The global broadcasting community recently converged at IBC Show 2023, where industry insiders got a close look at the latest trends and innovations. Among them was Adrian French, Vice-President, System at Magna Systems, who made a highly anticipated return after several years.
French, in an interview with Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+, shared his reasons for attending the event: “It’s been a few years since I’ve been to IBC. So, it’s been a very good eye-opener for me to walk around and see what’s changed. It’s about meeting some of our vendors and introducing myself to see what’s new.”
Magna Systems, known for its role as a systems integrator, has been collaborating with several notable vendors. French spotlighted a few partnerships, “We work with TAG for their video platform; it’s been fantastic meeting them. We’ve also done significant work with MediaKind for their compression systems.”
One of the major highlights for Magna Systems at the IBC Show was its collaboration with Arkona, particularly the Blade//runner platform. “The Blade//runner platform is gaining momentum, and we’ve recently become its reseller in Australia,” French noted with evident enthusiasm.
When asked about what makes Magna Systems’ work stand out, French delved into his role and the company’s strategy. “From a Magna perspective, as Business Development Manager, I’m constantly on the lookout for new clients and vendors that complement our portfolio. Instead of just focusing on the product sales, we’re looking at comprehensive solutions.” He added that the increasing relevance of cloud-based solutions has spurred many discussions at the show.
Additionally, the influence and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in broadcasting have emerged as significant talking points. “The AI piece is coming in strongly. TAG, for instance, heavily employs AI. Another company, Actus, which specializes in monitoring and compliance, is also integrating AI for features like voice-to-text,” said French. He emphasized that the insights gained from the event would be pivotal for the company’s future endeavors.
To summarize his experience and the success of his trip to IBC, French remarked, “I think it’s been successful. It’s been great to be here after such a long hiatus.”
This year’s IBC Show, hosted in Amsterdam, has served as a valuable platform for broadcasting professionals like French and companies like Magna Systems to engage, collaborate, and stay abreast of the rapidly evolving broadcasting landscape.