FEED Winter 2024 Web

The Winter issue of FEED is here, and it’s a very special edition at that! This issue features the debut of the FEED Honours List, our annual celebration of industry excellence. From paying tribute to pioneering women and leaders, to recognising outstanding contributions to sports broadcast and excellence in cloud, our Honours List seeks to shine a light on the cream of the broadcast and media tech crop. Elsewhere, with 2024 being the biggest year for election coverage and off the back of probably the most important elections of them all, this issue features our election coverage special. Our Genius Interview sits down with Sadie Groom, CEO of Bubble and founder of Rise – a group for women in broadcast. Plus, don’t miss our Nordics Focus and our AI segment exploring the acceleration of captioning and dubbing tools. Finally, this issue’s Xtreme goes behind the broadcast of Formula E and we conclude a year’s worth of Olympic coverage with our Paris 2024 round up.

ELECTION COVERAGE SPECIAL! feedmagazine.tv WINTER 2024

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we roll out the red carpet for INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE

FORMULA E: BROADCAST BTS

AI: DUBBING & CAPTIONING

ROUND TABLE: IP’s INFLUENCE

F EED ’s last issue of 2024 is here, and it’s a very special one at that. In case you missed the shiny gold letters on the cover, this one is all about you! Being in an industry whose very foundations are built on innovation, we knew we wanted to develop a celebratory concept that ensures those making a real impact get the recognition they deserve. Without further ado, I’m delighted to share the debut of the FEED Honours List, our new annual acknowledgement of the movers and shakers in M&E. From appreciating pioneering women and legendary leaders to celebrating excellence in cloud and outstanding contributions to sports broadcast – join us in paying homage to our Honours List class of 2024. Elsewhere is our election coverage special – and a much needed one at that! With records being broken for having the most crucial elections taking place in one year, the wave of technical advancements from broadcasters and vendors alike has been remarkable. As the world recovers from the recent pantomime of a presidential race, we reveal the technology that powers this particularly challenging mode of coverage. Grab your warmest coat and woolliest scarf for page 84, as Neal Romanek takes us up north for the first instalment of his Nordics series. In this article, he shares the moves being made in the chilly region to ensure a new generation of broadcast talent gets its start. For our AI focus feature, Katie Kasperson investigates the lucrative captioning and dubbing field of broadcast, and how entirely new revenue streams can be unlocked due to major advances in this technology. Plus, our round table pools a panel of IP aficionados who evaluate the latest trends while sharing tips and tricks for that all-important transition. In the winter edition of Xtreme , Oliver Webb rounds off our year of Olympics coverage with some final reflections on Paris 2024, highlighting key takeaways as we look ahead to LA28 in four years’ time. We also go behind the broadcast of the wildly popular Formula E, whose success can be attributed in part to the sophisticated livestreaming set-up that delivers it to a global audience. I hope you enjoy this issue and look out for FEED ’s return in spring 2025! ...FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!

EDITORIAL EDITOR Verity Butler

+44 (0)1223 492246 veritybutler@bright.uk.com SENIOR STAFF WRITER Katie Kasperson FEATURES WRITER Oliver Webb CHIEF SUB EDITOR Matthew Winney SUB EDITORS Zanna Buckland, Minhaj Zia CONTRIBUTORS Adrian Pennington, Neal Romanek ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Sam Scott-Smith +44 (0) 1223 499457 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com SALES MANAGERS Emma Stevens

+44 (0) 1223 499462 +44 (0) 7376 665779 emmastevens@bright.uk.com Gaby Pitts +44 (0) 1223 492244 +44 (0) 7792 648168 gabriellepitts@bright.uk.com

DESIGN SENIOR DESIGNER Carl Golsby

JUNIOR DESIGNER AND AD PRODUCTION Holly May MAGAZINE DESIGN MANAGER Lucy Woolcomb DESIGN MANAGER Alan Gray DESIGN DIRECTOR Andy Jenning s PUBLISHING MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck FOLLOW US linkedin.com/company/feedzine @feedzinesocial

This month’s cover illustration was created by Carl Golsby at Bright Publishing

VERITY BUTLER, EDITOR veritybutler@bright.uk.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

14 Happening: NAB New York The FEED team takes to the Big Apple, sharing all the key insights from this year’s instalment of the show 06 Newsfeed The latest scoops in media tech, featuring everything from fresh product launches to major mergers

18 Honours List 2024

Join us in celebrating the inspiring achievements of these esteemed members of the broadcast and media communities

48 Election coverage special From Maga hats to questionable dance moves, we go behind the broadcast of 2024’s biggest political moments 36 Genius Interview 64 Masterclass: IP’s influence This issue’s expert panel gather to discuss the growth of IP and its continued influence over media tech Meet Sadie Groom, CEO of a leading media- tech PR firm and founder of Rise – a group for women working in broadcast

XTREME

98 Sports Reporter

All the latest news headlines, launches and partnerships in the continually thriving sports broadcast sector

