Texas Association of Broadcasters Convention Returns

The TAB annual convention and trade show returned this year after taking last year off due to Covid. Over 1000 attendees were there in Austin recently to see what vendors had to offer, what delegates and speakers had to say and just enjoy the opportunity to network with others for the first time in two years. 

TAB included 100 exhibit booths and 30 sessions over the two day conference. The TAB reports traffic and sales in the trade show was excellent, according to vendor reports. Attendees were able to test new equipment, and make purchases at special event prices. Hopefully the success of TAB is recognized by the NAB that the market is ready to attend in person industry trade events again. 

At the Leadership Breakfast Lone Star Leader Awards were given to large market stations KJCE-FM/Austin and KLOL-FM/Houston. Medium market winner was KAPN/Bryan, TX and the small market winners included KRWR-FM/Tyler/Lufkin and KQBZ-FM and KSTA-AM in Brownwood.

Also at the Leadership Breakfast the Bonner McLane Public Service Awards, named in honor of TAB’s first executive director, to TV and Radio stations whose service to their communities stood out among the hundreds of stations across the state. KRIV-TV Houston, Gray Television’s KBTX-TV Bryan-College Station, and Audacy Houston were recognized for their multi-faceted work helping viewers and businesses survive the pandemic. KRBC-TV Abilene was honored for its new program promoting child adoptions, while KWVH, and even an LPFM station in Wimberley, was recognized for service during the February 2021 winter storm in Texas.

At the closing Awards Gala featured the presentation of Texas broadcasting’s highest honors were featured. Mark Grubbs, owner/operator of KRNH/Kerrville (The Ranch) was named Pioneer of the Year. 

The Broadcaster of the Year Award went to Marty Wind, longtime manager of religious non-comm KLUX AM-FM in Corpus Christi, a station owned by the Catholic diocese. 

Norm Phillips was given the George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence

Next years 2022 TAB Show will take place Aug 3-4 back at this years location, the JW

Marriott in Austin. The TAB promises in 2022 the trade show will be even larger. 

For more information on the Texas Association of Broadcasters contact TAB’s Oscar Rodriguez at oscar@tab.orgor call (512) 322-9944. 

Visit the TAB website at www.tab.org