There is this dream in our industry that eventually everything in post will live in the cloud; apps, storage, workflows, the whole pipeline. A clean, centralized model where local infrastructure becomes obsolete.
It’s a compelling idea, and in certain corners of the industry, it’s already happening. But for the vast majority of post teams we work with, things are more layered, more distributed, and more hybrid.
At this year’s Essex International Scout and Guide Jamboree, over 4,500 young people, gathered from across the globe, had the unique opportunity to dive headfirst into the world of broadcast television, thanks to the support of Ross Video and their partner dB Broadcast. For seven days, participants were immersed in the behind-the-scenes magic of television production, gaining hands-on experience through interactive Tech Labs.
The media and entertainment industry has long been a catalyst for social change, shaping perspectives through the stories we tell and the voices we amplify. Yet when it comes to creating truly inclusive workplaces that entice diverse talent, many of those in our industry are still writing their next chapter. While we can certainly make the claim that progress has been made, the reality is the finish line is not yet in sight. We must fundamentally transform how we define company culture, ensuring that there is a clear encouragement of all professionals, including leadership, to be their authentic selves.
The IABM Technology and Trends Roadmap isn’t just for industry technologists to use as a reference. IABM has discovered industry execs using it as a starting point for their keynote speeches: product line managers are using it to plot their own products; and corporate board members get a better understanding of where the company’s products sit on the adoption curve, hence a better grasp or risks vs gross margins. This also assists marketing activities by giving an indication of how best to promote products within M&E and adjacent/vertical market areas.
The media landscape is in the midst of a seismic shift. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the game-changer that’s reshaping how media is produced, distributed, and consumed. Whether you’re in advertising, journalism, content creation, or any corner of the media world, there’s no escaping it: AI is here, and it’s not just for the tech gurus. The most challenging aspect is that once again, even our most seasoned media professionals may need to play catch-up on another emerging technology that is becoming pervasive in everything we do.
Every year at the IABM Annual Awards, IABM recognizes the Andrew Jones Young Person of Year with a special award. The competition for the 2024 award was particularly intense. In the end, the award went to Ciaran Ennis, Associate Engineer at Techex. However, any of the shortlisted candidates would have been worthy winners in their own right.
We spoke to the shortlisted candidates to find out what brought them into the MediaTech industry, what they enjoy about it and how they see their futures unfolding. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and personal drive is a common factor for all of them – as is the support and mentorship they have received. What follow is an inspiring read in its own right and also provides an excellent insight into how to foster the new talent our industry needs to continue to thrive.
Getting content delivery right is a top priority for broadcasters and media providers, with security being a critical, non-negotiable aspect. Broadcasters are increasingly turning to cloud playout to manage the complexities of delivering content to a diverse range of platforms and devices, and so it’s critical that cloud playout systems operate to the highest security standards. Not only do broadcasters need to protect their content and channels from unauthorized access, cyber-attacks and data breaches, but these security threats are constantly evolving as attackers adapt and seek to exploit different vulnerabilities in broadcast systems. And so, for broadcasters wanting to use cloud playout, the inevitable question arises: how can they ensure their content remains secure?
As many of us reflect on our nth IBC this year, for some it was the first time experiencing the event. Among them were IABM’s Bursary winners – ten lucky students from universities in the UK, France and Germany who were selected to receive the sought-after award. Their travel, hotel and Delegate Pass were all paid for, along with a daily stipend for food and drink during the four-day event. We’ve gathered together some of their thoughts and reflections on IBC this year to gain a different perspective.
The idea of a statement of company values is nothing new. It’s been around for 30 years, since Jim Collins and Jerry Porras published their book Built to Last in 1994, proposing a set of principles called core values.
The importance placed on innovation in cloud technologies and their implementation continues to gather pace, yet real-world deployments still need to be improved. The demand for high-quality content to be delivered across multiple platforms in real-time has meant that the stakes have never been higher.