ITV

Tag: ESPN

  • Biswas new ESPN head – southeast Asia; Cooke expands role

    Biswas new ESPN head – southeast Asia; Cooke expands role

    MUMBAI: ESPN has added to and newly aligned its leadership team in the region to manage its expanding position in the region.

    Joyee Biswas has joined the sports media leader as the new head of Southeast Asia. Biswas will be based in ESPN’s offices in Singapore and report to Mike Morrison, vice president and managing director, ESPN APAC, based in Shanghai.

    Prior to joining ESPN, Biswas was managing director, Asia for Eleven Sports Network. He previously headed up sports content for Singtel TV as well as content acquisition and management for Fox International Channels and ESPN Star Sports.

    Additionally, Kelly Cooke will take on the expanded role of general manager, ESPN North Asia. Based n Hong Kong, Cooke will be responsible for helping manage ESPN’s long-term collaboration with Tencent in China, as well as the growth of partnerships, media distribution, ad sales, digital – focusing on China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

    In addition to Biswas and Cooke, ESPN has made additional personnel moves recently to align with its growing business.

    In support of ESPN’s relationship with Tencent, the company produces and delivers both original and adapted content such as video and coverage of sports including the NBA, global football and more. To provide focused oversight and coordination of that, ESPN has tapped Bowen Dou and Michael Huang to take on important new roles.

    Dou takes on the role of coordinating producer, international production. Based in ESPN’s Bristol, CT, USA headquarters and working closely with teams at both ESPN and Tencent. Dou will lead the coordination of all video production supporting the Tencent relationship, including original Chinese-language video such as “ESPN On Court” NBA content, original studio programming and other video production and adaption.

    Huang takes on the expanded role of deputy editor, ESPN Digital & Print Media. He will work in close coordination with ESPN’s worldwide digital and television editorial teams, leading a team focused on the creation and adaption of sports news and information content for the ESPN section on QQ.com, as well as identifying and telling sports stories originating in China that have resonance in other parts of the world.

    Marc Mallett, will now lead ESPN’s advertising efforts across Asia as the new Director of Sponsorship and Ad Sales, ESPN APAC. Based in Singapore, he will be focused on identifying new sales opportunities and clients, as well as the development of compelling advertising solutions for clients and agencies – like its ongoing TCL campaign – which leverage ESPN’s distinct content creation capability.

    ESPN Australia and New Zealand vice president and general manager Haydn Arndt continues to lead ESPN’s dynamic multiplatform business in Australia and New Zealand, as it sets viewership records on television and has established a digital leadership position.
    ESPN India and South Asia head and vice president Ramesh Kumar continues to manage and grow ESPN’s business in India and the subcontinent, including the Sony ESPN collaboration, as well as leading the ESPNcricinfo business globally.

    “These moves ensure that we have an outstanding and innovative ESPN leadership team in place to continue our growth in the APAC region,” said Morrison. “It’s an exciting time for ESPN in the region, with ground-breaking collaborations in China and India, a thriving multimedia business in Australia and New Zealand, further expansion and localization of the world’s leading digital sports business and continued exploration of new business opportunities in Southeast and North Asia.”

  • Disney announces successor of MD Siddharth Roy-Kapur

    Disney announces successor of MD Siddharth Roy-Kapur

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney International has announced the successor to its former managing director Siddharth Roy-Kapur. As a second stint with the organization, Mahesh Samat has made a comeback and will lead The Walt Disney Company India as the managing director. He will pursue his new responsibility from 28 November and will be based in Mumbai.

    Samat will report directly to Walt Disney International chairman Andy Bird. One of his key roles will be to resume management of all Disney businesses in India (except ESPN), with all local business segments reporting into him.

    Samat will be responsible for setting and driving the company’s strategy, coordinating all business efforts in India including overseeing Disney global franchises in the market, expanding existing businesses, and creating new business opportunities.

