Production 360º, V1.1, September-October 2024 by The Magazine Production Company

2024: A Year of Remarkable Innovation

Leading vendors reflect on AI, remote production and much more

Hall 8 | Stand B91 Let’s make it real.

Welcome to Production 360º

As an extension to the news website, we hope you like our new offering. It bridges the gap between a traditional magazine and a digital product that can be read easily across all devices. Producing an interactive, fresh and simple format was always the goal, focusing on four main pillars: news, products, people and business. No data collected, no subscription, and no bombardment of your inboxes.

For over 35 years, I have worked across many industries and seen the evolution of content production and distribution. It has become more challenging for specialist independent publishers to carve a niche against huge organisations with unlimited resources. Here at Production360°, we believe there is still a place for the ‘little guys’ who ask for a little and offer a lot. Without independent platforms, sooner or later, everything will be ‘pay to play’. We have and will never be a platform

that does this. Readers and suppliers will be left with no choice or voice, and that’s never a good scenario.

In this first issue, we are kindly supported by Avid, Ross Video, EMG, Vizrt, Ateliere Creative Technologies, Panasonic Broadcast & Pro AV, Lawo, Marshall, LiveU, Clear-Com, Page Melia, Manor Marketing, 808 Talent, Rise, Leader Phabrix, so I’d like to thank every one of them. Your support means the world to us; we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for being part of our journey.

This magazine will be published every two months and will strive to cover every important issue and topic. We value your input and welcome your contributions. Please send me any feedback or ideas chris@production360.media or news@production360.media. If you like what we are doing, please share it with your own people and organisation.

Thank you and enjoy.

Chris Cope, Publisher Production 360º

Publisher Chris Cope chris@production360.media

Contributing Writer

David Davies daviddaviesjournalist@gmail.com

Production Dean Cook deancook@magazineproduction.com

Production 360 Media Ltd, 6 The Forum, Minerva Business Park, Peterborough, PE2 6FT. Tel: +44 (0)20 3289 8015 Website: www.production360.media

Production 360 is published six times a year by Production 360 Media Ltd.

The views expressed in Production 360 not necessarily those of the editorial or publishing team. @production360

7 Overview: A Year of Profound Change

Contributing writer David Davies explores the dominant technology trends — from cloud-based production to AI — that feature prominently in this issue, and are also set to dominate the showfloor at this year’s IBC.

8 News and product introductions Latest production round-up

16 Ateliere: ‘We’re accelerating AI investment’

SVP Live Products Andy Hooper discusses the challenges for broadcasters of audience fragmentation, and the company’s new cloud-native live production & editing platform.

20 808 Talent: how candidate experience will drive recruitment success in M&E’s recovery

Ben Swanton, Founder and CEO of broadcast & sports media technology recruitment consultancy 808 Talent, explains how companies can prioritise candidate experience during the process of talent acquisition.

22 Ross Video: ‘It’s a very dynamic time’

CEO David Ross reflects on the industry’s unprecedented ‘state of flux’, the profound impact of AI, and the evolution of video transportation technology.

26 Vizrt: ‘I’m particularly excited by advancements in VR and AR’

Michael Hallén, CEO of Vizrt Group, discusses AI and ML progress, the continued evolution of IP-based production, and the transformative possibilities of 5G for remote production.

30 Avid: AI should allow ‘creators to focus more on the creative process’

CTO Kevin Riley reflects on the continued progress of AI and ML, the company’s innovative Huddle video review software, and his expectations for this year’s edition of IBC.

34 Lawo: ‘A second IP wave is upon us’

John Carter, Lawo’s Senior Product Manager, Media Infrastructure, reflects on the company’s latest innovations, the outlook for Generative AI, and its increasing use of ‘demonstration pods’ at trade shows.

38 Panasonic: ‘Adoption of AI in AV opens up new possibilities and workflows’

Guilhem Krier, Panasonic’s Head of New Business & Market Development | EMEA, reflects on the latest update to the company’s Media Production Suite and the importance of collaboration.

40 EMG: ‘Our thoughts are focused on the industry’s growing emphasis on sustainability’

EMG / Gravity Media COO Charlie Cubbon and Interim CCO Eamonn Curtin are looking forward to an edition of IBC that is expected to showcase ‘how sustainability and cutting-edge technology can come together to shape the future of our industry’.

42 Connect, Empower, Celebrate

Rise Women in Broadcast championing the inclusion and advancement of women in the industry.

Beyond the shock of the new

It has, by any standards, been another year of phenomenal change in the broadcast & media technology. With the industry having largely regained its pre-Covid dynamism, the focus has turned to the adoption of numerous new technologies, which — collectively — surely represent the most monumental shift in production and distribution workflows since the transition from analogue to digital got underway.

In this inaugural Digital Edition of Production360, we’ll explore many of these historic changes through interviews with seven of the industry’s leading vendors and service providers — namely Ateliere Creative Technologies, Avid, EMG/Gravity Media, Lawo, Panasonic, Ross Video and Vizrt.

As might be expected given its prominence in the industry discussion throughout the past 12 months, Artificial Intelligence (AI) — and its probable huge impact on the future of media production and delivery — is an abiding theme of these interviews. In general, they suggest that the immediate ‘shock of the new’ is now fading a bit, to be replaced by specific use cases.

As EMG/Gravity Media’s Charlie Cubbon and Eamonn Curtin remark in their interview, the deployment of these technologies provides an opportunity to enhance efficiency and “allows our creative teams to focus on innovation rather than routine work. Across the industry, automation is poised to transform content production,

management and distribution, enabling more personalised, data-driven content and faster, costeffective operations.”

The ability to offload repetitive tasks in favour of those that lead to more variable and interesting working lives is an exciting prospect. At the same time, the potential negative impact of Generative AI on creatives, in particular, should never been underestimated. The mounting concern expressed by writers, musicians and actors in an industry founded on human creativity should be absolutely paramount in the way that we all move forward into this bold new era. There surely have to be some boundaries to the implementation of AI/ML, and it’s to be hoped that the regulatory initiatives presently under development in the US, Europe and elsewhere have the necessary effect.

But AI is by no means the only game in town — or, indeed, subject matter of this issue. The migration to the cloud and the rise of remote and distributed production are also having a transformative effect on the industry, ushering in a remarkable new era of flexibility and scalability. In particular, the ability for broadcasters to cover more news and sports despite sending fewer personnel out on-location is proving to be a huge asset — especially during a time when the demand for content is growing, but securing commercial revenue streams is becoming more challenging and unpredictable.

Of course, this being an edition that is published

immediately before one of the industry’s primary annual gatherings, there is also plenty of coverage of our featured companies’ latest product launches and upgrades. We also get to hear their thoughts on the progress of sustainability and decarbonisation initiatives — both on an individual level and an industry-wide one — and the enduring strengths of the IBC Show.

In addition, we also have some fascinating insights from Ben Swanton, founder and CEO of renowned broadcast and sports media technology recruitment consultancy 808 Talent. He explains how companies can prioritise candidate experience during the process of talent acquisition — a task that is becoming evermore critical as some areas of the industry (especially with regard to senior engineering roles) face increased difficulties in securing the talent they need to maintain and develop their businesses. We hope you’ll find this issue a helpful preview of the technology trends and exciting projects making headlines in Amsterdam this month. As we finalised this issue, product announcements flooded my inbox, confirming media tech’s unwavering creativity and commitment to innovation despite the pandemic’s challenges. And in a wider world that seems to become ever more fractious and uncertain, the robustness of this industry is something that should always be acknowledged — and cherished.

