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M E D I A , B R O A D C A S T & I N S TA L L AT I O N

Broadcast

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

VRT

M E D I A , B R O A D C A S T & I N S TA L L AT I O N

TM Broadcast International #157 September 2026

Belgium’s

innovationstrategy: Broadcast turningexperimentation

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

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M E D I A , B R O A D C A S T & I N S TA L L AT I O N

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EDITORIAL A public broadcaster making video games: innovation through convergence Throughout this year, TM BROADCAST has been exploring the technology roadmaps of broadcasters across Europe and beyond, from the BBC and RTVE to CBC/Radio-Canada. As part of this wider editorial initiative, we now turn our attention to VRT, a mid-sized public broadcaster whose approach to innovation offers a particularly interesting perspective. Innovation should be tested with real content, in front of real audiences. This is one of the principles guiding Belgium’s Flemish public broadcaster. And in today’s context, shaped by accelerating technological change and the need for scalability, collaboration has become fundamental to innovation. For VRT, this means working with start-ups, universities and industry partners rather than innovating in isolation.

Editor in chief Javier de Martín

editor@tmbroadcast.com

Director Daniel Esparza

press@tmbroadcast.com

Editorial Staff Bárbara Ausín Carlos Serrano Key account manager Patricia Pérez ppt@tmbroadcast.com

This approach extends across AI, virtual production and data management — particularly metadata — and even into video games. “Game productions seem unconventional for a public broadcaster, but if we want to reach everyone, we also need to be present on platforms where kids spend their time. A logical choice, in the end,” VRT Innovation Manager Dieter Boen explains in this issue of TM BROADCAST. The accelerating pace of technological change makes it increasingly important for broadcasters — including public service media — to keep their innovation strategies up to date. The challenge is no longer simply to adopt individual technologies, but to understand how content, platforms and forms of interaction are converging. As conversational interfaces continue to evolve, broadcasters will also need to rethink how audiences discover, consume and interact with their content.

Graphic Design and Layout Sorex Media Ana Guijarro

TM Broadcast International #157 September 2026

Administration Laura de Diego

administration@tmbroadcast.com

Published in Spain ISSN: 2659-5966

TM Broadcast International is a magazine published by Daró Media Group SL Centro Empresarial Tartessos Calle Pollensa 2, oficina 14 28290 Las Rozas (Madrid), Spain Phone +34 91 640 46 43

SUMMARY 6

News

OPINION Costa Nikols Telos Alliance

José Gozalbo AgileTV

BROADCASTERS

Belgium’s VRT innovation strategy: turning experimentation into real-world value VRT Innovation Manager Dieter Boen outlines TM BROADCAST the broadcaster’s technology roadmap, exploring its approach to AI, data and virtual production, the role of collaboration and a public service mission that ultimately guides its innovation priorities.

SHOWS

Next stop: IBC 2026 | The essential preview

TRENDS

We take a closer look at the key trends and technologies set to shape IBC 2026 (11-14 September, Amsterdam), together with a selection of the latest innovations and product launches from exhibitors.

The graphics orchestrator: how AI is transforming news design 4

NEWS

ORF moves nationwide contribution network from SDI to IP with Net Insight Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution for a new nationwide IP contribution network for the public broadcaster ORF in Austria. The order, received in Q2 2025, aligns with Net Insight’s focus on expanding within managed and IPbased networks, as the company has claimed in a statement.

The rollout was carried out in close collaboration with local partner TV-Connect, for the shift to a modern, IP-based media infrastructure. ORF’s decision to upgrade to Big Blue Marble’s new IP media network stems from the need to replace a SDI-based infrastructure with a scalable, future-proof IP contribution solution. The deployment connects ORF’s headquarters and an additional production facility in Vienna to all nine regional production studios, one in each of Austria’s federal states.

Technology The new network is built around the Nimbra 1000 and Nimbra 600 platforms, with the intention of supporting highquality ST 2110 workflows for both video and audio, while also enabling seamless interoperability with SDI environments through integrated legacy conversion. Key features include full NMOSbased control and orchestration, looking forward to allowing the broadcaster to integrate media flow management with their existing control systems for streamlined operation and increased agility across production sites. 

Appear and TRP bring REMI production to remote racecourses using 5G and LEO satellite Appear has announced the successful completion of a proof of concept (POC) with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP). This has demostrated that full multicamera remote live production can be delivered reliably over bonded 5G cellular and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity, without relying on fixed internet infrastructure, as the company has claimed in a statement. The project successfully validated a complete REMI production workflow, transporting four live

HD camera feeds from a remote racecourse to TRP’s production facility while simultaneously returning two HD programme feeds back to the venue over the same bonded network. The outcome aimed to evidence how broadcasters can extend high-quality remote production to locations where dedicated fibre or fixed connectivity is unavailable. TRP, the production arm of Racing Victoria, delivers live horse racing coverage from 51 regional racecourses across

the Australian state of Victoria. Of these, 20 – together with the state’s metropolitan venues – feature access to high-quality wired connectivity that makes REMI possible; the remaining 31 regional racecourses do not. 

AI generated image.

NEWS

Clear-Com runs pre-launch field trial of FreeSpeak Cell during Rio Carnival 2026

Swiss telecom provider Sunrise strengthens IP-based TV monitoring with Bridge Technologies VB330

Clear-Com is highlighting the results of a pre-launch field trial of FreeSpeak Cell during Carnival 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Conducted in partnership with Brazilian systems integrator Savana Comunicações, the proof of concept aimed to demonstrate how cellular-based intercom can provide reliable, wide-area communications for broadcast teams operating in one of the world’s most demanding live production environments, as the company has claimed in a statement. Four FreeSpeak Cell beltpacks were deployed during live Carnival coverage at the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome. FreeSpeak Cell operates over 4G LTE and 5G cellular networks, providing wide-area mobility without the need for conventional localised RF infrastructure. The deployment looked forward to giving camera operators and reporters the freedom to move throughout the venue while maintaining communication with production teams. “This deployment gave us an opportunity to put FreeSpeak Cell through its paces in a particularly demanding live production environment”, explains João Pedro Machado Homem, CTO at Savana Comunicações. “The results demonstrated the potential of cellular intercom to give broadcast teams greater freedom to move while maintaining the reliable communications workflows they depend on. It is an exciting application of cellular technology for professional production communications”. 

Bridge Technologies has announced the deployment of its VB330 monitoring probe at Sunrise. This initiative looks forward to supporting the Swiss telecommunications provider’s continued evolution of IP-based television services, as the company has claimed in a statement. As viewing habits and technology requirements continue to evolve, Sunrise is working on strengthening its streaming capabilities for live and linear TV. Broadpeak’s Multicast ABR is one of the technologies used to support efficient and resilient IP-based delivery, alongside other delivery models that keep the platform flexible and under Sunrise’s control. Additionally, this flexibility allows Sunrise to integrate selected third-party technologies into its TV ecosystem as requirements evolve. Bridge Technologies’ VB330 is designed to probide visibility into IP-based TV delivery and support Sunrise engineering teams in validating and operating services across multicast and unicast delivery paths. “For Sunrise, the value lies in maintaining operational insight and flexibility across the TV platform. Monitoring supports informed decisions, stable service delivery and efficient troubleshooting, while the overall architecture, service design and roadmap remain under Sunrise’s control”, explains Fabrizio Campanale, VP NW Operations & TV & InHome Engineering at Sunrise. 

NEWS

SMPTE names 32 individuals and organizations as its 2026 honorees Gala on Thursday, Nov. 19, at the conclusion of the 2026 SMPTE Media Technology Summit at the Pasadena Convention Center, as the association has claimed in a statement.

SMPTE has revealed its 2026 Honorees, recognizing individuals and organizations whose contributions have advanced media technology and the entertainment industry. The honors will be presented at the annual SMPTE Awards

This year, 32 individuals and organizations will be recognized across 13 SMPTE honors. Among them is the Society’s highest distinction, Honorary Membership, recognizing individuals who have performed eminent service in the advancement of engineering in motion pictures, television, or the allied arts and sciences.

Past recipients include Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, George Lucas and James Cameron. “I want to congratulate all of this year’s honorees”, shares Renard T. Jenkins, Fellows Committee Chair and SMPTE Past President. “Their dedication to SMPTE and to our industry is an inspiration, and their contributions have had a lasting impact on media technology and the people it serves. We are proud to recognize their achievements”.  Access the full list of honorees through this link.

Olympic Broadcasting Services to receive IBC2026 International Honour for Excellence IBC has announced that its most prestigious honour, the International Honour for Excellence (IHFE), will be presented to Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), recognising the company’s innovation in live sports production and its impact on the global broadcast industry, as IBC has claimed in a statement. Additionally, it has unveiled the winners of Best Technical Paper award, recognising research into reducing interaction barriers for older viewers of internet-delivered TV.

