With conference and exhibition dates now aligned, this year’s IBC will take place from Friday 13 to Tuesday 17 September 2019, at the RAI in Amsterdam and will provide an unprecedented opportunity for attendees to enhance their understanding of a media production environment whose pace of change is continuing to accelerate.
Themed conference days, increased representation of women on stage, and a brand new esports event are among the developments that will greet visitors to this year’s IBC as organizers continue to strengthen its credentials as one of the world’s most influential media, entertainment and technology show.
In line with the multitude of creative, commercial and technical issues now influencing the development of media production, this year’s IBC conference has a different theme for each day: Friday’s is “create and produce: creating disruption;” Saturday’s is “manage: automating media supply chains;” Sunday’s is “publish; embracing the platform revolution;” Monday’s is ‘consume: engaging consumer experiences;” and Tuesday’s is “monetize: scaling audiences and revenues.”
Confirmed keynote presenters include Cécile Frot-Coutaz, head of YouTube EMEA; Arnaud de Puyfontaine, chairman of Vivendi; and Max Amordeluso, Amazon Alexa evangelist in the EU. Building on the success of last year, IBC is also bringing back the Global Gamechangers Stage, which has a special focus on the technologies and business developments expected to change the game for the media industry. Speakers on this stage are set to include Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association; Jane Turton, CEO of All3Media; and Lisa Opie, director of factual for BBC Studios.
The final day of the show, Tuesday, will play host to an innovative new event, the Esports Showcase, powered by ESL, EVS and Lagardère. Combining a series of conference sessions — which will include the participation of key players such as Ginx TV, Twitch, Riot and Blizzard, as well as developers like EA Sports — with a live demonstration of Counter-Strike featuring professional teams from ESL’s National Championships.
[Read: IBC Exhibitor Viewpoint: Charlie Gawley, Tieline]
Also new for IBC2019 is the Media-Telecom Convergence Catalyst. This collaboration between IBC and the TM Forum will see three catalyst projects on the showfloor that highlight open innovation between the telecoms and media industries. Participation from Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC R&D, RTÉ and more will show how 5G, AI and big data management can solve business and technology challenges, and improve the customer experience.
IBC2019 provides a vital annual opportunity to become acquainted with the latest media solutions, it is also a venue for serious networking and deal making. IBC is a show where business genuinely gets done and deals are signed on the show floor. It’s great for exhibitors, but good too for buyers, who have the opportunity to compare solutions from all the leading vendors around the world in one convenient showcase.
Attendees will go home equipped with shared unique insight and experience that will drive their own businesses forward in the year ahead. What visitors will experience at IBC2019 will energize and motivate them, and reveal new opportunities – for their businesses and as individuals in the year ahead.
