NAB Launches Program to Foster Broadcast Technology Innovation

NAB Labs to evolve into PILOT, a coalition of pioneering media industry stakeholders

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Wednesday announced the evolution of its innovation arm – NAB Labs – which will become PILOT, an initiative to bring together leading edge companies, organizations and educators to advance broadcast technology and broadcaster innovation. PILOT is honored to welcome Accenture, Akamai, Frankly, Google, Nielsen, Shareablee and Yahoo! to join with NAB as charter members of the initiative.

With the formation of PILOT, NAB is also pleased to welcome John Clark as executive director of the program. Clark brings 18 years of experience in the digital media space, most recently with the Reese News Lab in the School of Media and Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to UNC, Clark conceived, built and managed some of the most successful broadcast television web sites and mobile applications in the industry. Clark will lead the launch and evolution of PILOT, ensuring the program accelerates innovation in the broadcast industry.

PILOT is designed to create a coalition of broadcasting and technology stakeholders, such as new media broadcasters, measurement and attribution companies, advertising partners and technology enablers. Among other goals, PILOT will drive creation and implementation of new technologies and solutions for the media industry through working groups and committees.

“As the definition of what it means to be a broadcaster broadens, it is critical to work with traditional and new media partners on innovations to better meet the needs of future generations of consumers,” said NAB Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny. “PILOT will build these partnerships among visionaries who share the goal of tackling the challenges and opportunities facing the broadcast industry in the 21st century. I am especially happy to have John Clark leading this effort and look forward to working with him to build an engaging future.”

PILOT will build on the innovation efforts of NAB Labs, a technology division of NAB created in 2012 to propel broadcast television and radio into the future. The division has been engaged in numerous innovation efforts such as the development of next-generation television and hybrid radio for Smartphones.

In 2015, NAB Labs joined business incubators 1776 and the Dingman Center Angels, which provide resources and networking connections for early-stage companies. NAB Labs also made seed-round investments in two startup companies: Antenna, a company that builds online engagement and measures audience sentiment; and Yet Analytics, a big data company focused on interpreting data for use in real-time decision-making in time-sensitive applications.

Charter members of PILOT will help define key areas for development of innovative technologies and services for media companies with a focus on multi-platform digital distribution. As associate members of NAB, PILOT members will also participate in NAB technology program development, conventions and networking events.

About NAB Labs
Created in 2012, NAB Labs is a program of the National Association of Broadcasters that provides a platform for innovation, a venue for forging partnerships and testing new technology, and educational events to create awareness about over-the-air radio and television technology initiatives. Learn more at www.nablabs.org.

More information about PILOT can be found at https://www.nabpilot.org/.

About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.

(The above information is a press release from the National Association of Broadcasters.  WIZS is a member of NAB.  John Clark is a former employee of WIZS.  He worked at WIZS as a sports broadcaster for Henderson-Vance Recreation Department Baseball and Softball while attending Northern Vance High School.  He is a 1999 graduate of NVHS.  Clark graduated from Campbell University, and he was an integral part of the success WRAL.com experienced from the mid 2000s until going to UNC just over three years ago.)