It’s the middle of March — somewhere between spring and winter in Manitoba — and while I wait for my garden to defrost, the WABE Executive has launched sponsorship and exhibit registration for the 2025 WABE Media and Entertainment Technology Conference. This fall, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, we’ll be gathering at the Telus Centre in Calgary, Alberta.

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