Friday, April 28, 2006

The Real Deal

David Rehr, new President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, had his national debut this week at the NAB Convention in Las Vegas. He is definitely a winner, and Broadcasters are lucky to have him as their leader. David combines large doses of enthusiasm, energy, intellect and likeability all combined into one constantly whirling package. He found time to meet with State Associations, attend many receptions, shake hundreds of hands and, oh yes, run a convention where attendance broke last years record. He has been on the job, just about four weeks, and his grasp of broadcasters issues is incredible. He totally gets it.

David is subtlety, but dramatically changing the direction of the NAB, from a lobbyist organization to an advocacy group. The difference is, lobbyist play defense and advocates play offense. He wants to use the NAB to advocate for broadcasters’ positions and define them, before our enemies define them for us.

He believes that the key to keeping broadcasters competitive in this day of ever changing technology is localism. No other form of communication offers localism. Only over the air broadcasters offer local information to their communities. This is the winning key. Listeners always want to know what’s new, down the block and local Broadcasters tell them. 

Rehr is a great cheerleader for the industry. He said in his opening address to the convention, “The industry’s best days are still ahead”. He urged broadcasters, as content providers, to embrace all of the new technologies and to program accordingly. He urged broadcasters to develop content for each platform, as it becomes available and to embrace the technological revolution. He listed NAB’s top priority as insuring a smooth transition from analog to digital for both radio and TV broadcasters. He said the industry will be ready when the hard date of February 17. 2009 arrives and TV broadcasters turn off their analog signals.   Citing some challenges ahead, he said the satellite radio bill in the House already has more then 100 co-sponsors and a companion bill has been introduced in the Senate, both designed to keep satellite radio a national only service, prohibiting localization of any kind.  

David Rehr is a gem. He totally and completely understands all of our issues and has come up with plans to advance our cause both in Congress and with the FCC. One of the keys to true genius is the ability to listen. Rehr listens all the time, and if QuickNews experience is typical, and we presume it is, reacts to input immediately.  More importantly, he is sincerely interested in what broadcasters have to say and will be very good at balancing broadcasters competing interests. Further, if you work for a member of NAB, then prepared to hear from him with a call to contribute your money to NAB’s Political Action Committee, NAB PAC. Money is the mother’s milk of politics, and if you want to be a player, you most pay the price. He raised huge sums of money for political action in this former job and at the NAB convention this week; he warned that non-contributors will be hearing from him.

Broadcasters need to thank the NAB Board of Directors and Search Committee for finding and hiring David Rehr. He is a major asset to broadcasters all over the country

David, Welcome Aboard!

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