IBC2026 will bring the global media, entertainment and technology community together at the RAI Amsterdam from 11–14 September, welcoming industry players from more than 170 countries.

technologies and next-generation storytelling, OBS has been working on the way audiences experience the Olympic Games. 

International Honour for Excellence This year, the IHFE highlights OBS’s impact on live sports production and broadcasting. Through developments in ultra-high-definition production, immersive audio, remote production workflows, artificial intelligence, cloud-based

©Olympic Broadcasting Services, photo by Owen Hammond.

NEWS

Bolin Technology and ITDev join AIMS amid growing adoption of IPMX and ST 2110

Honor brings ARRI Image Science to smartphones with new Robot Phone

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced that ITDev and Bolin Technology have joined the organization as its newest members. The additions bring a PTZ camera and AV-over-IP hardware manufacturer and a FPGA design and IP licensing specialist into the alliance, as AIMS has claimed in a statement. This expansion looks forward to further broadening the range of expertise represented among AIMS members as adoption of IPMX and SMPTE ST 2110-based standards continues to expand across broadcast and Pro AV. “Both Bolin Technology and ITDev each bring a different, valuable perspective to AIMS”, affirms Andrew Starks, Director of Product Marketing, Macnica Broadcast & Pro AV; Board Member and Marketing Work Group Chair, AIMS. “ITDev’s FPGA design expertise supports the engineering work behind IPMX, while Bolin’s experience building PTZ cameras for broadcast and live production gives us a direct line into how these standards perform in the field. Adding their perspectives helps us keep IPMX grounded in real deployment needs as adoption continues to grow”. 

Honor has launched a new species of smartphone integrating key elements of ARRI Image Science and carrying the “co-engineered with ARRI” designation. The Robot Phone is the first commercial outcome of the companies’ Cinematic Imaging Partnership and is designed to bring ARRI’s imaging expertise into mobile content creation, as the company has claimed in a statement. The Robot Phone combines Honor’s mobile imaging, AI, and robotic camera technologies with ARRI LogC3, ARRI Wide Gamut 3, and ARRI Looks. Its Titanium Agile Gimbal looks forward to supporting stabilized movement, subject tracking, and hands-free operation, while the ARRI technologies intent to provide a consistent foundation for image capture and creative finishing. “The Honor Robot Phone is an important milestone in ARRI’s expansion into Content Creation”, affirms David Bermbach, Chief Product Officer of ARRI. “Together with Honor, we are translating ARRI’s perspective on image quality, color, and visual storytelling into a new category. This gives more creators access to greater creative control and a stronger connection between capture and postproduction”. ARRI Image Science ARRI Image Science has been developed to shape how a camera renders light, color, contrast, highlights, and shadows. Adapting selected elements for a mobile device required a dedicated implementation for smaller sensors, compact optics, integrated processing, and real-time computational demands. 

NEWS

HbbTV unveils jury for its 2026 Awards ahead of Barcelona ceremony The HbbTV Association has unveiled the jury for the ninth HbbTV Awards 2026. The winners will receive their recognition on 18 November 2026 at a gala ceremony where all finalists are invited to attend, as the association has claimed in a statement. The event will be held during the 14th HbbTV Symposium and Awards in Barcelona, jointly hosted by the HbbTV Association and 3Cat, Catalonia’s public media corporation.

The jury members are: › Rafael Bermúdez, 3Cat. ›O phélie Boucaud, Dataxis. › I va Dohnálková, TV Nova. ›L aura Gordon, Everyone TV. ›V incent Grivet, HbbTV Association. ›K laus Merkel, rbb/ARD. ›A ngelo Pettazzi, Consultant. ›A nnamaria Recchia, Eutelsat. “This year’s jury brings together, as usual, highly respected

executives and experts whose knowledge spans the full breadth of the connected TV industry. The variety of companies they represent underlines the broad usage and acceptance of HbbTV across many different market areas”, shares Vincent Grivet, Chair of the HbbTV Association. 

NEWS

InfoComm Latin America 2026 will feature six AV experiences in its second edition

InfoComm Latin America is moving towards its second edition, which will take place from Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 October 2026 at the World Trade Center International Exhibition and Convention Center in Mexico City. As the event approaches its opening, several major developments have been announced, including six audiovisual experiences designed to bring technology to life for visitors, as AVIXA has claimed in a statement.

This year’s edition will feature new exhibitors, as well as a line-up of manufacturers offering technical training sessions and guided tours of the exhibition floor. Registration is free and available to both visitors and members of the media.

Throughout the event, visitors will be able to explore six experiences specifically designed to demonstrate how audio, video, lighting, content and connectivity can be integrated to transform a space and create memorable experiences.

the companies taking part in the event. Their collaboration allows us to showcase real-world applications of audiovisual technology in everyday settings, in ways that spark curiosity and open up new possibilities for visitors to the exhibition. This is one of the objectives of InfoComm events: for visitors to understand, experience and discover the potential of technology to transform spaces and experiences,” says Rodrigo Casassus Coke, CTS, Senior Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at AVIXA. 

“The experiences we will present are made possible by the commitment and creativity of

Access a detailed description of each audiovisual experience through this link.

Six experiences

Riedel Communications announces leadership changes with new CEO and CCO Riedel Communications is strengthening its leadership and global go-to-market structure effective Jan. 1, 2027. The new company’s CEO will be Lutz Rathmann, who assumes overall responsibility for the Product Division and Managed Technology Division, as Riedel has claimed in a statement. At the same time, Anthony Zuyderhoff will take on the role of Chief Commercial

Officer (CCO), leading the company’s newly unified global go-to-market organization. Jan Eveleens, currently CEO of the Product Division, will retire at the end of 2026 following a long career in the broadcast industry. The new setup aims to bring the Product Division and Managed Technology Division into closer alignment. Both divisions will

retain their respective teams, expertise, and market focus while collaborating more closely across the business. Additionally, Riedel will connect its customer-facing sales, service, support, and marketing functions through a shared go-to-market leadership, with the intention of creating a more coordinated and consistent approach to customers and partners. 

Left to Right: Lutz Rathmann and Anthony Zuyderhoff.

NEWS

OPINION | TELOS ALLIANCE

COSTA NIKOLS

Interoperability and observability: the next step in software-defined production

By Costa Nikols, Executive-Team Strategy Advisor, Media & Entertainment, Telos Alliance For over 10 years, broadcasters have been moving infrastructure into software. Routers, mixers, multiviewers, and even control rooms can now run virtually. But in many cases, media still moves between applications as though it were using the same old discrete, hardwired paths. Audio, video, and metadata are repeatedly packaged, transported, unpacked, and re-timed. That creates overhead, latency, and a very un-cloud-like bottleneck. We believe that the Media eXchange Layer, or MXL, can help unclog that traffic jam. MXL allows software applications to share media directly in a common memory environment, instead of treating every handoff as a separate event. In practical terms, that can mean less latency, less compute overhead, and more freedom to build workflows from more compact modular applications. MXL also gets us closer to another long-sought goal: interoperability. Cloud production is only truly useful when different applications can work together without forcing broadcasters into a proprietary ecosystem. MXL offers a vendor-neutral way for tools to share media inside the software environment, while familiar standards such as ST 2110, NDI, and SDI continue to handle ingest, playout, and connectivity where they make sense. That also means adoption can be gradual. Broadcasters can start with

processing, captioning, QC, multiviewing, AI analysis, or other workflows where tighter integration offers a clear benefit. But there is another part of this conversation that deserves just as much attention: observability. As production systems become more disaggregated, dynamic, and softwaredefined, the number of individual media and data flows grows quickly. At some point, no operator can simply look at the system and understand what is happening. We need visibility into whether media essence is intact and correctly timed, whether services and containers are healthy, and whether networks are introducing latency or other problems. That makes observability more than just an IT concern. It becomes part of the broadcast operational model. Media, platform, and IT observability need to work together for cloud-native production to scale without becoming fragile. Interoperability gets applications talking to one another; observability tells us whether the resulting system is actually doing what we expect. MXL, therefore, is not just about moving media more efficiently. It is part of a broader shift toward interoperable, observable production environments that can scale while remaining understandable and manageable. For broadcasters, that combination matters because flexibility is only useful when it comes with confidence. That is the conversation worth watching as MXL moves from concept toward real-world deployment. 

OPINION | AGILETV

JOSÉ GOZALBO

TV’s next evolution: from platform to ecosystem

By José Gozalbo, AgileTV CPTO Television is no longer defined by the set-top box, the channel guide or even the app. As streaming, connected devices, aggregation and personalized services reshape the market, the modern TV platform is becoming something broader: a service-based media ecosystem that brings technology, content, data and operations together.

