CELEBRATING INNOVATION

A bumper year for IBC saw the 2023 show attract over 43,000 attendees from 170 countries at the RAI Amsterdam, celebrating business innovation and pushing new boundaries in media technology.

With over 1,250 exhibitors and a 16% increase in total attendees, media leaders and technology pioneers from around the world gathered across bustling exhibition halls, buzzing networking events and packed theatres to define and action the future of media and entertainment.

“We’ve seen a fantastic turnout from the entire industry at IBC2023,” said Michael Crimp, IBC’s CEO. “There was a real sense of purpose at the show as business leaders and tech innovators came together to help our industry navigate change and build a better future for media and entertainment. I’d like to thank everyone for the ongoing support and participation – we’re looking forward to seeing you all again next year.”

With three core pillars running through the whole content programme at IBC2023 – Transformative Tech, Shifting Business Models and People & Purpose – IBC delivered its most comprehensive content agenda to date, tackling pivotal industry challenges and supporting M&E’s mission to drive more sustainable and inclusive business practices.

An increased line-up of 325+ speakers across an expanded number of theatre halls took to the stage to champion new technologies, future business models, and creative innovations that broaden the horizons of media and entertainment.

ARRI returned to Amsterdam with an impressive display to celebrate the launch of SkyPanel X. Introduced as a modular system and configurable into different sizes, SkyPanel X now offers native soft, native hard, and open-face lighting. This state-of-the-art LED light sets new standards in terms of dimming, colour rendition, output, and beam quality, making it the perfect lighting solution.

Elsewhere in exciting light launches, Aputure announced the future integration of Prolycht technology into the Aputure product line. Introducing the Prolycht+ Engine, dubbed as “the future of Aputure” by Ted Sim, co-founder at Aputure, and Aputure’s resident pro, Mitch Gross.

INFiLED revealed the launch of their brand-new LED solution, showcasing its new Infinite Colors technology. Traditional LED video displays only use 3 emitters being red, green, and blue. INFiLED is introducing a fourth emitter in a custom LED package that increases the colour spectrum viewed from professional cameras by using a LED video Ceiling. Infinite Colours hopes to improves a variety of LED applications by allowing full variations in tone, saturation, and colour appearance in white light and custom colours, all featured in one display.

Brompton Technology also demonstrated an array of pioneering LED video processing solutions, including TrueLight, as well as offering product demos, panel sessions, and technology masterclasses throughout the show. Cesar Caceres, product lead at Brompton Technology, said:“These solutions bring a new level of image quality that recreates real-world environments more accurately than ever before. Sharing the space with our friends at White Light, we cannot wait to welcome IBC2023 visitors and demonstrate all of our game-changing technologies.”

Motion Impossible wowed visitors with the newest AGITO, where the team demonstrated its new user-driven features that act as proof points to Motion Impossible’s pragmatic approach to design. These features represent the next generation of motion control that makes the most complex camera control setups work as seamlessly as possible, whether it’s for significant sporting events, entertainment and studio productions, or film and high-end television.

On the subject of HETV, IMAX also took to the bustling exhibition halls to enlighten audiences of the company’s growing commitment to delivering a top-of-the-range home cinema experience with Stream Smart. IMAX are looking to bear the fruits of their SSIMWAVE acquisition in 2022, seeking to take the IMAX experience beyond the theatre and into streaming and broadcast. 

Seagate took to IBC to announce their exciting new Exos CORVAULT 5U84. The new mass storage system helps media and entertainment organisations reduce their carbon emissions and operating costs by keeping drives in service for longer, underpinning Seagate’s sustainability mission.

IBC also honoured Seagate by naming it as a Social Impact Award finalist in the Environment and Sustainability category for its pioneering circularity program. Melyssa Banda, vice president storage solutions and services at Seagate said: “Through ADAPT and ADR innovation, our latest storage solution reinforces our commitment to sustainability. Seagate is leading the way in minimising electronic waste and environmental impact while maximising resource efficiency to create a sustainable Datasphere and we are thrilled to be Social Impact Award finalists at IBC this year.”

MRMC showcased the SR-1 after its recent launch, a new pan-tilt head designed for use in locations that are inaccessible or hazardous for camera operators. The system is designed as a next-generation, remote production tool that will enhance the creativity of shots, help capture new angles and easily achieve shots that would be ”impossible” by hand.

Reflecting on IBC2023, Samira Bakhtiar, director, global media and entertainment, AWS, said: “IBC is so important because it provides a venue for the community to come together. When you’re able to come together with customers and partners, you can ideate and provide diverse perspectives that would normally not be able to come out. That’s good for business, and it’s good for the people that we serve.”

Ian Wagdin, senior technology transfer manager, BBC R&D, commented: “IBC is a place where you can really get together and share ideas, both with manufacturers but also with other broadcasters. That keeps us relevant and ensures we are all discussing the right problems.”

All content sessions from IBC2023 will be made available online following the show on IBC365.