74 Captioning and dubbing Join us as we explore the explosive

108 Rounding up Paris 2024

We wrap up a year of Olympic coverage with a concluding overview of the key innovations that took place in France’s capital

enhancements in transcription and language tech – all catalysed by artificial intelligence

84 Nordics focus

116 Broadcast BTS: Formula E

Part one of our Nordics series sees us visit Norway to study Vizrt’s pioneering work in fostering a new generation of industry talent

The highest class of competition for electric racing cars, we uncover the tools behind this sustainable racing phenomenon

92 Tech talks

START-UP SNAPSHOTS

This interactive segment allows you to catch up on who FEED met at IBC earlier this year – and watch their exclusive content

46 Medialister

61 Stornaway.io

107 Eon Media

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FROM OUR PARTNERS

34 Sony 44 MPB 47 Vizrt

60 Brainstorm 62 Lawo 71 Cobalt

72 CVP 80 Qvest 90 Ross Video

103 Friend MTS 104 Zixi

106 Chyron 115 Yospace

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NEWS:

DELIVERING MAJOR STORIES IN MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY

AI everywhere

AI has been the subject on everyone’s minds lately, and now we’re finally seeing AI features being rolled out by the biggest names in M&E – including YouTube, Samsung, Prime Video and Disney. Starting with YouTube, the platform will introduce GenAI features throughout the remainder of 2024. These include Veo – six-second AI-generated video clips to use in YouTube Shorts – an Inspiration feature which feeds suggestions for video content plus AI-enhanced prompts for responding to user comments. Similarly, Samsung is adding GenAI functionality and ChatGPT to its TVs, though the specifics are still under wraps.

Next, Prime Video is beta testing its X-Ray Recaps that provide summaries of series and episodes using AI. The feature was designed to help users catch up on programmes they may have missed, eliminating the need to rewind or fast-forward. These recaps are available at any point while watching. Finally, Disney has announced an AI and mixed- reality initiative – headed by the Office of Technology Enablement – to apply these technologies across the company’s film, TV and theme park divisions. The company laid off 7000 employees last year, begging the question of whether the tech is in fact replacing the

human element of creation, but the execs assure that this is not the case. “The pace and scope of the advances in AI and XR are profound and will continue to impact consumer experiences, creative endeavours and our businesses for years to come – making it critical that Disney explore the exciting opportunities and navigate the potential risks,” wrote Disney Entertainment co- chairman Alan Bergman in

an internal email, originally quoted by Reuters. With each advancement comes an obstacle. YouTube, for instance, has historically faced backlash for publishing AI-manipulated videos which spread misinformation, while Prime Video’s X-Ray Recaps risk sharing spoilers if the AI runs amok. Creatives worry that AI-generated content will cost them their jobs, and Disney’s initiative may further this fear.

LIVE PRODUCTION

Panasonic Kairos connects Camper Calling, warwickshire

Panasonic Connect’s IP-based live production platform Kairos made its music festival debut at this year’s Camper Calling in Warwickshire. Built for broadcasters migrating to SMPTE ST 2110, Kairos virtualises switcher functions, reducing intermediary kit and cabling. Camper Calling used Kairos’ most powerful mainframe, the AT-KC2000S1, to support such a large-scale live event. Its Smart Routing feature allows Kairos to handle more input sources simultaneously, while operators could add graphics, stills and videos, transmitting these to the festival stages. Five Panasonic 4K PTZs also captured Camper Calling – both the action on stage and in the audience – while Panasonic’s SQ1 4K displays were scattered throughout the festival site.

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METAVERSE

EXTENDED REALITY

Disguise joins MAX-R Alliance This autumn, Disguise received a total of £1.2 million in funding from Innovate UK and the EU as part of a growing investment in immersive technology. As a result, Disguise joined the collective Max-R – an XR’s accessibility, particularly to shorts, ads and corporate projects. Through technological developments like RSConnect (which brings live events to metaverse platforms), Depth Reprojection (which improves

Music in the Metaverse

Fortnite concerts are nothing new, but Snoop Dogg’s Times Square performance – livestreamed to anyone logged into the game – solidified these events as being central to the metaverse experience. The concert launched a month-long musical event, where different artists took the lead

(such as Eminem, Ice Spice and Juice Wrld). Fortnite Festival – one of the game’s modes, developed by Rock Band ’s Harmonix – showcases these headliners. It brings seasons of music rather than one-off performances, with in-game concerts becoming a mainstay.

alliance of companies including the BBC, Arri, Brainstorm as well as Filmlight – in committing to advancing virtual production, VR, XR and the metaverse. With Max-R, Disguise is opening possibilities for low-budget productions, increasing VP, VR and

depth estimations on VP sets) and OCIO (which allows productions to define their own colour space), Disguise is equipping the industry with tools to empower the next generation of innovative and immersive content creators.