At the same time, the operational side needs to evolve. Centralized observability, device management, real-time dashboards and intelligent metadata enrichment can bring previously disconnected processes into a single control environment. AI can take this further, supporting issue detection, triage and resolution rather than existing as another isolated layer on top of the operation.

The shift reflects a simple reality. Delivering a competitive TV service today requires far more than deploying a platform. Operators must manage increasingly fragmented device fleets, multiple content sources, metadata, recommendation engines, user experiences, observability and AI-driven capabilities. Each component may come from a different supplier, creating an operational model that can become as complex as the technology itself.

For operators, that has a direct commercial impact. If the complexity of the TV ecosystem is consolidated and managed through a single operational and technology layer, growth no longer needs to be matched by a proportional increase in internal teams, suppliers or platform overhead.

The next stage is therefore not simply about adding more features. It is about creating a unified layer through which the entire TV operation can be managed. A modern TV ecosystem should allow operators to deliver a consistent, intelligent experience across screens while removing much of the operational burden behind it. Personalized recommendations, advanced discovery and editorial tools, and richer sports experiences can make the viewer journey more relevant without requiring operators to build every capability themselves.

This is the direction AgileTV sees the market moving towards: TV as a fully managed service rather than a collection of technologies to be assembled and maintained. By taking responsibility for the complexity behind the experience, operators can spend less time managing the platform and more time building customer relationships and pursuing growth. The future of television will not be defined by how many systems an operator can connect. It will be defined by how effectively those systems work together. See this approach in action at IBC 2026. AgileTV will be showcasing its vision for a unified, intelligent TV ecosystem at Booth 5.D72, Hall 5, from 11–14 September in Amsterdam.

BROADCASTERS

Belgium’s VRT innovation strategy:

turning experimentation into real-world value

VRT

VRT Innovation Manager Dieter Boen outlines TM BROADCAST the broadcaster’s technology roadmap, exploring its approach to AI, data and virtual production, the role of collaboration and a public service mission that ultimately guides its innovation priorities By Daniel Esparza

All images in this article are courtesy of VRT.

BROADCASTERS

For VRT, innovation begins outside the laboratory. Belgium’s Flemish public broadcaster has developed an approach based on testing emerging technologies with real content and real audiences, while building an ecosystem of collaboration with start-ups, universities and industry partners. From virtual production and gaming platforms to AI, data and conversational interfaces, the goal is not simply to experiment with new tools, but to understand where they can deliver tangible value.

Throughout this year, TM BROADCAST has been exploring the technology roadmaps of broadcasters across Europe and beyond, from the BBC and RTVE to CBC/Radio-Canada. As part of this wider editorial initiative, we now turn our attention to VRT, a mid-sized public broadcaster whose approach to innovation offers a particularly interesting perspective. To explore its roadmap, we reached out to Dieter Boen, VRT’s Innovation Manager, who helps us unpack the philosophy behind

its strategy and how it translates into practice. Dieter Boen sums up VRT’s philosophy on innovation in direct terms: “No pain no gain. The only way to truly innovate is to test things in real life. In our case: this means with real content and a real audience. Lab tests work for early development, but you need to get out of the lab as quickly as possible. Only then, you can understand the real value of a new idea by seeing how the audience responds to it.”

VRT

Innovation through collaboration This approach increasingly requires VRT to look beyond its own organisation. As technologies become more complex and their development demands greater scale, collaboration has become an essential component of the broadcaster’s innovation strategy.

“A good collaboration entails understanding what other project partners want to get out of a project and helping them get there. When a project involves multiple partners, local as well as international, it can get very complicated. At the same time, there’s no alternative. Technologies like virtual production and AI require a scale that lies beyond what VRT or Flanders can achieve

alone. That is why strong cooperation with start-ups, universities, and industry partners is absolutely essential.” AI currently cuts across much of this activity. Its potential extends from production to distribution and the way audiences interact with content. “AI affects everything. Generative AI offers major opportunities in video

BROADCASTERS

production. At the same time, conversational interfaces are rapidly transforming how news is distributed and how users interact with it.” Dieter Boen also identifies data as another fundamental pillar. “Without proper data management, none of these new services will work. That’s also why collaboration is crucial - not just for scale, but because developments are moving so fast that you simply cannot do everything yourself. For example, we have a strong partnership with IMEC and other media organisations on AI.”

From virtual production to Roblox Some of VRT’s current developments have their origins in experiments carried out several years ago. Virtual production is perhaps the clearest example of how an initial technological exploration can eventually translate into new production capabilities — and even open the door to entirely different ways of reaching audiences. “Experiments with game engines that took place during COVID led to numerous virtual

productions using Unreal Engine, and the investment in a studio with a 270° LED wall,” VRT’s Innovation Manager explains.

“Game productions seem unconventional for a public broadcaster, but if we want to reach everyone, we also need to be present on platforms where kids spend their time”

“ Workflows around data, AI and innovation have recently been brought together into a single directorate at VRT. But integrating data into workflows remains a major challenge” But the knowledge accumulated through these experiments has travelled beyond the virtual

VRT

studio itself. The same expertise has subsequently been applied to gaming environments as VRT explores new ways of connecting its content and intellectual property with younger audiences. “What’s particularly interesting is how that knowledge evolved. The same team applied it in a completely different context: reaching young audiences on game platforms like Roblox.

BROADCASTERS

We have built a very successful presence there with our own IP, creating real content and storylines that extend our TV shows into those environments.” The virtual studio itself has also moved beyond the experimental stage. Since its launch in 2023, it has become part of VRT’s regular production infrastructure. Once the technical challenges were overcome, the next challenge was operational: making the technology work naturally within everyday broadcast workflows.

“In our virtual studio, we run daily live shows since its launch in 2023. After solving the technical challenges, the real work was integrating it into everyday broadcast operations. Now that this is in place, we are taking the next step: using technology creatively within our programmes.” AI, however, presents a different challenge because its impact cannot be confined to a single production environment or department. “AI is different and not limited to one aspect of our organisation. We implement AI in every part of our

organisation and provide training on all aspects of media.”

Public service as a compass With so many technologies developing simultaneously, deciding where to focus resources becomes an innovation challenge in itself. At VRT, Boen points to the broadcaster’s public service mission as the principle guiding those decisions. “Our choices are driven by our public service mission. For example: game productions seem unconventional for a public broadcaster, but if we want to reach everyone, we also

VRT

need to be present on platforms where kids spend their time. A logical choice, in the end.” That same reasoning informs the broadcaster’s approach to AI and its relationship with external production partners. “AI is something we need to embrace, because it fundamentally changes production and consumption patterns.

For a lot of productions, we partner with innovative facilities companies. Some genres, especially scripted series, we do not produce ourselves anymore.”

Data becomes a strategic asset The growing importance of AI is also increasing the pressure on broadcasters to organise and exploit their data effectively.

BROADCASTERS

“ We have also strengthened our research department into a data-driven media intelligence unit. Real-time data is essential to make the right choices and to reach audiences in a more personalised way ” “ We have to be ready for a world where content is not but actively engaged with through dialogue. In that context, there’s only one option: you have to join the conversation”

At VRT, workflows related to data, AI and innovation have recently been brought under a single directorate. Yet one longstanding challenge for media organisations remains particularly significant: metadata. “Workflows around data, AI and innovation have recently been brought together into a single directorate at VRT. But integrating data into workflows remains a major challenge, particularly metadata is a well-known issue in media organisations. With AI, solving this becomes critical: without high-quality metadata, content simply won’t be visible.”

Data is also influencing decisions much earlier in the content lifecycle. Alongside the organisational changes, VRT has strengthened its research capabilities to support a more data-driven approach to understanding audiences and commissioning content. “At the same time, we have also strengthened our research department into a data-driven media intelligence unit. Today, you can no longer rely on gut feeling alone when commissioning content. Real-time data is essential to make the right choices and to reach audiences in a more personalised way.”

VRT

Preparing content for a conversational future For Boen, however, the most significant challenge ahead goes beyond achieving immediate efficiency gains through AI. The longer-term transformation concerns the nature of content itself and how it will need to be structured for an

environment increasingly shaped by machines and conversational interfaces. “It is important to go for short-term wins with AI. More important is preparing for the next form of content, which is machine-readable and designed for conversational interfaces. We have to be ready for a world where content is not only consumed, but actively

engaged with through dialogue. In that context, there’s only one option: you have to join the conversation.” 

