Society of Broadcast Engineers

What Society of Broadcast Engineers does

The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) is a nonprofit professional membership association headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, that serves broadcast and multimedia technology professionals in the United States. Founded in 1964 (per firmographic record) with its certification program established in November 1975, SBE operates as the primary credentialing and professional development body for radio and television broadcast engineers, offering certification levels including CPBE, CBNT, and CBNE that have been the industry benchmark for 50 years. The organization runs a chapter-based network across the US and provides continuing education through SBE University, Webinars by SBE (200+ programs covering IP networking, RF systems, ATSC 3.0, and cybersecurity), Ennes Workshops, and a mentor program, plus career resources including JobsOnline, a Resume Bank, and a Contract & Consulting Engineer Directory.

SBE's business model is diversified across recurring subscription revenue from membership dues and certification applications, event-based revenue from webinars ($90 members/$120 non-members), and smaller transactional streams including directory listings ($75 for two states or $125 for four states annually), print publications, merchandise, and scholarship administration through the Ennes Educational Foundation Trust. The premium MemberPlus tier bundles unlimited webinar access with membership. The customer base comprises individual broadcast engineers (primary segment), aspiring engineers (students/transitions, served via scholarships and the Technical Professional Training Program targeting stations and media outlets), and contract/consulting engineers using the directory. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; distribution relies on direct membership via sbe.org, regional chapter meetings, and the online webinar platform, with no equity funding or parent company, operating as an autonomous nonprofit governed by a National Board of Directors.

Name

Society of Broadcast Engineers

Legal name

Society of Broadcast Engineers Inc.

Website

https://sbe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Society of Broadcast Engineers is a nonprofit professional membership association serving broadcast and multimedia technology professionals in the United States, offering industry-recognized certifications, continuing education, chapter-based networking, and career resources since 1964.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB)

Keywords

• Broadcast engineering certification
• Professional association services
• Broadcast technology training
• Frequency coordination services
• Continuing education webinars

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to chapter network, publications, resources, and member benefits including SBE MemberPlus subscription
2. SBE Certification Exams: Fees for certification application and examination at various levels, from entry to senior professional certifications
3. Webinars by SBE: Online seminars on broadcast engineering topics offered to members and non-members for a fee; MemberPlus members receive free access
4. Contract & Consulting Engineer Directory: Advertising listings for contract engineers, priced at $75 for two states or $125 for four states per year
5. Publications and Merchandise: SBE print publications, bookstore sales, and merchandise

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) is a non-profit professional membership association that provides industry-recognized certification programs, continuing education through webinars and workshops, advocacy, and networking resources to broadcast and multimedia technology professionals. Its core offerings center on the SBE Certification Program (adopted in 1975 with multiple levels such as CPBE, CBNT, and CBNE), a chapter-based membership network across the US, an online webinar library with over 200 programs, frequency coordination services, and career resources including job boards and a contract engineer directory.

Product overview

The Society of Broadcast Engineers is a professional membership organization for broadcast and multimedia technology professionals. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio centered on professional certification (the SBE Certification Program adopted in 1975, celebrating 50 years), continuing education through Webinars by SBE and SBE University, premium membership with SBE MemberPlus, mentorship programs, scholarships through the Ennes Educational Foundation Trust, career resources (JobsOnline, Resume Bank, Contract & Consulting Engineer Directory), regulatory compliance tools (Self-Inspection Guides), and industry events. The core offering is the certification program with various levels (CPBE, CBNT, CBNE, etc.) supported by education and training programs. SBE MemberPlus provides access to over 200 online education programs as an add-on membership tier. The organization also coordinates frequency coordination services and provides career development resources for broadcast engineering professionals at all career stages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SBE: The Society of Broadcast Engineers, commonly abbreviated as SBE

Products and services

• SBE Certification Program
• SBE MemberPlus

Quantifiable outcome

• Certified professionals typically earn more according to annual SBE Compensation Survey

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Audio Engineering Society (AES): International professional society dedicated to audio engineering, with membership, conventions, and standards activities. Comparable to SBE as a long-standing engineering professional association serving a related but distinct technical broadcast/media discipline.
• ETA International: Not-for-profit certification body for electronics, communications, and related technical disciplines. Comparable to SBE in offering tiered, fee-based certifications and training to working technicians and engineers, including adjacent areas like RF and wireless.
• SCTE (a CableLabs organization): Professional association for cable telecommunications engineers offering certification, training, and standards. Directly comparable to SBE in mission (credentialing technical professionals in video distribution) and revenue model (membership dues, certification exams, paid education).
• Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA / RTDNAmerica): Professional association serving broadcast and digital journalists with training, awards, and advocacy. Comparable to SBE as a U.S.-based, membership-driven association serving a specific professional segment within the broadcast industry.
• Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE): Professional membership association for motion picture, television, and digital media engineering professionals. Closest comparable to SBE: similar membership model, certification/standards work, and focus on broadcast and multimedia engineering talent, with broader scope into cinema and post-production.
• Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers (AFCCE): Membership organization of professional communications consulting engineers. Closely comparable to SBE in serving a niche engineering community within the broader broadcasting and FCC-regulated ecosystem, with similar small-association dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• CompTIA: Large industry association offering widely recognized IT certifications and training. Indirectly comparable as a competing destination for technical certification spend, particularly for engineers whose roles are migrating from broadcast to IT/IP-based media infrastructure.
• National Association of Broadcasters (NAB): Larger trade association representing the U.S. broadcast industry (radio and television stations and networks). Overlaps with SBE's audience and offers training, advocacy, and events (e.g., NAB Show), but serves station ownership/management rather than specializing in engineering certification.
• IEEE Broadcast Technology Society: Technical society within IEEE focused on broadcast technology, conferences, and publications. Comparable to SBE in addressing broadcast engineering, but operates as a society within a much larger, broader engineering organization rather than as a standalone certification body.

Regional players

• National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): U.S.-based professional society representing licensed professional engineers across disciplines. Comparable to SBE as a membership association advocating for engineering professionals and offering continuing education, though its scope is engineering as a whole rather than broadcast-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sbeorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sbenational
• Facebookfacebook.com/sbeorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-of-broadcast-engineers
• Instagraminstagram.com/sbe_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Society of Broadcast Engineers