The National Association of Broadcasters has opened nominations for its 2027 Technology Awards, inviting entries that demonstrate advances in broadcast engineering, digital leadership and communications technology. The winners will be recognised at next year’s NAB Show, which is scheduled to take place from 4 to 7 April 2027 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The awards will cover both the people responsible for technological and operational change in broadcasting and organisations developing new communications systems. That range reflects the fact that innovation in the sector is not confined to a single part of the industry: it can involve the way a station or network adopts new tools, the engineering work that supports broadcasting, or research that has yet to reach the commercial market.
Three areas of recognition
The Digital Leadership Award is intended for an individual working at a station, group or network who has shown exceptional leadership in improving a broadcast business through the adoption and use of emerging technologies. The category places emphasis not simply on the existence of new technology, but on how it is applied within a broadcasting organisation.
Separate Engineering Achievement Awards will recognise individuals in radio and television whose work has made a lasting contribution to the industry. The third category, the Technology Innovation Award, is for an organisation rather than an individual and focuses on groundbreaking research and development in communications technology.
“Innovation in broadcasting is driven by people who see what’s possible and turn ideas into solutions.”
The statement was made by John Clark, chief innovation officer and senior vice-president of emerging technology at the National Association of Broadcasters. He said the awards recognise engineers, digital leaders and innovators whose work advances broadcasting and helps shape its future.
Deadlines differ by category
Applicants will not face a single closing date. The deadlines for the 2027 awards are:
| Award category | Nomination deadline |
|---|---|
| Digital Leadership Award | 19 January 2027 |
| Engineering Achievement Awards | 19 January 2027 |
| Technology Innovation Award | 1 March 2027 |
The later deadline for the innovation category is significant because entries must meet a more specific technical test. Eligible technologies must show substantial technical merit, be exhibited at NAB Show and still be pre-commercial when they are considered. The criteria therefore target developments that have moved beyond the idea stage but have not yet become established commercial products.
Why the awards matter
For the broadcast industry, the structure of the programme offers a way to distinguish between different kinds of progress. A digital leader may be recognised for implementing technology across an existing business, while an engineer may be honoured for a contribution built over a longer period. At the organisational level, the innovation award is aimed at research and development with the potential to influence communications technology before widespread adoption.
The awards will be presented as part of NAB Show, giving the recognised work a public setting alongside the exhibition requirement for technology innovation entries. The event will take place in Las Vegas, and nomination forms, award criteria and additional information are available through the NAB website. The announcement was first published by TV Tech, a sister brand of Radio World.
- Nominations are open for three award areas covering leadership, engineering and technology innovation.
- The first two deadlines fall on 19 January 2027, while innovation entries close on 1 March.
- Technology Innovation Award entries must be demonstrated at NAB Show and remain pre-commercial at the time of assessment.