    “Mahesh guided Disney in India in its early days, and we are thrilled with his decision to return to the organization he helped build,” said Bird. He further added, “We are encouraged by the opportunity we see to further grow our business in India and believe Mahesh’s entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge of our brands and franchises, and long-standing expertise in our broader operations will continue the momentum we are experiencing in this dynamic market.”

    With this, Roy-Kapur departs from the company to explore his own business interests.

    “Sid is a pillar of the Indian entertainment industry and has demonstrated passion and commitment for the Disney business. He carved a strong position for Disney in the Indian media and entertainment space that positions us well for the future. We are immensely thankful for his service and wish him well in his next venture,” added Bird.

    Samat had moved away from Disney India four years ago to establish Epic Television Networks and is the founder and MD of The Epic Channel.

    “It’s exciting to return to the wonderful world of Disney,” Samat said. “Disney really is special entertainment with heart, and I am delighted to see that the unique stories and iconic characters of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars — as well as our homegrown brands of Hungama, Bindass and UTV — continue to find a home among Indian audiences. Moving forward, we’ll accelerate the great work done by the team and create new, innovative ways for audiences to engage with our stories, brands and characters, and drive growth across our businesses.”

    With more than 25 years of experience in FMCG and healthcare across India, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Samat originally joined Disney from Johnson & Johnson, where he was the managing director Southern Europe for J&J Vision Care. Prior to that, he worked for Kellogg’s, Warner Lambert/Parke-Davis and Boots India Limited.

    He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sydenham College and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management.

  • Disney announces successor of MD Siddharth Roy-Kapur

    Disney announces successor of MD Siddharth Roy-Kapur

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney International has announced the successor to its former managing director Siddharth Roy-Kapur. As a second stint with the organization, Mahesh Samat has made a comeback and will lead The Walt Disney Company India as the managing director. He will pursue his new responsibility from 28 November and will be based in Mumbai.

    Samat will report directly to Walt Disney International chairman Andy Bird. One of his key roles will be to resume management of all Disney businesses in India (except ESPN), with all local business segments reporting into him.

    Samat will be responsible for setting and driving the company’s strategy, coordinating all business efforts in India including overseeing Disney global franchises in the market, expanding existing businesses, and creating new business opportunities.

    “Mahesh guided Disney in India in its early days, and we are thrilled with his decision to return to the organization he helped build,” said Bird. He further added, “We are encouraged by the opportunity we see to further grow our business in India and believe Mahesh’s entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge of our brands and franchises, and long-standing expertise in our broader operations will continue the momentum we are experiencing in this dynamic market.”

    With this, Roy-Kapur departs from the company to explore his own business interests.

    “Sid is a pillar of the Indian entertainment industry and has demonstrated passion and commitment for the Disney business. He carved a strong position for Disney in the Indian media and entertainment space that positions us well for the future. We are immensely thankful for his service and wish him well in his next venture,” added Bird.

    Samat had moved away from Disney India four years ago to establish Epic Television Networks and is the founder and MD of The Epic Channel.

    “It’s exciting to return to the wonderful world of Disney,” Samat said. “Disney really is special entertainment with heart, and I am delighted to see that the unique stories and iconic characters of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars — as well as our homegrown brands of Hungama, Bindass and UTV — continue to find a home among Indian audiences. Moving forward, we’ll accelerate the great work done by the team and create new, innovative ways for audiences to engage with our stories, brands and characters, and drive growth across our businesses.”

    With more than 25 years of experience in FMCG and healthcare across India, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Samat originally joined Disney from Johnson & Johnson, where he was the managing director Southern Europe for J&J Vision Care. Prior to that, he worked for Kellogg’s, Warner Lambert/Parke-Davis and Boots India Limited.

    He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sydenham College and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management.

  • Star, Sony or Etc, BCCI will have the last laugh

    Star, Sony or Etc, BCCI will have the last laugh

    MUMBAI: If you have the set-up, we have the story. If you have the money, we have got the ideas. In spite of all IPL bidders prepared to make the highest bid for the media rights, what are the chances that BCCI may favour the ones who have the infrastructure and wherewithal to give the game maximum and utmost exposure and BCCI the best mileage? A level playing field for IPL broadcast rights bidders is suspect.