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MUSIC

INDUSTRY

IN ORBIT BBC R&D’s music discovery tool Orbit recently launched on BBC Taster. Orbit groups songs by their statistical similarity – removing information such as song title, artist name and genre – instead focusing on sound alone. Users can listen to track samples to find artists they enjoy before being redirected to external sites (like Spotify and Apple Music) to save and explore full songs.

CVP Education Festival returns

CVP’s annual Education Festival recently returned for its second year, offering three days of workshops, insights and access to the latest and greatest production gear. Spread across four London locations, the event allowed attendees to engage with industry experts and brand representatives from Arri, Blackmagic, Canon, Cooke, Red and Sony, who

delivered demos and seminars on a wide range of relevant topics. “We have long-standing links between industry and academia, and are proud to bring back the Education Festival for a second year,” said Darren Simpson, sales director at CVP. “Our mission is to bridge the gap between education and the evolving demands of the production industry.”

AI STYPE ADDS TWO

Stype recently announced two additions to its line-up: AI Glue and Stypecentral. AI Glue comprises two or more tracking cameras, a data processor, a synchronisation unit and a calibration sample, determining a talent’s position within a green-screen studio space. Meanwhile, Stypecentral is a next-generation graphics playout control system.

STREAMING

WEATHER Weather woes Netflix cleans out interactive titles As of 1 December, Netflix is due to remove

On 10 October, the BBC Weather app and website displayed some alarming (yet false) information about ‘hurricane force winds’ and extremely hot temperatures hitting sites around the world, including London and Nottingham. The misinformation was the result of a technical error made by BBC Weather’s third-party provider. As part of the glitch, BBC Weather incorrectly reported wind speeds of over 14,000mph and temperatures of over 400°C, temporarily raising concern with some British residents. The error coincidentally occurred around the time that Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida, but BBC Breakfast presenters assured viewers that no such natural disaster was headed towards them.

FAST

all but four of its 24 interactive titles. The remaining four titles will be: Black Mirror: Bandersnatch , Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend , Ranveer vs Wild with Bear Grylls and You vs Wild . The streaming giant began offering interactive content in 2017 with Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale , but its efforts are now coming to a close as the company focuses on ‘other areas,’ according to spokesperson Chrissy Kelleher. Netflix has historically been a trailblazer, but not all of its initiatives have been met with success. Though games are now a part of the Netflix platform, they’re still in beta mode despite being around for over a year. The removal of interactive titles also suggests their lack of popularity, but this move will hopefully pave the way for other avenues of innovation.

TV COMMERCE Instacart and Roku are continuing their partnership, offering shoppable, targeted and/or home-screen ads on Roku’s streaming platform. Roku customers can order products via Instacart and enjoy near-instant delivery, while Instacart purchasing behaviours inform which ads they see in turn.

STREAMING CINEMA STREAMER

Accedo will leverage its platform – Accedo One – to provide streaming services on behalf of British film channel Talking Pictures TV. Through Accedo One, Talking Pictures viewers will gain on-demand web and mobile access to the channel’s extensive cinema archive – a blend of blockbuster hits and nostalgic picks.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Australia moves to ban social media for under-16 s

In a groundbreaking move, Australia’s government has announced a proposed social media ban for children under 16. The legislation – a result of growing concerns from both parents and researchers – aims to eliminate the social and psychological harm facilitated by early exposure to online platforms. The ban will apply to children already on social media, and no exceptions will be made for those who have parental

consent. While there will be no penalties for under-16s who break this ban, it’s up to Australia’s eSafety commissioner and the social media platforms to enforce it. Like the TikTok ban in the US, this regulation is controversial, with some arguing that educating minors on online safety might be of better use. At the time of writing, the legislation has not passed, but if it does it will be another 12 months before taking effect.

INDUSTRY EFFICIENT ACQUISITION

Avid has officially acquired Wolftech Broadcast Solutions, which specialises in cloud-based multiplatform planning and publishing. Combined with Avid’s digital-first, end-to-end media solution, Wolftech will continue to offer news organisations an efficient workflow management system with centralised communication and an open framework.

VOD

LG ON DEMAND LG Electronics and Rakuten TV have partnered to provide LG Movies & TV – a new VOD service available on select LG TVs throughout the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy. The app-based platform offers rental and purchase of over 6000 titles, including Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Dune: Part Two .

AUDIO

ADVANCED AUDIO TVN Live Production has launched the TVN-Ü8UHD, its most powerful OB van to date. Powered by Lawo’s AoIP technology, this state-of-the-art vehicle is designed to handle complex UHD/HDR and 3D audio requirements. The van features two mc² mixing consoles, Lawo’s Virtual Studio Manager and IP Broadcast Control and Workflow Solution.

