THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FROM IBC


10:30-18:00


FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2024


SKILLS AND DIVERSITY FRONT AND CENTRE AT IBC2024


BY ADRIAN PENNINGTON


IBC has hosted the fi rst dedicated global forum for knowledge-sharing to secure the long-term future of the industry with diverse media, technical and engineering talent. Taking place yesterday, the inaugural World Skills Café united executives from Netfl ix, Digital TV Group, Sky, ITV, Microsoft, Vizrt, Moov, and numerous other players and vendors to take action. Carrie Wootten, CEO, Global Media & Entertainment Talent Manifesto, said: “This idea has been in the making for seven months, and I’m really excited that we could all come together to spend a whole afternoon talking about skills, education and diversity. The World Skills Café aims to provide a focal point for sharing fi rst-hand experiences while also incubating tangible solutions to workplace and diversity challenges.” The M&E and broadcast technology sectors remain populated by a disproportionately ageing white male workforce. For example, across the UK’s wider creative industries, only a third of managerial and director roles are held by women, while over 90% of professionals in these sectors are white. “We’ve done a lot of work


INSIDE


Welcome to IBC2024 IBC CEO Michael Crimp shares his thoughts on this year’s show and highlights some new showfl oor features not to be missed Page 03


Tackling hit topics Russell Trafford-Jones, Chair of the IET Media Technical Network, talks AI, security and this year’s John Logie Baird Lectures Page 12


The inaugural World Skills Café at IBC yesterday


around gender diversity over the last few years and that has changed things signifi cantly, but we are nowhere near where we need to be,” Wootten said. “We also know there’s a pattern between those who are neurodiverse and those who are in engineering and technology roles across M&E. That’s why we are delivering programmes of work to support the neurodiverse community and their neurotypical colleagues.’’ Round table discussions themed by education, recruitment, transferable skills, retention, diversity and future technology were facilitated by a dozen executives with diverse backgrounds. The emphasis was on looking for talent outside the traditional routes into media. Mark Coleman, Account Manager for Pixitmedia, spent


time in Afghanistan on military deployment. “I was 15 years in the army, I learned some fantastic skills like weapons, tactics demolitions,” he said. “Now you’re thinking, why am I here? I am passionate about demonstrating how people with diverse backgrounds have valuable transferable skills.” IBC’s drive to unite the industry to devise and act on skills initiatives runs throughout the weekend, culminating in the IBC Talent Programme on Monday on the Showcase Theatre in Hall 8. The programme begins with a


breakfast meet supported by Beamr and attended by inspirational leaders such as Renard Jenkins, Polly Hickling, Deepali Narsiker, Amy DeLouise, and Tamar Shoham. BBC journalist Omar Mehtab is the host for the morning.


AI and authentication SMPTE President Renard Jenkins shares the association’s priority topics Page 14


Accelerating innovation Highlights from the IBC content programme to help navigate the evolving media landscape Page 26


AI in focus


Discover the new AI Tech Zone Page 28


Exhibitor news The latest product launches and innovations from across the IBC showfl oor Page 29


SHOW INFORMATION Conference programme, session agendas, fl oorplan and exhibitor list Page 39


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