ADVERTORIAL

NETGEAR ALIGN CONTROLLER

Fromstandardstooperational reality: making

broadcast IPwork at every scale Broadcast's transition from SDI to IP is no longer a standards debate. SMPTE's ST 2110, AES67 and precision timing have established the foundations. The next phase is operational: how broadcasters deploy, manage and expand multi-vendor IP environments without adding fragility, specialist overhead or unnecessary cost That is the challenge NETGEAR AV will address at IBC 2026, with demonstrations spanning management, switching and ecosystem interoperability. Open standards create choice; proven implementations turn that choice into a dependable production environment. Management moves above the switch Making its European debut at IBC, the NETGEAR Align Controller (GB406) represents a significant shift in how broadcast networks are operated. Rather than treating each switch and appliance

as a separate task, Align provides an affordable, open management layer above the switching infrastructure. The platform brings network management, grandmaster and boundary clock timing, network services and cloud connectivity together into a single purpose-built system, replacing what would otherwise take several separate boxes. Consolidating that work into one platform saves configuration time, rack space and power, and cuts potential points of failure. In live production, less complexity means less risk.

Align hosts NETGEAR Engage, NETGEAR's network management software for AV environments, and supports third-party applications, so its role can expand as production workflows change. Broadcasters should not have to replace a management architecture every time they add a new workflow, vendor or facility. Support for AES67, PTPv2, SMPTE ST 2110 and gPTP AVB is designed to protect existing investments while letting different media environments run on shared infrastructure. A common platform can reduce dedicated appliances, simplify support and give engineering teams a consistent operational view. With skilled broadcast and network engineers in short supply, infrastructure that is easier to understand and automate is a practical route to scale.

ZERO DENSITY

Switching for the broadcast edge and the core NETGEAR will also showcase two additions to its M4350 managed switch portfolio, addressing different points in the production network. The M4350-16M4V is built for mobile and live production, where equipment must tolerate frequent deployment and physical handling. It combines ruggedized Neutrik locking connectors with 2.5G PoE++ access and modular high-speed uplinks, supporting devices at the production edge while providing the uplink capacity to move media reliably into the wider network. At the other end of the architecture, the M4350-16C provides 16 ports of 100G connectivity for demanding aggregation and core applications. As facilities carry more uncompressed video, higher resolutions and a growing volume of control and management traffic, core capacity cannot become the constraint. Planned enhancements to NETGEAR Engage and the M4350 platform will add greater timing resilience, multiple PTP domains and Layer 3 multicast routing - the capabilities needed to build larger IP facilities while limiting the number of separate timing, routing and management devices. Fewer boxes means fewer failure

points, simpler support and a more defensible total cost of ownership. Interoperability has to leave the datasheet In addition to visiting NETGEAR’s booth 8.A59, stop by Qvest’s Dynamic Media Facility Showcase to see how M4350 infrastructure can simplify broadcast operations. By carrying uncompressed ST 2110 media alongside control, orchestration, and management traffic over a shared fabric, customers can reduce complexity, streamline management, and scale their workflows with confidence. Broadcast IP is inherently an ecosystem proposition. No broadcaster buys a network in isolation; it has to work with cameras, gateways, production tools, orchestration platforms and monitoring systems from multiple suppliers. The Qvest implementation shows open, software-defined production as a working multi-vendor environment, not a reference architecture confined to a diagram. NETGEAR's collaboration with EVS makes the same point from a different angle. The companies have validated EVS Cerebrum, Neuron and Strada across NETGEAR's M4350, M4500 and M4250 portfolio. Pretested configurations give production teams a more predictable starting point for timing, quality of service

and bandwidth performance, shortening testing cycles and giving support teams a clearer path to fault isolation. The next phase of broadcast IP The industry has spent years proving IP can replace dedicated SDI infrastructure. The next phase is making IP easier to operate than the systems it replaces. That requires management across the network rather than device by device, switching designed for both production edges and high-capacity cores, and interoperability demonstrated under realistic workloads. It also requires vendors to recognize that broadcasters need freedom of choice without becoming the integration laboratory themselves. NETGEAR AV's message at IBC 2026 is therefore pragmatic. Standards remain essential, but standards compliance alone does not guarantee a resilient production system. Broadcasters need tested combinations, predictable timing and simpler operations. The next generation of broadcast infrastructure has to remove deployment friction and prove its place in an open ecosystem. Visit NETGEAR AV at IBC 2026, stand 8.A59 for a live demo. More information: www.netgear.com/av 

SHOWS

Next stop:

IBC2026

PRE-IBC 2026

As every year, the audiovisual sector already has its next destination booked: Amsterdam. The IBC trade show dedicated to the industry is counting down to opening the doors of the RAI in the Dutch city. From 11 to 14 September 2026, the venue will bring together the global media, entertainment and technology communities from more than 170 countries.

From 11 to 14 September 2026, RAI Amsterdam will bring together the global media, entertainment and technology communities from more than 170 countries By Bárbara Ausín

Last year, IBC 2025 wrapped up with 43,858 visitors from 170 countries and more than 1,300 exhibitors, with 600+ speakers. For this edition, the event anticipates the attendance of over 45,000 media and tech professionals — plus more than 1,200 exhibitors across an exhibition floor set to exceed 45,000 sqm. Spanning across 14 halls, the show will spotlight advances in areas such as AI, cloud-native workflows, content provenance, cyber security, immersive experiences, private 5G, sustainability and nextgeneration production tools. Each is organized by specific product sector, as follows: > Halls 1, 2 and 3: Delivery – Distribution, Satellite, Displays & Screens, Post Production. 

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> Hall 5: Content Everywhere – Monetisation & Ad Tech, Data Infrastructure & Cloud Services, OTT & Streaming, Sports Streaming Technology, Esports & Gaming, Cyber Security, Telecommunications. > Halls 6 and 7: Delivery – Post Production, Virtual Production. > Hall 8: Multi Technologies – Production, Management, Audio, Visual, Transmission, Esports/Gaming, Film & Cinema. > Halls 9 and 10: Production – Production, Video Services.

> Halls 11, 12 and 13: Multi Technologies – Production, Management, Audio, Visual, Transmission, Esports/ Gaming, Film & Cinema. > Hall 14: Future Tech – Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Esports/Gaming, Prosumer Tech, Creator Economy, Virtual Production. > Outdoor Exhibitors – Dedicated outdoor exhibition space. For this edition, the free-to-attend IBC Showcase Theatre returns to Hall 3, where it will host talks and panels on

the latest innovations shaping the media and entertainment industry. Also, Content Everywhere will be concentrated exclusively in Hall 5 this year. The dedicated hub for OTT, streaming and monetisation technologies will bring together close to 200 exhibitors and two dedicated stages of free-to-attend sessions. Finally, for those looking to unwind or network away from the show floor, the IBC Beach — a waterside complex next to the RAI including a restaurant, the IBC Pub and the Jetty Bar — will remain open throughout the show.

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Future Tech and other novelties The Future Tech (Hall 14) returns after its debut in 2025. This year, the show is expanding its new strategic partnership with EIT Culture & Creativity to include Future Tech Ignite, which will host talks, panels, showcases and pitch sessions covering the major forces changing the industry. The hall will be 30% larger and will feature new additions, such as a Start-Up Zone featuring 30–40 emerging companies and a wider skills and development programme including the IBC Talent Programme, with new research from IBC and Women in Streaming Media, Hackfest and creator initiatives. Now in its third year, the IBC Talent Programme will anchor much of the skills agenda, and Future Tech Ignite is expected to connect more than 50 start-ups and emerging technology companies with the wider IBC community over its four-day run.

The final day of the show will be dedicated to students, closing with a session in which they share their views on the industry’s most pressing issues. Hall 14 will also house a dedicated Podcast Studio, reinforcing Future Tech’s push toward more interactive, creator-focused formats. Additionally, it will once again be home to the IBC Accelerator Media Innovation Programme, where broadcasters, streamers, technology providers and research partners collaborate on fast-track innovation projects addressing pressing, practical industry challenges. Other novelties introduced to IBC2026 include IBC Exchange, a new layer of structured, peer-led conversations enabling deeper, more focused knowledge sharing – hosted in the Braindate Lounge in Future Tech; and IBC Connect, a curated meetings programme designed to connect exhibitors with senior decision-makers and drive tangible commercial outcomes.

IBC 2026 Conference The show’s programme will feature demonstrations, presentations, panels and networking events exploring the forces reshaping media and entertainment. From 11–13 September, the three-day IBC2026 Conference is built around IBC’s core themes of Shifting Business Models, Transformative Tech and People & Purpose, addressing how media companies can adapt, compete and create new opportunities. The different sessions will bring together professionals from broadcasting, streaming, sport, news, social media, advertising and technology, with focus on AI in practice, audience behaviour, sports transformation, trust and provenance and new commercial models. The Conference will also include the IBC Technical Papers Programme, showcasing peer-reviewed research with its scope expanded this year to include technical policy. To try to answer the question

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‘what direction should our technology take for our business?’ sessions will cover AI Production, Coding, Trust & Provenance, XR & Multiview, The Future of TV Distribution, Dynamic Media Facility developments, AI Indexing, and more. Additionally, the IBC Owner & Partner Programme, at IBC Owner Pavilion, will deliver free-to-attend sessions from the show owners and partners, covering a vast range of topics from the latest industry standards and strategies for business transformation, to defining future networks and building new sustainable broadcast infrastructures.