David Davies

Contributing Writer

Imaginario AI at IBC: Enhances content creation with AI Video curation platform and API

Blue Lucy to launch asset portal and introduce AI assistant at IBC 2024

Imaginario AI is a video curation platform and API that has been trained to interpret visual video, dialogue, and audio like a human. Advanced library cataloging, easy-to-use production and packaging capabilities provide massive efficiencies for creating onset dailies: clip search and ideation, compliance editing, transcriptions, chapterisation, and content repurposing for social channels.

Limited metadata or working with animation? No problem. Imaginario is a labelless multimodal AI platform that curates by visual, speech and sound, while understanding the passing of time. It features three modalities, making it more efficient, precise, and cost-effective than typical MAM and AI labeling platforms that require multiple models for each type of search and asset type.

Highlight features include:

• Highlight clips permits users to search within text and discover text chapters to fashion custom video clips. Handles provide room for necessary adjustments by users.

• One-click to clip feature for long interviews and podcasts.

• Collections categorise assets into easily navigable chapters.

• Our Social Media packaging and branding tool is user-friendly, requiring only a few clicks.

Imaginario AI vastly simplifies and enhances the content creation process, empowering post-production and marketing teams of all sizes to effortlessly distribute more content to a wider audience and better monetise their assets.

Described as an asset portal, BOLT provides effortless access to content, allowing media executives to receive, review and share content without navigating complex UIs or waiting for technical teams to deliver files. The Blue Lucy team will also demonstrate extensive integrations and a powerful AI assistant in BLAM, Blue Lucy’s proven tool for asset management, workflow orchestration and integration, at the show. BOLT is designed to reconnect commercial media teams with their content through three core functions:

Receive: BOLT provides an intelligent upload function that ensures content is received with the metadata your business needs. Rather than waiting for content to arrive and then adding metadata to it, with BOLT the content request is delivered along with set parameters and metadata requirements so it’s immediately searchable and can be set to trigger workflows on arrival. So, your media hits the ground running.

Review: BOLT puts your entire

fingertips — regardless of their technical capabilities. The portal’s stunningly simple operation and focused functionality means sales teams can search and view content from any web browser without having to request access or learn how to use advanced toolsets.

Share: BOLT provides a simple system for content owners to showcase and monetise their content catalogue. Now, sharing content with potential customers is as easy as adding items to a shopping cart and secure links to viewing copies are automatically created and delivered to your prospects.

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Broadcast Solutions brings practical, innovative and sustainable systems integrations to IBC

Broadcast Solutions, one of Europe’s largest media systems integration groups, will show its capabilities in both fixed installations and mobile units at IBC 2024. As well as its presentations on stand 10.C43, the company will feature one of its recently completed outside broadcast trucks and a mobile radio studio at O.A23.

On show outside is a PaaM — production as a module — unit, one of four identical trucks built for Swiss broadcaster SRG. This powerful and flexible broadcast unit is an excellent demonstration of the way that Broadcast Solutions combines standardised building blocks with the ability to tailor details to the user’s requirements.

Alongside it will be a mobile radio studio, built for LRT the Lithuanian public broadcaster. This innovative vehicle incorporates both a studio — with a glass wall for public viewing — and a control room equipped with a 64 channel eMotion digital mixer.

For visualised radio broadcasts there is also a fivecamera video streaming system. The studio van is accompanied by a support vehicle which includes both a diesel generator and solar panels to provide power on site

“Outside broadcast units remain a very important part of our business, and we continue to deliver new trucks around the world,” said Stefan Breder, CEO of Broadcast Solutions. “But clearly media production is changing, and we are also busy designing and building fixed installations: studios, master control centres and post production. Increasingly, these have to be a part of remote production workflows, and we are experts in providing the right connectivity.”

Perifery unveils fully integrated AI-enabled solution at IBC 2024

Perifery will demonstrate the integration, its use cases and benefits, throughout IBC 2024. It will showcase how media and entertainment organisations can simplify asset management by automating routine tasks, optimising search, and leveraging scalable media infrastructure. This allows teams to focus on content creation rather than dealing with the complexities of managing and locating their assets.

Perifery’s AI workflows and search automation capabilities address critical challenges in the media industry with a continually expanding application toolset. Machine learning delivers intuitive functionality that understands customer requests for precise content discovery, saving media companies time and effort. These workflows are universally compatible and operate seamlessly with both S3-enabled cloud and onpremises content, delivering flexibility both on-prem and in the cloud.

Perifery AI+ enables users to describe what they are looking for in over 20 languages. This transforms restrictive, traditional search processes into conversation with content, so that organisations can maximise the full commercial potential of their assets. This creates a wealth of new information which is assigned to content, and goes beyond the limitations of traditional metadata.

“The world makes more video than ever before, faster than ever before.” said Abhi Dey, Chief Product Officer, Perifery.

“The launch of our integrated solution, allows users to search for content in a more intuitive way, and enables companies to streamline, preserve, protect, and monetise media assets. Ensuring content works for media companies — not the other way around.”

“Creating a state of the art facility was a complex exercise to finance so we were delighted to work with Adamantean and their creative, collaborative and competitive approach. They have become a valued partner to Riverside TV Studios.”

William Burdett-Coutts Managing Director

University of Chichester

“The University of Chichester’s Engineering and Digital Technology Park has been a ground-breaking development for the disadvantaged West Sussex coastal region; the contribution of Adamantean was critical to the successful completion of this challenging project. Their diligence and creativity have been greatly appreciated.”

Professor Jane Longmore Vice Chancellor

Cinegy Brings Cloud Monetisation and Delivery, AI-powered Subtitling and IP failover to IBC 2024

Cinegy, the premier provider of software-defined technology for digital video capture, processing, asset management, and playout, is launching two new Air product bundles and an AIpowered automatic subtitling product at IBC 2024. Visitors to the Cinegy stand this year will experience a fully virtualised and containerised back-end infrastructure, delivering 64-channels of HD playout from a single physical server. This platform is also used for running Cinegy’s Multiviewer and Capture PRO solutions delivering real-time monitoring and scalable video recording.

Usability in focus: G&D showcases the latest tools for broadcast applications at IBC 2024

EASE OF USE WITH KVM SOLUTIONS

on ease of use, G&D develops user-friendly and reliable KVM solutions that meet these increasing requirements.

LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES WITH THE NEW DYNAMICWORKPLACE-CON

“Cinegy is uniquely poised to support the convergence of the broadcast and AV markets to IP thanks to our innovative software-based solutions and decades of video delivery expertise,” concluded Weigner. “Cinegy’s products have been a key component in a variety of projects in recent years, from scaling hundreds of channels at a sports broadcast network to monitoring media and entertainment experiences for cruise ship passengers. We provide the best value and most comprehensive software-based turnkey solutions for both broadcast and AV.”

