< Previouswww.digitalstudiome.com NAB was quick to release the NAB Show Express that received participation from 40,000 virtual attendees so far, with IBC cancelled Michael Crimp, chief executive, IBC discusses what transpired the turn of events hy did you decide to cancel IBC2020? The reason was that we could not guarantee that we would be able to deliver a safe and valuable event. Over the past few months, we have been keeping a close eye on the spread of coronavirus and the response of governments around the world. We have been assessing and planning for diff erent scenarios, but it became clear that we would not be in a position to put on the kind of show that people expect of IBC; there were just too many unknowns. It was also increasingly apparent that the restrictions that we would have needed to put in place to ensure social distancing would have devalued the experience for everyone. Cancelling is frustrating for all of us, whether you are an exhibitor, attendee or member of the IBC team who work so hard to deliver such a great show, but we are confi dent that it is the correct decision and the response we have seen from the industry suggests most are in agreement. What has the response been from exhibitors and attendees? It’s been overwhelmingly supportive. There is obviously a lot of disappointment, W but the vast majority of exhibitors and attendees appreciate that while this has been a diffi cult decision it is in the best interests of our industry and the wider community. We have had lots of messages of support from people who say they are already looking forward to IBC2021. IN NUMBERS — IBC 2019 56,390 attendees registered for IBC 2019 10% YoY increase in the number of under 35s THE FUTURE OF IBC Blackmagic’s stand at IBC 2019. 30 / JUNE-AUGUST 2020 IBCwww.digitalstudiome.com Michael Crimp, chief executive, IBC. vast majority of exhibitors remained committed to IBC2020 and we could also see from the number of people who had registered to attend that there was significant appetite among the industry for IBC2020 to take place. With so much uncertainty, we felt that the closer we got to September the more clarity there would be. But the feedback we had from the market was that exhibitors wanted a clear decision, and so we needed to make that call. The timing of the decision was driven by a few factors. Firstly, there was a call from the industry for a decision now so that they could concentrate resources on regrouping and recovery. However, the government’s plans for future months did not offer the certainty that the environment would be safe and suitable for a high-quality event experience. Nor was it clear how usually simple things like flights and border controls would work in September. So, using IBC to rally the industry became too risky. And of course, there is still the threat of a resurgence of the virus across society. NAB’S VIRTUAL EVENT SUCCESS The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) estimated 40,000 industry professionals accessed the inaugural NAB Show Express in a span of a week after the event launched on May 13. Participants from around the world engaged with content through social media streams, partner programmes and directly via nabshowexpress.com. In total, participants consumed more than 1.6 million minutes of video content via the event’s broadcast channels, on-demand videos and social media streams over the first week. NAB Show Express continues to offer free access to more than 200 on- demand educational sessions, executive conversations, resources and exhibits through the end of August 2020. There were calls from some exhibitors for an earlier cancellation of the show. Why didn’t you cancel the show a few weeks ago? Some exhibitors had withdrawn from IBC2020 and of course we fully respect their decision to do that. However, at the point at which we cancelled, the 56,390 attendees registered for IBC 2019. JUNE-AUGUST 2020 / 31 IBCWe announced the cancellation at the start of this week - four months before IBC2020 was due to take place - which we felt would give all those who were going to be part of the show enough time to adjust their plans. The general response has been sympathetic and positive, and that it was the right decision at the right time. In your cancellation announcement you mentioned a virtual event. What can you tell us about this? From our conversations with exhibitors and attendees we know that there is appetite for IBC to provide a platform for exhibitors and for the insights delivered by the conference programme. We are fortunate in that we launched our year- round platform, IBC365, back in April 2017, and so we will continue to use this to share industry news and insights. We will also launch a virtual event that will take place in September that will provide exhibitors with a platform to showcase their products and latest news and host a programme of original content of the quality that you would expect from the IBC conference. More details on this will be announced very soon. What impact will the cancellation of IBC2020 have on IBC and your plans for IBC2021? Our focus right now is speaking with our exhibitors and doing all we can to make sure they are aware of the options available to them. We know that there will be some challenging times ahead for many companies in this industry, and IBC as an organisation is no exception, so over the coming months we will continue to engage with the media and technology community to make sure that we are able next year to deliver the best show for the industry. IBC has an important role to play in helping this industry to thrive. Because of the size and scale of an event like IBC, it takes more than a year to pull together, and so the team will shortly begin work planning and preparing for IBC2021. What message would you like to send to exhibitors and attendees now that the show has been cancelled? Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for their messages of support. We welcome all feedback and we are keen to hear from as many people as possible; your views shape IBC and so I would encourage you to get in touch with any comments or suggestions. And I would like to reassure everyone that we will do all we can to deliver as many of the things that you expect and enjoy from IBC but in a virtual environment in September. 10% YoY increase in the number of under 35s. www.digitalstudiome.com32 / JUNE-AUGUST 2020 IBCTTHHE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR TECHHNNOOLOGY NEWWS AANNDD ANALYSIS FOR CIOOSS, IITT MANAGERSS AANND CYRBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALSSS AAAACCCCRRRROOOOSSSSSSS TTTTTHHHHEEEE MMMMIIIDDDDDDDDLLLLLEEEE EASSTT NNNEEETWORKMMMIIIDDDDDDDDLLLLEEEEEEAST.COMSPONSORS PRO AUDIO PARTNER STREAMING PARTNER CONTENT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER PARTNER 34 / JUNE-AUGUST 2020www.digitalstudiome.com DS AWARDS 2020 THE 16TH ANNUAL DIGITAL STUDIO AWARD WINNERS WERE UNVEILED IN A LIVE STREAM, MAKING THE DIGITAL STUDIO VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY THE FIRST IN ITS HISTORY total of 14 companies / individuals were crowned across as many categories as winners of the inaugural Digital Studio Virtual Awards, which were held on June 3, 2020. Every year Digital Studio recognises extraordinary regional talent and achievement. Excellence is something that inspires, and now, more than ever, we honour it. Due to current challenging market conditions, and through utilising sophisticated technology and the engaged audience we were able to reward A the pioneers of the digital broadcast industry throughout the region. The awards were streamed live across Digital Studio’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages. The stream was viewed live 205 viewers and crossed several thousand views within the first hour of streaming. In another fi rst, a partnership between Digital Studio and Al Aan TV meant the awards were broadcast on on Aish Al Aan. The inaugural Digital Studio Virtual Awards were also supported by Shure, Art Format Lab and Imagine Communications. OSN emerged as the most successful company bagging three awards. OSN’s Live The Oscars show won in two categories — Original Production of the Year and Best Content Capture. Meanwhile the company’s streaming service Wavo (which the company rebranded to OSN Streaming since the submission of its nomination) won the Content Delivery Platform of the Year amidst tough regional competition. This year also marks Digital Studio’s 20 year anniversary during which time the platform has been dedicated to report about the media production and broadcast industry. A full list of the winners is available to view on the next page. Read our award winners stories from p38-42.SPONSORS PRO AUDIO PARTNER STREAMING PARTNER CONTENT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER PARTNER JUNE-AUGUST 2020 / 35 www.digitalstudiome.com WINNERS OF THE DS AWARDS 2020 WINNER BEST CONTENT CAPTURE WINNER CONTENT DELIVERY PLATFORM OF THE YEAR WINNER BEST LIVE ACTION CAPTURE WINNER DISTRIBUTOR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR WINNER BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS/CGIWINNER EXCELLENCE IN POST PRODUCTION WINNER BEST TECHNICAL INSTALLATIONWINNER INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR WINNER BEST TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONWINNER ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR WINNER BEST USE OF ANIMATION WINNER OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN WORKFLOW WINNER BROADCAST EXECUTIVE OF THE YEARWINNER STUDIO OF THE YEAR Best Content Capture OSN - Live the Oscars Content Delivery Platform of the Year Wavo (OSN Streaming) - OSN Best Live Action Capture 7 Production - Coverage of the FIA Formula One 2019 Season Distributor Initiative of the Year Mena.tv – ChannelSculptor Best Special Effects / CGI Artology Creative - Global Business Forum Africa Excellence in Post Production Zaini Media Production - SCIFF Project Best Technical Installation Award ARET Video and Audio Engineering - Binary OB Van Independent Filmmaker of the Year Faisal Hashmi Best Technology Innovation Award UAE Pro League - Player Point of View Original Production of the Year Live the Oscars – OSN Best Use of Animation Sharjah Media Corporation - Sports Idents 2019 Outstanding Achievement in Workfl ow Imagine Communications Integrated Playout for Saudi Broadcasting Authority Broadcast Executive of the Year Maaz Sheikh – STARZPLAY Studio of the Year Fatafeat Studio Discovery MENA36 / JUNE-AUGUST 2020www.digitalstudiome.comJUNE-AUGUST 2020 / 37 www.digitalstudiome.com38 / JUNE-AUGUST 2020www.digitalstudiome.com Dubai-based Artology Creative won the award for its work in the Global Business Forum Africa, a series organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. The one-motion-shot style video had to be turned around in 45-days. The cinematography required carefully orchestrated shots to ensure synergy and harmony between the live action The sting created by Arun Anantharaman, a motion graphics designer for Sharjah Broadcasting Authority won the Best Use of Animation award at the DS Awards 2020. The sting created for a sports show on Faisal Hashmi, a Dubai-raised expat who has produced 