This year, IBC2008 has proved to be a record-breaking event in visitor numbers, registrations and exhibitors. It was a show to remember with many stimulating presentations and showcases, world first demonstrations, a prestigious awards ceremony and an excellent themed conference programme, which included free sessions covering technologies such as IPTV, Mobile and Digital Signage.
Thrilled with the overall success, IBC COO Mike Crimp said, “IBC2008 has been the most successful show ever with a record attendance of 49,250. The quality of visitors and the experiences has led IBC2008 to be a very exciting and vibrant show. The feedback received from the exhibition floor was that it was buzzing. Why? Because IBC offers a compelling proposition which all comes together under one roof, proving that the show was the only place to be at this time of the year.”
The exhibition housed over 1400 exhibitors from all over the world, providing exclusive showcases, business critical content, one-to-one meetings and first-rate networking opportunities. John Holton, exhibition chairman, said, “All the research suggests that the broadcast and electronic media market is continuing to flourish, and that has certainly been borne out by the IBC exhibition. Our exhibitors are absolutely delighted, not just by the number of visitors they are seeing but because they are talking serious business. They clearly believe in IBC – before the show even opened this year there was a queue outside the office to book space for 2009.”
Highlighting the success of the conference, David Crawford, conference chairman, said, “This has been, yet again, a fantastic and truly stimulating conference. IBC has proved itself to be the definitive global forum for everyone involved in the multimedia and broadcast business.” This year’s conference keynote was presented by previous recipient of the IBC International Honour for Excellence, Dr. Leonardo Chiariglione, who examined the successes and weaknesses demonstrated by broadcasters in this age of universally available technology.
One of the hot topics this year to make its debut alongside Mobile and IPTV as a zone and Business Briefings was Digital Signage. Creating new business opportunities for broadcast technology vendors and system integrators, digital signage presented forward strategies and business models, chaired by Miya Knights, editor of Retail Technology.
The glittering IBC awards ceremony was once again a great success with honours going to projects as diverse as a multi-platform content distribution: a simple idea to save studio lighting bills and a system to bring 16 times the resolution of HD to our screens.
The IBC2008 International Honour for Excellence was awarded to Oscar® nominee and multiple award-winner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation SKG. This was the first-ever transatlantic telecast in high definition 3D to be broadcast live from Los Angeles transmitted to an audience in the IBC Big Screen Auditorium, RAI, Amsterdam.
Conducting the interview was Elizabeth Daley, Professor and Dean of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, in a session that explored Mr. Katzenberg’s view of motion picture production in the age of diverse distribution channels as well as the impact of 3D technology in theatres, in the home and across other platforms.
On receiving the IHFE award, Mr. Katzenberg said, “I am thrilled to be among the distinguished list of recipients to have received an International Honor for Excellence. At DreamWorks Animation, we aim to create and deliver quality and innovative entertainment for family audiences across the globe and I am very grateful to the IBC for acknowledging our efforts in this area. As we enter the year of 3D, I have never experienced a more dynamic and exciting time within the film industry than right now. Thank you for this honor.”
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert in 3D took the Judges’ prize. Howard Lukk, vice president of production technology, The Walt Disney Studios, said, “Special thanks really does go to IBC because it was here last year that I actually met with all those people, and after looking Quantel in the eye and saying ‘will you support me in one month to do this project,’ they stepped up to the plate and really supported us. So thank you IBC – thank you.”
This year’s Special Award was for the first international transmission of Super Hi-Vision Content. Presented on behalf of the partnership to Dr. Keiichi Kubota, director general of the Science & Technical Research Laboratories of NHK. “I know that my colleagues at the BBC, RAI and EBU will join me in thanking our industry partners – Cable & Wireless, Eutelsat, Siemens and SIS Outside Broadcasts – who are investing heavily in broadband and satellite capacity over an extended period to make this work.”
Other award winners can be found at www.ibc.org.
IBC played host to a range of companies showcasing audio and video innovations and solutions in the 1800-seat world class Big Screen. Leading suppliers such as, Red, Panasonic and Doremi demonstrated their latest developments and technology to an auditorium packed with excited visitors and exhibitors.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. International, Walden Media & New Line Cinema, the IBC Big Screen showed Journey to the Center of the Earth – in 3D, the first live action motion picture to be shot in digital 3D. It was the big screen directorial debut of Academy Award-winning visual effects veteran Eric Brevig. Eric introduced the movie and led a question and answer session after the screening; together with Richard Welsh from Dolby – who supplied the 3D presentation system.
“Taking Jules Verne’s well known novel and developing it into an up to date story with new characters, using modern technology was a tremendously exciting opportunity,” says Eric Brevig, Director. “My goal with this film was to capture the spirit of adventure, discovery and belief that anything is possible.”
The popular Training Zone also returned this year to IBC and was brought to you by Avid Technology, in association with Intel, HP and VET. The free sessions in the Training Zone proved popular throughout IBC2008 adding even more value to visitors attending the show.
IBC was pleased to welcome UK Trade Minister Lord Digby Jones. Lord Digby Jones chose IBC2008 as the venue to launch the Benelux network, a new trade initiative between the UK, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg.
IBC also welcomed Ambassador James Culbertson, the 64th Ambassador of the United States of America to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On his visit to IBC2008, Culbertson spoke at length to various exhibitors, interacted with some of the technology on display and walked around the halls to get a feel for the amazing size of IBC.
About IBC
Established in 1967, IBC has evolved from its roots in terrestrial broadcasting to become the leading event for professionals involved in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide. The exhibition attracts over 1400 exhibitors including all the major equipment suppliers. IBC draws over 49,000 attendees from more than 130 countries that visit each year to see the state-of-the-art. The world-renowned IBC conference tackles all the hot creative, management and technical issues. For full details, demographics and news visit www.ibc.org.