The demands on broadcast control rooms are continuously increasing as they become more complex and need to integrate a growing range of cutting-edge technologies. This growing complexity poses significant challenges for staff, as they need to monitor multiple processes simultaneously and carry out workflows in parallel. KVM solutions are designed to serve as an interface between humans and machines, improving workflows, enhancing technology security, and improving ergonomics. For many years, KVM systems have been optimising workflows in studios, OB vans, and post-production by providing real-time access to outsourced computers and seamless switching between various sources. With a clear focus

The new DynamicWorkplace-CON is a workplace module (CON) specifically designed for integration into KVM matrix installations. Its seamless integration into existing matrix applications offers the advantage of being able to flexibly arrange different computer modules (CPU) and their sources on a larger workspace. This module promotes an intuitive way of working, facilitates workflows through operation on a larger surface, and enables the creation of efficient workflows, making the DynamicWorkplace-CON ideal for complex activities and processes in broadcast environments.

The module’s multi-viewing function allows up to eight sources to be operated on four monitors simultaneously. The intuitive window manager enables easy positioning and handling of windows as well as flexible arrangement and movement across monitors, allowing ergonomic display of critical data at a central point, thereby improving efficiency, safety, and response time in control rooms.

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Rohde & Schwarz to demonstrate energyefficient technology innovation at IBC 2024

Rohde & Schwarz is bringing the latest technologies in television and radio transmission to IBC 2024.

The R&S®TH1 liquid-cooled highpower transmitter is the solution of choice for a volatile future. It offers the flexibility to adapt to changing requirements and new operational models. The improved amplifier design delivers a dramatic increase in energy efficiency, representing a 15% reduction in power consumption over other current designs. The liquid cooling concept, allowing more than 90% of all heat generated to be dispersed to the outside atmosphere, further reduces energy requirements and total cost of ownership. The R&S®TH1 is also designed for terrestrial transmission via 5G Broadcast to mobile devices, opening new business opportunities by addressing emerging use cases like live and venue casting, data delivery to IoT and the automotive industry, and more.

Rohde & Schwarz has been a

Signiant Highlights its Innovative SaaS Platform at IBC 2024

Signiant, makers of the SaaS platform that connects more than 50,000 media companies, will demonstrate new innovations and partnerships at IBC 2024.

consistent pioneer in DAB+ since the early 1990s, with thousands of its transmitters on-air today serving hundreds of millions of people in Europe. The THV9evo, TMV9evo and TLV9 DAB+ transmitters feature excellent signal quality, and an extremely high transmitter efficiency of 50% enables reduction of operational costs. At IBC 2024 Rohde & Schwarz will introduce a DAB+ efficiency calculator, which is an interactive savings tool. When it comes to network optimisation, the user can provide their own data and the efficiency tool will simulate a calculation in real-time.

Attendees will experience hands-on demonstrations of media companies automate content exchange with numerous partners, discover and interact with media assets across distributed storage locations, and provide remote teams with quick, seamless access to media assets — all through a single, unified platform.

Signiant product experts will be available to share insights into innovations on the platform and new partnerships, such as the collaboration with TMT Insights. This partnership has led to the creation of an Intelligent Ingest solution, designed to simplify large-scale media ingest. Customers can save time and money through this Intelligent Ingest solution which enables the planning and tracking of both proactive and reactive inbound content — from greenlight through receipt. This new solution streamlines the inbound flow of media files from a large and diverse set of partners and instantly validates when components for a given content version are received against its established title hierarchy. The combination of the Signiant Platform alongside TMT Insights’ Polaris operational user interface provides key benefits such as centralised visibility and control, error reduction, ecosystem agility and flexibility, ultimately leading to a faster time-to-market.

I S T H I S H A P P E N I N G T O Y O U R M A K E T I N G & P R C A M P A I G N S ? L e t ’ s c h a n g e t h a t . M e e t u s a t I B C 2 0 2 4 h e l l o @ p a g e m e l i a . c o m

Ateliere’s Andy Hooper:

‘We’re accelerating AI investment’

Ateliere Creative Technologies’ SVP Live Products, Andy Hooper, discusses the challenges for broadcasters of audience fragmentation, the company’s new cloud-native live production & editing platform, and the appeal of flexible media integration toolkits.

What are your overriding thoughts as this year’s IBC approaches, and what do you think will be the primary technological themes? Sustainability, audience fragmentation, cost optimisation and Artificial Intelligence will continue to be the primary technological themes. With the proliferation of digital channels and streaming services, audiences are more fragmented than ever. Broadcasters must find ways to reach and engage viewers across multiple platforms, tailoring content and advertising to different demographics and preferences. And Ateliere can help with solutions that feature AI-driven automation and optimisation for live production, inventory organisation, content discovery, metadata enrichment, content delivery and monetisation.

What are going to be Ateliere’s most significant new products or updates to be highlighted at this year’s show?

At IBC 2024, we’ll demonstrate Ateliere Live, a cloud-native live production and editing platform that lowers the cost of production and incorporates advanced proxy editing for true remote workflows. This ensures highquality content reaches the right platform in the right format, redefining live broadcasting with a user-centric approach. Currently used by leading broadcasters, Ateliere Live offers 50-70% savings per hour of live TV production compared to traditional methods and can be a significant enabler for broadcasters to meet sustainability goals.

We’re also excited to show our award-winning Ateliere Connect AI, along with its first Generative

…Ateliere Live and Connect AI can update your media operations based on tomorrow’s key industry challenges, not yesterday’s assumptions.

AI (GenAI) module. Connect AI transforms media supply chains through Generative, Multimodal AI and machine learning technologies. It automates packaging, localisation and distribution while providing real-time, AIdriven insights for optimising efficiency. An optional enhancement to Ateliere Connect, this module helps locate lost assets and identify readyto-use content, ensuring seamless integration with existing workflows. The module is driven by sophisticated, continuously-learning GenAI engines that leverage machine learning models.

Together Ateliere Live and Connect AI can update your media operations based on tomorrow’s key industry challenges, not yesterday’s assumptions.

Trusted advisors to business leaders of startups and scale-ups in the Broadcast & Sports Media Industry since 2014

AI & ML are certain to be a key part of the discussion at IBC 2024. How is automation changing what you do as a company, and how do you think it will impact the industry in the coming years? And how do you expect this to be reflected at this year’s show?

Ateliere is no stranger to AI — our agile, cloudnative foundation incorporates AI in various forms, most notably with our proprietary technology, FrameDNA. We’re not content with incremental progress as we believe the current level of GenAI advancements are exponential. Thus an incremental approach means you can become irrelevant overnight.

We’re accelerating AI investment, driven by a commitment to set the standard for supply

chain monetisation. We hope to redefine the very essence of efficiency and excellence in the industry.

Identifying value gaps will help us understand where we can provide a tangible difference.

With help from our new AI customer advisory council, we’ll scrutinise our industry, analyse AI offerings, identify commonalities, and pinpoint where solutions provide real automation results as well as where they fall short of addressing client needs. Is it a lack of authentic localisation?

Better customisation options? Improved aftersales support? A niche requirement that nobody addresses? Unearthing these value gaps is fertile ground for differentiation. The goal is to help move organisations through the change process

…we offer a comprehensive solution that anticipates and addresses customer needs, driving a new level of workflow efficiency.

necessary to adopt new operational models with increased automation and simpler, agile processes across teams and functions.

After critical vetting, we not only adopt bestof-breed AI technologies, but also seamlessly integrate these solutions into our Ateliere Connect platform. Instead of piecemeal AI solutions that have to be manually operated and then stitched together, we offer a comprehensive solution that anticipates and addresses customer needs, driving a new level of workflow efficiency. As part of our ongoing approach, Ateliere validates potential partnerships with technology developers, service providers, integrators and other industry stakeholders. This will ensure the right workflow to successfully service even the most niche workflow needs.