CYBERSECURITY

HLB’s fifth Cybersecurity Report

For the fifth year, HLB has released its Cybersecurity Report, providing annual insights from over 600 senior IT professionals. The report went back to basics, exploring the fundamental security practices worth implementing in our increasingly online world. Of those surveyed, 92% reported recurrent

cyberattacks, signalling a need for organisational resilience and good ‘cyber hygiene.’ These attacks included third-party breaches, emphasising the importance of vendor compliance with regulations. The report also highlighted the additional challenges associated with AI, noting that only

30% of respondents had instated AI-related security measures so far. Although it stressed growing concerns about cybersecurity, the HLB report proved positive overall, with most organisations considering cyber compliance a priority and having existing response plans in place.

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INDUSTRY ISE returns to barcelona in 2025

Registration is now open for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world- renowned annual tech show for the systems integration and audio-visual industry. Returning to the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via from 4 to 7 February, the ISE team promises the most dynamic and engaging show yet, with a host of new initiatives and features, an expanded and more easily accessible content programme, as well as the unveiling of Hall 8.1, accessed via the conveniently located North Access point.

Mike Blackman, MD of ISE, shared his excitement: “ISE 2025 will be our most ambitious, inspiring and motivating edition to date. ISE is the global destination to get your connection restored with the industry through virtually impossible experiences, unrivalled networking opportunities and state-of-the-art technology, as well as even more chances for career and personal development. “With the show floor already 20% bigger, the addition of exciting new features – and our world- class content programme

that digs deep into the most significant megatrends shaping our industry – ISE 2025 will be the place for people wanting to keep pace with and advance the industry of tomorrow.” From Tech Zones and show floor features, keynote speakers and incredible AV installations, ISE is a hotbed of inspiration, situated in the creative hub of Barcelona. As well as enjoying an array of tech on the show floor, visitors can explore how it’s applied in real-life projects throughout the city, with ISE’s impressive collection of Tech Tours.

INDUSTRY

NEWS, YOUR WAY Amagi and Leadstory have launched a personalised FAST channel – Your News Channel by Leadstory – on Samsung TV Plus in Australia and New Zealand. The platform aggregates content from a variety of publishers, including CNN, Reuters and Euronews, allowing viewers to curate their live news experience by selecting specific categories of interest. FAST platform. Supporting up to 44 external sources, Tricaster Vectar is best suited for larger productions, while Tricaster Now caters to smaller projects. VIZRT ADDS TO AWS MARKETPLACE Vizrt’s cloud-ready video production switchers Tricaster Vectar and Tricaster Now are now available in AWS Marketplace, giving users greater flexibility in how they access either

LIVE PRODUCTION

Agito debuts at Malaysia’s National Day Parade

Celebrating 67 years of independence, Malaysia’s National Day Parade blends cultural performances, military demonstrations and other spectacles that showcase the country’s heritage. This year, Motion Impossible’s Agito system made its debut, capturing the large-scale, five-hour event impressing the king and the public alike. To adequately document such a dynamic demonstration, Reality Rentals deployed the advanced modular robotic camera system, equipped with a Sony P1 camera body and Canon CJ14ex4.3B lens. Easily switching between wide establishing shots and focused close-

ups, Agito proved a versatile companion, particularly during the martial arts performance. “Agito is more than just a robotic camera dolly,” began Paul Nash, technical director at Reality Rentals. “It redefines how live events are filmed.” By the event’s end, Agito had picked up 50% of the broadcast footage, persevering through a rain shower and possible signal interference. The system is set for deployment at the upcoming Asian Academy Creative Awards. “Its potential is huge,” said Zena Choo, co- founder and business director of Reality Rentals. “The National Day Parade was just the beginning.”

CONTENT, MANAGED Provys Technologies has introduced Sphere, a secure, scalable channel management system that allows broadcasters to control content acquisition, licensing, branding, scheduling and transmission from a single platform. The solution is available in three versions: Lite, Pro and Enterprise. PRODUCT LAUNCH

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October saw the latest edition of NAB Show New York. FEED recaps everything we saw during our stint in the Big Apple Words by Katie Kasperson I ’ve done it all before – ridden the NJ Transit (Northeast Corridor) train from Hamilton to New York Penn Station. Yet on this occasion, my final destination was a new one: the Javits Center, where I would be attending NAB Show New York. Arriving early

spoke to Business Insider ’s Peter Kafka about Tubi’s role in evolving the entertainment industry. The main takeaways were that viewers, particularly young people, don’t want to pay for content – and audiences have diverse tastes, according to Sud, who said Tubi has one of the most comprehensive catalogues. Tubi’s business model is built on the belief that a streaming service should repeatedly earn its audience’s engagement. With no subscription offering, the site is more akin to YouTube or TikTok than Netflix or Max, with a vast network of content partners that’s been developed over the last decade. “We help stories find their audience,” said Sud, whether those stories come from major studios, indie distributors or homegrown filmmakers. The platform also produces the occasional original (though ‘they don’t look like Game of Thrones ,’ Sud clarified). Through this low-cost approach, combined with an expansive library, Tubi has positioned itself as a highly disruptive force in streaming and entertainment – with over 80 million monthly active viewers to show for it. The entire discussion is now available as a podcast on Channels with Peter Kafka .

