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.
Quickplay – Immersive Entertainment’s Next Frontier: The Convergence of AR, VR, and OTT
The media and entertainment landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological innovation and shifting consumer expectations. Among the most transformative developments is the convergence of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platforms. This fusion is not just enhancing how content is consumed, but it is redefining the economics of the industry by creating new revenue streams and business models while democratizing access to immersive, interactive entertainment experiences.
For content creators, MediaTech providers, and direct-to-consumer platforms, the opportunities are immense. But so are the challenges. Understanding this convergence is key to unlocking future growth and delivering the engaging consumer experiences demanded by today’s digital audiences.
DEMOCRATIZING VIRTUAL PRODUCTION
Virtual production has long been associated with high-budget Hollywood blockbusters and major broadcast studios, as many assumed it requires significant resources, not to mention the knowledge to make it work. However, companies like Brainstorm, with decades of experience in creating real-time graphics and virtual studio solutions, have been expanding its product line with technological advancements that are helping democratize this field, making it accessible to a wider range of creators, from small studios and independent filmmakers to educational institutions and corporate content creators.
Net Insight – Efficiency first: streamlining sports video delivery
Innovation has always been integral to the broadcast industry, such as with the rise of HD, digital audio and 4K, as well as more recent developments surrounding IP. Each new wave of development has encouraged experimentation, leading to solutions that stand the test of time, like the ones mentioned, and solutions that do not. The latest experimental wave is, of course, AI which finds itself full of potential but lacking enough real-world use cases to make it resonate across the industry.
MainConcept – Will Multiview HEVC pave the way for Extended Reality and the Metaverse?
The next frontier of entertainment lies in interactive and immersive experiences, where traditional TV and device screens give way to rich, 3D environments that surround the viewer. And while video compression technology might not grab the headlines, it’s the backbone of 3D video content creation and delivery, enabling the seamless, high-quality experiences that extended reality (XR) and metaverse applications demand. Interestingly, the codec, Multiview HEVC (MV-HEVC), which is designed to enable 3D video experiences, is currently enjoying a surge in market adoption. This increase is largely driven by Apple’s launch of the Apple Vision Pro headset, which uses the MV-HEVC codec. Since then, many more OEMs are adding in support for the codec to their devices. What impact will this have on the industry, and might it help facilitate widespread adoption of extended reality and acceleration of the metaverse? For clarity, extended reality and XR are used throughout as a catch-all term for virtual, augmented and mixed reality.
Brainstorm – The flexibility of virtual production
Virtual production is already a mature technology that not only allows for high-quality results, but also reduces costs and contributes to increase the industry’s sustainability. The introduction of advanced rendering technologies such as game engines or real-time ray tracing significantly boosted the quality of the real-time renderings, allowing content creators of any size and kind to produce photo realistic content, meaning high-end results no longer restricted for high-budget filmmakers, but available to a wider range of creators.
Net Insight – How IP turns the page on sports video production and distribution
The landscape of sports streaming is evolving rapidly. Recent studies show that a staggering 71% of US sports enthusiasts now opt for live viewing, underscoring a significant opportunity for the media industry and rights holders alike. As viewers expand their preferences across platforms like OTT, digital channels, and FAST, the media industry must move forward to cloud-driven production and distribution processes to serve the burgeoning demand for real-time sports content.
eSports 2.0: revolutionising eSports through the cloud
eSports is on a high, with numerous new global tournaments and competitions rising to engage millions of dedicated fans around the world. Immersive technologies, 4D simulation, and Building Information Modelling (BIM) marry the ‘virtual’ and the ‘physical’ to create unique and compelling experiences for growing in-person and streaming audiences.
Removing barriers to creativity at A+E Networks UK
Faced with ageing infrastructure that was impacting the creative team’s ability to deliver, A+E UK turned to Blue Lucy to provide a solution that put production needs first.
Telos Infinity® Accelerates on Dirt!
Progressive American Flat Track saves money and time by streamlining live event Comms using Telos Infinity IP Intercom Platform.