Sustainability and decarbonisation are also set to be headline themes. What have been some of the most significant developments for Ateliere in this area during the past 12 months?

Ateliere Live’s unique software architecture allows

live productions to be run on substantially less footprint than competing solutions. In an Ateliere Live production pipeline, video stays in the GPU until just prior to distribution, instead of being repeatedly encoded and decoded through a chain of video processing steps. In addition, our support for true remote production workflows can result in a significantly lower travel obligation for live productions. This all results in a substantially lower environmental footprint than traditional solutions.

In a more festive development, Ateliere is the headline sponsor of The Flint Green Line. This unique media industry networking event takes place in a dedicated Eurostar carriage heading to IBC from London’s St. Pancras Station. IBC attendees can enjoy low-carbon, direct travel to Amsterdam accompanied by an afternoon of networking with fellow industry professionals interested in improving their sustainability practices.

As an IBC visitor, what are some of the new & emerging technologies you are most excited about this year?

I need to keep up to speed with the state of the art when it comes to cloud and software based production systems, and especially GPU-based production. Anything which can make a meaningful reduction in a media company’s carbon footprint is also high on my watch list.

I’m also very interested in which companies have the most flexible and straightforward media integration toolkits. Connecting systems into a cohesive whole is an important task in many production and media supply chains, and Ateliere is a big believer in the value of specialist tools to achieve that job cost-effectively.

In terms of potential new features or scope, how would you like to see the IBC show develop/evolve during the next few years?

Looking ahead, I think the trend towards building media technology solutions on more standardised IT platforms will result in increasing amounts of crossover with enterprise video production and delivery. I think there is potential for IBC to offer forums to explore that crossover, and the commonalities that may exist and differences that may persist.

More immediately, one of the things I’m always struck by at IBC is how many opportunities there are to meet new people, network and develop new connections. But it’s often quite hard to know about everything that’s going

Connecting systems into a cohesive whole is an important task in many production and media supply chains, and Ateliere is a big believer in the value of specialist tools to achieve that job cost effectively.

on, until you’ve seen the LinkedIn posts from those who attended! A central events system that organisers can use to register their events and meet-ups would be really useful. Maybe it already exists, and I haven’t found it yet!

Employer branding: how candidate experience will drive recruitment success in M&E’s recovery

ABen Swanton, Founder and CEO of renowned broadcast & sports media technology recruitment consultancy 808 Talent, explains how companies can prioritise candidate experience during the process of talent acquisition.

s IBC 2024 approaches, the media and entertainment (M&E) industry is showing encouraging signs of recovery after the challenges of 2023 and early 2024. Mergers and acquisitions are gaining momentum, and there’s a renewed sense of optimism and growth in the air. Historically, the latter half of the year has been the most productive and crucial for our industry. This pattern extends to recruitment as well, with these months being the busiest for hiring and talent acquisition.

Given the importance of this period, companies need to prioritise an often-overlooked aspect of the recruitment process: candidate experience. Unfortunately, many organisations still stumble in this area — a factor that can make or break recruitment success and significantly impact your company’s market reputation. In an industry already grappling with challenges in attracting new talent and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, delivering a positive candidate experience is not just beneficial, it’s essential.

VALUES AND PURPOSE: KNOW WHO YOU ARE

A successful employer branding strategy starts with understanding and clearly communicating your company’s identity. Your culture, values and position within the industry should be evident at every touchpoint during the recruitment process. Companies undergoing transformation or experiencing significant internal changes often reveal these issues through disjointed messaging. Conversely, those with a clear sense of identity and purpose attract candidates who align with their vision, reflecting these qualities in their hiring practices. With recent redundancies, particularly in HR and administrative functions, many companies are dealing with over-stretched teams. This strain can lead to a breakdown in the recruitment process, ultimately resulting in a poor candidate experience. If your internal resources are limited, consider partnering with an external recruitment agency. The right one can act as your PR ambassador, as well as efficiently manage the process, ensuring that your company is presented in the right way.

BUDGET & ROLE DEFINITION: LAY THE GROUNDWORK BEFORE YOU START

Before kicking off any recruitment process, it’s crucial to have all the essentials in place, starting with budget approval. It sounds obvious, but there’s nothing more frustrating for a candidate than to go through an entire recruitment process, only to find out the role’s budget isn’t finalised. This not only wastes time but also tarnishes your company’s reputation. Ensure that your budget is firmly established and clearly communicated from the start. This includes being transparent about salary ranges and ensuring that candidates are aligned with these expectations before moving forward.

Beyond the budget, clarity around the role itself is equally important. All stakeholders involved in the recruitment process must be on the same page regarding the role’s requirements and expectations. Over the past few years, more stakeholders have become involved in hiring decisions, which can be beneficial as candidates gain a broader perspective of the company culture. However, this can also lead to mixed messages if stakeholders have differing expectations for the role. Establish a clear decision-making hierarchy and ensure that everyone understands the role’s requirements and objectives.

INTERVIEW & COMMUNICATION ESSENTIALS

One of the most common pitfalls in recruitment is the outdated belief that companies are in the driver’s seat. In reality, recruitment has evolved into a two-way process where candidates evaluate potential employers just as critically as companies

assess candidates. This shift is particularly important in a sector that is struggling to attract younger and more diverse talent. Ensuring a positive candidate experience isn’t a mere ‘nice-tohave’ — it’s crucial for your company’s success. Effective communication is the backbone of any successful recruitment process. Candidates form opinions about your company based on how the recruitment process is conducted. Timely and constructive feedback helps candidates understand where they stand and enhances their perception of your company, even if they don’t get the job. On the other hand, ‘ghosting’ candidates or failing to provide feedback can leave a lasting negative impression.

Maintaining momentum throughout the recruitment process is equally important. Delays and stalls can cause candidates to lose interest or question their fit with your company. If delays are unavoidable, communicate them clearly and set new expectations for timelines. Transparency about the process — from the number of interview stages to the expected decision-making timeframe — helps manage expectations and keeps engagement levels high.

BUILDING & PROTECTING YOUR REPUTATION

A company’s reputation isn’t just built on its products or services; it’s also shaped by how it treats people, whether they are customers, current employees or potential new employees. A wellexecuted recruitment process can enhance your company’s reputation, while a poorly managed one can cause significant damage. Candidates who have a positive experience are more likely to speak well of

In the fast-recovering M&E industry, attracting the right talent is more critical than ever.

your company, even if they don’t end up joining. It’s vital to put yourself in the candidate’s shoes and understand their perspective. We’re all busy, and the past 18 months have been challenging for many in the industry. However, taking the time to ensure a positive candidate experience can pay dividends in the long run. Engaging a professional recruitment agency can help manage this process more effectively, acting as an ambassador for your brand and ensuring that your company is portrayed positively in the market.

THE WAY FORWARD

In the fast-recovering M&E industry, attracting the right talent is more critical than ever. By focusing on candidate experience, maintaining clear communication, and ensuring a unified approach among stakeholders, companies can enhance their recruitment processes and secure the talent they need to drive their business forward.

As we approach IBC 2024, it’s important to remember that the impressions we leave on candidates today will shape the future of our industry. By getting recruitment right, we can build stronger, more innovative teams ready to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow.

industry’s unprecedented ‘state of flux’, the profound impact of AI, the company’s Net Zero progress, and the evolution of video transportation technology.