familiar pillars of ‘people + products’ and ‘creativity + commerce.’ There were plenty of stalls falling under both categories to peruse, plus a range of talks and events that aligned with today’s most pressing topics – from streaming and podcasting to sports broadcasting and political reporting. Without further ado, here’s a quick round-up of who we saw and what we learnt during our two-day trip. FAST TIMES A whirlwind of exploration and conversation, the first day flew by, beginning with a keynote speech on Tubi’s success in streaming delivered by the company’s CEO, Anjali Sud (previously of Vimeo). Owned by Fox, Tubi is a key player in the FAST arena, offering free, on-demand, ad-supported content and happily coexisting alongside traditional cable and subscription- based streaming services. Sud

on the Wednesday morning, I quickly stopped for a bagel (sausage, egg and cheese on poppyseed) in the Garment District before walking the short distance from Eighth Avenue to 11th. Nestled among the looming skyscrapers that characterise Midtown Manhattan – and just down the road from Hudson Yards and the High Line – the Javits Center dons an all-glass exterior, making it shimmer under the October sunshine. NAB Show New York, occupying exhibitor hall 3B, was one of two events taking place inside – the other being the AES Show hosted by the Audio Engineering Society. Like NAB Show Las Vegas, the east-coast edition centred around the

FREE SPEECH Tubi CEO Anjali Sud (centre left) said viewers do not want to pay for content

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election, we are at a critical juncture in global politics – and technology. Thanks to social media and – in some cases – GenAI, fake news can spread like wildfire. Meanwhile, the availability of information like individuals’ geolocations presents heightened risks, particularly to field reporters. Across the summit’s three sessions – Improving Trust in Political Coverage, Safety in Political Reporting and Deepfakes, Cheapfakes and GenAI in the Election – journalists, policymakers and governmental figures addressed the most pressing concerns and provided actionable strategies for today’s news media. Other highlights included the Marconi Radio Awards, the Leadership Foundation Career Fair, the Radio + Podcast Interactive Forum and discussions around local TV strategies, the creator economy and AI in sports. TIME WELL SPENT All in all, NAB Show New York carried a different flavour from its Nevadan counterpart. As one of the biggest cities in broadcast, New York is a prime spot for a show like NAB, as many of the country’s major studios are just a short walk away. Smaller in scale and schedule, it provided opportunities for exhibitors and attendees to connect more intimately, for local producers to browse and buy and for industry delegates to discover new insights. For us, it was altogether an adventure, encountering familiar faces from Fujifilm, Imagine Communications and PTZ Optics and not-so-familiar folks from start-ups such as Eternaview and Eon Media. Whether it’s your first time, like ours, or you’re a regular visitor, you heard it here: NAB Show New York is one not to be missed.

CRAZY FOR CAPTIONING AI is all the rage, with the show floor filled with exhibitors offering different spins on speech-to-text technology – a game changer in live captioning and the like. Among these was Enco, an established provider of solutions spanning automated captioning, live translation, virtual production, TV and radio automation, playout and more. Its flagship platform, Encaption, creates automated closed captions and subtitles on real-time, file-based AV content. Its combination of machine learning (ML) and structural analysis delivers high accuracy (though it’s not perfect – ‘we don’t do miracles,’ admitted senior accounts manager Gilbert Felix) and low latency. Across the hall, Interra Systems displayed its own take on speech-to- text – Baton Captions. Using AI and ML, the content-aware captioning and subtitling service automates the entire process, from caption generation to correction, paying special attention to quality control. The multilingual platform supports 15+ (mostly

European) languages and integrates with some video-streaming services, including YouTube.

WATCHING ON More than just visiting the show floor, attendees were treated to many a session

DEMOCRATIC DUTY On day two, we hit the Election

Coverage Summit, which explored best practices in political reporting (including a session on safety) and the complicated relationship between generative AI and disinformation. Among the turmoil of recent events, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the 2024 US presidential

SMALLER IN SCALE, THE NEW YORK SHOW PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT MORE INTIMATELY

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Kick back, pop that bubbly and join us in celebrating the excellence, innovation and trailblazers of broadcast tech – it’s the debut edition of the FEED Honours List!

W hen conceptualising the FEED Honours List, it didn’t take long for the team to agree that its core mission would be to give back by celebrating the extraordinary talent we witness, both within FEED ’s own pages as well as face-to-face at conferences and shows throughout each year. On top of this, we made sure that not all the decisions were down to us. Our Honours List features three People’s Choice categories, giving readers a chance to shine a spotlight on the women, start-ups and leaders that deserve

acknowledgement for their trailblazing impact on this industry. It’s been an exceptionally busy few months here since we announced the launch back in August. So, on behalf of the whole team, I’d like to thank all those who reached out with nominations. It’s been so inspiring reading through the submissions, and only reinforces just how creative and innovative this industry really is. Without further ado, I am delighted to share with you the FEED Honours List 2024. Verity Butler, editor

