use in the field.

Look next door

The Xstream convention has its own track of sessions, some of which have a direct radio appeal outside the show's efforts to be an all-encompassing streaming event. Here is a brief list of some sessions on Friday with radio appeal.

10am: AM Small Market Streaming How to Really Do it on a Budget

10:20am: AM Leveraging Your Assets Making the Most of Your Media

11:15am: Internet Appliances Threatening the Livelihood of the PC

2:25pm: Digital Rights Management A Legal Guide

3:20pm: Legal Issues Around Streaming Audio

Of course, New Orleans offers plenty to see and do outside the convention, especially if food and music appeal to you.

NAB Radio Exhibitors

360 Systems	1636
Accuracy In Media	2110
Activate	1018
Airdate by TPI	2140
Air Force News Service	2046
Allcast	1032
American Blues Network	2125
Andrew Corporation	1847
Antenna Concepts	2122
Arbitron	1420
Armstrong Transmitter	2126
Audemat	1328
Audio Processing Technology	1347
Audioarts Engineering	1118
Auditronics	1118
BE Radio	1135
Bext	1957
BIA Financial Network	1740
BMI	1763
British Information Services	2100
Broadcast Data Consultants	1757
Broadcast Electronics	1620
Broadcasters General Store	1936
Broadcast Supply Worldwide	1628
Burk Technology	1940
Cartworks/dbm Systems	1433
CMI	2130
Coaxial Dynamics	2154
Communication Graphics	1607
Computer Concepts Corporation	1820
ComQuest Callout	1546
Comrex Corporation	1900
Continental Electronics	1904
Creative Radio	2050
CRL Systems	1436
Crouse-Kimzey	1143
CUE Corporation	1642
Dalet Digital Media	1340
Dataworld	1637
DG Systems	1956
Dielectric Communications	1641
DTN Weather Services	2104
Elcom.com	1860
Emmis Communications	1450
Encoda Systems	1656
ENCO Systems	1962
Energy-Onix	2108
Eonstreams	621
ERI-Electronics Research	1837
EWTN AM/FM	2144
Fairlight On Air	1566
FamilyNet	2041
FastChannel Network	1046
FirstCom Music	1611
Freeland Products	1346
Fresh Music Library	2119
Gepco International	1451
Gorman-Redlich Mfg. Co.	1946
Groove Addicts	2102
Harris	1604
Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols & Carter	2112
IBiquity Digital Corporation	1646
Images Ink.	1547
Inovonics	2043
International Communications	1660
International Gamco	2047
Jampro Antennas/RF Systems	1736
KD Kanopy	1550
Kelly Music Research	2049
Keystone Studio	1466
Klotz Digital America	1556
Koplar Interactive Systems	2160
The Label Company	1759
Larcan/TTC	1549
Live365.com	2000
Logitek Electronic Systems	1948
LPB	1800
Marketron	2008
MeasureCast	618
Mediatouch	1728
Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co.	1746
Moseley Associates	1348
Musicam USA	1841
National Weather Service	1761
Nautel Maine	2040
NBG Radio Network	1756
NetMedia Convergence	1766
Network Music	1538
NPR Satellite Services	1540
Olympus Flag & Banner	2156
OMB	1864
Omnia, a Telos Company	1846
Orban	1436
Patriot Commercial Antenna	1357
PMI Audio Group	1551
Powergold 2002	2062
Propagation Systems	1448
Prophet Systems Innovations	1828
Radio Express	2037
Radio Systems	1456
RadioSoft	1447
RadioWave.com	2118
Ramsey Electronics/Avcom	1549
RCS	1920
Register Data Systems	1600
RFS Broadcast	2136
Roll A Sign	1362
Rules Service Company	2147
Sabre Communications	1662
SCA Promotions	2036
Scott Studios	1838
SFX Multimedia Group	1457
Shively Labs	1615
Sierra Automated Systems	1460
SiteShell Corporation	1336
SpaceCom Systems	1142
Strata Marketing	1804
Stratosaudio	1332
Studer	1449
Studio Productions	1429
Superior Electric	923
Superscope	549
S.W.R.	2149
Telos Systems	1846
Texas Memory Systems	1256
The C.A.R. Show	2146
International Demographics	2028
The Omnia Group	1431
TieLine Anerica	1647
U.S. Tape & Label	1801
Valcom Limited	1748
V-Soft Communications	1851
WebFriends	2158
Wheatstone Corporation	1118
Wicks Broadcast Solutions	1810
Williams Communications	1863
World Division	2151
Issue advertisers are indicated in italics. Current as of July 18. Info provide by NAB .

Show-floor hours

• Wednesday, September 5
  5pm to 8pm

• Thursday, September 6
  9am to 5pm

• Friday, September 7
  8:30am to 4:30pm