What are your overriding thoughts as this year’s IBC approaches, and what do you think will be the primary technological themes?

The industry is in a state of more flux than ever before, and that’s saying something! Many broadcasters are under unprecedented financial pressures, and suppliers must be closely aligned with their needs — even though everyone has different needs. Some customers continue to be comfortable and best staffed for traditional hardware-based workflows, whether 12G SDI or 2110, and the ongoing evolution of solutions like the Ross Ultrix Hyperconverged platform will continue to get attention.

Other customers are pushing for on-prem compute solutions and need to figure out how to manage the connection, orchestration and billing of these solutions. Finally, some customers are interested in shifting or flexing to the cloud, and need to sort through the realities of what’s available and what those cost. It’s a very dynamic time.

What are your major new products or updates for this year’s show?

Our new free-roaming robotic camera system, Artimo, will be huge for us this year. People are also very interested in seeing what we’re doing with Carbonite Code, our new software-based switcher built for NDI. Raiden is another new tool from Ross that I would love newscasts that produce weather to check out. Our latest acquisition, Bannister Lake, and the HTML 5 graphic solutions they offer is another thing we want to expose to our European customers. There will probably be one or two other things that I am excited to talk about, but I can’t tell you about those just yet.

Ross Video’s Carbonite Code

Many broadcasters are under unprecedented financial pressures, and suppliers must be closely aligned with their needs.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, and ultimately, AI in our industry and our lives will be like the air around us. We’ll be using it without even realising it, but we’ll find it difficult to live without it. I said that to my wife the other night, and she said you’re channeling David Bowie — apparently, he said something similar about streaming music. I don’t want to steal David Bowie’s words, but that idea really did stick in my head. It’s almost a question of where we will not be using AI. Customers are already using it for metadata and tagging in media asset management applications. We’re already using it for advanced face and body tracking with our robotic cameras using Vision[AI]ry. And we’re using it now to power our customer support as well — Ross Bot — which is powered by ChatGPT and will continue to evolve. We expect it will keep getting better at answering customer questions and, ultimately,

help troubleshoot product issues. We’re also using it internally for some of our software development and writing tasks. I’m even using it at the executive level for all manner of investigations and proofreading. A few decades back, people were asking, ‘Do you think computers may impact the industry in any way?’ or ‘Do you think the Internet is going to affect the industry in any way?’ And, of course, computers have affected the industry and our lives more than we ever dreamed at the time. The internet has

profoundly changed how we do business. Both have completely disrupted the industry, and I think the changes AI will bring will be at a similar scale to those innovations.

Sustainability and decarbonisation are also set to be headline themes. As a company which has made great strides in this area recently, what have been some of the most significant developments for you in the past 12 months? There are a lot of companies saying that they want

Ross Video’s Artimo Studio

to be Net Zero by 2050 or maybe 2030. We are going to be Net Zero in our factory this year. We recently lit up the solar panel array on our factory roof, and they generate almost 20 MWh of electricity per month. We are in the final stages of replacing the remaining roof-mounted gas furnaces with electricitypowered heat exchangers. We’re phasing out every bit of gas we can find. Our region’s electrical grid already has an impressive 94% carbon-free footprint, but we wanted to get to Net Zero this year, not some vague date in the future. I’m proud of what the team has accomplished.

It’s not just about our factory; it’s also about our products. We have continued to advance the Ultrix platform, and as most people know, Ultrix is a phenomenally green platform. It uses far less power than any competing product or solution. Its compact design reduces electronic waste and requires less emissions to ship and transport. That can be especially important in OB vans.

As an IBC visitor, what are the new and emerging technologies you are most excited about this year?

This year at IBC, I’m particularly interested in how video transport will evolve. For example, I’m interested in gauging the continued strength of 12G SDI. To

wings? What are people using in local compute for live production — will it be 2110, NDI or something else?

I’m also interested in how remote production connectivity will evolve. Will JPEG XS gain acceptance, or will we be using lower-cost technologies?

There’s lots to learn and talk about!

In terms of potential new features or scope, how would you like the IBC show to develop in the coming years?

We go to trade shows like IBC to talk to lots of customers and our peers in the industry to get a sense of the buzz and then try to figure out which parts of the buzz are real, and which are not. Trade shows seem to be an inflection point for a lot of change that can happen in the industry, and IBC does an outstanding job of enabling that to happen.

Ross Video’s Raiden

Ross Video’s Ultrix

Vizrt’s Michael Hallén: ‘I’m particularly excited by advancements in VR and AR’

The CEO of Vizrt discusses AI and ML progress, the continued evolution of IP-based production, and the transformative possibilities of 5G for remote production.

What are your overriding thoughts as this year’s IBC approaches, and what do you think will be the primary technological themes? IBC is always a great opportunity to meet with our customers and partners, hear from them their new projects and requirements, showcase our latest innovations, and learn about the newest advancements in the industry.

I believe the main technological themes will likely include the further integration of AI and ML for production assistance, advancements in cloud-based workflows, the continued evolution of IP-based production, and the increasing use of extended reality to create immersive experiences for audiences.

We are seeing these concepts in conversations with our customers regarding new projects and POCs. It’s important to note that these technologies are not simply trends for this year; the solutions are out there already, helping transform how content is created, managed and delivered, [thereby] making it more efficient and dynamic.

…we will be showcasing a series of advancements across our graphics portfolio, highlighting the latest in dataintegration, interactive graphics, real-time rendering, AR and virtual sets, and more through a series of live shows, and across our solution pods.

What are your major new products or updates for this year’s show?

Last year, we announced we were uniting the product portfolios for NewTek and Vizrt under one brand: Vizrt. And following that announcement we introduced new models in our TriCaster line, growing it by 50%. This included the very first TriCaster in the cloud.

Bringing our product lines together has accelerated our innovation, resulting in a range of new solutions from our R&D team. We’ve introduced over 10 new products since the last IBC, including the first native-NDI multi-channel video conversion tool, smart video cropping for streamlined sports social media publishing, new

PTZ cameras, entry-level graphics production systems, and enhanced security features for newsrooms. Additionally, we’ve seen significant growth in the adoption of NDI.

Also, we will be showcasing a series of advancements across our graphics portfolio, highlighting the latest in data-integration, interactive graphics, real-time rendering, AR and virtual sets, and more through a series of live shows, and across our solution pods.

We are continuously innovating and updating our productions, incorporating the latest technological advancements, which aligns with our vision and commitment to providing comprehensive solutions that cater to the diverse

needs of content creators — from small production houses to major broadcasters.

Automation, driven by AI and ML, is revolutionising our operations and the industry at large. For Vizrt, this means developing AI-assisted production workflows that reduce manual intervention and enhance the precision of content creation and distribution. In the coming years, this will lead to

more efficient production processes and cost savings for the end-users. At IBC 2024, I’d expect to see numerous demonstrations of AI-driven technologies that highlight these benefits and set new standards for the industry.

However, we’ve been utilising AI, and AI-driven features, within our technologies for several years. We’re developing AI-assisted production tools that further integrate AI add-ons into our technologies from our production solutions to flagship sports projects, newsroom workflows and more — some of which will be seen at IBC 2024 for the first time.

Sustainability and decarbonisation are also set to be headline themes. What have been some of the most significant developments for you in the past 12 months?

Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond corporate responsibility; it’s a strategic advantage that benefits our customers and partners, as well as ourselves. Over the past year, we have been answering the call of our customers who want to have more sustainable products and solutions by focusing and optimising our cloud infrastructure and offering.