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PIONEERING WOMEN

Clare Bramley Head of marketing and communications Amino, an Aferian company

Marie-Véronique Lacaze President Witbe Marie-Véronique Lacaze has been a trailblazer in shaping broadcast and media tech for three decades, particularly in measuring quality of experience. Her dynamic leadership has guided Witbe to become a global leader in automated testing and proactive monitoring tech for video service providers. Lacaze’s first major step in the tech industry was founding Oléane, the first internet provider in France dedicated to the enterprise market. During this time, she became curious about the internet errors reported by customers that her team could not see at the source, and contemplated how this issue could be addressed. After selling Oléane to France Telecom (now Orange) in 1998, Lacaze co-founded Witbe, a company dedicated to measuring service quality received by users on real devices and networks, observing otherwise invisible errors. While Witbe began testing web services, the company has shifted and expanded under Lacaze’s direction to focus on streaming video. Today, with 12 offices worldwide, Witbe’s industry- leading video testing and monitoring tech is used worldwide by providers like Comcast, Verizon and Vodafone.

When Clare Bramley joined Amino – an Aferian company – eight years ago, sustainability was not on anyone’s mind, and certainly not part of the Amino brand identity or its core strategies. Amino had no sustainability policies, ESG reports or any objectives related to environmental responsibility. Fast-forward to now, and not only is sustainability at the forefront of what Amino does, but it is also part of every product it creates. Bramley’s been part of the leadership team driving these changes, shaping and communicating the company’s sustainability story from its inception to its current award-winning status. She has led the company’s efforts to create internal policies around these initiatives and created the corporate ESG programme and report. Her strategic vision and marketing expertise have not only transformed Amino’s approach to sustainability, but also set a new standard for the media-technology industry. Bramley’s work in sustainability goes beyond Amino. She’s spearheaded the submission and acceptance of Aferian’s letter of commitment to Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

This is where our readers had their say on who deserves to be celebrated. Our People’s Choice categories offered the opportunity to nominate legendary business leaders, inspirational start-ups and pioneering women. After a phenomenal response over three months, here are the final results out of the many

inspirational people and companies put forward

NOT ONLY IS SUSTAINABILITY AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT IT DOES, BUT PART OF EVERY PRODUCT IT CREATES

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PIONEERING WOMEN

Danna Mann Director of marketing Tag Video Systems

Suzana Brady SVP of worldwide sales and marketing Cobalt Digital Suzana Brady is not only an exceptional woman, but is also a valued contributor to the broadcast and pro AV communities. Self-described as extremely committed, self-driven, organised and prepared, she oversees an all-male sales team in a male-dominated industry, winning their respect and loyalty as she ‘gets the best out of them.’ Brady credits her strong rapport with her team to knowing how to get along with people and never skimping on praise when it is deserved. Since becoming SVP of worldwide sales and marketing, Cobalt’s revenue has increased annually. In addition to her sales and marketing role, she champions Cobalt’s adoption of SL-HDR1. Her work includes educating on the HDR aspects of the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard – and under her leadership, vendors have moved from hardware to software solutions. Brady is also a founder and chairperson of the RIST (Reliable Internet Stream Transport) Forum. Recognising interoperability issues in the industry, she helped launch an initiative to promote vendor collaboration. The RIST protocol is an open-source, interoperable solution for reliably transporting low-latency video over unmanaged networks.

Bleuenn Le Goffic VP of business transformation Accedo

Danna Mann’s path to the media industry wasn’t a straight line, but rather a winding journey that equipped her with a diverse skill set. Mann joined Tag Video Systems in 2018 as an event coordinator and quickly rose through the ranks to become the company’s director of marketing. Mann elevated Tag from relative obscurity to a globally recognised, multi-award-winning brand known for its forward thinking, offering more than just multiviewers. She is responsible for the company’s worldwide marketing initiatives, but her self-imposed goals drive her to tap into creative resources and deliver well-crafted, compelling and strategic messaging that educates the market about Tag’s innovative monitoring and visualisation tech. In addition to her work with Tag, Mann is a member of the IBC Exhibitor Steering Group that provides advice regarding technologies, target audiences and business-related issues that are instrumental in setting the strategy, agenda and tone for each IBC Show. Mann is always open to change, embraces learning and isn’t afraid to experiment. Her inspiration comes from people who aren’t following trends, but are setting them.

Bleuenn Le Goffic is VP of business transformation at Accedo, where she has worked since 2012 and has a deep understanding of both Accedo and the wider media industry. She combines strong technical understanding – having worked as a software developer – with business and sales acumen from her roles in sales and business development within the broadcast industry. During her time at Accedo, Le Goffic has helped transform many companies from customers into long-term partners. She has also played a significant role in making Accedo become more sustainable and encouraging the entire video industry to follow suit. Together with Accedo’s sustainability manager, she has spearheaded several related initiatives, promoting environmental responsibility. As a provider of products and solutions enabling media companies to deliver video content to millions of end users, Le Goffic believes that Accedo must be committed to becoming more sustainable and minimising its carbon footprint. She also recognises the significant influence that video and media in general have on society today, and emphasises that we have the responsibility to make a positive contribution overall.