    The India digital rights and rest of the world rights are for five IPL seasons each, between 2018 and 2022 and the Indian sub-continent television rights being offered are for 10 IPL seasons (2018 – 2027).

    It is being speculated that broadcasters may have the upper hand in the selection of the winner of IPL media rights. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it has sold 18 tenders for the IPL rights. However, experts speculate that the tendering process may have been tilted in favour of television broadcasters.

    The row is connected to the format in which bids had to be submitted. The original tenders had specified that separate bids would have to be made for the three buckets into which media rights have been divided — India digital rights, television broadcast rights for the Indian subcontinent, and a third one for international media rights.

    In the new bundled versus separate format, if a single bidder were to quote higher than the sum of individual bidders globally, that bidder could walk away with all the rights. This change will significantly benefit Sony Pictures and Star India one of which may pocket all IPL rights. BCCI changed the bidding pattern and dynamics to permit consolidated bids across digital, TV, and international, the Times of India had reported.

    The probable winners hence could be Sony Pictures or Star India. These two broadcasters only seem to be keen for television broadcast rights, the biggest media rights component. This modification could make it uncertain for international or digital rights bidders to compete for those rights. Crucial interest was shown by Amazon, Twitter, and Reliance Jio, and by ESPN and Sky Sports for digital rights and international rights.

    Sources familiar with the tendering process said that BCCI reserved the right to pick either separate bids or consolidated bid. Bidders were earlier asked to give a separate value for each of the three packages. But, later, bidders were allowed to put in a single figure for all three rights, making it difficult for BCCI to compare consolidated bids against bids for individual rights pieces.

    By permitting TV broadcasters to put in one figure for all three packages, it seems to have nullified the international or digital bidders such as GroupM, Amazon, or ESPN, from being able to bid at par with the established TV broadcasters.

    This could also bring down the number of stakeholders BCCI may have to deal with. The new proposed change will also keep out deals between the BCCI and international broadcasters in key territories.

    Sports broadcast giant Star India and its competitor, Sony Pictures Network, seem to be in neck-and-neck race for television broadcast rights. The latter has been arguing with BCCI that its existing contract grants it the first right of refusal. While SPN enjoyed the telecast rights to Twenty-20 tournament since inception in 2008, Star India has been making inroads into IPL system. SPN has grown the property on television with innovations around language feeds, marketing, and monetising the IPL from a distribution and advertising stand-point. The 2016 edition of the IPL reached nearly 350 million TV viewers in India, a significant boost over 2015’s 200 million viewers thanks to the addition of rural households in the reporting of television viewership.

    Vinit Karnik, business head, ESP Properties, had told Business Standard, that, “It is no longer about the bouquet or distribution. The biggest change in the sports broadcast landscape is that the rights will now be awarded on the basis of production and packaging. When there are only two options, the organiser will go for the one that will present the property in the best way possible. Investments in sports production should increase now.”

    ALSO READ-

    Top court throws out BCCI’s review petition on Lodha recommendations

    18 prospective bidders for IPL Media Rights

  • Star, Sony or Etc, BCCI will have the last laugh

    Star, Sony or Etc, BCCI will have the last laugh

    MUMBAI: If you have the set-up, we have the story. If you have the money, we have got the ideas. In spite of all IPL bidders prepared to make the highest bid for the media rights, what are the chances that BCCI may favour the ones who have the infrastructure and wherewithal to give the game maximum and utmost exposure and BCCI the best mileage? A level playing field for IPL broadcast rights bidders is suspect.

    The India digital rights and rest of the world rights are for five IPL seasons each, between 2018 and 2022 and the Indian sub-continent television rights being offered are for 10 IPL seasons (2018 – 2027).

    It is being speculated that broadcasters may have the upper hand in the selection of the winner of IPL media rights. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it has sold 18 tenders for the IPL rights. However, experts speculate that the tendering process may have been tilted in favour of television broadcasters.

