IBC2024 starts on September 13! Read our guide to everything you will see at the show, both on Stand 1.A51 and across the show floor and in the conference.
Welcome to our look ahead to IBC2024 and what is set to be an exciting show as the broadcast industry reconvenes once more in Amsterdam. We’re going to look briefly at what we are up to at the show ourselves and then widen it out to examine some of the main themes that will drive the demonstrations and discussions on the show floor and at its conference.
VO @ IBC2024
Once more we are in our usual home on Stand 1.A51. We can’t tell you everything that we’re up to in Amsterdam just yet — we need some surprises for visitors to the stand! — but we are there with the tagline ‘The Perfect Match for Any TV Business’. That means we will be showing how customers from all business types can adapt our modular solutions to fit their workflows and meet their needs both now and in the future.
For telcos, our demos will focus on how our customers can optimize operational efficiency and enhance performance, as will be showcased in real world deployments. We will cover how VO Segmenter can transform your data into strategic insights & revenue opportunities, how we monitor TV services from video ingestion to end-user device, how we customize the viewer’s UI with an innovative no code tool, and more.
For broadcasters, the center of attention is on how they can elevate viewer experiences and amplify their engagement with our technology. Again underpinned with real world examples, we will showcase our multiscreen application allowing for UX/UI customization with minimized time-to-market, our revenue-generating advertising solutions, and how dynamic watermarking can help secure their investment in content.
Content owners visiting our stand can see how they can reach wider audiences and streamline content delivery, with demos including a look at how they can manage multi-country and multi-brand services, how to engage sports fans with real-time statistics and interaction overlays for an immersive experience, and more.
We offer everything from a complete end-to-end solution to individual components to optimize workflows, content delivery, and revenues for all industry players.
Make an appointment now to see all this on our stand and more.
Main Trends at IBC2024
So, what else will be on show in Amsterdam? IBC2024 has identified six core content topics that will shape discussions and conference sessions throughout the event, and you can see these topics reflected on the show floor. For 2024, these are:
Ad Tech
Targeted TV Advertising is changing the television landscape, underpinning the rapid growth of FAST channels in the US and worldwide, and allowing media companies to offer more nuanced and tiered offerings to TV viewers. With monetization very much at the forefront of everyone’s mind, IBC promises conference sessions exploring the next wave of addressable advertising. These sessions will delve into how advertisers can reach new demographics through personalized, shoppable content, as well as at the opportunities for AI to deliver targeted ads and ensure a higher ROI, and the strategies streaming platforms are leveraging to promote their product through in-game advertisement. Expect to see plenty of this on the show floor too.
No surprises here. AI will be a central focus at the show, reflecting its growing impact everywhere throughout the industry. There is a whole series of conference sessions dedicated to the topic, and it will be interesting to see what impact, if any, new legislation such as the EU AI Act will have on the show floor. Plus, you can catch our CTO, Alain Nochimowski, delivering what looks to be a fascinating presentation on The Power of Data-Driven Insights: Advancing Ad Targeting With Generative AI in Conference Room 2 at 14.00 on Friday 13. More details here.
Cloud Technology
The roll out of the cloud continues. Discussions at the conference will pivot around pivotal themes such as cloud security enhancements, scalable infrastructure models, the integration of artificial intelligence for process optimization, and green computing practices. On the show floor, meanwhile, there will also be practical implementations that support hybrid cloud workflows, reflecting the realities of implementing the technology amidst real world infrastructure and legacy systems in 2024.
IBC’s mention of green computing practices here is interesting. While it has been disappointing to see sustainability drop out of the Core Content Topics list, it is still very much present as a thread in many of the planned discussions on other subjects.
OTT & Streaming
IBC says it is expanding its coverage of OTT & Streaming this year and is looking to provide a more in-depth exploration of these topics than ever. Of course, on our Stand 1.A51, we will be showcasing not only the latest developments in these technologies but also how we bundle them into a tailored solution offering designed to meet the unique needs of any media organisation. there is definitely interesting content elsewhere, too. Subjects for talks at the Conference include: How can we build a future-ready tech stack to support new business and operating models?; What does emerging technology mean for live sports broadcasting post Paris Olympics?; And the age-old question (and certainly a big focus on our stand) What are the winning monetization strategies for streaming services?.
Connected Technologies
After a long period of rolling out in low gear (Covid in particular had a detrimental effect) the growth in 5G networks is finally starting to accelerate around the world. Aided by network slicing (for example prioritizing low latency for fans watching replays and other content at sports matches in stadiums), and the rise of private 5G Networks for specific events, the technology is starting to become increasingly compelling. It is also finally helping make the Internet of Things a reality and helping drive a new generation of connected smart devices.
It’s worth mentioning the IBC Accelerator Program here. This has been running for a few years now and unites all sides of the industry — vendors, academia, broadcasters, production, etc — in generating Proofs of Concept (POCs) that investigate the applications of new tech. In the Connected Technologies field this year this includes POCs that look at connecting live performances, connecting and producing content from everywhere, and creating digital replicas. Well worth checking out.
Immersive Technology
We always said that one of the prime inflection points for Virtual Reality was going to be when consumers could be served 4K content. Now that we have devices like that in the market, the quality of VR has leapt ahead and is unlike anything we’ve seen before. However, devices like the Apple Vision Pro at $3500 can hardly be considered mass market, and there are other issues too such as weight, comfort, and a lack of a killer app to drive sales.
Nevertheless, IBC has always tended to leap feet first into new consumer technologies and has expanded its scope from focusing only on augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and the metaverse, into two dedicated halls highlighting the importance of these technologies and their potential transformative impact. It remains to be seen whether the industry and consumers are convinced.
Innovations at IBC
There is more, of course. As ever, IBC also debuts new areas and makes adjustments to the show’s content to reflect the way the industry is evolving.
New for 2024 are:
The new AI Tech Zone, in collaboration with the EBU, aims to offer a central hub for AI providers, creators utilizing the technology, and solution vendors meeting specific industry needs to show how AI can positively impact the industry. There’s a dedicated stage for presentations, a networking zone, and a mini self-contained exhibition.
Companies looking to diversify into the burgeoning Audio-Visual space have their own Speed Pitch Event giving them the opportunity to promote their products, services and brands directly to major AV purchasers.
The IBC Talent Programme on Monday, 16 September looks to address the twin problems of training and recruitment in free-to-attend sessions that will explore how the M&E community can work together to nurture new talent, make training accessible, and develop common standards on diversity and inclusion. In a similar vein, the inaugural World Skills Café will be held the day before the show opens and looks to establish itself as a global forum for knowledge-sharing and information based on best practices around how to address the growing industry skills shortage.
Gearing up for a hectic four days
Post-Covid, IBC is one day shorter than it used to be and ‘only’ runs for four days across the second weekend in September. It is still a lot to fit in however. And that’s just the RAI; widen any trip out to include some of the huge range of parties and dinners, not to mention the fabulous temptations of all sorts offered by the city of Amsterdam, and it’s potentially a very packed schedule.
But no matter how busy you are, make sure you come and see us on Stand 1.A51 for at last part of your visit. We’re even hosting a daily happy hour on our stand (Fri-Sun 17:00-18:00) to help ease the transition from day mode to evening mode. We hope to see you there!
As a reminder, you can book an appointment for a demo, a discussion, or just an informal chat about how we can help you meet your business objectives, here.