How long have you been going to IBC?
I’ve been going to IBC since the late ‘90s, so it’s been 25 to 30 years now.
What’s your typical IBC routine: what are you there to see/learn, who are you there to meet?
The core mission of AIMS has always been to drive the adoption of open standards, and to ensure those standards work in practice. So, at IBC, our role is centred on direct engagement with end users and integrators to better understand how SMPTE ST 2110 and the surrounding set of IP technologies are performing in the real world. We’re looking for implementation pain points, gaps in the standards that need to be addressed, and – crucially – whether interoperability is being delivered across vendors and solutions.
Interoperability has been at the foundation of AIMS from the beginning. The organisation was created to bring the industry together around a unified, standards-based framework. So, these conversations at IBC are critical in determining whether the promise of a multi-vendor, standards-based IP is being realised on the ground, while driving the next phase of evolution.
Why is IBC important to you in a professional capacity, and how does the show compare to others on the calendar?
For our industry, IBC is without question the most important event on the calendar. It’s where we get to engage directly with end users, integrators, and technology partners from every corner of the world.
If there’s another show that comes close in terms of scale and impact, it’s NAB. But NAB tends to be more North America-centric. What sets IBC apart is the broader perspective it offers into the global marketplace. It gives us a deeper understanding of where the industry is heading – not just in one region, but worldwide.
What are you most looking forward to at IBC2025?
Early on, SMPTE ST 2110 was very much a bleeding-edge technology, with initial adopters consisting of large media organisations that were up against serious limitations with SDI when it came to scalability. For traditional SDI routers, the practical size ceiling is 2Kx2K, making IP the only path forward for major facilities. Furthermore, it was the technology of choice for media companies adopting 4K and UHD formats, which are better suited to the efficiency and scalability delivered by native IP solutions.
However, over the last two years we’ve seen a clear shift. IP isn’t just the domain of the top-tier players anymore – it’s becoming more mainstream and the default approach for a much broader range of projects, including mid-tier implementations. So, at IBC, we’re looking forward to achieving our goal of validating that this shift has truly taken hold, and that for most new video infrastructure projects, SMPTE ST 2110 is the assumed starting point. While we do understand that SDI still has a place in the market for certain projects, IP is where the industry is headed – not just in theory, but in practice.
What’s your top tip for anyone attending IBC for the first time?
IBC is a massive show, and navigating it efficiently really comes down to planning. The RAI in Amsterdam has grown significantly over the years. It now features 12 halls, and the exhibitors you want to see are likely scattered across all of them. If you don’t come in with a strategy, you’ll spend half your day crisscrossing the venue and the other half nursing your aching feet.
So, before you even get on the plane, sit down with the floor plan and make a list of who you want to visit – and where they’re located. If you are coming to learn more about AIMS or ST-2110, a great place to start is the IP Showcase, If you plan to visit our member companies, then group your meetings by hall and aim to cover each one in a dedicated morning or afternoon. It sounds simple, but that level of organisation makes a huge difference. You’ll be more focused, less exhausted, and ready to have the meaningful conversations you came for.
