The media industry has a problem. Audiences fragment across platforms. Production costs climb. Technology changes faster than companies can adapt. And yet, 55,000 people from 160 countries showed up in Las Vegas April 5-9 to figure out what comes next.
NAB Show 2025 filled the Las Vegas Convention Center with answers, or at least with the tools and strategies that might lead to answers. The National Association of Broadcasters has run this event for over 100 years, watching it evolve from a radio equipment showcase to a full-spectrum media and entertainment technology marketplace.
This year’s attendance numbers tell an important story. First-time registrants made up 53 percent of participants. More than half the people walking the show floor had never been before. They came because the old playbook stopped working, and they needed new options.
The Show Floor Tells the Story
Nearly 1,100 global exhibitors filled eight soccer fields worth of space. Major brands like Adobe, AWS, AT&T Business, Canon, Cisco, Dell Technologies, Fujifilm, Intel, Microsoft, Nikon, Quantum Corporation, Riedel, Sony, and Verizon Business claimed prime real estate. Another 125 companies exhibited for the first time.
The floor organized into three destinations: CREATE, CONNECT, and CAPITALIZE. The naming convention actually helped. When everything is “innovation,” nothing stands out. These categories gave attendees a framework for navigation.
CREATE focused on production tools. Camera systems, editing software, graphics packages, and audio equipment filled this section. Sony announced the HDC-F5500V and HDC-P50A camera systems. Verizon unveiled a portable Private 5G Network framework designed to reduce pain points for live broadcasters. These weren’t concept demonstrations. These were shipping products solving real problems.
CONNECT covered distribution infrastructure. Streaming platforms, content delivery networks, and transmission systems showed how content travels from production facilities to consumer devices. The technology matters because distribution determines whether content reaches audiences profitably.
CAPITALIZE addressed monetization. Advertising technology, audience analytics, subscription platforms, and business intelligence tools demonstrated how media companies turn content into revenue. As traditional advertising models collapse, companies need new approaches to funding production.
Five Trends Dominated the Conversation
Karen Chupka, Executive Vice President of NAB Show, identified five forces reshaping media and entertainment: artificial intelligence, the creator economy, streaming, cloud virtualization, and sports.
AI showed up everywhere. Not as vaporware or marketing fluff, but as tools actually being used in production workflows. Companies demonstrated AI-assisted editing, automated captioning, content analysis, and personalized recommendation engines. Microsoft presented AI applications in sports production and content remixing, including work with Coldplay.
The creator economy earned its own dedicated space. Dhar Mann, named to Forbes’ list of top content creators, spoke about building media companies outside traditional studios. Sean Atkins from Dhar Mann Studios explained how they produce content at scale using non-traditional distribution models. The message resonated: you don’t need a network deal to reach millions of viewers anymore.
Streaming dominated because it has to. Traditional broadcast viewership continues declining. Companies either figure out streaming economics or accept shrinking relevance. The conference addressed hard questions about sustainable pricing, content libraries, and platform differentiation.
Cloud virtualization matters because media files keep getting larger while production timelines keep getting shorter. Companies need flexible infrastructure that scales with demand. Cloud-based workflows let small teams access tools that previously required massive capital investment.
Sports content drives subscription decisions and commands premium advertising rates. The Sports Summit explored how rights deals are evolving, how technology enhances fan experiences, and how new distribution models create revenue opportunities. Speakers from AWS, IMAX, NFL, and Microsoft shared insights from organizations betting billions on sports content.
The Business of Entertainment Summit
NAB partnered with The Ankler to create a two-day track examining how Hollywood adapts to disruption. Top dealmakers and thought leaders discussed media dealmaking, content bundles, new advertising models, the state of production, Hollywood’s intersection with the creator economy, and emerging consumer trends.
The conversations got uncomfortable. People acknowledged that old business models are dying faster than new ones are emerging. Consolidation continues as companies struggle to achieve profitability at scale. The streaming wars burned billions of dollars without producing sustainable winners.
Production spending has cooled after years of reckless growth. Companies approved anything that might attract subscribers. Reality proved harsher than projections. Now finance departments demand justification for every project. The era of blank checks ended.
Technical Innovation That Actually Shipped
JVC highlighted quality production equipment at competitive prices, making professional-grade tools accessible to smaller operations. The democratization of production technology means content quality increasingly depends on talent and creativity rather than budget size.
Red Bee Media showcased updates in Access Services, OTT, and VOD services. The company focuses on making content accessible across platforms and devices while maintaining quality. As audiences expect to watch anything anywhere, infrastructure that delivers consistent experiences becomes critical.
L’Oréal took an unexpected turn by presenting beauty tech at a broadcasting show. The crossover makes sense when you consider how beauty influencers drive engagement and how brands use content to sell products. The lines between traditional advertising and content production have blurred completely.
