The Broadcasters' Desktop Resource

Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 804, Volume 16, #24 for January 15, 2025

LA FIRES
Broadcasters from all over the country have taken notice of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, relieved that, at least for now, the Mt. Wilson site was spared – a site with 21 FM and 10 TV signals – all on generators. The adjacent Mt. Harvard was not as fortunate, with a couple of stations that had to go off or switch to auxiliary sites. But all personnel seem to be OK.

Last Thursday, on our weekly zoom meeting, one of the local engineers spent time talking about the stations with which he was familiar and how they were getting on, explaining a lot of what we were seeing on the newscasts. We may have some updates this week.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
It is expected that most government Chief Executives deliver a “State of ____ ” speech over this and next month. You will also hear/see from the outgoing and incoming FCC Chair. One measure of the broadcast industry might be the 99 fewer commercial radio stations compared to last year. Another will be the attendance at the NAB Spring Show. And in the meantime, the policies of the new Administration and its goals for broadcast will be announced. Bottom line: this will be an interesting year.

LOOKING BACK AT CES
Bigger than the NAB Show, CES is one of the largest conventions going. What was there … what should you know?  Let’s talk about it tomorrow (Thursday). The URL link is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ and we will also be on youtube live as usual.

SPEAKING OF NAB
The registration for the early April NAB Show this year is now open. It is a good time to get registered. Free Floor Passes will be available shortly, so keep an eye out, if that is what you need. Hotel registrations are also open. Check with the NAB.org page.