UK Broadcasting Manufacturers NAB-ed Success In USA

Sixty british companies 'bucked the trend' and performed well aat NAB 2009 – taking orders, agreeing new partnerships and increasing generated leads by a good percentage over previous years.

Despite strong rumours about lower attendance at this event in Las Vegas, Director of Worldwide Sales and Joint Managing Director of SGL Bernie Walsh confirmed: "I can tell you it was our busiest NAB in terms of leads – we had nearly doubled the number of leads from last year and they were better quality leads than we've seen before. With times being harder, it seemed that people were coming to us with a definite purpose, rather than just browsing."
The triumph at NAB for UK-based companies is partly accredited to the unique and highly successful Webinar, hosted by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).
Before the world's largest broadcast tradeshow at the end of April, companies tuned in to hear how to make the most of the opportunity from highly respected industry specialists such as Clyde Smith, Turner Broadcast Systems Inc SVP Global Broadcast Technology and Standards, as well as Chris Brown, EVP, Conventions and Business Operations, NAB.

TMD Chairman Tony Taylor said: "Having the opportunity to hear from such a large broadcaster as TBS (as part of the Webinar) enabled us to really hone our pre-show marketing effort and it was also good to hear that NAB were taking all the rumours seriously and helping the exhibitors in many ways.
"Many of our customers are US-based and because top level executives attended the show this year, we were able to focus on them, discuss their requirements and achieve unprecedented success."
UKTI Chief Executive Officer Sir Andrew Cahn summed up the UK's success at NAB: "The UK is a hotbed of innovation solutions to complex global challenges and we are proud to support British firms in their continuing endeavours to grow overseas.

"UKTI's Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) helped 23 companies attend NAB - the broadcast tradeshow to be seen, meet and demonstrate at.
"Through our support they showed the broadcast world new products and services designed to overcome challenges in today’s fast-changing broadcast/media environment.
UKTI's TAP helps small and medium-sized enterprises attend overseas tradeshows through grants of up to £1,800."
Among the companies which benefited from this programme are Argosy Cable, IdeasUnlimited.tv, Mode-AL, RJS Electronics, Strategy & Technology, TMD, Peak Communications and Phabrix.

(KMcA/BMcC)