Steve Belford, enterprise innovation architect at Channel 4, talks to TVBEurope about the broadcasters aim to be as well known for its approach to innovation as it is for its content, and its involvement in this years IBC Accelerator programme
By Jenny Priestley
Published: September 6, 2024 Updated: September 9, 2024
Steve Belford, enterprise innovation architect at Channel 4, talks to TVBEurope about the broadcaster's aim to be as well known for its approach to innovation as it is for its content, and its involvement in this year's IBC Accelerator programme
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Steve Belford, enterprise innovation architect at Channel 4, talks to TVBEurope about the broadcaster's aim to be as well known for its approach to innovation as it is for its content, and its involvement in this year's IBC Accelerator programme
https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/why-channel-4-is-open-for-innovation title=Share via Email class=share-email>
At IBC2024, UK broadcaster Channel 4 will be involved with three projects in the IBC Media Innovation Programme.
It's the first time Channel 4 has been involved with the Accelerator programme, as part of the broadcaster's aim to be as well known for its approach to innovation as it is for its content. Part of our objectives in technology within Channel Four for this year is to be seen as open for innovation, Steve Belford, enterprise innovation architect at Channel 4 tells TVBEurope.
Belford adds that Channel 4 sees the Accelerator programme as a way for it to begin to understand some of the emerging technologies within the media tech industry, and how the broadcaster can utilise them.
Steve Belford It allows us to take on some of these challenges that are kind of bite-size in nature, he continues. It's a way for us to step into working with our peers and technology partners in these kinds of smaller initiatives, which has a lesser impact on our resources. We are a public service broadcaster so we have a finite set of resources, but it allows us to gain valuable insight. It's also important for Channel 4 to be seen as a voice in the industry at such a pivotal time in terms of digital transformation.
Belford and his team attended the IBC Accelerator Kickstart Day in March when 12 projects were presented. They chose to be involved in three: AI Media Production Lab, Connect and Produce Anywhere, and Evolution of the Control Room - HTML-Based Graphics Solutions.
The Connect and Produce Anywhere project is exploring ways to remove complexity in the broadcasting and creation process, such as using low-latency connections and moving broadcast workflow into the cloud.
For us, it's a great project that allows people to make that broadcast process more creative, more flexible and also more sustainable as well, says Belford. For Channel 4, there was a real drive to get younger participation and it seemed a great opportunity for us to get our broadcast apprentices involved, and give them great exposure to areas of broadcast that maybe they wouldn't get working with Channel 4 alone, and also start looking at how they could work with peers and build networks beyond as well.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also an area that the broadcaster is paying close attention to, particularly around how it can supplement the creative process rather than replace it. We're interested in where we can use AI to support the human in the loop. [The AI Media Production Lab] is a research and development project for us to step in and start understanding the positive nature of AI in terms of the creative process.
Belford says Channel 4 is constantly having conversations with technology partners about AI solutions and has already begun working to understand how some of the tools that they're delivering into existing platforms can be used.
From a Channel 4 perspective, we're obviously focused in terms of mission and purpose in making sure that we use AI for good, he adds. We want to make sure that we're focusing on the value that those tools can represent for Channel Four, but also our wider network, in terms of their relationships with independent production companies.
We want to make sure that [vendors] are transparent, making sure we understand how the models are used and how they're created, and really digging into the elements of risk and compliance before we step into any kind of technical relationship, continues Belford. That may have put us slightly behind the curve in terms of our partners, but it's important for Channel 4 to stand next to its purpose and mission.
Europe Stories
18/12/2025
Canada's largest indoor arena has transformed its live production capabilities with a full ST 2110 infrastructure and Calrec's compact Argo S console. S...
18/12/2025
Long-term agreement includes the SES SCORE platform and hybrid distribution worldwide to deliver more than 5,000 hours of golf tournaments annually featuring th...
18/12/2025
18 Dec 2025
VEON Upgraded to Nasdaq Global Select Market, Enhancing Investor Visibility Dubai, December 18, 2025 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital o...
18/12/2025
Thursday 18 December 2025
Sky Sports remains the exclusive home of the Masters ...
