Avid at DPP European Broadcaster Summit 2024

Many of Europe’s leading broadcasters gathered to discuss major challenges facing the industry at a time of continued rapid change.

The DPP European Broadcaster Summit 2024, in Munich, a two-day conference, brought together over 100 delegates to discuss advances in artificial intelligence (AI), IP infrastructure and cloud-based media production workflows, among other issues. Participants shared their concerns and outlined their plans for the future. The summit was also attended by leading industry vendors, including a team from Avid, one of the event’s major sponsors.

The DPP and broadcasters had chosen five key topic areas for discussion throughout the event. The summit began with a day-long session for the broadcaster community only, to narrow down those topics they were most keen to discuss with peers and vendors.

The five topics were:

• AI
• Cloud Production
• IP Infrastructure
• Hybrid Cloud Architecture
• Metadata and Asset Management

Content for many of the topics overlapped, including the subject of flexibility, but there was also a healthy dose of realism about the challenge of implementing these solutions at a time of static or decreasing budgets and nervousness about change.

Unease was evident in the discussions around one topic which currently dominates much of the discourse around the world of media – the use of AI in the production process. Delegates made it clear that while they are keen to explore what AI can deliver, they have many concerns about its use, and the methodology behind it. Transparency was a key word used to ensure that all sides involved in the development of AI are open about the work that they are doing, the use cases they are trying to support, and the models being used to train AI development.

Avid Chief Technology Officer Kevin Riley attended the conference and was a panel speaker in the AI session. He was joined at the event by Christel Jaekel, Avid EMEA Pre-Sales Manager, and Craig Wilson, Avid Product Evangelist for Broadcast and Media. Craig was part of the panel discussion on cloud production workflows.

“At Avid, with our developments around Avid Ada, we are taking a stand on the responsible use of AI, which we see very much as a co-pilot to our users who are taking advantage of our technology,” Riley says. “We want AI to be there to assist, but for the final decisions on content to be taken by the most important people — the creative users sitting in front of Media Composer, or Pro Tools or MediaCentral.”

“The discussions highlighted the nervous excitement which exists around AI at the moment.,” Riley adds. “It is clear that this is an area where there is potential for huge growth, but it will be done at a steady pace as confidence is built around what it can offer.”

This was the latest in a series of conferences where Avid has been at the forefront of examining AI development in the media production industry – following recent events with the EBU and the HPA.

While AI was an important topic, it was clear that it is not the only area of focus. Each topic was discussed with the entire group of delegates, as well as in breakout sessions with key findings documented. These will be published in a DPP report in the coming weeks with summaries of the discussions.

The second day of the event was dominated by presentations from many broadcasters who shared their specific plans, challenges and priorities for this year and beyond.

“The event brought together some of the biggest players in the European market and it is evident that they share many common challenges and concerns,” Riley says. “This kind of event helps Avid deepen our relationships and understanding of these challenges which then gives increased focus to our teams on the solutions which we develop.”

More Avid AI developments will be showcased at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, in April this year.

To find out more about Avid AI developments, check out www.avid.com/ada