The Rewards of a Broadcast Career
[December 2025] As we watch the broadcast industry further consolidate, a couple of issues surface: (1) is radio – and job prospects – dying, and (2) do I really have a place in broadcasting? Mike Vanhooser has a story that might give you some ideas.
In a world where Broadcast Engineers are a vanishing breed, perhaps a new generation will arrive.
I started out in 1969 as an engineering intern at KPFT in Houston, a Pacifica station. Yes, that is the one which was blown up by terrorists, and inspired an episode of WKRP. That was my introduction to radio, and I have been obsessed with it ever since.
I learned the craft from some of the great engineers of the day, and have kept learning throughout life. I ended up at some fantastic stations, some for the engineering and programming greatness, some for seemingly defying the laws of electronics and staying on the air.
At each one, I learned something.
OUT, BUT NOT REALLY OUT
I had a few brief escapes from radio, always in electronics and usually somewhat related – but I always kept my hand in, even if being just an as-needed engineer for a small daytimer.
My own company, Nova Electronics, started in 1985 as a security company, as I had just left a position as Director of Engineering with a major security company, designing and installing some of the most sophisticated systems for major industries, government installations, and defense contractors (the kind of things I could tell you about but would then have to kill you).
It did not take long for me to realize that everybody and their dog who had ever worked in security had a company, so competition was massive – mostly incompetent, but massive. So, I moved on.
SCRAMBLING FOR WORK
I popped back into broadcast for a while, and then my world ended: I lost my wife, house, and job in the same week (Friday, May 13, 1987), and was suddenly homeless (long story, but nobody died).
Utilizing my training and experience, I took a job building hearing aids with a small company. Yes, I was highly overqualified, but it paid money that paid rent. All was not perfect. I was doing an incredible job, but the owner of the business was stealing from the guy with whom we had the contract – and with whom I had already become fast friends.
This is where my background and experience really paid off: Four months into the job, I ended up taking over the company.
We moved to a new location, in the same building as a radio station, and the GM and I quickly became friends. Occasionally, he would come down to our office and ask for help, as their engineer was not around and could not be found, so I fixed whatever was wrong for a nice free lunch.
A few years later, the guy we had the contract with decided to retire, so the factory was coming to an end. A couple days before we closed the doors the GM came in and said they were firing their engineer as he was not good or dependable, would I like the job?
I did not even have any time between jobs, just moved from one back into broadcast.
FULLY EMPLOYED
From then on, I stayed busy doing contract engineering along with whatever station for which I was working full-time.
Then, in 1999, a fellow engineer said a company needed to build a new station, and asked if I could do that. I answered “Absolutely!” Although having never taken on a project that big before, I contacted my fellow engineer and friend since high school, Jim Stanford, knowing he had done that before, and said, “let’s partner up, and you show me how to do this.”
We whipped it out quickly, especially important since it was up against the CP deadline, and turned in the proof 2 days before the “drop dead” date.
I have been doing broadcast engineering full-time ever since.
SURVIVING AS A CONTRACTING COMPANY
This is how small businesses survive: improvise, adapt, overcome (my apologies to the Marines).
And after 56 years of this, I am not slowing down; I am looking at new horizons. Right now, we are just finishing up on a patent for a new life-safety product and are ready to start beta testing. If this works out, I may finally get that jet I have always wanted. If not, I have had an interesting experience and expanded my knowledge base.
It really is not a loss either way (but I really want the jet).
THE PATH IS NOT ALWAYS STRAIGHT
This is how a path to success evolves.
It rarely is along any straight line; it more resembles a sidewinder with scoliosis. Just because we are humans, that does not mean the law of the jungle does not apply to us, it applies in everything, nothing is guaranteed. However, as long as we are moving forward, learning, improving, and even innovating, we are succeeding. And as long as you are not a contestant for the Darwin Awards, you have a chance.
Personally, I attribute the great success I have had to Higher Powers. But it did not hurt that I am smart, learn quickly, and think outside the box.
KNOWING MY LIMITATIONS
Elon Musk and I have the same gift; we are both on the higher end of the autism spectrum – basically, intelligence through the roof and the social skills of a hamster.
At least I have never spouted off due to my lack of a filter and pissed off anyone as big as Trump, but I am not dead yet. The upside is neither one of us understand what the box is, so we just plow ahead and create things nobody has done yet.
We follow the old simulated Chinese proverb: “Man who say it can’t be done should not interrupt man who is doing it!”
THE BOTTOM LINE: JUST DO IT
All that being said, the main focus of this piece is to encourage those who want to step out on their own.
No, it is not without risk, and it definitely can be scary. I have made over 600 skydives – but that is nothing compared to being out there alone, fighting for business, sweating expenses, and making payroll.
The good thing is the broadcast engineering community is one big family. No matter what, it is a great industry, whether you work for a company or yourself. There is always someone out here that has been through whatever you are facing before, and we are ready to help.
We may be in a dying industry – or maybe not. Someone out there may have the key to reviving this medium. I believe that great content attracts big audiences, it always has throughout history. I hope the broadcast industry can come up with something to keep that history alive for a few more generations.
And keep us who love the medium working.
– – –
Mike Vanhooser has over five decades of broadcast experience and is always willing to share that with folks looking to learn more. You can contact Mike at: novaelec@sbcglobal.net
– – –
Would you like to know when more articles like this are published? It will take only 30 seconds to
click here and add your name to our secure one-time-a-week Newsletter list.
Your address is never given out to anyone.
