We’re Scott and Chris—friends, collaborators, and co-founders of The ON-AIR Light Company. Our story began in the late '90s while working at CBT Systems in San Diego—a broadcast integrator specializing in designing, installing, and integrating the hardware and software components needed to build complete broadcast systems. Chris joined the company in 1997, having moved from Canada to San Diego in 1985 and attending both high school and San Diego State University locally. In 1998, Scott—who had just graduated from Long Beach State with a degree in Industrial Design—landed his first job there, building consoles for ABC7. Scott grew up in Encinitas, CA. He spent his childhood bodyboarding, biking, drawing, customizing cars, and tinkering with RC vehicles. Chris, now a husband and father of two (plus two dogs), enjoys hockey, old sports cars, and golf when he’s not building lights.

Our partnership was born on the ABC7 project, where we were handed a vintage RCA ON-AIR light and asked to recreate something similar—but better. The building’s retro aesthetic, designed by the renowned architect Cesar Pelli, demanded more than a basic plastic fixture. Using traditional sand-casting techniques, we engineered a polished aluminum housing, paired it with custom-cut glass lenses, and fabricated handmade LED light boards in-house. Roughly 35 lights were created for that original install.

Inspired by the result, we began to simplify the design for broader use. We introduced durable Lexan lenses, offered more color options, added custom vinyl text, and transitioned to standard incandescent lighting. We obtained UL certification and launched a full product line that could be customized and scaled. Over time, we added additional housing styles to provide more options for customers looking for high-quality status lighting.

In 2019, when CBT Systems closed its doors, we acquired the remaining parts and inventory and officially launched The ON-AIR Light Company to continue the legacy.

Over the years, our lights have made their way into studios and production spaces across the country—including work for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live, the NFL Network, and many others. From single-podcaster setups to high-profile network studios,we’re proud to offer professional status lighting that’s functional, timeless, and built to last.

View our turnaround, shipping and return policies here.