NAB Launches Program to Foster Broadcast Technology Innovation

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced the evolution of its innovation arm – NAB Labs – which will become PILOT, an initiative to bring together leading edge companies, organizations and educators to advance broadcast technology and broadcaster innovation. PILOT is honored to welcome Accenture, Akamai, Frankly, Google, Nielsen, Shareablee and Yahoo! to join with NAB as charter members of the initiative.

With the formation of PILOT, NAB is also pleased to welcome John Clark as executive director of the program. Clark brings 18 years of experience in the digital media space, most recently with the Reese News Lab in the School of Media and Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

John Clark

Prior to UNC, Clark conceived, built and managed some of the most successful broadcast television web sites and mobile applications in the industry. Clark will lead the launch and evolution of PILOT, ensuring the program accelerates innovation in the broadcast industry.

PILOT is designed to create a coalition of broadcasting and technology stakeholders, such as new media broadcasters, measurement and attribution companies, advertising partners and technology enablers. Among other goals, PILOT will drive creation and implementation of new technologies and solutions for the media industry through working groups and committees.

PILOT will build on the innovation efforts of NAB Labs, a technology division of NAB created in 2012 to propel broadcast television and radio into the future. The division has been engaged in numerous innovation efforts such as the development of next-generation television and hybrid radio for Smartphones.