This is an article that I have written after IBC2025 and our IET Media Technical Network sessions in Amsterdam. This was published in APB+ Publisher in Singapore in my monthly article. I thought of sharing those articles in EngX for members to access.
Before diving into preparations for IBC 2025, it is worth revisiting what IBC, the International Broadcasting Convention, is. Indeed, IBC is an independent body owned by six leading professional bodies in the broadcast and media industry: the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the International Trade Association for Broadcast and Media (IABM), the Royal Television Society (RTS), the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).
The theme for IBC 2025 is “Shaping the future”, with a series of key themes and featured sessions. According to the organisers, IBC 2025 will bring together the global media, entertainment, and technology community to shape the future of the industry. Spanning 14 dedicated halls, the exhibition will showcase ground-breaking innovations from the world’s leading providers. Each hall is organised by a product sector to help attendees navigate, compare, and discover the solutions that matter most.
Delegates at the IBC 2025 Conference can experience the future of media through a three-day programme designed with innovation and insight. The conference will deliver big ideas and bold thinking, covering transformative technologies, evolving business models, and the people shaping tomorrow’s media landscape.
Paid delegates will enjoy exclusive access to keynotes, panels, and cutting-edge research, along with opportunities to connect with industry decision-makers in the dedicated Delegate Lounge and curated networking events.
At several flagship events across the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), the use of AI has taken centre stage. For the first time, the Asia Media Summit (AMS), organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), live-captioned its two-day plenary sessions with the support of AI-Media. Of the seven pre-summit workshops, three explored how AI is transforming different aspects of broadcast and media operations. In addition, AIBD continued its leadership in sustainability initiatives, with two plenary sessions dedicated to this vital topic.
While these technological solutions can certainly deliver operational efficiencies, broadcasters and media operators must carefully assess their limitations and total cost of ownership. AI, for instance, can play a valuable role in verifying the authenticity of content, particularly in news. At the same time, however, it is important to acknowledge that some of the very advances driving AI have also fuelled the rise of fake news.
A news chatbot may not yet be practical for every broadcaster in the APAC region, given challenges such as diverse languages and cultural contexts, limited availability of quality data and models tailored to national needs, the continued presence of skilled and affordable newscasters, and the high cost of computing.
Nevertheless, IBC 2025 will showcase Chatbot NEO, a pioneering news chatbot, with its accompanying paper recognised as the Best Technical Paper Award winner at this year’s conference.
The team which created Chatbot NEO — Alexis Alleman, Sebastian Noir and HEIG-VD-Professor Andrei Popescu-Belis — describes the recognition as an incredible achievement. Development of NEO began shortly after the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, but the system has since been significantly refined through extensive improvements shaped by feedback from journalists and end-users. This feedback proved critical in fine-tuning NEO to better meet real-world newsroom needs.
A presentation on NEO and its development will take place at the IBC 2025 Conference on September 13 at 1.30pm CEST. Visitors can also experience NEO firsthand at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) stand 10.D21.
IBC 2025 will feature a comprehensive line-up of innovative programmes, including the IBC Technical Papers and the IBC Talent Programme. These initiatives are designed to reflect the evolving landscape of media and entertainment while helping to shape the future of technology through collaboration and education.
Sustainability remains a key focus for the APAC broadcast and media industry, which has been actively exploring ways to reduce environmental impact, carbon footprint, and contributions to climate change.
In 2022, AIBD led discussions and initiatives that built capacity, raised awareness, and educated the wider community across the region. At IBC 2025, sustainability will again be highlighted, with sessions on the Greening of Streaming continuing conversations similar to those held at AIBD’s Asia Media Summit in Siem Reap in July 2025. AIBD is a supporting organisation of IBC 2025.
At IBC 2025, exhibitors and attendees from across the globe will showcase and explore solutions to the industry’s biggest challenges. For companies aiming to lead the next chapter of media and entertainment, the show features 14 dedicated halls, each organised by product sectors and bringing together the world’s leading technology providers. This thoughtful layout makes it easier for attendees to navigate, compare offerings, and quickly find the products that matter most.
IBC owners and partners, including IET and IEEE-BTS, have organised themselves and will present a variety of sessions and tracks at the event.
As an owner of IBC, the IET’s Media Technical Network (MTN) has organised five MTN-IET sessions over three days at this year’s IBC, centred on the key theme of “The Global Impact and Importance of Television”. Each session explores one of five sub-themes:
(i) Sub-theme: Business, Authenticity, Verification, Ethics
Title: A Perfect Storm — From Peak TV to Peak Transformation
Transformation is underway, with broadcast moving to IP and along with it, both traditional and emerging business models are under pressure. Rising production demands, programming shifts, and concerns around misrepresentation are reshaping how audiences are reached, turning analogue dollars into digital cents.