Internally, we also appointed Avinash Kumar as our ESG Controller. With his extensive experience and strategic vision, he is helping us integrate sustainable practices, address ESG-related concerns, and navigate the

evolving regulatory landscape, including compliance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

By embedding sustainable practices within our operations, we are ensuring long-term viability, resilience, and a better future for both our company and the broader media tech industry.

As an IBC visitor, what are the new & emerging technologies you are most excited about this year?

This year, I am particularly excited about the advancements in virtual and augmented reality. These technologies are pushing the boundaries of how immersive experiences can be created and delivered.

Additionally, the progress in 5G technology and its application in remote production is fascinating. It promises to revolutionise live broadcasting by enabling faster and more reliable connections. I am also interested to see the latest developments in cloud-based production tools, which are making high-quality production more accessible than ever before.

In terms of potential new features or scope, how would you like the IBC show to develop in the coming years?

Looking ahead, it’ll be interesting to see how IBC continues to expand its focus on merging industries — like we are seeing between broadcast and pro-AV, which is being phrased as its own vertical of broadcast AV. And in conversation with multiple analysts at NAB, many of them see the corporate sphere as one of the fastest growing markets, with the most buying opportunity.

We can attest to the demand as we have gained a number of new customers from the corporate market. In the era of hybrid working, corporates are looking to engage employees, just like broadcasters engage viewers — and they are looking at what tech they utilise to do it.

Interestingly, we see this year a special AV buyers’ event [is taking place] on the evening ahead of the show, where IBC has created a speed-pitch event for around 40 people to support media tech companies in getting their solutions that could be relevant for the corporate market directly in front of big players from healthcare, finance and more. I suspect if this goes well, and the buyer base from the corporate market grows, we will see more sessions and spaces dedicated to pro-AV innovation.

Avid’s Kevin Riley: AI should allow ‘creators to focus more on the creative process’

Chief Technology Officer at Avid, Kevin Riley, reflects on the continued progress of AI and ML, the company’s innovative Huddle video review software, and his expectations for this year’s edition of IBC.

What are your overriding thoughts as this year’s IBC approaches, and what do you think will be the primary technological themes?

I think we’re going to continue to see the progression of machine learning and artificial intelligence use cases throughout the entire workflows in news media and broadcast. The big thing that resonated with me last year was when we saw the start of the transition from hype and some fear over how [AI] might impact or jeopardise jobs and roles, to actual, real valuable use cases and our industry pivoting towards embracing the technology for good. [That involves] figuring out how we can drive efficiencies, [including for] the automation and acceleration of content generation, and I think we’re going to see that theme continue into IBC this year.

The second main thing we’ll continue to see is a lot of focus around digital workflows and digital content creation — and all of the work that needs to go into it to increase speed, efficiency and acceleration along that dimension.

What are going to be Avid’s most significant new products or updates to be highlighted at this year’s show?

We released a new offer last quarter called Avid Huddle, which we previewed at the show last year but is now fully released and in the market. It’s a video review SaaS service in support of one of our main strategic themes, which is enabling secure, high-quality, team collaborative video review, bringing distributed workforces together. With Avid Huddle, we’ve partnered with Microsoft to enable media review and approval in a Microsoft

Teams environment, to deliver a seamless ‘over the shoulder’ experience in Avid Media Composer where you can view, review, comment, and sign off on media in a virtual workspace.

So we’ll be talking about that at IBC, along with another recently-released product, Stream IO, which is our pure COTS [commercial off-the-shelf] solution for software media ingest and playout. It underlines our investment towards pure software and COTS across the Avid video and media portfolio. We’ve also continued to invest in and develop our capabilities around story-centric news and broadcast, so you’ll see continued emphasis and new capabilities showcased at the show. You’ll also see us messaging strongly around AI and ML. In particular in the areas of asset management, intelligent content organisation, searching and arrangement of content using AI, and leveraging AI for tasks such as application contextual creative assistance when using our tools.

Indeed, AI & ML are certain to be a key part of the discussion at IBC 2024. How is automation changing what you do as a company, and how do you think it will impact the industry in the coming years? And how do you expect this to be reflected at this year’s show?

At a high level, when we think about AI, the overarching theme is really about how we leverage this technology to drive automation and simplify tasks — meaning that the creators can really focus more on the creative process and help [some of those technological concerns] fade a bit, if you will. So towards that end, we’re very focused around what I call the bookends of the workflow. [At the creative front-end] it is about content preparation and organising assets relevant to the story a news broadcast or news agent is trying to tell. And we are also focused on the publishing side at the back-end — once you’re mostly done with a project, how you get it sent out to distribution, wrap the project, clean it up, and then archive it with the right metadata so it can be found later and repurposed if necessary.

Our customers are comfortable with these use cases as they address operational efficiency and increase the speed of the creative process.

Sustainability and decarbonisation are also set to be headline themes. What have been some of the most significant developments for Avid in this area during the past 12 months?

[One major aspect] of how we’ve approached this over the last few years is leaning more on leveraging cloud resources — whether it’s private data centre cloud or public for scale cloud — and moving our products and offers to more on-demand models. So instead of having to drop servers into a data centre that are always running Avid 24x7, whether they’re being used or not, we are moving to application consumption models that lend themselves to greater efficiency.

Also, we now have the appropriate licensing models for that, which really allows you to scale up and down based on demand. Ultimately, you then consume fewer data centre resources and reduce your carbon footprint when you’re running Avid in your workflows. The ability to support and spin up remote production workflows without having to move all of the equipment to a work-site is [another] big focus for us, and one that is entirely in line with our view on sustainability and ESG. Avid Huddle is a good example here because it allows teams to work together remotely in a very efficient way.

As an IBC visitor, what are some of the new & emerging technologies you are most excited about this year?

I’m always interested to see the use cases that are sticking, the use cases that are valued, and the use cases that people think our industry is gravitating towards. That’s always something that’s top of mind for me when I go to the show.

[In particular] I am looking forward to walking the floor and seeing how our industry is moving toward UHD 4K and now 8K workflows. There has been [a lot of emphasis] on this technology in high end of production, especially in terms of sports, but I think they are going to become much more commonplace [for other types of content]. So I expect we’re going to see a lot of vendors showing how they are supporting these types of workflows natively at scale, and ultimately delivering much richer content to the end-user.

In terms of potential new features or scope, how would you like to see the IBC show develop/evolve during the next few years?

Personally, I would like to see more industry discussion and collaboration at IBC. Now there are

There are a lot of proven use cases around AI in the bookends of the workflows, so that’s where we are really focused.

already lots of great events and large companies leading sessions and seminars, but I wonder if we can [also tap] into having the entire industry in one spot in terms of doing more collaborative work. In terms of the [value of the show as a whole], it remains super-important to be there. It’s a great opportunity for us to touch base with all of our

customers in a very concentrated way, and to make those connections without having to fly all over the world. We also see a fair amount of new activity at our booth in terms of people stopping by, learning about what we have and what’s new, and getting a sense of where we’re going [in the future].

Lawo’s John Carter: ‘A second IP wave is upon us’

Lawo’s Senior Product Manager, Media Infrastructure, John Carter, reflects on the company’s latest innovations, the outlook for Generative AI, and its increasing use of ‘demonstration pods’ at trade shows.

