Conference Streams

The IBC Conference pools an unparalleled breadth of knowledge, skills and experience. At its core is a world renowned set of Technical Papers and Posters produced by the industry, for the industry, to share and discuss the very latest research worldwide.

Competition to get a paper into the conference is fierce and subject to strict peer review. Only those which are considered the most advanced, innovative or thought-provoking are selected for presentation at IBC.

One outstanding paper received the accolade of the IBC Conference Paper Award 2010 - Does size matter? The impact of screen size on 3D', NDS. In addition a selection of the best papers for 2010 were published in a special edition of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)’s Journal which was launched at IBC2010.

Posters, meanwhile, were originally offered at academic conferences as opportunities for delegates to informally discuss technical issues directly with project team members. At IBC, they provided an ideal opportunity to present a varied array of subjects that might not otherwise be accommodated within the Technical Papers stream.

As with the papers, all poster session submissions are rigorously scrutinised by a committee of peers.

All the technology at IBC is leading edge. And, as befits the world’s leading tradeshow for the electronic entertainment industry, the Technical Papers and Posters continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation further each year.

With the rise of Facebook, YouTube and the Mobile App, TV content in all its forms is beginning to work out how to embrace connected devices and the rise of social media.

The Creative Content Sessions took in a broad array of topics from how online catch-up TV services fit into broadcasters’ production plans, to how digital stills cameras are being used to achieve that killer scene in a wildlife documentary. There were sessions on how online advertising around programmes is working and how over the top services are developing as more devices from phones to games consoles are connected to the internet.

The online world is upon us and several sessions looked at how broadcasters can serve their programmes so they can be seen on different platforms – from online to mobiles. This included How do changing monetisation models impact how content is presented and protected? And how do producers cope with the 24/7 and 360 (on air, online and on connected devices) production cycle?

Since the majority of visitors to IBC have the buying and selling of broadcast technology high on their agenda, the business strand of the IBC Conference focused on the three core commercial aspects.

In the light of the most damaging recession the media industry has seen, a series of sessions explored the current state of the media and advertising markets, question the merits of various business models and suggested sources for revenue generation.

A second set of seminars examined issues of finance and focus on the technology funding and procurement options for broadcasters. When is outsourcing a suitable alternative to buying or leasing and how can suppliers and users co-operate in a highly volatile and competitive marketplace?

A third group of business conference sessions put a spotlight on strategy and transformation to identify the best practices involved in successful technology projects. Topics included how to approach change management and how to integrate products from multiple vendors to ensure a unified response to a broadcasters' business needs.

The business strand featured thought leaders from across the industry and were presented alongside a range of expert panelists and innovative session formats.

IBC’s Added Value conference sessions always bring something vital and fresh to the overall IBC Conference program. Not only are they free and open to all, but they adhere to the same rigorous editorial standards IBC enforces for its many paid sessions.

The sessions fall into readily identifiable strands, and the fabulously popular trio of ‘What Caught My Eye’ sessions – the key responsibility of the Added Value Group – are indeed a treasured regular feature of every IBC.

The research and discussion that goes into picking the subjects for the other slots that the group is responsible for requires the assessment of emerging technology trends and one-off subjects that don’t sit readily elsewhere in the conference programme but still merit audience exposure. IBC2010 favoured ideas included a look at the immediate and future impact of augmented reality, and a review of news coverage from the world’s current hot spot – Afghanistan.

The Added Value Group is an ideas factory much like the other IBC conference groups, but with a brief to stage sessions that people will give up their time to attend. Essentially, it offers IBC visitors a huge amount of knowledge and, what’s more, it offers it for free.

In the same vein, but on a more commercial basis, the group were also responsible for the Exhibition Business Briefings. Staged in Hall 9, these events gave individual manufacturers the chance to talk directly to groups of end users. In return, users had a forum situation for quizzing the company.