SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SPORTS BROADCASTING AT THE IBC2018
The HBS Broadcast Academy was delighted when over 150 people participated in a series of exclusive three-day sessions they hosted during the International Broadcast Convention (IBC) last week, which covered the following topics: acquiring sports rights, digital production and quality control in live sports production.
By bringing together experts from around the globe to provide their unique insights during, the academy had three clear targets for their panel sessions.
The first mission was to inspire a motivated audience of professionals from outside of Europe by assembling 15 experts from the US, Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East to share their knowledge during the panel discussions and masterclasses. The academy was thrilled when a number of senior executives took part in the training sessions. They were particularly encouraged by the strong turnout of broadcast unions representing Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
The next equally important undertaking was to offer hands-on experience to the next generation of young aspiring producers and directors. Students were given a taste of practical skills deployed in the field of sports directing with the live-simulator tool developed by EVS. Participants were walked through the basics of directing and taught the importance of having prepared a detailed plan that dissected how major incidents in a match or event would be covered. The training allowed participants to become replay operators and directors for live football matches, with the live-simulator equipped to show 12 separate camera angles.
Arent-Jan Jongman, Director and EVS Operator, was impressed by the training sessions. “It will definitely help a lot of people to obtain flying hours in their roles in production,” Jongman said about the live-simulator training.
Another key objective of the sessions was to encourage women in the broadcast industry. By breaking down the role of a director, from cutting and replays to international best practices, the Academy tried to demystify the role of a director and inspire women to aim for directing positions that have historically been filled by men.
Riki Van Steeden, Live Producer at HBS, thought it was fantastic to see the level of interest and knowledge of the young participants. “We hope by sharing our experience we have made a genuine impact on their view of the broadcast industry and their understanding of the scope of a director,” Van Steeden said.
Imran Sroya, Director at the IBC, said the HBS Broadcast Academy brought together a diverse group of senior representatives from Asia, the Middle East and Africa as well as young participants to discuss and receive training on sports broadcasting. “We are pleased to see so many people from around the world participate in these sessions,” remarked Sroya.
Technology partner EVS were also thrilled with the practical experience participants gained with their live production system. “It’s key for us to inspire new talent in the industry, and to enable practical and real-life conditions teaching during these sessions was a very useful way to show what we can offer,” said Senior Vice President of Marketing, Nicolas Bourdon.
The HBS Broadcast Academy were also pleased to perform a strong role within the convention. Lise Cosimi, Chief of External Relations, thinks it is the mission of broadcasters today to guide the next generation, which will help build a strong sports broadcasting industry of tomorrow. “We strongly believe in a legacy to our work, helping to raise broadcast standards and to encourage diversity within the industry. The events at IBC were a very strong way to show what we do, and to leave a legacy of practical experience,” she explained.