Over 1,000 Speakers, 550 Sessions
NAB Show featured more than 1,000 industry leaders speaking across more than 20 stages. Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal, TikTok, and YouTube sent representatives to discuss platform strategies and content trends.
Notable speakers included:
– Gotham Chopra, Co-founder of Religion of Sports
– Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group
– Stephen A. Smith, Television Host at ESPN
The speaker roster mattered because these people make decisions affecting billions of dollars in content investment. When they share insights, smart attendees listen and adjust strategies accordingly.
More than 550 conference sessions covered everything from technical implementation details to business strategy discussions. Attendees could focus narrowly on specific technologies or zoom out to examine industry-wide trends.
International Attendance Drives Growth
Twenty-six percent of attendees traveled from outside the United States. That’s one in four people walking the show floor. The international presence reflects how media has become a global business. Content crosses borders easily, and production happens wherever talent and costs align favorably.
The U.S. Commercial Service hosted a Trade Center at the show, helping American companies connect with international buyers. Government support for exports matters when domestic markets mature and growth comes from expanding globally.
The NAB Show New York Connection
NAB announced that its New York event will return October 22-23, 2025 at Javits Center. The East Coast show serves the production and post-production community concentrated in New York, offering a more focused experience than the massive Las Vegas event.
New York’s media ecosystem differs from Los Angeles. More commercials, more corporate video, more short-form content produced for specific campaigns. The October show addresses those needs specifically.
What Media Professionals Actually Need
Conversations throughout the week revealed consistent themes. Professionals want tools that integrate smoothly into existing workflows. They need cost-effective solutions that deliver quality results. They require training and support to implement new technologies successfully.
The gap between what vendors promise and what customers experience remains frustratingly wide. Companies announce revolutionary capabilities, but implementation reveals limitations. Attendees learned to ask harder questions and demand proof of real-world performance.
The Venue Renovation Impact
The Las Vegas Convention Center renovations created a more intuitive experience designed for discovery and movement. Better signage, improved layout, and upgraded facilities made navigating the massive space less overwhelming.
Small improvements matter at large conferences. When attendees spend less time lost or frustrated, they engage more productively with exhibitors and sessions. The venue investment paid off in better attendee experience.
The New NAB Show Mobile App
NAB launched a new mobile app in March to help attendees plan, navigate, connect, and optimize their time onsite. The app addressed common complaints about previous years: difficulty finding sessions, trouble connecting with specific people, and confusion about shuttle schedules between venues.
Technology should solve problems, not create them. The app succeeded because it focused on practical needs rather than flashy features nobody uses.
Awards and Recognition
NAB Show traditionally recognizes excellence through multiple awards programs. The 2025 event celebrated outstanding innovation, content creation, and industry leadership.
BMI and NAB held a 75th Anniversary Dinner and Broadcasting Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Encore. The event honored people who shaped broadcasting over decades, acknowledging contributions that made the industry what it is today.
Recognition matters in an industry facing existential questions about its future. Celebrating past achievements while pushing toward innovation creates continuity that helps organizations navigate change.
Key Takeaways
NAB Show 2025 proved that traditional broadcasting hasn’t given up. Companies are adapting, investing in new technologies, and exploring different business models. The transition is messy and expensive, but alternatives are worse.
AI will transform media production faster than most people expect. Tools that seemed experimental two years ago are now production-ready. Companies that master these technologies gain competitive advantages. Those that ignore them fall behind.
The creator economy isn’t replacing traditional media. It’s expanding the ecosystem. Smart media companies partner with creators rather than compete. Different distribution models can coexist when they serve different audience needs.
Sports content will remain a cornerstone of media strategy. Live events generate audience engagement that recorded content can’t match. Rights costs will stay high because sports content drives subscription decisions.
The Road Ahead
NAB Show 2026 returns to Las Vegas April 18-22, 2026. Exhibitors are already planning their booths and preparing product announcements. The cycle continues because the industry keeps evolving.
Questions remain about long-term sustainability. Can streaming economics work without massive subscriber bases? Will advertising revenue rebound enough to fund quality content? How does AI change the workforce composition in media companies?
Las Vegas provided the venue for these discussions. The city’s infrastructure and hospitality industry make it ideal for large trade shows. The partnership between NAB and Las Vegas shows no signs of weakening.
The media industry’s future remains uncertain, but companies aren’t waiting for clarity. They’re testing approaches, learning from failures, and scaling successes. NAB Show documented that process in real time, offering a snapshot of an industry in transition.
Links:
– NAB Show Official Site: nabshow.com
– NAB Show 2025 Wrap-Up: nab.org
– NAB Show Overview: nabshow.com
– 2025 NAB Show Opening Announcement: nab.org