IBC 2026 Innovation Awards To round off four days of innovation, technology and discussions, the Innovation Awards will announce the winners of this edition. The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 13 September at 6:00 p.m. on the main stage of the IBC Conference at the RAI Amsterdam.

This year’s shortlist was drawn from more than 120 projects submitted for consideration across the four categories. Alongside the category winners, the same ceremony will present the IBC2026 International Honour for Excellence — the show’s most prestigious award — to Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), recognising its decades of innovation in live sports production and its wider impact on the global broadcast industry. The winners for Best Technical Paper will also be awarded at the event. These are: Emma Maier, Jodie Pearton, Anna Stewart, Arina Mnatsakanyan and Jonathan Freeman, of i2 media research, for their work ‘Measuring and reducing interaction barriers in internetdelivered TV systems through age-informed human factors design’ Covering four categories – Content Creation, Content Distribution, Content Everywhere and Social Impact – the awards celebrate projects that

show how collaboration between media organisations and technology partners is delivering innovation in production, distribution, audience experiences and societal impact. The finalists are: > Content Creation: “How Collective Newsroom powers BBC India”, working with the BBC and nxtedition, supported by Adobe, Blackmagic Design, Calrec, Ideal Systems and Ross Video; “Media eXchange Layer (MXL)”, by the European Broadcasting Union in collaboration with the North American Broadcasters Association, hosted by the Linux Foundation; and “Formula E Strategy Agent” , developed with Google Cloud and with Aurora Media Worldwide’s technical support. > Content Distribution: “Capacity that follows the live news story”, from Reuters, powered by TVU Networks’ MediaMesh and including partner integrations: InSync, Kinetiq, Sony, Elecard

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and TAG Video Systems; “Transforming broadcast distribution in Malaysia”, for Radio Televisyen Malaysia, developed with Ideal Systems, and Blue Lucy Media, Emotion Systems, and Fortinet as technical supporters; “Server-guided ad insertion at scale”, RTBF Belgium’s migration to standards-based SGAI, launched for the FIFA World Cup with Bitmovin’s Player, AIP’s AdBlendr, HLS interstitials and

SVTA2053, with technical support from Dotscreen, Red Bee Media and Régie Média Belge. > Content Everywhere: “Implementation of DTV+ in Brazil”, Globo in collaboration across government, broadcasters and industry, “The connected fan experience”, the Premier League Companion powered by Copilot, with Microsoft, and Beyond Sport as technical partner; and

“Tilly Norwood (and the Tillyverse)”, created by Particle 6. > Social Impact: “AI for Good”, established by the International Telecommunication Union; “IOC Cyber Abuse Protection Service (CAPS)”, for the Olympic Games, with Signify AI as technical supporter; and “Closing the sign language gap”, G&L Systemhaus brought together Signapse, Norsk/id3as and CDN provider Akamai. 

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Key highlights of

IBC:

essential guide to new products

Below, we present a selection of the main innovations that exhibitors will showcase at the upcoming IBC Show, listed alphabetically by brand for ease of reading. With the aim of providing a varied list that serves as a useful guide for event attendees, we have included booth established companies and smaller firms whose portfolios have sparked the interest of our editorial team 36

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AEQ AEQ will bring its latest Systel Max, the new talk-show, multi-conference and external coordination system for radio, television and corporate environments. The solution is designed to try to significantly reduce communication costs, improve audio quality, and increase flexibility and integration with each broadcaster’s or company’s existing telephone system. Booth: 8.C55

AgileTV AgileTV will focus on AI-driven recommendations and content discovery, sports features such as highlights and key moments, centralized observability and device management, AI-assisted metadata and issue detection, and multi-CDN orchestration and content protection. The company will also present managed video solutions for hotels and hospitals. Booth: 5.D72

AIMS The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) and the Video Services Forum (VSF) will present the IP Showcase on the Water, a free, one-day event featuring seven sessions on topics including Dynamic Media Facilities, AI and cloud, cyber

resilience, IPMX and open control. AIMS and VSF will also sponsor The Green Line to IBC2026, connecting London’s St. Pancras Station with Amsterdam Centraal. Booth: IP Showcase on the Water – Strandzuid, RAI Amsterdam

AJA AJA will present FS8, a new SDI/SMPTE ST 2110 media processor to deliver consistent, frame-synced HDR and SDR pictures from mixed sources, and OG-FiDO-4, a new line of openGear-compatible cards offering four channels of conversion between 12G-/3G-SDI and fiber. Booth: 7.B25

Appear Appear will debut the ECx400, a new compression module for the X10 and X20 Platforms that supports JPEG XS, AVC and HEVC over IP and SDI. Among other highlights, the company will expand its VX Platform with new software capabilities aimed at simplifying ground-to-cloud connectivity and hybrid production, while the compact X5 Platform will add JPEG XS support and native Dolby AC-4 and Atmos audio. Booth: 1.C61

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Arkona

Avid

Arkona technologies will showcase BLADE// planner, a visual configuration environment for designing and deploying softwaredefined broadcast workflows. The platform allows offline system configuration through a graphical interface while retaining access to the full capabilities and parameter-level control of BLADE//runner.

Avid will unveil its latest innovations focused on transforming production to help media organizations unite content, agentic workflows, and business insights. Highlights include Avid Content Core, MediaCentral, Wolftech News, new asset management capabilities, agentic editing experiences across Media Composer, and the latest Pro Tools innovations for audio post-production.

Booth: 8.A69

Atomos

Booth: 7.B59

BCE BCE will demonstrate an end-to-end sovereign cloud media supply chain, focusing on Media-as-a-Service across cloud, hybrid and on-premises environments. The company will cover workflows spanning ingest, processing, orchestration, distribution and monitoring, alongside the use of European cloud infrastructure from Scaleway and media processing from Ateme. SUMO PRO-19 – 19″ 4K MONITOR-RECORDER-SWITCHER

Atomos will bring its latest Ninja monitorrecorders, Shinobi field monitors, the Sumo PRO-19 and Shogun AV-19 production systems, A-Eye PTZ cameras and controllers, StudioSonic audio solutions, and ATOMOSphere cloud workflows. Additionally, a dedicated NDI demonstration area will show how Atomos products integrate into IP-based production workflows. Booth: 7.B19

Booth: 1.C16

Beam Dynamics Making its IBC debut, Beam Dynamics will present its Asset and License Intelligence Platform. Asset Intelligence combines firmware, warranty, end-oflife and manufacturer data with location tracking, scheduling and ticketing, while the new License Intelligence module manages software licenses, support contracts

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and renewals — tracking costs, owners and key dates, with alerts and vulnerability tracking included. Booth: 14.FT29

Beamr Beamr will bring a live workflow combining NVIDIA Video Super Resolution with its content-adaptive bitrate encoding to upscale HD feeds to 4K within existing production and delivery chains. The workflow runs on NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs and can be deployed in cloud or onpremises environments, with Beamr VISTA used to assess the resulting image quality.

Content Protection Suite. The company will also present AI-assisted capabilities for piracy detection, automated 9:16 reframing, live multilingual captioning and highlight creation, alongside its cloud media and managed services. Booth: 5.A63

BirdDog

Booth: 1.D22 XL ULTRA

BeckTV BeckTV will debut BeckFlow in the European market. BeckFlow is the first web-based schematic documentation platform designed and developed specifically for the media and entertainment technology industry by a systems integrator. It is designed to automatically generate broadcast facility drawings from structured engineering data, including wire and equipment lists.

