• Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators perform a wide variety of tasks.
• Their duties include setting up and maintaining the electrical equipment used in nearly all radio and television broadcasts, concerts, plays, sound recordings, and movies.
• There are many specialized occupations in this field.
• Audio and video equipment technicians set up and operate audio and video equipment, including microphones, speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, and recording equipment.
  • They also connect wires and cables and set up and operate sound and mixing boards and related electronic equipment for concerts, sports events, meetings and conventions, presentations, and news conferences.
  • They may set up and operate associated spotlights and other custom lighting systems.
  • They also are needed to install and maintain equipment in many large businesses and universities that are upgrading their facilities with audio and video equipment.
• Broadcast technicians set up, operate, and maintain equipment that regulates the signal strength, the clarity, and the ranges of sounds and colours of radio or television broadcasts.
  • These technicians also operate control panels to select the source of the material.
  • Technicians may switch from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming.
• Sound engineering technicians operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in recording studios, sporting arenas, theatre productions, or movie and video productions.
• Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators perform a variety of duties at small stations.
• At large stations and at the networks, technicians are more specialized, although job assignments may change from day to day.
• The terms “operator,” “engineer,” and “technician” often are used interchangeably to describe these workers.
• They may monitor and log outgoing signals and operate transmitters; set up, adjust, service, and repair electronic broadcasting equipment; and regulate fidelity, brightness, contrast, volume, and sound quality of television broadcasts.
• Technicians also work in program production.
• Recording engineers operate and maintain video and sound recording equipment. They may operate equipment designed to produce special effects, such as the illusion of a bolt of lightning or a police siren.
• Sound mixers or re-recording mixers produce soundtracks for movies or television programs. After filming or recording is complete, these workers may use a process called “dubbing” to insert sounds.
• Field technicians set up and operate portable transmission equipment outside the studio.
• Because television news coverage requires so much electronic equipment and the technology is changing so rapidly, many stations assign technicians exclusively to news.
• Chief engineers, transmission engineers, and broadcast field supervisors oversee other technicians and maintain broadcasting equipment.
• Radio operators mainly receive and transmit communications using a variety of tools.
• These workers also repair equipment, using such devices as electronic testing equipment, hand tools, and power tools. One of their major duties is to help ensure communication systems remain in good condition.

• Audio and video equipment is in heavy demand in many new buildings, especially new schools, and in existing schools as well.
• Many new technicians will be needed, not only to install, but to maintain and repair the equipment as well.
• A growing number of companies will plan permanent departments employing audio and video technicians.
• An increase in the use of digital signage will also lead to higher demand for audio and video equipment technicians.
• In the motion picture industry, they are needed to install digital movie screens.
• Advancements in technology will enhance the capabilities of technicians to produce higher quality radio and television programming; however, this improved technology will also increase the productivity of technicians, which may hold down employment growth.
• Jobs in radio and television broadcasting will also be limited by further consolidation of stations and by labour-saving advances, such as computer-controlled programming.
• In the cable and pay portion of the broadcasting industry, employment is expected to grow as the range of products and services expands, including cable Internet access and video-on-demand.
• An area in which technicians will be in increasing demand over the next several years is mobile broadcasting.
• People seeking entry-level jobs as broadcast technicians are expected to face keen competition because of the large number of people attracted by the glamour of working in television or radio.
• Competition will be stronger in large metropolitan areas where pay is generally higher and the number of job seekers usually exceeds the number of openings.

Other occupations that need the electronics training necessary to operate technical equipment include Electrical and electronics installers and repairers; Engineer technicians; Science technicians.

Broadcast and sound engineering technicians also may operate computer networks, as do Computer support specialists.

Other occupations that screen incoming calls on some live radio and television programs are Communications equipment operators.

• BA in Broadcast Technology, electronics, computer networking
• 1 year vocational program for sound engineering technicians