Julian Clover prepares to pack his satchel and head to IBC 2009 in Amsterdam.It is that time of year when autumn is attempting to break through the remnants of what passes for the English summer, the birdsong drowned out by the sound of the telephone as people try to book appointments, the answer’s no by the way. To add to the feeling that it might just be the start of the new school year I’ll shortly be heading out to buy some new shirts.
IBC, which begins at the RAI complex in Amsterdam next Thursday (September 10) sets the scene on the year ahead, a combination of school report, curriculum setting with a bit of show & tell thrown in for good measure.
For much of the event I’ll be soaking up the knowledge in the conference halls, beginning on Thursday morning with the review of the Russian broadcasting scene in Digital Russia: Today & tomorrow, though I fear this one could be a little heavy going at times.
Immediately afterwards comes a three-way ‘keynote’ featuring David Hill, CEO, Fox Sports Television Group, Roger Mosey, Director, London 2012, BBC and Arnaud Simon, Broadcast Director, Eurosport. The combination of the panel’s experience, the London Olympics, not to mention high definition should make this one standing room only.
Also in the Clover Diary are sessions on Enabling IPTV and internet video and a review of the IPTV market as a whole, both of which feature an international cast of thousands. Digital Cinema normally sends a shudder down my spine, but the arrival of 3D should bring out additional discussion, while the launch of DVB-T2 services bring added meaning to the terrestrial broadcast sessions.
In the halls digital TV has come of age, consumers now demanding the ability to view content on a multiplatform basis, at least the vendors are demanding it on their behalf and this is the direction of travel. The whole home experience will put the same content on every screen in the house and in your pocket as well. CI Plus, will be demonstrated in some quarters as the means to extend premium content, though unsurprisingly the set-top manufacturers are not necessarily convinced. TV Widgets will also be playing hunt the business model, but don’t write them off just yet, as the user interface may take centre stage.
New launches are expected from the middleware companies as they look to keep one step, at least, and there may be the start of a new battle royal against new ‘public’ offerings.
There may be some reticence that the financial woes of the past year may impact on the show floor, and indeed conference attendance, but keep in mind that the world of cameras and studio production is at least partially removed from that of television distribution.
Further Information
- Broadband TV News IBC Special
- Follow Julian at IBC on Twitter @julianclover