ACCEDO MUST BE COMMITTED TO BECOMING MORE SUSTAINABLE AND MINIMISING ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT

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LEGENDARY LEADERS

Thomas Riedel CEO & founder Riedel Group

Anupama Anantharaman Vice president of product management Interra Systems For more than 20 years, Anupama Anantharaman has been a driving force in the media industry, pushing forward the quality of traditional broadcast and streaming media experiences through innovative product development, strategy and communications. From her early career at Compression Labs, she led the development of one of the first LAN-based video conferencing systems, a precursor to modern video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Google Hangouts. Anantharaman’s leadership continued with Interra Systems, where she played a key role in expanding the firm’s media analyser product Vega to support the HEVC standard. The HEVC analyser soon became the most sought-after product for in-depth analysis of HEVC video. Her input helped position Interra Systems as a leader in media QC and monitoring solutions, with products used by some of the largest media companies. Anantharaman revolutionised content monitoring, enabling broadcasters to deliver exceptional video and audio quality across all devices. Beyond her technical achievements, Anantharaman is a dedicated mentor and advocate for women in the tech industry. As a member of the Computer Science Advisory Board at Cal State East Bay, she promotes the importance of diversity in technology, encouraging women to pursue careers in tech fields. Her leadership has driven technological advancements and inspired a new wave of women to pursue careers in STEM.

Kristan Bullett

CEO & co-founder Humans Not Robots

How do you turn a one-man radio rental company into one of the world’s premier media and entertainment technology manufacturers? Thomas Riedel knows. Although Riedel ascribes his and Riedel Communications’ success to luck, most people around him would beg to differ. Much of this success derives from a visionary mission to develop innovative technologies that push broadcast formats into the future and improve the viewer experience. His intuitive grasp of emerging trends has placed Riedel Communications as a leader in IP, remote production and cloud-based solutions. Riedel’s history as an industry trendsetter began in the 2000s, when he launched the world’s first distributed intercom system, Artist. This was soon followed by the revolutionary MediorNet distributed media infrastructures – two milestones that paved the way for future media communication technology. His dedication to research and innovation stems from his deep technical knowledge and understanding of developers’ challenges. Notably, he allowed a five-year development window for the Bolero Wireless Intercom, resulting in a product that set the gold standard in wireless intercom technology. Riedel aims to bring audiences closer to the action, pioneering innovative camera solutions and video transmission techniques to offer unprecedented perspectives. This dedication to these experiences earned him two Emmy Awards for the groundbreaking Red Bull Air Race broadcasts.

Throughout his career in media tech, Kristan Bullett has consistently proven himself to be at the forefront of the industry. His visionary leadership style – complemented by a deep understanding of the intricacies of broadcast, media and streaming – sets him apart. Identifying a gap in sustainable media-tech practices, Bullett co-founded Humans Not Robots (HNR). Shortly after, the company became a recognised name in helping data-intensive businesses reduce their carbon footprints. Bullett’s decision-making spearheaded initiatives like the highly acclaimed IBC Accelerator Ecoflow and the TM Forum Sustainable Streaming Catalyst Project – both important initiatives for driving sustainable live streaming. HNR’s work has earnt several awards, including the CSA Best Carbon Footprint Improvement Initiative and the Leeds Digital Festival Sustainability award. In addition to his strategic acumen, Bullett’s dedication to his team and ability to foster both a creative and inclusive atmosphere have had a significant impact on the corporate culture. This resulted in higher productivity and a workplace where ideas thrive and employees feel valued. Bullett’s commitment to sustainable practices and inclusivity is equally commendable, further affirming his role as a true leader. His tireless dedication to driving change and forging new paths in this industry is inspirational, making him a deserving nominee for the recognition he thoroughly deserves.

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start-ups

Radical CEO/co-founder: Gavan Gravesen Launched: 2018 Radical is a real-time 3D content creation platform with two seamlessly integrated products: Radical Motion – an Al-powered, markerless, real-time, multiplayer motion-capture solution – and Radical Canvas – a web app that simplifies collaborative real-time 3D scene design and prototyping. Its motion-capture technology is incredibly advanced, giving customers the freedom to capture real-time movements with total ease – while its markerless, face-and-finger tracking system has seriously levelled up its customers’ projects. Thanks to Radical Motion, customers are booking more clients, adding more new features and delivering experiences that feel cutting-edge without breaking a sweat. Working with Radical involves listening to feedback, innovating and staying ahead. Its system plugs right into its clients’ workflows, which has made creating high-quality digital content faster and more exciting than ever.

