NAB Labs

What NAB Labs does

NAB Labs is a non-profit innovation initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), established in 2012 and headquartered in Washington, DC, with a staff of 51-100. Its mandate is to drive next-generation broadcast radio and television standards and to serve as a neutral industry convening body. Core programs include (i) field and laboratory testing of all-digital AM IBOC signals with iBiquity Digital Corporation to support a potential FCC rule change; (ii) ongoing measurement and advocacy for FM radio chip activation on U.S. smartphones, including direct engagement with carriers such as AT&T; (iii) curation of NAB Labs Futures Park, a dedicated exhibition zone at the annual NAB Show showcasing R&D from government, academic, and commercial media research facilities (e.g., NHK, NPR Labs, ETRI, RIT); and (iv) demonstration platforms for next-generation hybrid television services enabled by ATSC 3.0, including localized emergency alerting and viewer interactivity. Adjacent activities include three standing advisory committees (Digital Officer, Radio Technology, Television Technology), educational programs (AM Radio Boot Camp, RF Boot Camp, Digital Strategies Exchange), and a patent portfolio in mobile and interactive DTV technologies.

Underlying technology centers on broadcast-physical-layer and protocol engineering: in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio, HD Radio hybrid mode, ATSC 3.0 next-generation television, and ATSC Mobile Alert System (M-EAS). The unit does not sell commercial products. Its revenue mechanics consist of (a) NAB membership dues from U.S. radio and television broadcasters, and (b) co-produced event revenue through the NAB Show, Radio Show (with RAB), NAB Futures, and CCW+SATCON. Serviceable customer segments are U.S. radio and television broadcasters (primary), with secondary audiences in government/emergency services and consumer electronics manufacturers (smartphones, HD Radio receivers, ATSC 3.0-compatible devices).

Name

NAB Labs

Legal name

National Association of Broadcasters

Website

https://nablabs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NAB Labs is a non-profit innovation initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters that tests, demonstrates, and advocates for next-generation broadcast radio and television technologies (HD Radio, all-digital AM, ATSC 3.0) on behalf of U.S. broadcasters, equipment makers, and emergency-services stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broadcast Technology Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio) (MPAIAEAD)

Keywords

• Broadcast technology
• Radio innovation
• Television standards
• Digital radio testing
• ATSC 3.0

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. NAB Membership Dues: NAB Labs is an initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). It operates as part of the trade association's technology department, funded through NAB membership dues from radio and television broadcasters across the United States.
2. Event Revenue: NAB Labs organizes and presents educational programs at major industry events including the NAB Show, Radio Show, NAB Futures, and CCW+SATCON. These events generate revenue through registrations and exhibitor fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NAB Labs is an innovation initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters that conducts field and laboratory testing of next-generation broadcast technologies, advocates for FM radio activation on smartphones, showcases media R&D projects through Futures Park at the NAB Show, and runs educational programs and technology committees for U.S. radio and television broadcasters. Its work spans ATSC 3.0, HD Radio, all-digital AM IBOC, and broadcast-based emergency alerting systems.