    The row is connected to the format in which bids had to be submitted. The original tenders had specified that separate bids would have to be made for the three buckets into which media rights have been divided — India digital rights, television broadcast rights for the Indian subcontinent, and a third one for international media rights.

    In the new bundled versus separate format, if a single bidder were to quote higher than the sum of individual bidders globally, that bidder could walk away with all the rights. This change will significantly benefit Sony Pictures and Star India one of which may pocket all IPL rights. BCCI changed the bidding pattern and dynamics to permit consolidated bids across digital, TV, and international, the Times of India had reported.

    The probable winners hence could be Sony Pictures or Star India. These two broadcasters only seem to be keen for television broadcast rights, the biggest media rights component. This modification could make it uncertain for international or digital rights bidders to compete for those rights. Crucial interest was shown by Amazon, Twitter, and Reliance Jio, and by ESPN and Sky Sports for digital rights and international rights.

    Sources familiar with the tendering process said that BCCI reserved the right to pick either separate bids or consolidated bid. Bidders were earlier asked to give a separate value for each of the three packages. But, later, bidders were allowed to put in a single figure for all three rights, making it difficult for BCCI to compare consolidated bids against bids for individual rights pieces.

    By permitting TV broadcasters to put in one figure for all three packages, it seems to have nullified the international or digital bidders such as GroupM, Amazon, or ESPN, from being able to bid at par with the established TV broadcasters.

    This could also bring down the number of stakeholders BCCI may have to deal with. The new proposed change will also keep out deals between the BCCI and international broadcasters in key territories.

    Sports broadcast giant Star India and its competitor, Sony Pictures Network, seem to be in neck-and-neck race for television broadcast rights. The latter has been arguing with BCCI that its existing contract grants it the first right of refusal. While SPN enjoyed the telecast rights to Twenty-20 tournament since inception in 2008, Star India has been making inroads into IPL system. SPN has grown the property on television with innovations around language feeds, marketing, and monetising the IPL from a distribution and advertising stand-point. The 2016 edition of the IPL reached nearly 350 million TV viewers in India, a significant boost over 2015’s 200 million viewers thanks to the addition of rural households in the reporting of television viewership.

    Vinit Karnik, business head, ESP Properties, had told Business Standard, that, “It is no longer about the bouquet or distribution. The biggest change in the sports broadcast landscape is that the rights will now be awarded on the basis of production and packaging. When there are only two options, the organiser will go for the one that will present the property in the best way possible. Investments in sports production should increase now.”

    ALSO READ-

    Top court throws out BCCI’s review petition on Lodha recommendations

    18 prospective bidders for IPL Media Rights

  • Reliance Jio, Times Internet throw their hats into the IPL telecast rights ring

    Reliance Jio, Times Internet throw their hats into the IPL telecast rights ring

    MUMBAI: The names are spilling out about those who could be taking a stab at acquiring the broadcast television and digital streaming rights to the richest cricket league in the world – the Indian Premier League (IPL). Star India, Sony Pictures Network India (without prejudice), Amazon India, are amongst the names known to have coughed up $10,000 to pick up a copy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tender document for the IPL.

    Apparently the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio has also called for the tender, according to news reports in The Times of India and The Mint. Other companies which the media says have reportedly evinced interest include: Times Internet, Super Sport (a South African network), Econet, OSN (Dubai), BT, Sky Sports (both from the UK), ESPN and Followon (US). Sources reveal that sports OTT platform VEQTA has also bought a tender. Though a report has stated that Zee TV is also in the running, it is not clear how it will do so as sources say the tender document strictly forbids any one involved in litigation with the BCCI from participating in the bidding.

    The BCCI threw open the bids to potential bidders on 19 September with the last date for purchasing the document being slotted as 18 October and last date of submission being 25 October.

    The current bidding round will give the winner the television rights for 10 years, while the digital rights are being offered for five years.