18/12/2025
Using the additive process of 3D printing, layer after layer gets printed until an object is as close to the final shape needed as possible. Historically, machi...
18/12/2025
In 2025, RT proudly supported 185 arts and cultural events across the island of Ireland, reflecting significant growth since the scheme was re-launched in 2014...
18/12/2025
RT Sports Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...
18/12/2025
RT lyric fm presents a very special Winter Solstice edition of Ambient Orbit, l...
18/12/2025
At 7.45pm on 1st January 1926, the precursor to RT , then 2RN, delivered the fledgling new Irish state's first public radio transmission. From those first c...
18/12/2025
December 18 2025, 05:30 (PST) The Movie Experience SLO Becomes First U.S. Exhib...
17/12/2025
Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...
17/12/2025
The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...
17/12/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
17/12/2025
Wuppertal December 17, 2025
Riedel Builds Global Communication and Commentary ...
17/12/2025
December 17 2025, 17:00 (PST) Dolby and LG Unveil a New Era of Home Audio With ...
17/12/2025
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...
17/12/2025
RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...
17/12/2025
With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...
16/12/2025
Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...
16/12/2025
Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...
16/12/2025
2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...
16/12/2025
Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...
16/12/2025
RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December.
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...
16/12/2025
Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...
15/12/2025
Cape Town, November 13, 2025 - SES and International artist and humanitarian, Fo...
15/12/2025
Luxembourg, December 15, 2025 - SES, a leading space solutions company, and Abra Group launched fast and reliable multi-orbit inflight connectivity service on t...
15/12/2025
15 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan Delivers First Starlink Direct to Cel...
15/12/2025
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor finds himself the topic of year's cracker jokes
Oasis, David Harbour, Celebrity Traitors and Angela Rayner all feature in this y...
15/12/2025
Comscore Expands Cross-Platform Campaign Measurement to Include Audio and Social New capabilities strengthen cross-platform campaign reporting suite; CCR rebran...
15/12/2025
RT .ie has reached one billion page views this year and is on track to finish 2025 2% ahead of last year. Average time spent on the site is up 3% on 2024, with ...
12/12/2025
Last month, Spotify announced a new collaboration with the ATP Tour, the global governing body of men's professional tennis, aimed at bringing the next gene...
12/12/2025
Friday 12 December 2025
Ted is back! Seth MacFarlane's live-action comedic ...
12/12/2025
Uachtar n na h ireann, Catherine Connolly visited RT Raidi na Gaeltachta's...
12/12/2025
Ireland AM host Eric Roberts has been revealed as the sixth contestant taking to...
11/12/2025
Thomson and the Center for News, Technology and Innovation (CNTI) convened a two-day workshop in Sarajevo bringing together more than 35 journalists, editors, p...
11/12/2025
Having the right song soundtrack your moves can make all the difference when gam...
11/12/2025
It's been a big year for Taylor Swift. Her highly anticipated album The Life...
11/12/2025
11 Dec 2025
VEON's Banglalink Receives Regulatory Approval to Launch Digita...
11/12/2025
Thursday 11 December 2025
Sky Arts paints a picture of Britain's beauty as ...
11/12/2025
It's not every day we're asked to create a website for a classical musician!
So, we were delighted to help pianist Georgina Duncan as she embarks on he...
11/12/2025
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Irish golfing hero Shane Lowry...
11/12/2025
RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier ti...
11/12/2025
Sash is ready to samba as Fair City star Stephanie Kelly is revealed as the late...
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
10/12/2025
For the first time, Spotify is giving users the power to steer the algorithm. Gustav S derstr m, Spotify's Co-President, CPO, and CTO, shares the vision beh...
10/12/2025
10 Dec 2025
VEON's Rising Capital Markets Profile Strengthened by Inclusion...
10/12/2025
10 Dec 2025
VEON Recognized for JazzCash, Kyivstar and Jazz at the World Commun...
Steve Belford, enterprise innovation architect at Channel 4, talks to TVBEurope about the broadcasters aim to be as well known for its approach to innovation as it is for its content, and its involvement in this years IBC Accelerator programme