What are your overriding thoughts as this year’s IBC approaches, and what do you think will be the primary technological themes?

Lawo’s main aim at this year’s IBC show will be to familiarise visitors and existing customers with Lawo’s end-to-end approach to live broadcast

production, AV applications, corporate installs, and live music production at one-of-a-kind venues, arenas, opera houses and churches. While product features do become important at one point or another, we have learned that customers looking to start a new project or to expand an existing one

primarily expect comprehensive answers to their specific needs.

Hence Lawo’s emphasis on its open, unified platform and the importance of a tailor-made mix of five fundamental pillars — Management & Control; Physical I/O; Processing; User Interfaces; and Professional Services — for the delivery of a user experience that enables operators to craft their storytelling.

Planning for such a journey always starts with what the customer wants to achieve and which tools will help them long-term. Once the customer is clear on the destination, we can discuss the travel details, so to speak: supported formats, number of channels or PiPs, additional features like, for example, immersive audio or UHD productions, and so on. Our HOME platform seamlessly integrates hardware devices, such as mixing consoles, I/O stageboxes and gateways, with HOME Apps for an agile feature offering that excels at solving real-world problems and maximising asset utilisation.

A server-based platform for hardwareagnostic audio and video processing, and the ability to leverage both HOME Apps and licensable hardware features under the Lawo Flex Subscription scheme, provide operators with the required agility for a fixed, yet flexibly malleable budget.

Decision-makers should be mindful of the fact that a second IP wave is upon us; the software tools they select today need to be able to seamlessly scale to new developments in the compute hardware space that show no sign of slowing down. HOME Apps have this adaptability in their DNA.

What are your major new products or updates for this year’s show?

As far as audio is concerned, we will officially launch the HOME mc² DSP app and announce its availability as of Q4 2024. It has already proven its mettle at this year’s global soccer and athletics events. Although HOME mc² DSP provides the same pristine sound, look and feel as our successful A__UHD Core DSP engine for mc² and crystal consoles, we have identified workflows where a generic server-based approach with even more flexible options is more desirable. Audioonly setups may not necessarily benefit from these advances, so the A__UHD Core will remain available as a flexible workhorse with a steadily growing feature set. Look out for the new system release we will announce at IBC.

By the time IBC opens its doors, the Lawo VSC virtual audio device and app for macOS 14 and beyond will have been released. Available as a free (one virtual two-channel audio device) and a commercial version (128 virtual audio devices, up to 128 senders and receivers per device, 96kHz), Lawo VSC runs as a service that turns local audio into clean, pristine RAVENNA/AES67 streams. It is built around a professional, low-latency driver and carries uncompressed, bi-directional audio channels either in multicast or unicast mode. One obvious application will be recording live performances with your favourite DAW. As a highly respected vendor of video solutions, Lawo will also announce new HOME Apps for video along with a host of next-generation refinements to the existing app collection. Finally, the .edge SDI–IP gateway will receive an important audio and video boost.

…we believe AI will add value in an assistive role, even though it is probably not a silver bullet to solve all problems.

From a content-creation perspective, generative AI is proving extremely powerful. It is already possible to provide a gen-AI engine with some information in order to prepare usable media. Lawo sees many

potential applications for this, provided such services are used wisely and in an ethical manner to avoid that deep fakes become indistinguishable from genuine facts.

AI has also been used to good effect for adding captions to videos (mainly for localisation), which has always been a time-consuming task. Outside of content creation, we believe AI will add value in an assistive role, even though it is probably not a silver bullet to solve all problems.

The importance of automation should not be underestimated as it saves time and reduces errors. HOME snapshots for specific types of production are a first step, and presets that combine granular elements into instantly usable workflows, complete with the licensing details, are close to completion. VSM has been providing such services for years. One way of expanding on this competence will be to define new ways of triggering such presets. Stay tuned!

Sustainability and decarbonisation are also set to be headline themes. What have been some of the most significant developments for you in the past 12 months?

Lawo’s most significant development in this respect has been the shift from bespoke processing hardware for video applications to generic servers and platform-agnostic HOME Apps. While bespoke hardware consumes the same amount of energy irrespective of whether they are in use or just running idle, generic servers consume a minimal amount while all apps are stopped. Their energy consumption is proportionate to the amount of required processing. In combination with Lawo’s Flex Subscription scheme and the lightning-fast ‘app hopping’ it affords, any given server can be used to run any HOME App at any time; starting and stopping HOME Apps only takes a few seconds. As a result, a significantly smaller number of generic servers is able to cover a vast amount of processing tasks.

This strategy resonates with Lawo’s customer base and offers the additional benefit that OB trucks, flypacks and remote setups need to carry less (proprietary) processing hardware than

before despite a significantly higher number of creative options.

Finally, Lawo’s containerised HOME Apps architecture seamlessly adapts to the compute platform. While they are able to run in the public cloud, operators often prefer to use private servers that are managed by the HOME platform for a cloud-like feel without soliciting those massive server farms.

In terms of potential new features or scope, how would you like the IBC show to develop in the coming years?

Lawo increasingly works with demonstration pods that are connected to our labs over the

internet. They not only allow us to transport less equipment to Amsterdam and other shows, but also to respond to [very specific] questions because our entire portfolio can be accessed remotely. If anything, we would welcome more IT bandwidth at reasonable prices to be able to wow our customers with brief and highly effective demonstrations.

A second aspect to consider would be a coherent strategy for intuitive lead scanning that adds value to the conversations we have on the show floor.

Other than that, Team Lawo considers the IBC the most important show on the European continent. So they must be doing something right…

Panasonic’s Guilhem Krier: ‘Adoption of AI in AV opens up new possibilities and workflows’

Panasonic’s Head of New Business & Market Development | EMEA, Guilhem Krier, reflects on the latest update to the company’s Media Production Suite, involvement with summer sporting events, and the importance of collaboration.

What are your overriding thoughts as this year’s IBC approaches, and what do you think will be the primary technological themes? I would highlight three main themes: the transition to IP; AI-based applications; and sustainability.

What are Panasonic’s major new products or updates for this year’s show?

Panasonic will announce a brand-new studio camera that features an IP-centric workflow and can function without an external CCU as it can output a ST 2110 stream directly from the camera head, supporting the new ST 2110 workflow present in our other flagship cameras like the UE160, PLV100 and KAIROS. Using the UCU700 CCU also brings additional and unique features such as NDI, ST 2110 and Dante.

Adoption of AI in AV opens up new possibilities and workflows.

A new feature Panasonic has been focusing on is the upgrade of its software packages within the Panasonic Media Production Suite. This includes advanced auto-tracking software and a video mixer that enables easy subject keying regardless of the shooting location, expanding the range of creative expressions.

Most notably, the AI Keying feature allows for chroma key-like compositions without the

Panasonic Kairos Paris 2024

need for a greenscreen. Using automatic image recognition, Panasonic’s AI Keying separates people from backgrounds, making it possible to perform chroma keying in conference rooms, interviews, and outdoor settings with just a single PC. This could be especially useful for pitchside or commentary room interviews, allowing the background to be a dedicated style, or the inclusion of specific sponsors.

Sustainability and decarbonisation are also set to be headline themes. What have been some of the most significant developments for Panasonic in this area during the past 12 months?

Panasonic Corporation provides the Olympic Games with state-of-the-art digital audio/video equipment. For example, at Paris 2024, the KAIROS IT/IP Platform was widely adopted, delivering video content at almost all competition venues (26 in total), simplifying workflows and streamlining operations.