  • Reliance Jio, Times Internet throw their hats into the IPL telecast rights ring

    Reliance Jio, Times Internet throw their hats into the IPL telecast rights ring

    MUMBAI: The names are spilling out about those who could be taking a stab at acquiring the broadcast television and digital streaming rights to the richest cricket league in the world – the Indian Premier League (IPL). Star India, Sony Pictures Network India (without prejudice), Amazon India, are amongst the names known to have coughed up $10,000 to pick up a copy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tender document for the IPL.

    Apparently the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio has also called for the tender, according to news reports in The Times of India and The Mint. Other companies which the media says have reportedly evinced interest include: Times Internet, Super Sport (a South African network), Econet, OSN (Dubai), BT, Sky Sports (both from the UK), ESPN and Followon (US). Sources reveal that sports OTT platform VEQTA has also bought a tender. Though a report has stated that Zee TV is also in the running, it is not clear how it will do so as sources say the tender document strictly forbids any one involved in litigation with the BCCI from participating in the bidding.

    The BCCI threw open the bids to potential bidders on 19 September with the last date for purchasing the document being slotted as 18 October and last date of submission being 25 October.

    The current bidding round will give the winner the television rights for 10 years, while the digital rights are being offered for five years.

  • BCCI’s cricket media rights bonanza

    BCCI’s cricket media rights bonanza

    MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has forecast that it is going to take home a whopping 60 per cent plus more media rights income from cricket in the financial year 2016-2017. The figure it has kept in its sights is Rs 1036.80 crore.

    In 2015-16, it had budgeted a figure of Rs 648 crore, and it easily got to it.

    The board generated gross media rights and franchisee consideration receipts of Rs. 1069.75 crore in 2015-2016 as against Rs. 999.6 crore in 2014-2015 from the mega bonanza Idian Premier League (IPL). The jump, the board, says is due to an increase in media rights income which went up to Rs 738.06 crore from Rs 689.10 crore in 2014-2015. Of this Rs 689.10 crore (Rs 620.23 crore), came courtesy Multi Screen Media Ltd (now Sony Pictures Networks- SPN- India) for the television rights within India. Rs 48.96 crore (Rs 47.68 crore) was contributed by Times Internet and sublicensees for righ.

    It generated Rs 25.31 crore from British Sky Broadcasting from the sale of its television, internet and mobile media rights for the UK, Ireland, Isle of Mann, Channel Islands and the European territories for the IPL. ESPN coughed up Rs 23.47 crore for the TV, audio, internet and mobile rights for the US and surrounding territories while Hotstar anted up Rs 48 crore for its delayed domestic streaming rights for India, and for audio and television, internet mobile and audio rights for some territories.

    The board has reported a surplus of Rs 210.51 crore from the IPL in 2015-2016.

    Additionally, BCCI’s gross media rights income from its international fixtures too went up has gone up from Rs. 388.80 crore last year to Rs. 648 crore in the current year, due to increase in the number of matches held in India, says BCCI honorary treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, in the annual report.

    He adds: “The cricket board has a surplus of income over expenditure of Rs. 111.83 crore as against Rs. 166.87 crore in the earlier year. This decrease in surplus is mainly due to distribution of additional amount due to associations, additional payments to players and absence of income from CLT-20 Tournament, in spite of increase in total income as compared to previous year.”

    In the current financial year 2016-17, the BCCI’s budgeted surplus is estimated at Rs. 509.13 crore.

    The BCCI in its annual report has stated that the Indian IPL, which is going into its tenth season has been valued at $4.5 billion (Rs 27,000 crore) and its ninth edition generated 102 crore impressions according to the Broadcast Audience Research Council. The valuation of the IPL brand was done by appraisal firm Duff & Phelps.

    According to the board, the IPL clocked a cumulative reach of 361 Million viewers, making it a total of 52 per cent of TV viewing households who tuned into IPL 2016 on television. On top of that 1.5 million spectators turned up at the stadia to watch the action on the ground.

    Additionally, the IPL is the fastest growing sports league in the world on microblogging site Twitter even when compared to Major League Baseball, NBA, NFL and EFA. The IPL fan following grew at a scorching pace of 300 per cent.

