By Tessa Potter

President, Western Association of Broadcast Engineers

WABE 2025: Calgary, Alberta | September 29–October 1

Learn more and register at wabe.ca

“Just come” is quickly becoming one of the mottos I use most often when talking about this year’s WABE Media & Entertainment Technology Conference. As we approach our 75th anniversary event in Calgary, Alberta, just under 35 days away, there’s a sense of momentum, reflection, and welcome in the air.

We’re ready to greet old friends and new at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre this fall from September 29 to October 1. As I took my first real holiday in seven years, driving from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay, down to Duluth and back through International Falls, I found myself thinking about technology, the history of our industry, and where I sit in it. Where are my skills most useful? Where is all this going? And how did we get here?

On that long drive, you can still spot some of the old towers from the Trans Canada Microwave System, now reused for modern tech. It’s a striking visual of our history. On July 1, 1958, that network introduced the country to the possibility of live network television and direct long-distance phone services to Canadians coast to coast. With 139 towers spanning over 6,275 kms, it was the longest network in the world at the time. The impact on Canadian broadcasting was enormous. CBC, using this infrastructure, could now transmit television programming nationally. From my understanding, this was a defining moment when national broadcasting truly began to take hold in Canada.

Fast forward to today, me in the car, trying to read LinkedIn posts debating the relevance of FM radio, all while having no cell signal on the way to Thunder Bay and regretting not downloading more of my Tidal playlist. My husband and I couldn’t agree on a podcast, so we turned to local radio, got a sniff of something different on SiriusXM, or I read poetry aloud from a library book I brought along.

Yes, we streamed a movie in our Airbnb on a Roku TV. But I still wish I had brought a paper map. Google Maps doesn’t always work when your cell signal drops to SOS. It reminded me that 25% of Canadians still live in areas where constant 5G coverage isn’t available. And when Starlink went down recently, I remembered that even the “perfect” systems have limits. The promise of simple plug-and-play satellite internet is compelling, but no technology is without friction.

Even with my background, I can program video routers, newsroom systems, and navigate and learn new systems easily, but on my trip I couldn’t stop my phone’s microphone from cutting out our music every time I tried to search in Google while it was plugged in. It was one of many tech arguments on our trip. Eventually, we just went analogue, possibly because I’m getting old, but more likely because I didn’t want to be frustrated on holiday.

Travelling through small towns and finding hidden gems reminded me how this hand held cell phone can solve problems, create opportunities, and connect us, but it can also be a pain in the ass. More features don’t always mean less work. 

More than anything, it reminded me that people still need breaks. With all the downsizing, small teams, and single-person roles we see now, when someone goes on vacation, the whole project can pause for two weeks.I really appreciate that I work on teams even at WABE where someone can pickup the work and continue the forward motion while you take a break to sample life beyond work with people you love.

And just like that, September is coming. Everyone will come back. The emails will start. Projects need to be finished. New ones need to be started. Promises from spring come due. It’s full force, and it takes a strong team, skilled people, and determination for successful results.

Being a WABE friend, volunteer, or community member is all about this wider industry team. I’m reminded of this every time someone reaches out: “Do you know someone who can fill this job?” or “Do you have advice for a career move?” or “Can you introduce me to someone who can help?” So many of the technical wizards I’ve worked with over the years aren’t on LinkedIn. They don’t post often. They’re modest and busy and effective. But they’re looking, for the right fit, the right work, the right place to be valued.

At WABE, we’ve been working for years to expand beyond broadcast. Our mission has always been to connect the people who work with the tech that creates and distributes content. We know Canada is big and spread out, but the intersection of AV, film, live events, broadcast, and content delivery is where new ideas are born.

Our full program is now live at wabe.ca. You’ll find a little bit of everything: broadcast, audio, video, film tech, AV, and more. Our exhibit hall will feature sales professionals, manufacturers, tech experts, and innovators. It’s the largest gathering in Canada for this type of cross-sector exchange. And we’ve kept the cost low to attend:

• Free to attend the Exhibit Hall
• $175 for a full conference pass
• $15 for our Media Mixer Reunion & 75th Birthday Party on Monday
• Day passes are available for programming sessions

We are only able to do this because of the generous support of our sponsors—companies who understand our mission and have helped volunteers keep WABE going for 75 years.

We rely on vendor support, sponsorship, and exhibit booth bookings to help cover the cost of renting the venue and producing the event. We’ve always done our best to keep prices affordable. But if you or your company don’t have the bandwidth or budget to contribute financially, we still just want you to come. Meet the community & be a part of it.

If you’ve seen the photo of WABE’s founding members, you might not see yourself reflected in that group, and I get it. I don’t either. But when I look at it, I see people who did similar work. They were learners. They believed in the power of gathering and learning from each other to push an industry forward.

Sure, the Trans Canada Microwave System is gone. Maybe FM radio isn’t flashy to the kids. Maybe cinema cameras with reels or POTS telephone systems feel like relics. But this foundation built a Canadian identity and some really amazing technology right here at home. Today’s tech,5G, IP, software, streaming, immersive audio, hybrid workflows, it all stands on that past. And we need a new generation of leaders who understand how this fits together. This is why we picked our theme: Bridging the Past and Building the Future.

There’s no perfect system, only systems in development and aging ones still in use. That’s why gathering in Calgary this fall matters. We care about keeping this space and making room for a community in Canada for tech conversations across sectors.

So just come.

Come to connect. Come to learn. Come to share what you know.

Explore the full conference program

Register now

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If you’re a friend of WABE, share our socials. Forward this article. Invite your coworkers. Help us spread the word.

