The International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2023 saw industry heavyweights, including Avid, showcase the latest advancements in the world of broadcasting. Held in Amsterdam, this year’s event felt like a refreshing return to the pre-pandemic times, with significant traffic upticks and enriched interactions between businesses and potential clients.
Tim Claman, the Vice-President & General Manager of Video Products for Avid, was on-site, championing the company’s newest offerings. “I’m responsible for all the video products here at Avid,” he explained during an interview with Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+. Reflecting on this year’s IBC, Claman noted, “We’ve seen a lot more traffic than last year, significantly more traffic, but also very high-quality interactions. It’s been a return to the pre-pandemic IBC that we all cherished.”
Among the standout features of Avid’s exhibition this year was its emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). “Like many vendors, AI is at the forefront of our discussions,” Claman said. He detailed the integration of AI services into their recent product releases, pointing to examples like speech-to-text in their Media Composer. “We’ve changed our approach to product development, pushing for advanced research. Here, we’re demonstrating things like recommendation engines, summary engines, and interactive chatbots.”
While the company prides itself on the individual strengths of its products, Claman emphasized Avid’s unique selling proposition: their comprehensive solutions. “We focus on end-to-end solutions,” he clarified. “Not just solving one piece, but offering a full suite, from ingest and asset management to editing and publishing.” Collaborative efforts also underpin Avid’s strategy, with open APIs and a robust partner ecosystem comprising over 600 partners.
Claman further highlighted Avid’s global perspective, particularly regarding the Asia-Pacific market. “We’re a global company,” he stressed, “And supporting multiple languages, especially for Asia Pacific, is pivotal. With AI, we can now support numerous languages, even mixed languages and translations.” Wrapping up the interview, Claman’s passion for Avid’s innovations, especially in multi-language support, was palpable. He echoed feedback he had received: “Good job Avid on the Multi-Language support.”
The broadcasting landscape is rapidly changing, with AI playing an increasingly critical role. Companies like Avid, with their commitment to comprehensive solutions and global outreach, exemplify how industry leaders are innovating to meet these challenges head-on.