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Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 856, Volume 17, #23 for January 7, 2026

WELCOME
As we start the 2026 calendar year, we just want to take a moment to say “Hello” and “thanks for reading our Newsletter” to everyone. Whether you are new or old, the BDR Newsletter is designed to provide important information one-time-a-week. We will not flood your inbox. You can feel free to invite your friends and colleagues to subscribe to the BDR Newsletter knowing we are doing what we said we would do 17 years ago – and that we will keep the promises!

INTERNATIONAL CES UNDERWAY
It is always the first convention of the year in Las Vegas, and this year is no different. CES has taken over the LVCC (the North Hall is back, although it will not be the Radio Hall in April), and the huge attendance – over 140,000 are expected to jam the show floor. This year, do we really have to say that the big draw is AI? AI “agents” will be seen in all kinds of varieties of apps, from vehicles to  robots (and drones) to health monitors and a whole lot more. AI in the broadcast studio will become part of the automation, transmitter control, and all point in between. It might even open the pod bay door.

NOT TOO EARLY TO THINK NAB
Registration is open for the Spring NAB Show – April 18-22 (and PREC, April 16, 17). Note: Some of the NAB’s messages indicate if you want the Free Floor Pass, it may need to be registered this month. Note2: for those planning for the Radio Technology Forum (formerly, the NUG) conference, it will be at the Westgate this year. 

Possibility? Last year we changed from mid-day to evening, for a pizza night and had a nice group. We are investigating options for this year – whether most prefer lunch or dinner. It is possible the Westgate buffet will be open at lunch during NAB week, but this is not confirmed as yet. Ideas are welcome – but as the LVCC has grown, there is not much close any more.

PROTECTING THE PROGRAM AUDIO CHAIN
Loss of the program feed is among the more frustrating things a station can experience. Dead air. And if you have been following the FCC’s current NPRM regarding the potential sale of much of the rest of the C-Band frequencies, one of the more reliable program feeds may disappear. You may wonder what can be done to ensure program reception. You might be just a bit nervous about Internet transmission. Of course, some equipment has been aimed at making IP transmission more clean and reliable. On the other hand, some newer solutions based on decades of SaaS technology have been produced that may work better for you – such as the new Prism from Adventure 33 in collaboration with Angry Audio.

That is the theme of this week’s zoom meeting, as we welcome Adrian Berkovits and Catfish Dosch to explain why this new technology should be in your plans for the near future. . 

Join us on Thursday at 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific. The link request is on www.theBDR.net/TLG/

… and do not forget, on the same page we have over 200 videos you can use on subjects you will want to learn about.