BirdDog will offer its latest developments in AI, remote production and professional imaging, including the Bindi AI agent embedded in its cameras and Embedded Connect for remote workflows. The stand will also feature the XL Ultra and O4 PTZ cameras, alongside Wingman, PLAY Pro, X-Series, MAKI Ultra, KBD Controller and 4K NDI converters. Booth: 7.B51

Booth: 10.F53

Big Blue Marble Big Blue Marble will showcase its cloud and broadcast streaming portfolio, including Cloud Video Kit, TV as a Service and its

Blackmagic Blackmagic Design will cover several key topics at the event, including IP and live production, particularly ST 2110 and 100G workflows; the growing convergence

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between film and live production; Fairlight Live, both its software and dedicated hardware; large-format, 65 mm and immersive production; and DaVinci Resolve 21 and the use of its new tools in real-world workflows. Booth: 7.C49

Brainstorm Brainstorm will make its Suite 7 EMEA debut, focused on virtual production, AR and XR workflows. Other highlights from the stand will be: Aston, the company’s real-time 3D motion graphics platform; Neuron, its graphics control system, the layer that connects the graphics pipeline to the newsroom; and Edison ecosystem, designed to bring broadcast-grade real-time 3D graphics to presenters who are not working in a broadcast environment. Booth: 7.A15

Bridge Technologies Bridge Technologies will present a new feature option for its VB330 and VB220 compressed monitoring probes: the ability to play out transport stream (TS) files across IP networks. The new functionality aims to transform the probes from passive monitoring tools into an expansive broadcast asset - allowing broadcasters to fulfil a full range of regulatory and compliance activities. Booth: 1.A71

Broadcast Electronics Broadcast Electronics will showcase its product lineup designed to meet the evolving demands of radio broadcasters. The centerpiece will be the AMX Series AM transmitter, the first AM broadcast transmitter built on SiCore technology. The stand will also feature the STX 1k compact FM transmitter; AudioVAULT AV-xI for broadcast automation; CloudVAULT, the cloud-based architecture layer within AV-xI; and TRE+, a solution for visual radio and metadata management. Booth: 8.A84

Broadcast Solutions Broadcast Solutions will bring three outside broadcast units to its outdoor stand: a mobile edge production unit based on Grass Valley AMPP, a 20-camera UHD OB truck with Dolby Atmos, and an ERR radio OB van. Also on display: the meshTECH wireless system, Egripment camera support equipment and Studio Automated’s AI-powered production software. Inside the RAI, BFE Studio and Media Systeme will present studio, production and control room solutions. Booth: 8.B60 and 12.F20, and in the outside exhibit area at O.A03

Canon Canon will introduce its latest innovations in broadcast, live production, and content creation. These include a range of Box,

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ENG and Cinema lenses, the company’s large format and PTZ product offering, and the latest in Canon’s EOS R camera and lens technology, from full frame cinema cameras to mirrorless cameras and hybrid lenses, among others.

the FreeSpeak Icon and 4-Channel HelixNet beltpacks. Virtual intercom solutions such as Gen-IC, Agent-IC and Station-IC will also be on display.

Booth: 11.C41

Dalet

Chyron To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Chyron will offer live demonstrations of new tools designed to help news organizations work faster, modernize intelligently, and extend content across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. The company highlights: Prime HTML, Prime Translate, Chyron Live, Camio + Luci, Unreal Engine + VSAR integration, AXIS News, Weather + VSAR and Chyron Toolbox. Booth: 7.A23

Clear-Com

Booth: 10.D29

Dalet will present new innovations across Dalet Flex, Dalet Pyramid and Dalia help media organizations transform production and content supply chains with intelligent automation and enterprise workflows built for speed, scale and trust. The company will also participate in the IBC2026 Accelerator Media Innovation Programme, collaborating with Middle East Broadcasting Company (MBC), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and others on ‘AI for Live Sports and Beyond: Rewiring Live Media via Agentic AI Orchestration and “meCast”’. Booth: Hall 7, Stand 7.A43

DHD

FREESPEAK ICON BELTPACK

Clear-Com will showcase its intercom solutions for broadcast production, including the FreeSpeak Cell beltpack, with LTE and 5G connectivity. The stand will also feature updates to Avalon, Arcadia Central Station and Eclipse HX, alongside

DHD.audio has chosen the event as the launch venue for what the company defines as “one of the most radical advances in the company’s 30 year history”. The new console, designed to support the evolution in production workflows exemplified by the EBU’s Dynamic Media Facility initiative, will remain under wraps until the first day of the show. Booth: 8.B46

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Elements Elements will introduce its new MCP connector, designed to enable AI agents such as Claude and ChatGPT to work directly with the platform. The company will also demonstrate how production data captured on set can flow into Elements Media Library and remain accessible throughout post-production, including a workflow with Eagle Studio and its Eagle Slate for immersive productions. Booth: 7B45

ENCO ENCO will bring its latest developments in captioning, translation, AI production, automation and virtual production. Highlights include the enCaption Sierra platform, the European debut of the enSpeak real-time voice translation solution, and new AI tools including an automated video highlights solution, SPOTai, SPECai and aiTrack. The stand will also feature the DAD and A-LIST automation systems, VDESK for visual radio and video production, and the latest Qimera virtual production developments. Booth: 7.A34

Evergent Evergent will showcase its Agentic Revenue Orchestration Platform, designed to turn subscriber data into real-time revenue

intelligence. It will highlight AI-powered retention tools, intelligent product configuration and context-aware customer support, aiming to help streaming services, sports leagues and pay-TV operators reduce churn, optimize revenue and personalise subscriber experiences. Booth: 5.A86

EVS EVS will bring its latest live production technologies, including the debut of its T-Motion robotics portfolio and a first look at a software-defined replay server for LiveCeption. Other highlights: LSM-VIA, Xeebra with AI-powered Deblur and tracking, VIA MAP with Match Moments, Cerebrum orchestration, the Flexible Control Room solution, and the next-gen Neuron media processing platform. Booth: 7.B11

Flanders Scientific Flanders Scientific will unveil the latest additions to its GaiaColor platform and XMP C Series. The new GaiaColor Analyzer features display analysis, verification, and reporting tools, complementing GaiaColor AutoCal to provide an end-to-end calibration and validation workflow. Also on display, the XMP C Series delivers UHD HDR monitoring for control rooms, flypacks, and OB trucks. Booth: 7.A21

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FOR-A

Grass Valley

FOR-A will offer its latest production solutions, including the first demonstration of comprehensive PTZ camera control for its software-based MixBoard switcher as a key highlight. The company will also present viztrick AiDi for real-time AI-assisted content creation, the FA-1616 software-defined video processor and Hi-RDS hierarchical registration and discovery system, alongside new additions to its MFR and HVS-Q12 Hanabi families.

Grass Valley will present new capabilities across routing, modular processing, orchestration and monitoring, including: the Altair 12G-SDI router, the new ACE-3901-IO and ACE-3901-GRID gateway applications, enhanced XIP-3911 hybrid SDI and SMPTE ST 2110 processing, AMPP Orchestration across SDI, ST 2110, MXL and distributed resources, and Kaleido-IP X for monitoring across software-based workflows.

Booth: 2.B53

Fujifilm Fujifilm will show its range of Fujinon lenses, including the Duvo series, designed to represent the series’ two-faceted nature with both Cinema and Broadcast characteristics. Alongside this, the stand will also feature the new large-format GFX Eterna 55 digital film-making camera. Booth: 12.B20

GatesAir GatesAir will introduce its next-generation Maxiva XTK software-defined exciter. Designed to support broadcasters across worldwide digital transmission standards, the solution combines enhanced signal processing power, advanced Transport over IP (TSoIP) capabilities and software-defined flexibility to simplify digital broadcasting today while preparing networks for tomorrow’s transmission technologies. Booth: 8.B75

Booth: 9.A01

Hiltron Hiltron will showcase its latest satellite ground station technologies, including the new HACUX-IDU2 17-inch touchscreen antenna control unit, making its IBC debut. The company will also present the new HCS4 modular system controller and HACU antenna control unit, alongside the HMAM-XY motorised antenna mount, designed for high-precision tracking of LEO and MEO satellites. Booth: 1.A37

Humans Not Robots Humans Not Robots (HNR) will showcase developments in observability for technology and AI operations, alongside its sponsorship of The Green Line. Highlights include the HNR to ZERO platform, EcoFlow X and sustainable streaming demonstrations

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with Accedo, Channel 4 and ITV, as well as the 5G-EMERGE live testbed with the EBU and ESA at Stand 10.D21. Booth: EBU, stand 10.D21 / Merapar, stand 5.D73 / EcoFlow X conference session, room E105

Ikegami

VFE-P711AD VIEWFINDER

Ikegami will introduce the latest additions to its UNICAM range, including a new variable neutral density filter function for the UHK-X700 and UHK-X750 cameras and two new viewfinders, the VFE-P07D and VFE-P711AD. The company will also demonstrate its UNICAM XE camera systems, UHL remote cameras, camera controllers and broadcast monitors.

video side: Magellan Control System MCP, AI-Augmented Playout Management, and MCP-enabled dashboarding, observability and Imagine Monitoring Solution (IMS). Booth: 1.B73

Kiloview Kiloview will focus on demonstrating how Hybrid AV-over-IP brings field contribution, control, management and production together in a connected workflow. Highlights at the stand will include a 4RU production system combining P Series wireless bonding encoders, KiloLink Station Pro, AVX24-4 Media HUB and Cradle Series RF02, as well as an early look at NDI 6.4 and new applications for professional IP video in UC meetings and live streaming. Booth: 7.A47

Lawo

EDGE ONE

Booth: 12.A31

Imagine Communications Imagine Communications will present AI capabilities across its ad tech and video infrastructure portfolios. Ad tech highlights include the Landmark Sales AI Assistant, Landmark Sales MCP for AI-powered Total TV Trading, Landmark Sales AI Dashboards and AI-assisted channel scheduling. On the

Lawo will present new additions to the HOME ecosystem, the European premiere of Edge One, the latest software releases for the mc² production console family and Power Core, and a live implementation of Lawo’s Dynamic Media Facility (DMF) approach. Booth: 8.B90

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Leader-Phabrix

Matrox Video

Leader will bring its test and measurement portfolio for SDI, IP and hybrid workflows, including the LeaderPhabrix LPX500 for 100G IP and 12G-SDI monitoring, the ZEN-W Series for hybrid IP/SDI and 4K/UHD monitoring, and the LT4670 sync pulse generator and LT4448 changeover. The stand will also feature PHABRIX QxL, QxP and Sx TAG IP analysis tools, as well as the LV5350 and LV7300 for SDR/HDR camera shading and production.

