Why Channel 4 is open for innovation

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

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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.

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