Its scalability allows the production of content for up to three venues via a single Kairos Core Server and multiple control surfaces, which reduces hardware and installation costs by 66% compared to conventional operation.

…the AI Keying feature allows for chroma key-like compositions without the need for a greenscreen.

Another innovative concept and workflow at Paris 2024 was the centralised simultaneous interpretation service at the Main Press Center (MPC). Each sport venue was equipped with PTZ cameras and a live switcher or remote panel in its press room. The AV infrastructure allowed the translations to be provided from remote locations, reducing the need for travel and enhancing the operational efficiency, compared to previous events. As an IBC visitor, what are some of the new & emerging technologies you are most excited about this year?

IBC is always a great place to exchange and catchup with the latest technology solutions in our industry. Besides the already mentioned IP, AI and sustainability trends and [related] technology, we

at Panasonic believe that it is a vital part of the business to collaborate with other technology partners and manufacturers to build seamless ecosystems and workflows for our customers and users.

We are looking forward to meeting again with our partners and working on the new proposals together.

EMG’s Charlie Cubbon & Eamonn Curtin: ‘Our thoughts are focused on the industry’s growing emphasis on sustainability’

What are your overriding thoughts as this year’s IBC approaches, and what do you think will be the primary technological themes?

As this year’s IBC approaches, our thoughts are focused on the industry’s growing emphasis on sustainability and the technological innovations driving the future of broadcasting. We expect to see more manufacturers showcasing their approaches to sustainability, not just in their products but across their entire operations.

At EMG / Gravity Media [which announced the completion of an agreement to combine their businesses in January 2024 — click here for more information], we are deeply committed to sustainable production and continuously seek ways to enhance our sustainability efforts throughout the business. The sustainability practices of

during broadcast of Pinkpop Festival

…we anticipate

significant advancements in IP production, virtualised and containerised solutions (COTS), and AI/ML technologies. These innovations

are set to transform the way we tell our customers’ stories…

manufacturers are increasingly influencing our purchasing decisions, and it’s crucial that these efforts are taken seriously.

In terms of technological themes, we anticipate significant advancements in IP production, virtualised and containerised solutions (COTS), and AI/ML technologies. These innovations are set to transform the way we tell our customers’ stories, offering new and exciting possibilities for creative expression and operational efficiency.

We are particularly interested in how AI and machine learning can be leveraged to enhance content creation and how virtualised platforms can offer more flexible and scalable production solutions.

What are your major new products or updates for this year’s show?

Overall, this year’s IBC promises to be a showcase of how sustainability and cutting-edge technology can come together to shape the future of our industry.

This year’s show marks an exciting milestone for us as we present our newly formed group, which came together at the beginning of the year. As a unified entity, we now offer comprehensive production solutions that cover every aspect of the process, from concept to final delivery. Our combined expertise allows us to seamlessly

integrate cutting-edge technologies and creative strategies, ensuring that we meet the diverse needs of our clients. With a strong international presence, we are equipped to deliver high-quality productions across the globe, making us a truly global partner in the media and entertainment industry.

We will be focusing on our Remote Production Operations including our latest state of the art Production Centre located in White City, London.

This shift enhances efficiency and allows our creative teams to focus on innovation rather than routine work. Across the industry, automation is poised to transform content production, management, and distribution, enabling more personalised, data-driven content and faster, cost-effective operations. At IBC 2024, we expect these advancements to be a focal point, showcasing how AI and ML are not only boosting efficiency but also unlocking new creative possibilities, driving innovation for the future.

Sustainability and decarbonisation are also set to be headline themes. What have been some of the most significant developments for EMG / Gravity Media in this area during the past 12 months?

ESG is a key strategic priority for EMG / Gravity Media. Since the merger, we have been aligning our sustainability initiatives and bringing the best practices across both businesses.

We have initiated a comprehensive global carbon footprint assessment (for Scope 1,2 & 3) covering the entire EMG / Gravity Media Group. Colleagues from all around the world are pulling together to collect a large volume of data, which will determine our greenhouse gas emissions for 2023. The results will inform our future emissions reduction strategy, with key opportunities being renewable energy, bio-fuels and remote production.

As an IBC visitor, what are some of the new & emerging technologies you are most excited about this year?

As an IBC visitor, we are particularly excited about the new and emerging technologies that are set to shape the future of broadcasting. AI-driven production and editing are at the top of the list as they offer incredible potential for streamlining workflows and enhancing creative possibilities. Additionally, the latest advancements in cloud technology are revolutionising how we manage, store and distribute content, providing greater scalability and collaboration opportunities. These innovations are truly transforming the industry, and we’re looking forward to seeing them in action at this year’s IBC.

EMG Nova 53 being used at the Open

TNT Sports at The WestWorks building in White City, London

Connect, Empower, Celebrate: Rise’s Mission at IBC 2024

Major trade shows offer unique opportunities for professionals to showcase skills, connect with industry leaders, and explore emerging trends, but women’s representation remains limited. Rise Women in Broadcast is actively changing this narrative, championing the inclusion and advancement of women in the industry.

At IBC 2024, Rise will present a robust agenda of events and initiatives designed to support women during these pivotal career moments. Be a part of this movement to ensure that the future of broadcasting is inclusive, supportive, and truly reflective of everyone’s potential.

Central to Rise’s presence at IBC 2024 is a strong emphasis on networking and community building. A pre-show gathering on Thursday night will set the tone, helping attendees step into

the show with confidence after connecting with new and familiar faces. Additional networking opportunities will follow throughout the event, so be sure to check Rise’s website for details on various gatherings happening each day. The Rise stand, located at 5.G80, will serve as a vibrant hub that embodies the strength of our community, welcoming everyone to drop by at any time. Beyond networking, the stand will offer a meditative silent disco, safe lockers for storing personal belongings, and emergency kits stocked with essentials, ensuring that visitors remain fully engaged on the show floor without missing a beat.

For those interested in exploring the benefits of mentorship — a major focus for Rise — there will be a dedicated session at the EBU stand on Saturday, where participants of the flagship Rise Mentoring Programme will share first-hand accounts of its transformative power. The IBC Talent Programme, taking place on Monday, will further amplify these stories, featuring even more voices from Rise’s mentees, mentors, and C-Suite Programme alumni. A brand new programme by Rise will also be introduced during IBC, aimed

at providing targeted support for women who are still advancing in their careers. The Career Accelerator Programme taster session, organised in partnership with Birdsoup Consultancy, is perfect for those ready to take the next step in their professional journey but uncertain where to start. Attendees will gain access to the tools, insights, and confidence needed to propel their careers forward.

Visibility will be another critical component of Rise’s mission at IBC. The flashmob entry, coorganised by several women’s groups on Saturday morning is not just a fun and engaging way to start the day; it’s a bold and visible statement that women belong at the forefront of the broadcast industry. Another highlight of the organisation’s agenda, and a testament to their commitment to spotlighting the talent and achievements of exceptional women in the industry, will be the Rise Awards 2024 Shortlist Announcement. The annual recognition not only shines a light on the incredible contributions women are making but also inspires others to pursue their ambitions, so mark your calendars for Saturday to discover this year’s nominees!

Rise’s detailed agenda for IBC 2024 can be found here: https://risewib.com/ibc. Spaces are limited for selected events, so be sure to register in advance.

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