Matrox Video will highlight solutions for remote production and contribution, production monitoring, signal conversion, media transport and IP KVM, alongside Matrox ORIGIN, its asynchronous media framework for software-defined production supporting the Media eXchange Layer (MXL) and the Distributed Media Fabric (DMF) vision.

Booth: 10.C01

Booth: 7.B15

LiveU

Mediagenix

LiveU will showcase its LU900Q production unit, featuring AI-assisted connectivity and support for multi-camera HD/4K workflows. Other highlights include the TX1 cameramounted unit developed with Sony, the Nexus gateway and LiveU Studio for cloud production, as well as workflow automation through LiveU Ingest and the latest capabilities of Actus X.

Mediagenix will showcase its vision for the Real-Time Media Enterprise, combining Semantic Intelligence and agentic workflows to connect content strategy, title management, scheduling and personalisation. Other features include: AI-powered recommendations and semantic search, context- and performance-based scheduling, intelligent content curation, and agentic tools for research, metadata, rights validation and planning with human oversight.

Booth: 7.C24

Manifold Manifold will focus on EasyIP, a turnkey solution developed with Arkona to simplify the transition from SDI to IP, with support for hard-key router panels and the SWP-08 protocol. The company will also highlight Cloud with support for 400GE COTS FPGA accelerator cards, aimed at increasing processing density for live production. Booth: 8.A69

Booth: 1.B57

Mediaproxy Mediaproxy will highlight major innovations in compliance monitoring. These include the latest version of the LogServer analysis and logging platform, which now offers enhanced levels of intelligence and efficiency

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for live broadcast through AI, and the debut of Monwall Web, a browser-based version of Mediaproxy’s software-defined Monwall multiviewer. Booth: 5.D74

Netgear

Panasonic Panasonic will offer Smart Live Production solutions consisting of PTZ and system cameras, camcorders, the Kairos IT/IP platform, switchers and robotic solutions that are widely used for Broadcast, live event capture, sports production, and XR studios. Booth: Rooms G102, G103 & G104

Pebble ALIGN CONTROLLER (GB406)

Netgear Enterprise will introduce the Align Controller in its first live European appearance, alongside its certified profiles for 45 AV and broadcast protocols and the M4350 and M4250 switching portfolios. The stand will also preview upcoming features including MLAG, multi-PTP boundary clock support and Layer 3 IGMP multicast routing through Netgear Engage. Booth: 8.A59

Novelsat

Pebble will attend the event to discuss how to introduce greater flexibility without compromising the reliability, security and control required by playout operations. Topics will include virtualisation and cloud-based playout, AI-assisted operations, future media infrastructure and emerging standards such as JT-DMF and NMOS, and protecting existing investments while building for the future. Booth: 8.C58

PlayBox Neo

Among other solutions, Novelsat will exhibit: Fusion, its broadcast and delivery platform; Xstream, the multi-purpose video gateway; Xstream One, an integrated receiver decoder; Ncrypt, BISS-CA content protection; Xprime, its 5G video delivery solution; and Xnet, a satellite video hub for occasional use networks.

PlayBox Neo will present new developments across its media playout and automation platform, including role-based user management, Active Directory integration via LDAP, a new streaming multiviewer UI and expanded EditShare support. Other updates are SMPTE ST 2110 and ST 2022-7 support through the AJA KONA IP25 card, enhanced ingest workflows, Input Time Delay, and physical and virtual GPI support.

Booth: 1.C20

Booth: 7.C29

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Proton Proton Camera Innovations GmbH will debut its latest miniature broadcast camera, designed to bring full image stabilisation to the company’s ecosystem. The Proton IS delivers crisp 1080p60 footage in 10-bit quality and incorporates Proton’s Vega broadcast-grade shading. The camera fits into any SDI transmitter system, with full remote control available via RS485, and features an integrated stereo microphone with embedded audio. Booth: 10.F21

Riedel Riedel’s Live Production Experience will take visitors through all key stages of live production, from capture with ARRI cameras to signal transport, production, replay, audio, monitoring, control and communications. The company will demonstrate how SimplyLive Production Suite Flex, MediorNet, SAME and hi human interface integrate within a single connected ecosystem.

the company will pair broadcast-grade LED solutions with scalable displays engineered for fixed environments. Booth: 1.D29

SAPEC Celebrating its 50th anniversary, SAPEC will showcase its latest innovations: Laguna, its video contribution, distribution and processing platform; Sivac-One, for audiovisual service management and transport; Gredos, satellite, terrestrial and IP reception and decoding; Video-MOS, for QoE/QoS monitoring; the Corner Cam, integrated into the corner flag with two remotely controlled cameras; Univiso, UHD backpacks with 5G connectivity; and Acromove, private 5G networks for flexible, low-latency deployment. Booth: 1.A91

Sennheiser

Booth: 10.A31

ROE Visual ROE Visual will delve into how advanced LED technology seamlessly integrates into complex Virtual Production (VP), Extended Reality (XR), and fixed corporate workflows. Rather than treating broadcast and fixed installations as two separate worlds,

SPECTERA SKM

The Sennheiser Group will bring its latest audio technologies, including the new Spectera SKM handheld microphone, Spectera Base Station ZMAN and Spectera Command functionality, alongside SoundBase’s Remote View tool and the new Sennheiser HD 480 PRO closed-back studio headphones.

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The stand will also feature new Neumann studio monitors and microphone capsule heads, with interoperability demonstrations across SMPTE ST 2110, Dante, NMOS and Lawo HOME. Booth: 8.D50

SMPTE SMPTE’s programme will focus on providing practical guidance on AI, open-source media workflows, cloud infrastructure and other technologies shaping the future of content creation and delivery. The organization will present four free-to-attend sessions within the Partner Programme and two in-depth professional education workshops, with paid registration required. It will also sponsor The Green Line and, in partnership with Evertz, host a drinks and networking event. Booth: IBC2026 Owner Pavilion / RAI Hall 8 Lobby / Stand 7.P14

Tedial Tedial will showcase how AI can be applied across the entire Media Supply Chain through its smartWork platform. The company will feature MCP, AI Semantic Search, a new Media Portal and composable NoCode smartPacks for News, Sports, Social and Localization, alongside 180+ integrations and more than 300 connected systems. Booth: 1.C64

Telestream Telestream will explore the Vantage Ecosystem, Measurement Portfolio and UP Platform, including Practical AI, Global Ingest, IP production monitoring, precision timing and composable media services. The company will also present its latest AI-powered workflow automation and content-aware media processing solutions. Booth: 7.B21

Sony

Telos Alliance

Sony will exhibit recent launches, including the FX5 Cinema Line camera, RIALTO 65 — expanding VENICE 2 to 65mm format — and the SRG-AS10 PTZ auto-framing camera, with new developments to be announced. Other highlights include the HDC-R Series system cameras, spatial content production solutions Ocellus V2 and XYN, and Cinematic Live’s colour-matched Cinema Line and HDC cameras.

Telos Alliance will present new products and technology designed for TV, streaming, and radio. The stand will offer two European product debuts (Omnia XII FM + HD/DAB Radio Audio Processor and Axia Pulsar Compact AoIP Mixing Console) as well as major updates and additions across intercom, live production audio, and file-based audio workflow tools.

