IBC2024 announces that 45,085 visitors from 170 countries gathered at the RAI Amsterdam from 13-16 September, bringing together the global media, entertainment and technology community to connect, showcase and discover innovations, address pressing industry challenges and explore new opportunities. In addition to attracting over 2,000 more visitors than last year, the show attracted over 1,350 exhibitors – 100 more than in 2023 – while the exhibition space reached 46,000 square metres, surpassing the previous year’s total of 44,500 square metres. In a lively show floor and packed halls, IBC2024 addressed critical trends and issues driving change in the media landscape, such as combating fake news and false information, while also introducing new features, such as the AI Tech Zone and the IBC Talent Program.
IBC continued its upward trajectory in 2024, with a strong turnout from across the IBC community, gathered in Amsterdam to explore the technological advancements and market dynamics that are redefining our industry. In a year marked by major events such as the Olympics and national elections, IBC2024 generated an overwhelmingly positive response. This year’s show addressed the growing interest in trends such as AI’s journey from theory to real-world applications, how the industry is combating misinformation in the news, and the need to foster talent and diversity in media, entertainment and technology.
Michael Crimp, IBC CEO
Other themes that took centre stage at IBC2024 included sustainability, 5G, cloud, esports, immersive experiences, OTT and streaming, adtech, metaverse, edge computing and connected technologies. Many of these themes were addressed during the three-day IBC conference, relocated to the RAI Auditorium Complex, as well as in the various exhibition halls and by many exhibitors themselves on their stands.
Several of the headline themes at IBC2024 were also at the heart of the IBC’s Media Innovation Accelerator programme, which this year included another IBC first: the AI Media Production Lab, which explores a series of projects in which some of the industry’s most inventive innovators collaborated on specific AI concepts. One of the most talked-about accelerator projects – also discussed at IBC – was ‘Design Your Weapons in the Fight Against Disinformation’, which aimed to develop an industry-wide understanding of the challenges and abuses facing all media today to help audiences identify trustworthy news and information.
The new AI Tech Zone, hosted by the EBU, welcomed a large crowd of visitors who were able to engage with leading innovators on practical applications ranging from automated video editing and music-audio separation to content provenance tracking and fast, secure cloud storage. The Zone stage then welcomed AI pioneers who shared their insights on the impact the technology will have on the future and how it is already transforming media in areas such as discoverability, fact-checking and creating immersive experiences.
Another exciting new feature of IBC2024 was the Audio Visual (AV) Buyers’ Event held the day before the show. In collaboration with the AV User Group, media technology companies attending the show were able to actively engage with leading AV buyers such as Arup, AstraZeneca, Bank of America, Barclays, Deliveroo, Direct Line Group, KPMG, Schroders, Sopra Steria, UBS and WPP.
The inaugural IBC Talent programme, which is free to attend, featured lively and engaging discussions on mentoring the industry’s next generation, recruitment challenges and the importance of diverse perspectives to drive innovation. The programme was preceded by the World Skills Café, hosted by Global Media and Entertainment Manifesto, which took place at the RAI the day before the show.
Leading global media technology brands exhibiting at IBC2024 included Arabsat, Arri, Avid, AWS, Blackmagic, BT Media, Canon, Comcast, Eutelsat, Evertz, EVS, Google, Grass Valley, Harmonic, Huawei, Imagine Communications, LG, Lawo, LTN, Mediakind, Microsoft, Nagra, Panasonic, Riedel, Ross Video, Samsung, SES, Sony, Tata Comms Media, Telestream, Zero Density, Zixi and ZTE. Over 150 new exhibitors also attended the show, including 5G Broadcast Collective, CDN Alliance, Datacamp, Eosos, Frequency Networks, Medianet Berlin, Strada, SwXch IO and Vubiquity, while Benro, Insta360, Robe, The Weather Company, Vecima and Yamaha returned to the show for the first time since 2019.
Over the past few years, IBC has gone from strength to strength, with exhibitors continuing to find new ways to get the most out of the show as we add new features and expand its scope and reach. The feedback we receive has been incredibly positive, with many seeing IBC evolve as an increasingly important incubator of media technology innovation, whilst maintaining our status as a key networking destination and source of information on new industry trends and developments.
Steve Connolly, Director of the IBC