Product overview

NAB Labs is an innovation initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters, created in 2012, providing a platform for innovation, partnership forging, technology testing, and educational events for over-the-air radio and television technology. The organization operates several distinct programs: All-digital AM Radio Testing conducts field and lab testing of all-digital AM IBOC signals; FM Radio in Smartphones tracks and advocates for FM radio capabilities in smartphones; NAB Labs Futures Park showcases media R&D at the NAB Show; and technology committees address digital strategies for radio and television. The initiative focuses on six core areas: Showcase, Incubator, Innovation, Partnerships, Testing, and Education and Evangelism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• All-digital AM Radio Testing A field and laboratory testing initiative for all-digital AM IBOC (In-Band On-Channel) digital radio signals, working with broadcasters and equipment manufacturers such as iBiquity Digital to develop technical performance records and gather data to support potential FCC rule changes.
• FM Radio in Smartphones Tracks sales and capabilities of top-selling smartphones in the U.S. to document FM radio tuner presence and activation rates, advocating for carriers such as AT&T to enable built-in FM reception capabilities on mobile devices.
• NAB Labs Futures Park A dedicated section of the NAB Show convention floor showcasing media-related R&D projects from governmental, academic, and commercial media research facilities worldwide, representing edge-of-the-art media technologies to broadcast industry professionals.
• Next-Generation Hybrid TV Demonstration A demonstration platform showcasing new services potentially enabled by next-generation television broadcast systems, including targeted advertising, localized emergency alerting, and viewer-response interactivity, shown at the NAB Show, GABCON, and the 2015 ATSC Broadcast Television Conference.
• Educational Programs Educational programs for broadcast technology professionals including AM Radio Boot Camp, RF Boot Camp, Television's Transition to All-IP Future, and Digital Strategies Exchange sessions delivered at industry events such as the NAB Show and Radio Show.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,200 radio stations broadcasting hybrid HD Radio signals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AT&TcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2015AT&T committed to activating FM chips on Android smartphones, enabling free local radio reception on mobile devices. This partnership supports NAB Labs' advocacy for FM radio on smartphones.
• NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2015NHK exhibited at 2015 NAB Labs Futures Park demonstrating 8K Super Hi-Vision technology including 350-inch screen, 22.2-channel sound, highly portable 8K camcorder, and full 8K/120Hz production system. NHK is a key international partner in next-generation broadcast technology.
• NPR LabscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2015NPR Labs exhibited at 2015 NAB Labs Futures Park showing studies in SSB stereo compatibility with FM receivers, MDCL effects on AM HD Radio, LTE interference resolution, loudness tools, and RDS emergency alerting work.
• Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2015NAB Labs partners with SBE to develop conference programs for the Radio Show, including intermediate to advanced instruction for engineers on IT's impact on radio infrastructure. SBE certification examinations are available at Radio Show events.
• FCC (Federal Communications Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2014NAB Labs works with FCC on regulatory matters including spectrum policy, emergency alerting standards, and potential rule changes for all-digital AM radio. FCC Commissioners visit NAB Labs booths at industry events.
• Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2014NAB and RAB co-produce the annual Radio Show event, with NAB Labs providing technology program content covering AM and hybrid radio developments.
• iBiquity Digital CorporationcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2012NAB Labs collaborates with iBiquity Digital on all-digital AM IBOC testing. iBiquity developed the HD Radio in-band/on-channel digital radio system standardized by the NRSC.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Fraunhofer IIS: Applied research institute that develops key broadcast audio codecs (e.g., HE-AAC, xHE-AAC) used in digital radio standards. Comparable as a broadcast-technology research and standards contributor.
• Digital Radio Mondiale: Consortium promoting the DRM family of digital radio standards. Comparable as a digital-radio standards and advocacy organization competing for global mindshare in the digital broadcast radio space.

Broad incumbents

• Consumer Technology Association (CTA): U.S. trade association representing the consumer electronics industry and host of CES. Comparable to NAB as a large industry association; NAB Labs leadership participates in CTA events alongside NAB CEO Gordon Smith.

Direct peers

• NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories: R&D arm of Japan's public broadcaster that partners with NAB Labs and demonstrated 8K Super Hi-Vision at NAB Labs Futures Park. Functions as a national public broadcaster research counterpart.
• BBC Research & Development: R&D division of the UK's public broadcaster, conducting broadcast technology research comparable in scope to NAB Labs (hybrid radio, IP-based production, immersive audio). Representative appears alongside NAB Labs staff at the World Media Forum.
• Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE): Professional society for broadcast engineers that NAB Labs partners with to deliver technical education and certification programs at the Radio Show. Operates as a parallel technical-community body for the broadcast industry.
• Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB): Trade body co-producing the annual Radio Show with NAB; NAB Labs supplies the technology program content. Functions as a complementary broadcast-industry association.
• Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE): Global standards body for motion-imaging and broadcast technology. Comparable peer in setting engineering standards and convening broadcast/media technologists across the same ecosystem NAB Labs serves.
• Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC): Standards-setting body that develops the ATSC digital television standards (including ATSC 3.0) that NAB Labs actively promotes, tests, and demonstrates. NAB CTO Sam Matheny sits on the ATSC board of directors.
• iBiquity Digital (Xperi): Developer of the HD Radio IBOC technology that NAB Labs has been field- and lab-testing for all-digital AM since 2012. Closest technology counterpart within the broadcast radio ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nab_labs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NAB Labs