Salsa Sound Co-founders: Dr Rob Oldfield,

Strada Co-founders: Michael Cioni, Peter Cioni Launched: 2023 Brothers Michael and Peter Cioni left their roles at Adobe and Netflix (respectively) to build a new company, believing that the greatest opportunity for creative professionals through machine learning lies not in generative AI, but in intelligent workflow automation for content creators. The company is working on building out its namesake product Strada, which removes complexities and inefficiencies for professional content creators. Strada automates tedious tasks, improves search and speeds up delivery to help storytellers save time and money while gaining better creative control. With features like multicloud connect, multicam playback, AI transcription, AI translation and more, it delivers a new way to work from a browser interface. Strada blends custom-built tools with automation and AI to unlock previously impossible workflows. It integrates AI and ML models with inventive automators, allowing users to complete tasks faster than any other off-the-shelf tool.

Dr Ben Shirley Launched: 2017

“It’ll be impossible to automate a football mix.” That’s what Rob Oldfield heard from a senior sound supervisor when he first visited an OB truck for the Burnley FC versus Blackburn Rovers match as part of a university project. As an audio researcher, that sentence was like a red rag to a bull. Having seen the labour-intensive process of manually mixing 12 microphones during the match, the founders of Salsa Sound set out on a mission to develop algorithms able to recognise audio events and choose the best microphone to mix to automatically. A deep neural network was trained to identify the sound of a ball being kicked or a referee’s whistle while mixing to the best microphone. Today, Salsa Sound does far more than just virtual crowds and automated pitch mixes. Its Mixair software automates live sports audio, including crowd and commentary, on- premises or in the cloud, supporting nearly any audio protocol.

ITS MOTION-CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY IS INCREDIBLY ADVANCED, GIVING CUSTOMERS THE FREEDOM TO CAPTURE REAL-TIME MOVEMENTS

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Manifold Cloud Manifold Cloud is a live production software that runs on COTS FPGA programmable acceleration cards (PAC). At its core, Manifold Cloud is a service-orientated software that uses an on-demand configurable pool of shared resources allocated within a private cloud environment. 7fivefive The management platform Lens – developed by 7fivefive – allows users to connect, configure and manage multiple cloud and hybrid workstation environments in a single customisable interface. Lens was designed from the ground up to allow quick and easy remote system deployment and management for all users. With Lens, users can dynamically manage resources, monitor connection quality across multiple sites and increase workflow visibility. 24i 24i Video Cloud is a video delivery platform with a modular functional technology stack to address the complexities of modern services. This unified media delivery platform integrates live and linear TV, video on demand, FAST and sports together into a single, robust platform. BCNEXXT Vipe by BCNexxt is a cloud-native software solution that simplifies deploying fully automated linear playout, OTT streaming and VOD playout. The latest release introduces Vipe RT – a dedicated, real-time playout engine that supports complex live events and sports. Vipe reduces resources and costs by up to eight times, while maintaining better than hardware-based reliability of up to 99.9% as measured by users. Vubiquity Vubiquity’s MetaVU is a title management solution that aggregates, enriches, localises and delivers media and entertainment content metadata

globally. The cloud-native SaaS platform works with industry-standard metadata records and streamlines integrations. Dalet Dalet Cut is a cloud-native, multimedia and multiplatform editor integrated within the Dalet ecosystem. Edit from anywhere with native access to assets including clips, sequences, projects and graphics, even on limited bandwidth. No VPN, searching drive pools, heavy rendering or lengthy training. GB Labs In 2024, GB Labs released its revolutionary production cloud storage solution NebulaNAS, designed to provide the benefits of on-premises storage but with cloud capabilities, and to address the challenges of today’s geographically dispersed media production teams. NebulaNAS securely connects users, regardless of location, to their cloud storage, providing fast access to stored content with the ease of simply mounting a drive or volume on a desktop. Veset Built on AWS and launched in February 2024, Veset’s Adwise moves beyond the traditional linear ad break, offering an in-video ad solution for live and premium content. The cloud native platform employs advanced ad-insertion technology, integrating contextual ads into live streams without interrupting the viewer’s experience. The solution enables broadcasters to deliver contextual advertising without the need for a traditional ad break, improving engagement and helping to increase advertising revenue. Projective Projective’s post-production collaboration platform Strawberry offers intelligent project management, sharing and search. The recently launched Strawberry Skies (March 2024) extends these features with secure cloud access – fully hosted by Projective – enabling flexible and secure collaboration from anywhere.

EXCELLENCE IN cloud

atomos By accessing a host of cloud-based tools and services direct from the Atomos device, content creators now enjoy even greater productivity gains with camera to cloud, remote collaboration and review, cloud editing, live multicam production, wireless timecode and streaming. Signiant Today’s Signiant is about much more than just fast and secure file transfers. The platform is an integrated set of SaaS products that make media content flow easier and more efficient. The Signiant Platform is built on a fast file transfer foundation already used by the world’s top media makers. It is already connecting 50,000 companies of all sizes and boasts over one million users. From amateur streamers to top- tier broadcasters, cloud plays a key role in media production workflows.We celebrate the most exciting developments over the past year

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