IBC awards winners announced

The winners of this year’s IBC Innovation and Social Impact Awards were revealed in two ceremonies at the RAI in Amsterdam last night, highlighting the latest advancements and the social initiatives shaping the future of the media industry. Both categories showcased significant technological achievements and the positive influence of media on society.

In the Innovation Awards, the BBC and its partners won the Content Creation Award for their development of the world’s largest pop-up 5G standalone non-public network. This cutting-edge technology was used during the coronation of King Charles III to provide live broadcast contributions. Andy Reed, engineering manager at BBC News, called it “a silver bullet for big events,” and Ian Wagdin, senior technology transfer manager at BBC R&D, emphasised the collaborative nature of the project: “Not only did we work as the BBC, but we shared it across the industry… it was important to open it up as an open R&D approach.”

Sky Group claimed the Content Distribution Award for its innovative cloud-native software playout platform, which has streamlined the origination of linear TV content across Europe. Gabriele Ubertini, Sky’s director of group origination and distribution, credited the success to strong partnerships, stating, “Co-operation has been key… it’s been great to scale out to simplify operations and be quick to market.”

The Content Everywhere Award went to KAN, the Israeli broadcaster, for its revolutionary use of real-time interactive engagement tools during the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Eurovision 2023. Benn Achilleas, CEO of Sport Buff, the technology provider, said: “It’s a testament to the broadcaster and their teams… now it’s about how we take this further across all content.”

The prestigious IBC International Honour for Excellence was officially awarded to Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group on its 100th anniversary, celebrating the legacy of one of the most influential forces in global cinema.

In addition, the 2023 Special Award for Innovation went to the German DVB-I Pilot initiative, which brings together broadcasters, device manufacturers, software providers, and research institutions to standardise the future of broadcast services in Germany.

Mark Waddell and his team from the BBC, University of Strathclyde, and Neutral Wireless were awarded the Best Technical Paper Award for their role in deploying the 5G standalone non-public network during the Coronation of King Charles III, a key achievement in the field of live broadcasting technology.

Meanwhile, the Social Impact Awards shone a light on media initiatives that foster diversity, sustainability, and the responsible use of technology. RTVE, Spain’s national broadcaster, took home the Social Impact Award for its use of AI in covering local elections in nearly 5,000 municipalities across the country. David Corral Hernandez, RTVE’s Head of Innovation, expressed pride in the achievement: “It’s a great award for all the team. Our challenge was to serve the public with good news and provide the best public service that we can.”

The Diversity and Inclusion Award went to Swiss broadcaster SWI swissinfo.ch for its pioneering use of data-driven processes to promote inclusive language in its multilingual newsroom. Jo Fahy, head of distribution and formats, celebrated the recognition, saying, “We have seen a cultural shift towards more inclusive and gender-neutral languages… as a website in 10 languages published globally, we can have a huge impact on society.”

Elsewhere, the Environment and Sustainability Award was awarded to Iron Mountain Data Centres for its commitment to using 100% locally sourced clean energy to power its operations. Eric Boonstra, VP and general manager for Europe, stated: “We need a better world for the future, and we are the only ones in the data centre business who do this, tracking all our usage and matching it with local green power.”

In a special new category, the inaugural Changemaker Award was presented to the Eurovision Song Contest, recognising its unique contribution to global culture and its role in fostering social unity. Martin Österdahl, executive supervisor of Eurovision, spoke on its cultural impact: “Fans missed it in the pandemic when it didn’t happen, so to bring it back… it really was an emotional moment.”

Finally, a Special Award was given to Women in Streaming Media for its impactful mentorship programme, which has helped boost the visibility and career development of women in the streaming industry. Founder Alicia Pritchett commented on the programme’s success: “The programme has had an incredible impact on increasing the number of women present at trade shows like this. Look around—women don’t have the visibility that they need, but this programme sets women up to know that they are special.”

Michael Crimp, CEO of IBC, closed the ceremonies by applauding all the winners and said: “The winning entries epitomise today’s IBC, which looks to inspire, foster, and recognise the transformative innovation and critical change we are witnessing across the media and entertainment industry. They represent the pioneering and collaborative spirit at the heart of IBC, bringing imagination and vision to the work they are doing and sharing it with the wider M&E community.”