But does this translate to sustainable revenue, controlled operating costs, and ethical, engaging experiences for viewers? The future may be uncertain, but what matters today is delivering better experiences than yesterday, understanding each member’s audience needs, and meeting them effectively. Join MTN of IET at IBC 2025 to explore the future of TV entertainment.
(ii) Sub-theme: Citizen Communication in a Crisis as the World Order Changes
The days when citizens instinctively turned to radio or television at the first sign of an emergency are fading. Today, the first alerts often surface on social media platforms that may not always provide accurate or timely information.
As broadcasters migrate services to internet delivery and governments collaborate with mobile providers on emergency messaging, this session will examine the evolution of crisis communication: its history, the current landscape, and the roadmap for future development.
The MTN of IET has convened a panel of European experts spanning broadcasting, service provision, and government to share insights on what the next few years may hold, and considering current geopolitical tensions, whether existing plans should be adapted or accelerated.
(iii) Sub-theme: Video Quality
Title: Vision: From 15 Lines to 4320 — The Evolution of the Visual Experience
Since the inception of practical TV services, there has been a continuous drive to enhance the visual experience – from early technology demonstrations and the launch of regular services to the introduction of colour, the analogue-to-digital transition, HD, and now the widespread availability of Ultra HD (UHD).
This session brings together representatives from the Ultra HD Forum, UHD Alliance, 8K Association, and others to discuss what visual quality truly means and where it is headed in the future.
(iv) Sub-theme: Production and Distribution Transformation
Title: Teck Timewarp: Reflecting on the Past and Facing Towards the Future of Production and Distribution
This session examines emerging trends straight from those at the forefront of technological change, nurturing conversations for the next century of broadcast, as well as reflecting and appreciating its rich history.
(v) Sub-theme: Global TV Services Transformation
Title: Global TV – Service Evolution
The evolution of TV is happening worldwide, from countries transitioning to IP streaming to those still moving away from analogue. This panel discussion, which I will be moderating, will provide a review and analysis of ongoing developments in TV services globally, highlighting the profound positive impact and the challenges TV has posed to society. This free-to-attend session, which will take place on September 14 at Room E105 from 10am to 10.45am CEST, provides insights into what the future of TV services may hold.
The IEEE-BTS has organised a dedicated session, The Future Media Townhall, which will take place on Saturday, 13 September. This session will focus on the latest developments and implementation of connected media applications from both technological and commercial perspectives. The event will feature presentations and a roundtable discussion, bringing together industry experts to share insights and explore current opportunities and challenges. The event is organised by Dr Peter Siebert of IEEE-BTS, Jordi Joan Giménez of 5G-MAG (Media Action Group).
The Future of Broadcast Television (FOBTV) technical committee meeting at IBC 2025 will focus on the evolution of broadcast television technologies. I will be attending the meeting as a representative of AIBD.
As usual, IBC will feature an industry update from the IABM’s Technology Roadmap and State of the Industry reports. Covering topics from platform evolution and creative innovation to AI disruption and immersive storytelling, the conference offers a compelling mix of insight, provocation, and practical strategies. According to IBC organisers, this three-day programme provides a unique opportunity to decode, discuss, and design the future of media.
The IBC 2025 Conference highlights the defining shifts in media across platforms, people, and technology.
2025 key themes and featured sessions include:
- CTO Roundtable
- Platform Collaboration
- Redefining Sports Content
- Empowering Creativity through Innovation
- The Evolution of AI
- What’s Next for Streaming?
- MovieLabs: Leading the Vision
- Innovation in Sports Broadcasting
The IBC Conference will discuss the latest trends in content creation, distribution, and monetisation, examining how these shifts are shaping the future of media.
With disruption now the New Normal, the industry is transforming at breakneck speed. Broadcasters must fundamentally rethink how they create, deliver, and monetise content in an era where viewing habits evolve as quickly as the technology enabling them.
As of IBC 2025, broadcasting must handle streaming at scale to millions of viewers concurrently, leverage AI claiming to drive efficiency and innovation, and adapt to shifting ecosystems, collaborations, and value chains, all with no sign of slowing down.
IBC Future Tech in Hall 14 will bring the future of media and entertainment to life. This brand-new destination is designed for trailblazers, tech enthusiasts, and creatives eager to get hands-on with innovations reshaping the industry — from AI, 5G and Ad Tech to blockchain and sustainable innovation.
IBC Accelerators is a unique programme connecting media organisations and tech providers to tackle real-world industry challenges, with project outcomes showcasing live on the show floor.
Do join IBC 2025 and experience first-hand how to navigate the changing broadcast and media landscape — for your organisation and the APAC region.
By Amal Punchihewa - member of the IET Media Technical Network Committee
Links:
In sight: Opportunity to peer into the future of media and technology at IBC 2025 - APB+ News