    With the numbers that the BCCI is throwing up about the IPL one can really expect the TV rights slugfest between Star India, Sony Pictures Networks, Amazon (??) and Reliancd Jio (??) to get really fierce and set new benchmarks.

  • BCCI’s cricket media rights bonanza

    BCCI’s cricket media rights bonanza

    MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has forecast that it is going to take home a whopping 60 per cent plus more media rights income from cricket in the financial year 2016-2017. The figure it has kept in its sights is Rs 1036.80 crore.

    In 2015-16, it had budgeted a figure of Rs 648 crore, and it easily got to it.

    The board generated gross media rights and franchisee consideration receipts of Rs. 1069.75 crore in 2015-2016 as against Rs. 999.6 crore in 2014-2015 from the mega bonanza Idian Premier League (IPL). The jump, the board, says is due to an increase in media rights income which went up to Rs 738.06 crore from Rs 689.10 crore in 2014-2015. Of this Rs 689.10 crore (Rs 620.23 crore), came courtesy Multi Screen Media Ltd (now Sony Pictures Networks- SPN- India) for the television rights within India. Rs 48.96 crore (Rs 47.68 crore) was contributed by Times Internet and sublicensees for righ.

    It generated Rs 25.31 crore from British Sky Broadcasting from the sale of its television, internet and mobile media rights for the UK, Ireland, Isle of Mann, Channel Islands and the European territories for the IPL. ESPN coughed up Rs 23.47 crore for the TV, audio, internet and mobile rights for the US and surrounding territories while Hotstar anted up Rs 48 crore for its delayed domestic streaming rights for India, and for audio and television, internet mobile and audio rights for some territories.

    The board has reported a surplus of Rs 210.51 crore from the IPL in 2015-2016.

    Additionally, BCCI’s gross media rights income from its international fixtures too went up has gone up from Rs. 388.80 crore last year to Rs. 648 crore in the current year, due to increase in the number of matches held in India, says BCCI honorary treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, in the annual report.

    He adds: “The cricket board has a surplus of income over expenditure of Rs. 111.83 crore as against Rs. 166.87 crore in the earlier year. This decrease in surplus is mainly due to distribution of additional amount due to associations, additional payments to players and absence of income from CLT-20 Tournament, in spite of increase in total income as compared to previous year.”

    In the current financial year 2016-17, the BCCI’s budgeted surplus is estimated at Rs. 509.13 crore.

    The BCCI in its annual report has stated that the Indian IPL, which is going into its tenth season has been valued at $4.5 billion (Rs 27,000 crore) and its ninth edition generated 102 crore impressions according to the Broadcast Audience Research Council. The valuation of the IPL brand was done by appraisal firm Duff & Phelps.

    According to the board, the IPL clocked a cumulative reach of 361 Million viewers, making it a total of 52 per cent of TV viewing households who tuned into IPL 2016 on television. On top of that 1.5 million spectators turned up at the stadia to watch the action on the ground.

    Additionally, the IPL is the fastest growing sports league in the world on microblogging site Twitter even when compared to Major League Baseball, NBA, NFL and EFA. The IPL fan following grew at a scorching pace of 300 per cent.

    With the numbers that the BCCI is throwing up about the IPL one can really expect the TV rights slugfest between Star India, Sony Pictures Networks, Amazon (??) and Reliancd Jio (??) to get really fierce and set new benchmarks.

  • Ang Lee awarded IBC2016 International Honour for Excellence

    Ang Lee awarded IBC2016 International Honour for Excellence

    LONDON: Sunday night at IBC saw the most exciting and engaging awards ceremony yet. From the presence of not one but two Oscar winners, to a special message from the International Space Station, this was an unforgettable occasion.

    The IBC2016 International Honour for Excellence, IBC’s highest accolade, went to the movie director Ang Lee. A brief retrospective looked at five of his most famous films, from 1995s — Sense and Sensibility to Life of Pi in 2012, before the audience was treated to the trailer from his latest movie, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.

    “In the past few years, I have come strongly to believe that new technology will upgrade film-making in terms of story-telling,” Lee said. “In Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, the use of high frame rate and high dynamic range will provide, I hope, a unique opportunity to feel the realities of war and peace through the protagonist’s eyes.”

