The SBE Ennes Workshop is the traditional kick-off for the NAB Show, but in 2026 it will be at the end of the convention because of another event being held the opening weekend. (Here are all the SBE events and activities at the convention.) In 2026, it will span two days on April 21 and 22. There will be two separate educational tracks: From Signals to Success: RF101 Gets You There; and Emerging Technology.
RF 101 This session introduces participants to the fundamentals of radio frequency theory and its practical applications in broadcast engineering. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of RF signals, propagation, modulation and essential components used in modern transmission systems. The session emphasizes real-world scenarios, helping engineers connect theoretical concepts to everyday troubleshooting and system design. Designed for newcomers and those seeking a refresher, this workshop builds a strong foundation for advancing into more complex RF topics.
Emerging Technology This session is pitched to the ambitious engineer or technician in today’s broadcast and media production environment aiming at a management role or knowledge acquisition in practical and beneficial topics. Gone are the days of sizable tech or engineering staff in most facilities. Today’s techs carry broad and crisp general expertise and are typically not masters or experts in any one field. Rather than focusing strictly on media IP tech, this year we present topics related to real-world challenges in maintaining and building media facilities: More hands-on and practical training with an intensive bent to latest technical trends and technologies and their inherent efficiency gains.
Quick Links:
RF101 Day 1 | RF 101 Day 2 | Emerging Technology Day 1 | Emerging Technology Day 2
Thanks to these SBE Sustaining Member Sponsors
| GOLD Sponsor |
| BRONZE Sponsors |
The Ennes Workshop will be held in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Register at the NAB Show website. The Workshop registration of $289 includes a free exhibits pass, and a registration code for SBE members that offers a free exhibits pass or $150 off the NAB Show Conference pass. The two-day workshop includes lunch breaks. Use the promo code SBEEARLYBIRD by February 28 to get a discount on the SBE Ennes Workshop registration.
A rundown of the two educational tracks will be posted as it is available. The schedule is subject to change.
Register for the SBE Ennes Workshop at the NAB Show website. Register by Feb. 28, 2026, with the code SBEEARLYBIRD and save. Use the code SBENAB26 for the SBE member free exhibits-only code + $150 off the main conference bundle.
RF101 – April 21 – N252
8:50 a.m. – Call to Order
Jeff Welton
9:10 a.m. – A Word from the SBE President
Kevin Trueblood
9:15 a.m. – Basic Electronics Fundamentals
Greg Buchwald
Ohm’s law and the principles of electronics theory that can make troubleshooting faults a lot easier.
10:00 a.m. – Break
10:15 a.m. – Modulation
Greg Buchwald
How does the audio get onto the radio wave and what’s different between AM, FM, TV/ATSC, QAM/COFDM.
11:00 a.m. – Broadcast Transmitters
Jeff Welton
Overall discussion of transmitters, looking at cooling, maintenance considerations and related installation thoughts.
12:00 pm. – Lunch
1:10 p.m. – Regulation
Kevin Trueblood
The FCC takes licensing seriously and the role of the chief operator is to protect the license FCC considerations, STAs, NOTAMs and various other situations will be discussed.
1:40 p.m. – Proof of Performance
Greg Buchwald
There are various tests performed to prove a station is operating within proper parameters. This session explores audio proofs, MER, and related things.
2:05 p.m. – Test/Measurement
A discussion of test equipment, and measurement techniques specific to broadcast facilities.
3:00 p.m. – Break
3:15 p.m. – Troubleshooting
Greg Buchwald
When it comes to finding out what’s wrong, there’s a process, this session will cover that process and discuss stocking spares and look at when to call for help.
4:00 p.m. – Site Operation and Safety
Karl Lahm
Whether a new site or an existing one, keeping equipment cool, clean and well grounded will significantly extend lifespan. This session will look at grounding, lightning protection, air handling and site layout as a whole.
4:45 p.m. – Q&A and Comments
Emerging Technology – Day 1 – N250
Emerging Technologies Day 1
8:50 a.m. – Call to Order
Fred Willard
8:55 a.m. – A Word from the SBE President
Kevin Trueblood
9:00 a.m. – Icebreaker and Welcome
Cindy Zuelsdorf
Market yourself for changing tech landscape and new mindset for IP centric media technology.
9:15 a.m. – Dynamic Media Facilities
Brad Gilmer, Cindy Zuelsdorf
Broadcast facilities are being asked to support more workflows, formats, and distribution paths, often with fewer resources and tighter budgets. Concepts such as flexible production systems and dynamic media facilities (DMF) are becoming part of everyday infrastructure discussions. Real facility design choices and shift to software-based infrastructure will be covered.
9:45 a.m. – Media Format Convergence
Alun Fryer
Media facilities have more choices than ever building their infrastructure, being driven by explosive growth in technologies and the workflows that they unlock. Converged hardware, software, cloud and Dynamic Media Facilities all have their strengths, but often a mix of technologies are the right fit. We will investigate how to manage media connectivity in these hybrid infrastructures while maintaining efficient workflows.