This is the final year of my presidency—and what a way to go out. Our 75th is not just a milestone, it’s a launchpad. We’re looking for new volunteers who understand our vision and mission and want to carry it forward:

• Help with the website
• Connect with next year’s speakers
• Plan the conference
• Offer marketing expertise
• Research new sectors and vendors
• Support the next wave of WABE friends
  

This is what 75 years of building a media technology community in Canada looks like: people connecting with people about tech!

And the invitation still stands:

Just come.

The post Just Come: A Reflection on 75 Years of WABE and the Future of Media & Entertainment Technology appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.

Re-launching conferences after the pandemic has been challenging. Asking the business community to take a chance on us during uncertain times in the media and entertainment technology industry sometimes keeps me up at night. Being president over the last two years has been something I could’ve never imagined — a chance to envision, listen, and encourage a community of people who, just like me, are figuring out our path forward.

This year’s theme — Bridging the Past and Building Media’s Future — resonated with us because we are celebrating our 75th birthday and the transformation in our industry is happening right now. The next evolution of media is unknown: Where will the eyeballs be? What will the CRTC and the government decide? Who will be elected? It feels like an endless list of variables. But as a technician, you learn to solve problems on-site even when you’re not exactly sure what caused them.

I’ve tried to break down this experience into small things I do know. First, it’s hard to explain to a marketing department in another country or marketplace exactly what our organization and this conference is, was, and is becoming. We need to increase our reach and make sure there’s a space in Canada for local, regional, and national people to gather and talk about our industry. Technology and standards in broadcast, AV, film, and live events grow and change faster than those for toothbrushes or cars. While smartphones make delivering small pieces of content seem easy, scaling that up to premium content, large events, or 24/7 delivery is a whole other challenge.

Over the years, I’ve learned that amazing Canadian companies and integrators see the value in getting together because Canada is hard to cover regionally. Manufacturers have been bought and sold, and new entrants — both software and hardware — have emerged that didn’t exist 10 years ago. Industry newsletters and updates from NAB or other conferences help, but being there in person and talking to people is how I really learn.

Canada may not have the population of the U.S. or other large markets, but 40 million people is still a valuable market. These eyeballs and ears have buying power across all generations. If you want to know who’s working behind the scenes on the largest media and entertainment technology systems in Canada, come to the WABE Conference — you’ll meet them.

Canadians value business relationships. We don’t have the same appetite for error in purchasing, and we’re more conservative with spending. Business here survives by being smart, cost-effective, and strategic. We can’t do a project every day of the week, so systems need to be effective, robust, and reliable.

It’s a small industry, and word gets around if a company isn’t interested in our market or people. The businesses that succeed are the ones who answer the calls, visit the region, maintain connections, and spend five minutes talking about what’s changing in the industry at our event. Attending other shows like NAB, IBC and CES  brings back valuable insights. Crossovers and opportunities emerge when we have access to manufacturers, sales professionals, experts, and speakers who’ve seen these things firsthand.

There’s no replacement for being able to touch, feel, and see a product. That personal connection influences decisions to support and buy it.

What we have is something special: an industry organization whose sole purpose is to make a space where people can gather and talk about their work. Our goal is to break even, make a small profit to reinvest in the organization, support members, and grow our reach. It’s not flashy, but it’s why we’ve been around for 75 years. Presidents and the committee with full-time jobs volunteer hundreds of hours to give back to the community and industry that gave so much to them.

Tessa’s Thoughts on Tariffs

I suppose my thoughts become the official WABE message, but they’re just my thoughts. Tariffs bring uncertainty: Is the project I want to do still possible? How much more will it cost? How much do I have to raise prices? What can I get locally? What can’t I get in Canada? The questions feel endless.

Attending a conference and getting your product in front of the industry has never been an ROI that turns around in the same quarter — sometimes it does, but more often, it’s about the long game. Strengthening business relationships will be key. Projects might be on hold while people wait to see how long tariffs will last, but maintenance, replacement, and new ideas don’t wait forever. At some point, projects will move ahead — just like after the pandemic.

I can’t predict what those projects will be or what transformations are coming. But I do know that my kids are watching content, my dad is watching content, I am watching content and listening to content, and so is almost everyone I know.

I also know that just in broadcast alone, there’s aging infrastructure that will need replacing in the next few years. Over-the-air transmitters bought for the Canadian DTV conversion in 2010-11 are aging simultaneously. While not every company has a plan for parts replacement or is transitioning to ATSC 3.0, the end of life for these transmitters will approach.

Beyond that, new distribution systems and growing demand from marketing departments and schools are driving content creation. Every year, these groups need to create and distribute more content to a growing audience of business partners and employees.

A trend I’ve seen over the last six years is businesses and organizations creating content who never did before. They’ve built departments, bought equipment, and now need to maintain and operate it. There’s a growing ambition to create more content because the gear is easier and more accessible than ever.

With this, job descriptions have shifted. It used to be that broadcast technicians, film technicians, and video and audio engineers had distinct roles. Now, technology is more integrated, and the skills have merged. Troubleshooting, operational knowledge, and understanding content creation remain essential, but the tools and expectations have changed.

Bringing together the different areas of our industry is one of the most exciting challenges this year, especially at a time when uncertainty, doubt, and frustration are in the air. Whether you work with audio tech, video tech, media systems, IT, or RF and distribution, now is the time to gather, talk tech, see what’s happening, and make decisions that will strengthen and future-proof all sectors of the industry. WABE Media & Entertainment Technology Conference in 2025 will be about helping people navigate this shift—bridging the past and building media’s future.

Tessa Potter, President, WABE

The post Bridging the Past and Building Media’s Future: WABE 2025 appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.

If you’re a business working with media and entertainment technology, this is your chance to exhibit in Calgary’s marketplace. Sponsorship and exhibit launches begin March 1st.

The post WABE Convention 2025 appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.