Highlights from IBC 2025: Where Media’s Future Took Shape
IBC 2025 returned to the RAI Amsterdam this September, and it delivered — big time. With more than 43,000 attendees, 1,300+ exhibitors, and a sharp focus on the future of media tech, this year’s show wasn’t just about products; it was about possibilities.
From AI-powered workflows to cloud-native production, the energy across the halls was electric. Here’s a breakdown of the most important highlights, trends, and takeaways from four packed days at IBC.
Strong Attendance, Stronger Signals
Despite a slight dip from last year’s numbers, the show floor felt anything but quiet. Key takeaways:
43,858 visitors from over 170 countries
14 exhibition halls covering everything from streaming infrastructure to virtual production
A clear shift in tone: from survival mode to scaling mode
The industry isn’t just recovering — it’s building smarter, faster, and more flexibly.
AI Is No Longer a Feature. It’s the Foundation.
AI dominated conversations, keynotes, and demos. It wasn’t just one innovation among many — it was the connective tissue across disciplines.
Ateme showcased real-time speech-to-speech and text translation tools that promise to revolutionize global content localization.
Automated QC, ad targeting, metadata generation, and transcription tools were front and center at dozens of booths.
The takeaway? AI is now woven into the operational backbone of content creation, delivery, and monetization.
Virtual Production Steps into the Mainstream
Virtual production isn’t just for Hollywood anymore.
Brainstorm debuted Version 6.2 of its InfinitySet, with features like real-time AR overlays, multi-scene management, and virtual “talent teleportation.”
Hybrid studios — combining LED volumes, Unreal Engine, and real-world sets — were everywhere.
Expect more broadcasters and live event producers to embrace these tools, especially as cost and complexity barriers continue to fall.
Cloud, IP, and Remote Workflows Are Standard
Gone are the days when “cloud-based” meant experimental.
Zixi’s “Master Control Room in the Cloud” initiative, in partnership with the BBC and others, showed how full broadcast workflows can now live (and thrive) in the cloud.
Interoperability was a recurring theme, with vendors emphasizing modular, standards-based architecture over locked-in systems.
Media infrastructure is clearly shifting toward software-defined, scalable, and distributed models.
Sports and Live Events Are Leading the Innovation Charge
Nowhere was the future moving faster than in sports production.
Private 5G networks, real-time data overlays, and cloud-native switching tools were demonstrated in live use cases.
The IBC Accelerator Programme highlighted sports as a testing ground for next-gen production tech — and that tech is maturing rapidly.
The playbook is changing: low latency, high mobility, and field-ready workflows are becoming the new norm.
The Conference: Strategy Meets Storytelling
The IBC Conference offered clarity on where the industry is heading — and how to get there. Key topics included:
Evolving monetization models for streamers
Building future-proof technology stacks
Sustainability in broadcast and streaming
Leveraging partnerships across fragmented ecosystems
A standout session? The behind-the-scenes breakdown of Becoming Led Zeppelin, revealing how AI restoration and archive footage shaped a visually groundbreaking documentary.
Recognizing Excellence: Awards and Breakthroughs
IBC Innovation Awards honored projects that pushed creative and technical boundaries, especially in content delivery and localization.
TV Tech’s Best of Show Awards spotlighted standout products based on innovation, usability, and performance.
The IBC Talent Programme continued to emphasize diversity and next-gen leadership in media, reflecting the industry’s evolving workforce.
Top Products That Turned Heads
A few must-mention innovations from the show floor:
Appear: Ultra-low latency X5 and VX media gateways for live sports and event production.
Densitron: Intuitive control interfaces with tactile feedback for broadcast operations.
Each of these speaks to a broader shift: production tools are becoming more agile, connected, and intelligent.
Final Takeaways: What IBC 2025 Tells Us About Where We’re Headed
Here’s what stood out loud and clear:
Modularity and interoperability are essential. The era of monolithic systems is fading.
AI is infrastructure, not just a layer.
Live production is where the risk-takers are winning — especially in sports.
Cloud and IP workflows are no longer “next” — they’re now.
People matter as much as pipelines. Talent development, inclusivity, and future-focused training got real attention this year.
IBC 2025 made it clear: media and tech are no longer separate lanes. They’re part of the same superhighway — and the speed limit just got lifted.
