IBC 2025 has once again highlighted the convergence of broadcast and streaming, with 5G developments and cloud-based services among the dominant themes on the show floor. Making its debut under a new identity, Big Blue Marble is positioning itself at the centre of both trends.
The company brings together the Austrian ORS Group and its Polish streaming subsidiary INSYS Video Technologies under a single brand. “This year marks a milestone for us,” said CEO Michael Wagenhofer. “We are bringing together streaming and broadcasting into one offering under the Big Blue Marble brand.”
At IBC, the group showcased its modular, cloud-based streaming platform; key components included Cloud DRM and multi-CDN services. “It’s scalable end-to-end, but you can also pick specific components,” Wagenhofer explained.
Big Blue Marble is also active in the development of 5G broadcast. As a member of the 5G Media Action Group, the company is contributing to the 3GPP standard. On display in Amsterdam is what Wagenhofer described as a “world premiere” – the combination of DVB-T2 signals with 5G broadcast emergency warning. The innovation allows broadcasters to reuse existing infrastructure for public alerts during crises.
Looking at industry trends, Wagenhofer pointed to efficiency and partnerships as the key challenges. “Everyone must do more with fewer resources, whether personnel or money. The next step is how can I leverage cloud, how can I leverage AI,” he said. At the same time, he underlined the need for collaboration: “We will have to form partnerships in order to stay relevant in Europe.”
