Swiss Broadcaster Canal Alpha Modernises Playout Operations
Swiss broadcaster Canal Alpha has upgraded its playout workflow by deploying Harmonic’s XOS media processor. The cloud‑native solution combines playout, live recording and branding, delivering up to 50% bitrate savings through AI‑powered EyeQ encoding and UHD support. Its software‑based architecture reduces equipment footprints and energy use while enabling delivery to DTT, IPTV, CTV and OTT platforms. Canal Alpha’s IT manager highlighted the open APIs and end‑to‑end flexibility as a game‑changer for broadcast quality and cost efficiency.
Ampere Analysis Picks PlumResearch
Ampere Analysis announced the acquisition of PlumResearch, a Warsaw‑based streaming audience analytics firm that operates in more than 75 markets. The deal combines PlumResearch’s Showlabs platform, which provides device‑agnostic viewership measurement, with Ampere’s market‑sizing and title‑level data. The integration is...
Going Good for Norsk Rikstoto with NEP Mediabank Setting the Pace
NEP Europe has extended its partnership with Norwegian horse‑racing operator Norsk Rikshoto, deploying NEP Mediabank as the unified media asset management platform for the new direct‑to‑consumer OTT service, Rikshoto Play. The system now handles live ingest, metadata enrichment, archiving and...
BBC Promises Second Screen Watch-Alongs and Immersive VR Experiences in FIFA World Cup Coverage
The BBC will stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup in UHD on iPlayer and roll out a suite of digital experiences, including second‑screen watch‑alongs on YouTube, TikTok and other social platforms. Viewers can access interactive 3D replays, real‑time graphics, and...
UK Government ‘Drawing up Plans to Switch Off Terrestrial TV’
The UK government is drafting a Green Paper to outline a phased shutdown of terrestrial television, contingent on universal, affordable superfast broadband and related support mechanisms. The plan would see the switch‑off after the current licence periods end, with ITV,...
MediaCity Transforms to Fully Integrated eChampions League Production Hub
MediaCity converted more than 30,000 sq ft of studio space into a fully integrated live‑esports production hub for the eChampions League Phase and Knockout rounds held May 14‑17. The tournament, produced by Whisper, showcased Europe’s top EA SPORTS FC competitors and was streamed globally on...
BMC TV Takes Racing by the Bitrate with Open Broadcast Systems’ 5G Flyaway
Open Broadcast Systems’ 5G Flyaway is now powering BMC TV’s live horse‑racing coverage across the UK. The portable unit bundles multiple 5G links into a constant‑bitrate MPEG transport stream, delivering satellite‑grade picture quality with sub‑second latency from remote tracks. By...
How IBC’s Accelerators Aim to Reflect Industry Challenges
IBC2026’s Accelerator Media Innovation Programme has selected nine Proof‑of‑Concept projects for a six‑month development sprint, culminating in live demonstrations during the IBC conference from September 11‑14. The cohort tackles AI‑driven production, immersive live experiences, next‑generation streaming, and advanced connectivity solutions....
Vivid Broadcast Debuts 20-Camera Fully Remote HDR Truck
Vivid Broadcast has launched Barra OB, a 20‑camera fully remote outside‑broadcasting truck built for HDR and SDR workflows. The vehicle runs on a 63 A three‑phase supply, delivering over eight hours of operation with shore‑power redundancy, and includes True Control 2.0 for remote audio...
PwC Warns Pressure on Media Markets, Shifting Fan Expectations Will Impact Sports Rights
PwC’s ninth Global Sport Survey warns that the value of sports media rights is set to decline over the next three to five years, even as the overall sports market continues to grow. The study of 500 senior executives and...
A Greener, More Cinematic Eurovision
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest returns to Vienna, Austria, where ORF is staging a technically ambitious show. Production employs 28 cameras—including ARRI Alexa 35 Live cinematic units—and a mix of PTZ and gimbal rigs to deliver a more film‑like broadcast,...
Framestore Announces Theo Jones as Creative Director, AI
Framestore has created a new Creative Director, AI role and appointed Oscar‑nominated visual‑effects supervisor Theo Jones to lead it. Jones will bridge cutting‑edge artificial‑intelligence tools with the studio’s high‑end film, advertising, episodic and immersive projects. He will also oversee the...
Why Standards Rigour Remains Broadcast’s Most Important Asset and Its Most Under-Appreciated
Corporate buyers are demanding broadcast‑grade video quality, but broadcast vendors have been slow to simplify products for non‑specialist users. Recent introductions such as Kiloview’s AVX24‑4 MediaHub and AJA’s BRIDGE LIVE IP signal a tentative shift, yet most pro AV customers...
Riedel Bolsters SLT with New Chief Operating Officer
Riedel Communications announced Frank Eischet’s promotion to chief operating officer and Marc Engroff’s appointment as chief financial officer. The leadership reshuffle follows the company’s recent acquisition of ARRI and aims to tighten governance across the group. Under Eischet’s tenure as managing director,...
ARRI Lights the Way with New Omnibar IP65 LED Bars
ARRI unveiled the Omnibar 2 and Omnibar 4, battery‑powered LED bars designed for film, live events, and content creators. The fixtures deliver full‑spectrum light with CRI 98 and TLCI 98, and can be daisy‑chained up to 12 feet per chain or 24 feet across multiple hubs....