10:15 a.m. – Break
10:30 a.m. – Loudness and Dialog Intelligibility
Robert Bleidt, Scott Norcross, Sr., Scott Kramer
These experts analyze loudness and consistency between disparate sources for streaming, on-demand file playback, and broadcast. The intelligibility challenge isn’t new for manufacturers and producers. Traditional processing solutions, distribution formats, and alternate soundtracks often fall short. Emerging machine learning technologies have shifted the conversation and created new options. Also, an update on ATSC A/85 standard and introduction of a comprehensive related AES paper.
11:30 a.m. – HD Radio Update
Dave Kolesar
HD Radio transmits the digital signals in unused portions of the same band as the analog AM and FM signals. Here we present a quick intro and then analyze the latest updates, trends, statistics, and technical specifications, including AM digital format.
12:05 p.m. – SBE Education Opportunities
Cathy Orosz
The SBE provides more and more relevant, affordable education using various instructional methods.
12:15 p.m. – Lunch
1:15 p.m. – Telecom Circuits and Links for Broadcast and Media Facilities
Dan Merwin, Michael Chase
A brief history of telecom circuits for media; navigating today’s product and provider landscape. Making the procurement process as easy and effective as possible, while juggling budgetary, staffing, and time restraints. Look at Starlink, 4/5G, and private 5.8MHz links changing the game. What steps are required to build a robust, redundant infrastructure on a limited budget using Software-Defined WAN technologies?
1:45 p.m. – AI Trends in Programmatic Ad Insertion
CJ Leonard
Our industry survives and thrives on ad revenue. Automatic insertion programmatic AI and machine learning algorithms automate buying, selling, and placement of spots in real-time, replacing manual negotiations with data-driven decisions targeting audiences efficiently. Real-time bidding auctions ensure reach to relevant users at the optimal price, maximizing ROI for both clients and providers.
2:15 p.m. – Growth of FAST Channels
Markell Lambright
Free Ad Supported (streaming) Television feels like a return to the golden age of TV watching: Schedules on a grid, a laid-back channel-surfing mode, ad breaks signaling a bathroom break. This throwback experience is back in style. Over 50% of millennial and Gen X viewers tune in each month. FAST is quickly becoming an attractive addition to reach content seeking viewers.
2:45 p.m. – Break
3:00 p.m. – The Various Flavors of HDR
John Mailhot
HDR (High Dynamic Range) video offers a more realistic, vibrant picture with brighter highlights, deeper shadows, and a wider spectrum of colors than standard video (SDR), achieved through increased luminance and color depth (like 10-bit) for richer detail in both bright and dark scenes, supported by formats like HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, playable on compatible HDR TVs and devices.
3:35 p.m. – Myriad Uses of AI in Media
Kyle Suess
AI can automate tasks, personalize content, enhance production, and boost efficiency by handling transcription, metadata tagging, content recommendations, and creating social media clips. Don’t forget targeted advertising and real-time translation and smart upscaling. Broadcasters use AI for everything from content creation and editing to data analysis, significantly reducing costs and freeing up human creativity for more complex storytelling.
4:10 p.m. – Time and PTP Wait for No One: Hybrid Facilities Top Challenges
Steve Holmes, Ryan Morris
Time and tide wait for no man. Managing multiple reference signals in hybrid broadcast environments has become a quagmire. If you’re stuck in the thick of it, this session could be your salvation. Best practices in designing, deploying, and testing multi-tier reference systems that support both IP and SDI infrastructures. How to ensure failures don’t cascade into catastrophic loss across your facility and real-world experience in PTP and black burst in hybrid environments.
RF101 – Day 2 – N252
8:50 a.m. – Call to Order
Jeff Welton
9:00 a.m. – ATSC 3.0, A85, D2m Update
Joint Session with Emerging Technology
9:35 a.m. – Security for Your Facility
Joint Session with Emerging Technology
10:10 a.m. – HVAC for Media Facilities
Joint Session with Emerging Technology
10:30 a.m. – Q&A on Joint Sessions
10:45 a.m. – Break
11:00 a.m. – Propagation
Karl Lahm
A discussion of how radio waves travel, with a look AM/FM/TV, discussing polarization, antenna gain and more.
11:45 a.m. – Remote Control
Discussion of transmitter site monitoring, both conventional and over IP with SNMP.
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – AM and AM Directionals
While AM radio is more than 100 years old, there’s always something to learn when it comes to antenna systems, so we’ll discuss theory and tuning, as well as maintenance.
2:15 p.m. – Antennas
Karl Lahm
3:00 p.m. – Break
3:15 p.m. – FM/TV Antennas
Steve Wilde
FM antenna systems require some thought. Bandwidth, tuning, considerations, transmission line all play a factor in the performance of a station.
4:00 – ROI and How To Speak It
Kevin Trueblood
This session looks at ways to teach technician management-speak, delving into ROI, cost of acquisition, operation, ownership and related terms.
