"Can't we all just get along?"

I am reminded of this plea as the National Cable & Telecommunications Association prepares for its annual convention in Las Vegas on May 7-9, the scene of the recent NAB convention and the annual Consumer Electronics Show in January.

This has been one of the most challenging years for interrelationships among the three trade groups and the industries they represent.

Dual must carry and the ban on integrated security systems for cable settops are just two examples of the divisive issues making the headlines as we move toward an all-digital communications system. 

Many of the regulatory aspects affecting broadcasting and cable's migration to all digital require these organizations to take opposing positions. However, their joint DTV education initiative serves as a great example of their commitment to combine forces for the good of our customers.

Moreover, what's good for the customer is good for business. As one of the few professional organizations that serves both broadcasting and cable, the Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association (BCFM), along with its Broadcast Cable Credit Association (BCCA) subsidiary, will build upon the common interests of broadcasters and cable operators when we meet for our 47th Annual Conference, also set for Las Vegas, May 21-24. 

As you would expect, CFOs are interested in the economics of issues like must carry and retransmission consent. The BCFM/BCCA Conference provides a forum for financial managers and their CEOs to openly discuss the solutions that can enhance their respective financial positions by adding value to the television viewer's experience.

In fact, one of the highlights for this year's BCFM/BCCA Conference will be a CEO panel moderated by industry analyst Tom Wolzien, featuring Glenn A. Britt, president and CEO of Time Warner Cable; Don Perry, president and CEO of Clear Channel Television; Henry Schleiff, president and CEO of Crown Media Holdings and Bill Stakelin, president and CEO of Regent Communications.

Short on rhetoric and long on strategic outlook, the broadcasting and cable CEO session will cap three days of joint industry discussions on the full spectrum of issues affecting financial performance and future success of our member companies.

Finding common ground is also a familiar practice for a number of our member companies, such as Cox Enterprises, which owns radio and TV stations, cable systems and programming interests. In addition, new media activities are introducing radio and print media to the world of video. The migration to all digital is a media-wide phenomenon. As everyone shifts to communicating in 1's and 0's, the lines between our businesses will continue to fade to softer and softer shades of gray until they disappear entirely.

With that in mind, this year's conference sessions will encompass the full spectrum of management topics important to broadcasting and cable, traditional and new media businesses alike.  The lineup of CPE-eligible sessions includes our customary staple of "101" sessions for professionals that are new to the media industry. We will also provide the latest on FCC, SEC, IRS and other agency regulations, including the latest EEOC, music licensing and Sarbanes Oxley developments. 

Timely topics slated for this year's conference include managing a 21st century workforce, making a business out of local media Web sites, the current M&A landscape, shared services, financial modeling for new media businesses, audience measurement developments, new media accounting methods, sales structures for new media, employee fraud, advanced cash management, dealing with financially troubled advertisers, privacy, radio's new revenue opportunities, multicultural marketing, bundling cable and telecom services and new advertising revenue models.

This year's keynoters will include Greenstone Media personality Lisa Birnbach; Alex Castellanos, a partner in National Media Inc., who has served as a media consultant to six presidential campaigns including Bush-Cheney 2004; Gregory Miller, first VP and chief economist for SunTrust Banks; and NAB President and CEO David Rehr.

We have also tapped leadership development expert Jim Bearden to provide insights and tips on a series of professional development topics, including personal accountability and achieving successful organization change.

Our final presentation will be delivered by just the right person for sending BCFM/BCCA attendees out onto the new media court—Bill Resler, director of the Graduate Tax Program at the University of Washington's Business School and the winning high school coach featured in Heart of the Game.

We chose Learn More, Win Big as the theme for the this year's conference to provide a link between the desire to "come out ahead" that people have when they come to Las Vegas and the core educational mission of our organization.  The breadth of sessions and quality of presenters that have been lined up for this year's conference make it the best bet in town.

Mary Collins is the president of the Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association, a professional society for financial, MIS and HR executives in the electronic media. Her column appears here every other Friday. She can be contacted at mcollins@bcfm.com or 847-716-7000.