NABOB gets set for Fall confab

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The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters meets in Washington near the end of September, where the battles against NUD and PPM are expected to be major focus points. Among other hot topics is the drive to get the Treasury Department to help minority broadcasters emerge intact on the other side of the economic downturn.


The organizations 33rd Annual Fall Broadcast Management Conference will be held September 24 – 25, 2009, at the Madison Loews Hotel in Washington DC.

NABOB, along with Hispanic broadcast organizations, is particularly concerned with the loss of reported audience since Arbitron began using PPM technology. It is pleased to report to its members that Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY) is using his Oversight and Government Reform Committee to investigate it, and John Conyers (D-MI) is requesting a GAO study.

The association has been working with both the White House and Treasury to secure emergency financing as many minority broadcasters are running up against creditor covenants. The efforts of Towns, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) and Inner City head Pierre Sutton will be a major topic at the event.

Meanwhile, NABOB is requesting a meeting specifically with automaker BMW to discuss NUDs.

Key panels to be held at the event include “No Urban and No Hispanic Dictates – A New Platform to End Them,” “Why Agencies Believe in The Power of Urban Radio,” and “Why Advertisers Believe in the Power of Urban Radio.”

RBR/TVBR observation: Minority broadcasters may be getting a concentrated dose of the ailments affecting all broadcasters in the current economic climate. Here’s hoping they can make some headway in finding a path through this recession, and that it turns out to be one that can be followed by the mainstream as well as minorities.