    “IBC has done so much to bring together new technology and old-fashioned creativity,” he added. “I am delighted to be part of this exciting dialogue, and I am honoured to receive this award.”

    It was one hundred years ago that the first meeting of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers was called, to drive forward standards in the emerging industry. With the addition of television in 1950, it became SMPTE, one of the partner bodies of IBC and still the guardian of the key standards which support our industry.

    Perhaps the most memorable acceptance speech of the evening came not from the stage but from the International Space Station. NASA received the IBC2016 Judges’ Prize for its long history in bringing the wonders of space exploration to our screens, despite huge technical considerations.

    Astronaut Kate Rubins greeted IBC from the International Space Station, saying “Living and working here 250 miles above our beautiful planet, we’re lucky enough to enjoy stunning views of the world below. We’re honoured to bring this fresh perspective in the images and video we collect.”

    Summing up the evening, Michael Crimp, CEO of IBC, said “Our awards programme is a vital part of IBC. It gives us the chance to recognise real leadership, but it is also the opportunity to reflect on the way that the whole industry contributes to the success through its constant innovation and co-operation. That sense of collaboration and creativity, in turn, is in the DNA of IBC.”

    IBC Innovation Awards

    The LiveIP Studio project took the award for content creation, with trophies presented both to the EBU and the host of the project, Flemish broadcaster VRT. The judges admired the way the project had taken a practical approach to using IP for live production, involving a large number of vendors and solving the interoperability issues.

    The other two finalists in this category were both from the world of sports. BT Sport received a highly commended certificate for its work in augmented reality as a means of engaging and informing sports fans. ESPN was also honoured, for Pylon Cam, putting four cameras inside a 3D printed corner post for American football.

    Two of the entries in content management were around reality television. Endemol Shine Germany took the trophy for its production management on Wild Island, which split the post between the location – two islands off the coast of central America – and the company’s base in Cologne.

    Highly commended was The 15 of Us, a year-long reality experiment made by Tencent in China, which generated 3,000 hours of content a day. VRT made a return to the stage, this time to honour its children’s channel Ketnet with its engaging app for children from two to 12.

    Also returning to the stage, this time to collect the trophy for content delivery, was BT Sport. It launched an Ultra HD channel last year, and the audience at the IBC Awards ceremony was treated to some stunning 4k sports footage on our state-of-the-art screen.

    BT Sport’s Ultra HD channel features the UEFA Champions’ League, and UEFA itself was a competitor for the award. Its highly commended entry focused on increasing engagement through add-on services and second screen apps. The other highly commended entry came from Swisscom, with its imaginative new look at content discovery across a large number of channels.

    IBC Best Conference Paper Award

    The IBC Best Conference Paper Award is presented to the authors of the paper which presents important new research in a clear and engaging way. This year it went to Erik Stare of Teracom in Stockholm, Dr Jordi Giménez of Universitat Politècnica de València in Spain and Dr Peter Klenner of Panasonic Europe, based in Frankfurt for their paper ‘WIB – a new system concept for digital terrestrial television’.

    Exhibition Stand Design Awards

    Each year IBC gives three awards for the most attractive, practical and effective exhibition stands. This year the award for the best use of shell scheme space went to Pliant Technologies. The judges said the design “takes the use of shell scheme to a new level with good use of space, excellent lighting and fantastic graphics, all presenting a chic but not cheap effect. A most attractive and inviting stand.”

    Highly commended in the category for smaller free design stands (up to 100 square metres) were Viaccess-Orca and Nokia, but the award went to Ooyala for its design which relied heavily on wood: even the apparently steel construction beams were actually made of wood. The judges felt the stand was “fun, with playful visuals, presented by a young-minded team.”

    Two exhibitors were also highly commended in the larger free design category: Skyworth and Vestel. The winner, though, was Cisco, for “an open and inviting stand, with plenty of space on two levels for multiple meetings. It’s stunning, and is a fresh approach.”