A bit over a week has now passed since the round-up of IBC 2023. As mentioned in our blog post earlier this week, this year’s event certainly made us feel like we are once again nearing the pre-pandemic show floor buzz. It is clear that the industry is quickly evolving to adapt to new customer behavior and preferences, whether it is about experimenting with new technology or taking a part in projects to contribute to a more sustainable future.
At Accedo, we were encouraged and inspired by the myriad of conversations and initiatives that show how the video industry is accelerating its progression towards the next generation of video streaming. Here are some of the trends we noticed at this year’s IBC show floor.
While sustainability and diversity have been recurring topics in our industry for quite some time, this year marked a noticeable shift toward actionable initiatives. The IBC changemaker program exemplifies this change, hosting a two-day conference dedicated to organizations and individuals actively reshaping our industry. These trailblazers are pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology while addressing critical issues like gender equality and sustainability.
Conversations at the Accedo booth also took a much more sustainable focus than ever before, with lots of interest in the sustainable marketplace that recently launched within our Accedo One SaaS platform. Broadcasters and media companies are much more conscious of their responsibility and impact, and this is in turn pushing vendors to improve their own sustainability efforts. The launch of The Flint, a magazine dedicated to sustainability in media, further signals the move towards a much more sustainability-conscious industry.
Moreover, the industry’s pursuit of gender diversity received renewed vigor at IBC 2023. This included an event to announce the shortlist for the RISE Women in Broadcast awards, which saw five of our own employees shortlisted, as well as Accedo being nominated in the company award for organizations that invest in attracting and retaining female talent. While we still have a long way to go before we reach a true level of gender equality, there are certainly a host of initiatives pushing us in the right direction.
As highlighted in a recent blog post, the emergence of spatial computing marks a transformative era for the video industry. This innovation promises to usher in novel content formats, monetization opportunities, and use cases that were previously unimaginable. Immersive technology is poised to captivate and engage audiences on an unprecedented scale, empowering content creators to craft immersive experiences that were once beyond the realm of possibility.
At IBC, our Solutions Strategist and XR Lead, José Somolinos, took the stage to delve into the profound impact of spatial computing on various facets of daily life. He also explored the pivotal role that video plays in propelling adoption and enhancing consumer experiences. In general over the past couple of shows, our booth has buzzed with excitement surrounding XR and VR demonstrations and this year marked a significant milestone as we unveiled Accedo Xtend, fresh from its recognition at the CSI awards. Xtend empowers rights holders, broadcasters, and operators to effortlessly deliver and experiment with immersive spatial computing experiences, all without the need for extensive upfront development and investment. It facilitates the swift transition of existing video services into a spatial computing environment while offering an array of advanced features and lucrative monetization opportunities.
During IBC, we also proudly announced our partnership with Ateme, a collaboration aimed at revolutionizing in-stadium and venue experiences for live sporting events, all powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). By harnessing Ateme's 5G Media Streaming solution in conjunction with our Accedo Xtend, we've unlocked the potential to deliver a groundbreaking immersive in-stadium experience via 5G connectivity. Overall, it is clear that the industry is increasingly embracing the adoption of new technologies and that there is a greater willingness to experiment to pioneer the next generation of video experiences.
The emergence of Generative AI certainly heralds a new era of innovation and endless possibilities for the video industry. The technology is poised to revolutionize content creation, personalization, and the overall viewer experience, while also opening doors to significantly streamline and optimize the application development process. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that AI-powered solutions were a hot topic at this year’s IBC. Many companies were showcasing features or offerings incorporating the technology and conversations in the show halls definitely centered around how this will transform the industry.
One of the highlights for Accedo was our announcement of a partnership with Magnifi by VideoVerse, an AI-driven video technology company and video-editing platform, to incorporate AI-powered sports highlights into our Android TV Launcher solution. We also ran a joint demo at the AWS booth, showcasing how to enhance OTT content recommendation with the use of Generative AI.
Overall, it is clear that this is a transformative force in the video streaming industry, offering new avenues for content creation, personalization, and optimization. As the technology continues to evolve, streaming platforms that embrace Generative AI will find themselves at the forefront of innovation, delivering unparalleled experiences to viewers around the world. At Accedo, we are closely following this development and are excited about what this means for the future of video.
As we have now had a week to digest the impressions and conversations from this year’s IBC show, one thing has become apparent: the video industry is evolving at a pace faster than ever before. In order to stay relevant in such a rapidly changing landscape, video services and solutions vendors all need to remain agile and curious in order to be part of what is shaping the future of the industry.
Reach out to one of our industry experts, or take a look at some of our recent blogs, to learn more about how we can help you unlock the next generation of streaming possibilities.
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