Incredibly, after the frenzied build-up of the last five or six weeks, IBC2025 is behind us. And with the show now a fixture in the rear view mirror, it’s time to reflect on the sights, sounds and conversations of the weekend, time to try and bring some order to the chaos and think about what was learned.
For me, one word kept cropping up: security. I found the subject, in all its guises, was a fairly constant topic of conversation as I made my way through the almost overwhelming Amsterdam melee. Security both of content and of the infrastructure upon which the industry depends for its creation, storage and distribution formed the basis of several presentations and panel discussions.
One such event, hosted by Friend MTS, featured an array of experts from across the world of media and law enforcement. A fascinating—if somewhat shocking—insight into the world of content piracy was outlined. The staggering statistics presented were analogous with the cocaine trade and I began to wonder how many, if any, of the consumers who watch their favourite sports teams via nefarious means ever give a thought to the international organised crime groups whose tendrils are extending into their homes.
Industry groups are rightly lobbying hard for changes to the regulatory environment across the EU and beyond, but history is littered with examples of legislation lagging behind technological advances. Perhaps the solution to this apparently unwinnable arms race is societal, rather than legislative?
Elsewhere, I had conversations around the idea that nation states should be taking the security of the broadcast industry more seriously, and I was privileged to see some of the solutions that could be deployed. In the last issue of TVBEurope I asked Should broadcast be categorised as Critical National Infrastructure and was delighted to find it had been read by some of the people I met. It’s always nice to know we aren’t just shouting into the ether (although it was rightly pointed out to me that Estonia, ahead of the curve, is already doing exactly that).
It seems security may well be a talking point in the months ahead, and I intend to cover the subject in depth in later issues. In my past life, it was an ever-present consideration, with NDAs woven into the DNA of my former career. Though I understand why, I’m always a little surprised at the conservative approach taken by the media and entertainment business when it comes to embracing new technologies. In today’s shifting world, it is a subject that can no longer be ignored.