Booths: 13.A10, 13.D201, 2.G111

Booth: 8.D37

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Teradek Teradek will offer the latest releases from its family of brands: Anton/Bauer, Litepanels, SmallHD, Teradek, and Wooden Camera, among others. The stand will include new products, preview upcoming technology, and the possibility to connect directly with its sales and product teams to discuss workflow, ask questions, and get an inside look at what’s coming next. Booth: 13.A05

Unified Streaming Unified Streaming will introduce Trusted Media, a solution that adds verifiable C2PA provenance information to live, on-demand, and virtual channel streams during content preparation. Integrated into its Origin and Packager technology, it enables broadcasters and streaming platforms to include publisher identity, source attribution and AI disclosures without rebuilding existing workflows, while allowing players to validate authenticity in real time. Booth: 5.C68

Vizrt Vizrt will focus on automated workflows and personalized, platform-ready content. The stand will specially highlight the Vizrt AI Platform, showcasing its ability to deliver end-to-end live production across TV, social

and digital platforms; AI-powered graphics and automation to streamline workflows; instant multi-platform publishing without additional resources; and scalable solutions for teams of any size, anywhere. Booth: 10.A41

Wheatstone Wheatstone will demonstrate its VMX virtual mixing platform, a server-based and browser-accessible solution designed for audio mixing across studio, remote and mobile environments. The platform offers virtual consoles and mixers that can be deployed on demand, with real-time backup mirroring, AES67 compatibility and scalability from large enterprise systems to compact remote and emergency broadcast applications. Booth: 8.A51

Yospace Yospace will present its latest Ad Presentation solution, designed to support ad formats being standardised by the IAB Tech Lab’s Ad Format Hero initiative, including pause ads, overlays, squeezebacks, and L-banners. It features the company’s real-time device intelligence and works across live, VOD and FAST services, whether content is delivered using Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) or Server-Guided Ad Insertion (SGAI). Booth: 5.C78 

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how AI is transforming news design

Thegraphics orchestrator:

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From software operator to knowledge manager: reflections on the new professional profile of the broadcast graphics designer By Santiago Romero Ruiz

The broadcast industry is undergoing a tectonic shift that is completely redefining the professional profile of the news graphics designer. We are no longer talking about software operators who master a specific tool; we are talking about knowledge and resource managers, orchestrators of multiple systems that converge towards a single objective: telling stories better.

Augmented research: from document to knowledge in minutes Before opening Photoshop or After Effects, the work of a news graphics designer now begins with deep research tools that would have seemed like science fiction just two years ago. Platforms such as Google NotebookLM, ChatGPT Deep Research and Perplexity make it possible

to digest 500-page technical reports, analyse historical economic data series or research a complex geopolitical context in a matter of minutes. For the graphics preparation of election coverage, for example, the system can be fed constitutions, historical precedents, polling analyses and demographic projections, producing within minutes a structured synthesis that would previously have required full days of reading and note-taking. This capacity for absorption and synthesis does not replace editorial judgement or visual creativity, but it greatly expands the knowledge base on which graphic proposals are built. A better-informed infographic designer produces infographics that are more accurate, richer in context and more useful to the viewer.

Instant prototyping: from idea to asset in hours In the visual asset generation phase, the paradigm has shifted from manually building polygons towards the use of comprehensive assistedcreation suites. Platforms such as Freepik, Krea and Higgsfield make it possible to explore dozens of visual directions in the time previously spent developing just one. Prototyping has accelerated exponentially.

A legitimate concern across the industry is the potential aesthetic convergence resulting from the widespread use of the same generative tools The revolution in Gaussian Splatting and volumetric reconstruction techniques deserves particular attention. Tools such as WorldLabs, Meshy and Tripo AI can generate photorealistic 3D objects

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and complete volumetric spaces from a simple reference image or even a text description. This makes it possible to populate virtual sets with detailed elements in hours rather than weeks, and create objects for compositions in minutes rather than days. Experience accumulated with the latest generation of generative image models, such as Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image), FLUX 2 Max and Seedream 4.5, validates their use for initial composition and the rapid exploration of visual concepts. They are extraordinary tools for sketching, searching for references and communicating ideas to directors and news directors. However, the final polish, coherent integration into a broadcaster’s official visual identity and the fine-tuning of details that only a trained eye can detect still require the expert hand of a professional and the precise control of traditional software. AI does not finalise; it proposes. And that distinction is fundamental.

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The risk of homogenisation: when we all drink from the same well A legitimate concern across the industry is the potential aesthetic convergence resulting from the widespread use of the same generative tools. If graphics designers at every broadcaster use the same models to generate backgrounds, textures and visual elements, will they end up producing indistinguishable graphics?

Will broadcasters lose their distinctive visual identities? The risk exists and should not be underestimated. Generative models have inherent aesthetic biases, preferences learned from their training data that manifest themselves as recognisable visual tendencies: certain types of lighting, dominant colour palettes and recurring composition styles. An attentive observer can already identify a certain uniformity in AI-generated

content circulating on social media and video platforms. But the solution is not to reject these tools, but to master them sufficiently to transcend their defaults. A broadcaster’s visual identity does not reside in the textures generated by one model or the backgrounds produced by another; it resides in the editorial decisions that select, combine, modify and contextualise these elements within a coherent and distinctive visual language.

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The graphics orchestrator is not a prompt operator who accepts the first result; they are a discerning curator who knows what to ask for, how to refine it and when to discard it.

The new workflow and video synthesis The graphics designer of 2026 coordinates conversational research, volumetric 3D generation and real-time composition (Vizrt/Ross). In the field of video, the arrival in March

2026 of updates such as Kling 3.0 Omni (with its multi-shot storyboard) and ByteDance Seedance 2.0 (introducing multimodal Director Mode) has redefined standards for temporal consistency and character control. At the same time, giants such as Google are consolidating tools such as Veo 3.1, optimised for the coveted native vertical 4K upscaling. OpenAI, after retiring the first version of Sora in the middle of the month, is now steering Sora 2 towards native conversational integrations within the ChatGPT interface. All these tools can now synthesise photorealistic clips with previously unimaginable narrative coherence, facilitating the creation of background assets and dynamic transitions. This new role requires new skills: advanced prompting, editorial judgement to filter aesthetic biases and the technical ability to integrate these synthetic signals into SDI or ST 2110 workflows. AI does not replace traditional animation in After Effects or Cinema

4D for critical branding elements, but it frees the designer from manually creating “filler” or secondary assets, allowing them to focus on the brand’s visual coherence.

The graphics orchestrator is not a prompt operator who accepts the first result; they are a discerning curator who knows what to ask for, how to refine it and when to discard it Paradoxically, it also requires a healthy dose of professional humility: knowing when AI adds real value and when it simply gets in the way or introduces unnecessary complexity. Not every task benefits from automation; not every visual problem has a generative solution. Experienced professionals know how to choose the right tool for each situation, including the option of not using AI at all when the traditional approach is more efficient. In 2026, mastery

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lies in knowing how to combine the algorithmic with the handcrafted without the seams showing.

Autonomous agents: the next frontier of agentic automation The latest frontier we are beginning to cross is the arrival of agentic automation. We are no longer talking about simple tools that respond to a prompt, but autonomous agents such as Manus, Google Antigravity and N8N that can take care of tedious and repetitive tasks: adapting a graphic to ten different social media formats, performing automated technical quality control on assets before ingest, or even coordinating real-time data updates between the newsroom and graphics servers.

The graphics designer of 2026 coordinates conversational research, volumetric 3D generation and real-time composition (Vizrt/Ross)

The graphics orchestrator supervises these agents, defines their ethical and technical boundaries, and validates their results. It is a step beyond assisted design: it is about managing digital collaborators that handle the “carpentry” of design so that the human can focus on narrative architecture.

What does not change: storytelling remains the fundamental goal Despite this entire technological revolution, the fundamental goal of the news graphics designer remains exactly the same as it was thirty years ago: to tell stories better, make the complex understandable, visualise the abstract and contextualise the immediate for an audience that demands rigour and clarity. Artificial intelligence has freed us from much of the technical

bureaucracy that consumed time and energy, but it does not and cannot replace the ability to translate complex information into accessible and accurate visual narratives.

The latest frontier we are beginning to cross is the arrival of agentic automation. We are no longer talking about simple tools that respond to a prompt, but autonomous agents that can take care of tedious and repetitive tasks The future of news graphics will not be automated; it will be orchestrated. And the baton, more than ever, must remain in the hands of professionals who understand both the infinite possibilities of technology and the ethical and aesthetic demands

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of journalistic practice. AI amplifies the capabilities of the graphics designer, but it is the human being who decides which stories deserve to be told and how to tell them so that they have an impact on society. In 2026, broadcast design is more powerful than ever because, for the first time, technology is truly at the service of the idea, rather than the other way around. 

Sources and references: Newman, N. (2025). Digital Trends Report. Reuters Institute https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-newsreport Google. (2025). NotebookLM & Gemini 3 Pro Technical Documentation https://notebooklm.google/ Davies, R. T. (2025). AI in Broadcasting. BBC Corporate Blog https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2023/ generative-ai-at-the-bbc

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