Emerging Technology – Day 2 – N250
8:50 a.m. – Call to Order
David Bialik
8:55 a.m. – Greeting
Mike Downs
9:00 a.m. – Your NextGen ATSC 3.0 Update
Madeleine Noland, Luis Fausto
Joint Session with Emerging Technology
ATSC 3.0 service reaches 80% of U.S. viewing households with more than 18 million receivers sold. Broadcasters are shifting from launching new stations to planning full transition. ATSC 3.0 is the foundation for next-generation broadcasting in Brazil, and several other countries are preparing to transition. Near-term opportunities are enhanced audio/video, IP datacasting. and advanced emergency information. Broadcast-to-Everything (B2X) and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) paradigms are fast arriving.
9:35 a.m. – Protect the Most Important Asset: Your People!
Steve Shultis, Claudia Haase
Joint Session with Emerging Technology
Today’s political climate challenges us with growing physical security risks. Attention is paid to the safety of journalists and on-air talent, but these risks automatically extend to the technical teams who support remote productions, live events, and day-to-day broadcast operations–yet their safety is often left out of the equation. protecting people is not only a duty of care, but a core leadership responsibility.
10:10 a.m. – HVAC for Your Media Facility
Andy Butler
Joint Session with Emerging Technology
Modern media facilities are data centers, and maintaining stable environmental conditions requires overcoming a range of technical and operational complexities that tech managers need to know. Those with experience in this industry understand that dependable climate control is a necessity. Perhaps unglamorous, physical plant HVAC skill and knowledge is crucial to your career success.
10:40 a.m. – Break
11:00 a.m. – Codec Technology Evolving Faster Than Ever: Audio and Video
Tom Hartnett, Jing Zhou
A codec is a device or software that encodes or decodes a digital stream or signal for transmission over a data network. Reduction of file sizes, efficiency of transfer, lowering storage costs, and improvements in stream quality are all business elements and integral to tech media. Both audio and video codec experts give you the latest scoop on the technology, the established and the upcoming: sHE-AAC, Opus, VVC, AV1 and more.
11:40 a.m. – Media IP Troubleshooting: Hardware and Software
John Davis, Steve Holmes
The transition from analog, AES, and SDI infrastructure to IP essence flow requires a different approach to fault-finding. Although new IP diagnostic tools are already available on the market, engineers need combined broadcast and IT knowledge to fully understand the flow of video, audio and data across the switching fabric: A look at packet jitter, latency, buffer flow, dropped packets, addressing, stream identification, PTP sync, time stamps, and other troubleshooting basics.
12:35 p.m. – Lunch
1:35 p.m. – Cloud Technology for Media Part 1: A Case for Video Production and Television Broadcast
Jonathan Solomon
Cloud broadcasting moves media production, management, and distribution from physical hardware to virtualized, internet-based cloud infrastructure, enabling remote operations, scalability, cost savings, and global reach by replacing on-premise equipment with software and remote processing for tasks like live production, content storage, and delivery.
2:05 p.m. – Cloud Technology for Media part 2: A Case for Radio Broadcast and Streaming
Andrew Scaglione
Cloud broadcasting streamlines workflows, allowing teams to create, edit, and manage content from anywhere, offering flexibility and resilience for live events, near-to-live broadcasting, and hyper-localized content distribution. Radio playout, scheduling, automation, audio processing; all these tasks are potential candidates for complete or hybrid cloud integration.
2:35 p.m. – Engineering Design Considerations for Houses of Worship and Large Venue Audience Participation Spaces
Andrea Cummis
Houses of worship and performance space facilities have readily taken to cutting edge audio-visual technology. Specialized design knowledge and experience maximize AV clarity and perception in such venues. Integrators are now often contracted to export the personal experience to broadcast-quality distribution, often with impressive budgets and cutting edge technology.
3:15 p.m. – Break
3:30 p.m. – International SBE Education and Certification Success Stories
Davit Robakidze
A good look at the SBE Eastern Europe chapter’s breakout into a new media and broadcast market.
3:40 p.m. – From Engineer to Owner: Building a Station – and a Business
Kirk Harnack, Bud Williamson, John Caracciolo
Station or business ownership represents the ultimate extension of a technical career. Three broadcast engineers, now owners, share what it means to make the leap from engineering excellence to business leadership. Systems thinking, risk awareness, efficiency, financial literacy, sales acumen, regulatory exposure, people management, and long-term planning are necessary—and can become a powerful advantage in ownership.
4:30 p.m. – How SBE Certification Augments Your Career
Kevin Trueblood, Doug Irwin, Davit Robakidze, Jeff Welton
From the Certified Radio or TV Operator to the Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer, the SBE has a certification for every broadcast engineer and technician. We dive deep into the merits and advantages certification offers your career success and earning potential.
Registering for the SBE Ennes Workshop at the NAB Show
At the NAB Show registration page, enter your name, email and create a password or login with your existing credentials.
At the “Your pass options” page, choose one:
Enter SBE code SBENAB26 in the discount code box and apply for a free exhibits-only pass or $150 off the NAB non-member rate for full conference registration. You may also choose a Specialty Program Pass on this page if desired.
