ATSC Has ‘Go/No-Go’ Deadline for Aug. 25-26 In-Person Event

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser's (D) May 17 order lifting COVID-19 capacity restrictions on large business gatherings by June 11 made ATSC President Madeleine Noland “definitely more optimistic” her group's annual NextGen Broadcast Conference can be in-person Aug. 25-26 at the Reagan Building, Noland told us Monday. ATSC plans a hybrid event, she said. Noland characterizes her outlook as “cautiously optimistic,” saying, “Look at the IFA conference being canceled. I realize that’s another part of the world, but still.” Opening of registrations for NAB Show 2021 (see 2105190028) was “another positive sign,” she said. Some ATSC members see “the light at the end of the tunnel” for COVID-19, while others are “pretty worried” and some “are kind of halfway in between,” said Noland, saying she's in the last category.