IBC unveils 2023 headline speakers lineup, with execs from Paramount and WBD

Leading industry trade event International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) which takes place in the RAI Amsterdam on September 15-18 has announced its line-up of headline speakers including execs from Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fremantle.

The content at this year’s event will be focused on three key themes Transformative Tech, Shifting Business Models, People and Purpose, as well as, the return of the IBC Changemakers Programme.

The conference will explore core trends and technologies shaping the future of media and entertainment (M&E), with an address by ‘Media Universe Cartographer’ kicked off by TV and film producer Evan Shapiro.

The confirmed headline speakers also include:

Aditi Pandey, head of Vendor Management & Partnerships at NRK
Allu Venkatesh (Allu Bobby), actor, film producer and entrepreneur at aha, Just Tickets
Anthony Guarino, executive vice president, Global Production & Studio Technology at Paramount
Bill Baggelaar, chief technology officer and executive vice president, Technology Development at Sony Pictures Entertainment
Kishore AK, President Technology and chief technology officer at Zee
Leah Hooper Rosa, Senior Vice President, EMEA Streaming and Global Integration Lead at Warner Bros. Discovery
Michael Wise, Senior Vice President and chief technology officer at Universal Pictures
Natalya Tatarchuk, distinguished technical fellow and chief Aachitect, vice president, Wētā Tools at Unity Technologies
Phil Wiser, Executive Vice President and chief technology officer at Paramount Global
Richard Berger, chief executive officer at MovieLabs
Ralph Lee, chief executive officer at BBC Studios Productions
Valerio Motti, vice president FAST Channels at Fremantle

In an official statement Michael Crimp, IBC’s chief executive officer, sad: “IBC continues to evolve and grow with the industry. We are actively listening to our community on what they want out of a modern trade show. Among the things they are telling us they want are new topics and new ways of learning – and our content pillars give us the scope to provide these. They form a compelling thread that runs through the talks, presentations and panels going on at the conference and at show-floor venues across the RAI. They create a clear focus for an exciting slate of visionary speakers to address the most pressing trends, issues, opportunities and challenges in media and entertainment today.”

Speaking on a briefing call to press about last year travel complications at Schiphol airport where there was severe delays and cancelled fights, Crimp added, “It was pretty terrible. It was basically a meltdown and was probably one of the worst days for us of last year.

“Post pandemic it [Amsterdam] seems to have taken their eye off the ball. It seems a lot of it has to do with letting skilled staff go and not being able to recruit new staff, along with some labour relations issues which we have all seen across the board which resulted in that meltdown last year.”

The CEO said it has been engaged in talks with the airport since last year’s chaos and have asked them to make a statement to give reassurance for IBC attendees.

“It seems they are coming back on their feet, and everything will be okay. At IBC we’re pushing them hard and they have a long track record of being a good airport,” he added. “They have a lot of confidence in the investments and changes they have made including a new CEO.”