IBC AMSTERDAM BEGINS with BREAD AND CIRCUSES

IBC AMSTERDAM BEGINS WITH BREAD AND CIRCUSES - 13/09/2013 In what has become an annual rite of late summer, the IBC (International Broadcasting Convention) Amsterdam began yesterday morning. The opening panel was titled Bread & Circuses (& Lots of Screens): Broadcasting Sports Mega-Events and inevitably involved repeated mentions of fast-approaching 2014, which will see major events such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil , the Sochi Winter Olympics and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games bringing viewers worldwide closer than ever to the action. HBS CEO Francis Tellier was pleased to receive an invitation to join the panel.

The panel was chaired by sports journalist Ross Biddiscombe and featured, in addition to Francis, Sky Sports Executive Producer Martin Turner, EVS Executive Vice President Luc Doneux and BBC Sport Head of Interactive Ben Gallop. Each of the panellists led a brief presentation and participated in a discussion covering such topics as second screen content, the use of statistics and data, the future of 3D and the relentless advances of high definition.

Martin Turner's presentation used Formula 1 as a case study on ways for a pay TV broadcaster to maximize such a prime property, specifically by using content designed to supplement the host broadcaster's coverage. This served as an ideal lead-in to Francis' presentation, which focused on how a host broadcaster can efficiently serve all MRLs despite differences in size and priorities. HBS, a multimedia host broadcaster since the 2002 FIFA World Cup , has been producing ever more content from one event to the next, both live (Multi-Feeds) and non-live, and has long since been aware of the main issue relating to this increased coverage - that the number of hours in a day remains limited to 24.

The panellists onstage at IBC Amsterdam

Since 2006 most of HBS' content has been made available on a server for Media Rights Licensees to use as best suits their individual needs. The next major step forward in the quest for both flexibility and customization is the introduction, for the 2014 FIFA World Cup , of turnkey multimedia white label products (apps and broadband players) allowing every single MRL to join the multimedia revolution. Francis briefly introduced these new products and described the company's vision for the integration of multimedia products into its line-up of offerings.

Luc Doneux's presentation sounded a similar note, focusing on the evolution of multilateral and unilateral production at mega-events , summarising the trends as more ready to air multilateral packages and an increase in unilateral production by host broadcasters, thereby increasingly allowing MRLs to focus on "remote production" from their home studios. As for Ben Gallop, his presentation was centred on the BBC's success in "bringing the nation together" during the London Olympics last year, notably through the unprecedentedly vast deployment of multimedia assets. He explained that multimedia coverage allowed the BBC to make the moment more social, more mobile, more connected, and more personal.

The panel ended with questions from the audience. One of these questions was about the hotly debated future (and present) of 3D coverage. Martin Turner stated that, based on its audience's feedback, Sky Sports will pursue its involvement with the medium. Francis then expressed his pride in the groundbreaking 3D coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and explained that part of the problem facing 3D is one of perception - that the technology had misleadingly been presented as now and everywhere , leading to inevitable disappointment when this turned out to be inaccurate. But he reiterated his personal conviction that it remained a viable and promising method for increased viewer engagement and that, as has been the case for every modern standard (HD, 16/9, Dolby Surround Sound ), patience and persistence will be the key to achieving this engagement.

Please click here for more information on IBC Amsterdam.

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