Daytime temperatures in Las Vegas dipped into the mid 60s during last week's NAB convention, but even that couldn't cool off a hot show floor. That was literally true, thanks to the throng of more than 104,000 attendees—and to local union employees who, in a job-action protest, shut off the air conditioning one day at 5 p.m. Figuratively, it was true, too: Vendor after vendor says the broadcast-equipment market is stronger than it has been in years. "I've never seen NAB be this good," says Tim Thorsteinson, president/CEO of Leitch. And he isn't alone in his sentiment. Two senior vice presidents for sales and marketing, Pesa's Bob McAlpine and OmniBus' Dave Polyard, say their sales forces left Las Vegas with far more leads than expected. "We're definitely more bullish this year," says Joe Zaller, VP, marketing and product management, Snell & Wilcox. "Last year, our growth was up 20% in the U.S., and we expect that to continue." Some tech firms talk of record sales at the show.
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