Simply Unique.

There are several media conferences in the UK each year, but most follow the money, focussing on TV and streaming services. There’s one notable exception, held at the IET in London each year, Radio TechCon. This event isn’t just unique because it focusses on radio, but also because of the values it embodies. Topics covered aren’t only technical, the overlap between technology, social issues and accessibility are regularly covered, and 10% of tickets are offered free to those who would otherwise be unable to attend. It doesn’t exist to make money, it’s there because the organisers believe there should be a conference for those working in radio engineering, and it should be accessible to all. The talks are not just for engineers, they are intended to be useful to everyone with an interest in radio technology.

A little history.

The Radio Academy, a charity supporting those working in the industry, ran a Radio Festival each year, and Radio TechCon was held on one day of that event. Sadly, the Radio Academy lost the major sponsor for that event and were no longer able to support Radio TechCon, leaving the UK radio engineering community without a conference. TBC Media was formed by three engineers working in the sector with the express purpose of running a conference for radio engineers; they ran their first Radio TechCon in 2016. It’s interesting to look at the topics covered back then, ranging from a “Mini Masterclass” on software defined radio to “Internet Fit Radio” and use of solar power for radio stations in South Sudan. The event grew every year until 2020 when COVID put a stop to large gatherings. Radio TechCon continued online for two years, using a very brave distributed production process from the homes of the volunteers who help to run it. You can’t have a radio conference without tea and cake, and every delegate received a “goody box” through the post, so they could enjoy the hospitality of the event from their own homes. Radio TechCon returned to the IET in 2022.

Radio TechCon Today

TBC Media is now operated by Ann Charles and Aradhna Leach. They both have “day jobs” as engineers in the industry and run Radio TechCon with the help of a small group of volunteers. Several companies sponsor the event, helping to keep the ticket price down. The conference is held in the Turing Theatre at Savoy Place, with the help of sponsorship from the IET through the Media Executive Committee. Bursaries are offered to those who would like to attend but can’t afford a ticket, and the cost of travel can also be funded for those travelling a long way. The bursaries ensure the audience are far more diverse than at most media conferences, with many young students attending. The talks are 20 minutes long, one or two headed, they don’t have panel sessions. In between the talks there are lots of opportunities to network, drink tea, eat cake and visit the sponsors’ stands in the Maxwell Library. The event finishes with a popular “quiz at the end” and, of course, a few beers.

Not Just Radio Technology

Inclusivity doesn’t just mean getting a diverse audience, the topics covered are wide-ranging. Recent TechCon sessions have included several surprises, notably “It Is Rocket Science – How NASA Does Sound” by Alexandria Perryman, NASA’s Head of Sound from Space. In 2023 the conference covered everything from the BBC’s award-winning use of private 5G networks to broadcast the coronation, to Keeping Afghanistan On Air (live from Kabul), and Audio Perception in d/Deaf Audiences.

Win-Win

The IET, as a sponsor of Radio TechCon, is present at the event and raises the profile of the IET in the radio engineering and technology community. I joined the IET after attending Radio TechCon and became a STEM Ambassador following a talk about STEM at Radio TechCon. I later became a Chartered Engineer and member of the Media Executive Committee, none of which would have happened without IET involvement in Radio TechCon. This year there were a lot of visitors to the IET table and hopefully some of those who showed an interest will join.

How to Get Involved

Most of the talks from Radio TechCon are available on their YouTube channel, so you can watch the talks in your own time. The organisers hope to run the conference again in November 2024 and there will be a discount code for IET members to buy tickets. If you know of, or work for a company who might sponsor the event, that would be a huge help. Without sponsorship the event isn’t viable because the venue and catering costs are rising rapidly. Finally, you could provide a bursary ticket. I don’t know who had a bursary ticket and who paid – but I get a real buzz from knowing that one of the people at the event is there because I’ve personally sponsored a ticket and enabled them to come.

You can find out more at https://www.radiotechcon.com/ and watch the talks from previous events on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@radiotechcon

There’s also an introduction to broadcast engineering for those new to the sector, here https://www.radiotechcon.com/introduction-to-broadcast-engineering/

I very much hope the organisers can get sponsorship to run this unique event again next year, ideally at the IET, and look forward to meeting you there.