How have you and the IBC team dealt with the postponement of the last two shows due to the pandemic?
Naturally, it was a challenging couple of years for us at IBC and the whole industry in general. Unable to stage a physical event at the RAI Amsterdam, we worked hard to adapt the show to virtual formats for two years, keeping the IBC community connected and engaged through digital networking, collaboration, and thought-leadership initiatives.
It’s been an incredibly busy yet rewarding time for our team as we gear up for our first physical show since 2019. It’s been fantastic to see live, in-person trade shows back up and running around the world, and we feel a hugely positive momentum behind IBC2022, with very strong engagement levels from exhibitors and show visitors.
What have you learnt from that time that you’re bringing into this year’s event?
It’s felt like a long three years without an in-person IBC Show, and we all know how much we’ve missed doing business and engaging with our community the way we enjoy most: face-to-face.
I think it’s also become clear that all corners of the content and technology ecosystem are eager to engage in person again. More than ever, technology providers understand the importance of human interaction with customers, partners and the wider community.
What area of technology innovation has really stood out for you since the last IBC?
IBC champions ground-breaking technology, and innovation is at the heart of our mission. We’ve seen fantastic advancements in remote production alongside other particularly exciting breakthroughs harnessing 5G, VR/AR and, of course, the metaverse, across media and entertainment.
Cloud stands out for me, and it’s an area where our Accelerator Programme is forging into new territory at IBC2022. Our ‘Cloud-Based Live Events, Analytics, and Low Latency Protocols’ project shows how cloud workflows can more efficiently deliver live professional sports events employing multiple camera feeds at scale while minimising latency. ‘Cloud Localization Blueprint’ explores best practices and critical considerations for building a cloud-based media supply chain for the localisation of entertainment content. I’d encourage all attendees to head to the free-to-access Innovation Stage and Accelerator Zone, both in Hall 2, to discover each of this year’s eight proof-of-concept demonstrations and engage with the different project teams made up of world-leading media brands and technology pioneers.
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What do you hope attendees and exhibitors will take away from IBC2022?
We want IBC2022 to be the catalyst that brings the content and technology community back together to unlock business opportunities, fuel learning and celebrate innovation.
Our IBC Conference will provide delegates with mission-critical insights on some of the biggest business issues faced by our market today. Attendees can also enjoy the wide-ranging free-to-attend content programme across the show floor stages, designed to give every visitor access to knowledge-sharing and spark business conversations. Our Accelerator Programme will also showcase some truly groundbreaking solutions to real-world challenges and empower new use cases.
We want to play our role in driving positive change in media technology, so our new Changemaker sessions this year will enable the IBC community to learn from industry trailblazers, covering topics such as raising equality, advancing sustainability and mental health awareness.
You can read the full version of this interview in the forthcoming September edition of TVBEurope, which is published on 9th September and will available in the media library at IBC2022. You can register for a free subscription to TVBEurope here.