10 short fi lms in as many years, won the inaugural Independent Filmmaker of the Year award. Hashmi’s recent fi lms made the rounds at several international fi lm festivals especially in the last 12 months. His most recent short movie Wicken was screened at fi lm fests in the US. A few of the fi lm festivals that ARTOLOGY SWOOPS BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS / CGI 2020 AWARD SHARJAH BROADCASTING AUTHORITY ANIMATES ITS WAY TO DS AWARDS 2020 FAISAL HASHMI EDGES COMPETITION TO MAIDEN INDIE FILMMAKER AWARD BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS / CGI BEST USE OF ANIMATION INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR and VFX scenes. Alaa Al Akawi, founder — executive director, Artology Creative said: “With such projects we pay extra attention to the details and craftsmanship of our work to ensure our clients satisfaction and I think the judges have seen that in our work and felt it every step of the way as we produced this fi lm. Sharjah Broadcasting Authority features the use of 3D Max, Adobe After Eff ect, Photoshop and Illustrator. Speaking more about his joys of winning the award Anantharaman said: “I’m passionate Hashmi was featured in include the NEPA Horror Film Festival in Scranton, Mesa International Film Festival in Arizona. Wicken also played in Los Angeles at the Skiptown Playhouse Film Festival as part of the horror short fi lms category. A euphoric Hashmi shared his thoughts after winning, he said: The competition couldn’t have been stronger. Shahad Ameen WINNER BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS/CGI WINNER BEST USE OF ANIMATION WINNER INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR Judges honour special efforts taken to match every second between animation and edited footage Using several tools and application the winner wowed the judges with their fi nal product that was used in a sports show A new category at the Digital Studio Awards, the Independent Filmmaker of the Year trophy hopes to encourage fi lmmakers of the future Some of the challenges included matching camera speeds, movement and lenses on both the VFX and the live action footage. The whole video was done in CG (Previz) action. Once completed, the team needed to match every second between the animation and the edited footage. When post-production started, there were multiple teams working on multiple tasks simultaneously. about animation and it gives me great joy to win the award. Thanks to the head of department at Sharjah Broadcasting Authority I was given a chance to express myself. The identity of a channel is very important and good graphics play a huge part in determining the identity.” Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (SBA) is the broadcaster of Sharjah TV which fi rst aired back in 1989. is a rising new talent and her fi lm Scales is one I’m looking forward to seeing and has been making waves on the festival circuit, so it was a genuine surprise to hear my name as the winner. I think the judges might have paid close emphasis to the word ‘Independent’ in ‘Independent Filmmaker of the Year’ and seen how all of my work have been micro-budget eff orts with me wearing multiple hats to make my fi lms despite the limitations and lack of studio backing, so perhaps I embodied the true spirit of that award.JUNE-AUGUST 2020 / 39 www.digitalstudiome.com SPONSORSORS Live the Oscars, a talent hunt show produced by OSN, won the award for Best Content Capture and Best Original Production of the Year. OSN was one of the offi cial broadcasters at the Oscars which was used by the broadcasters as a way in which to hunt for its presenters live at the show in Hollywoood. The six episode series aired on OSN network, Wavo (Now OSN Streaming), OSN OnDemand, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram from 10th January to 14th February 2020. Fathi Azouz, director of original content and production, said: “Winning the most coveted award for Best Original Production was a gratifying experience, winning a Mena.tv, a Dubai-founded content marketplace, has won the Distributor Initiative of the Year Award at the Digital Studio Awards 2020. Over the past 12 months Mena.tv has attracted more than 650 buyers from around the region, and now promotes shows from over 40 producers and distributors including international giants such as Viacom and Discovery Networks. A major highlight for the company was partnering with global equity crowdfunding platform Eureeca.com to OSN’S COVERAGE OF THE OSCARS WINS BIG AT DS AWARDS MENA.TV ADJUDGED DISTRIBUTOR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR 2020 BEST CONTENT CAPTURE & ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR DISTRIBUTOR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR The reality-style show ran for six weeks. Nick Grande of Mena.tv. second one for best content capture is truly overwhelming. Throughout this exceptional enterprise, we endeavoured to produce a great authentic reality TV show that is diff erent from what’s available in the market. The key to a great original content is the narrative which dictates the techniques by which such story can be told. “We had incredible competition for the two categories we won and they showcased an amazing array of quality and techniques. We welcome strong competition, it is the only way to elevate our output and victory is sweeter when the competition is tougher. Live the Oscars is about dreaming big, about reaching for the stars and making impossible dream come true. It was our dream to win and we are grateful for our facilitate the equity off ering, making it possible to buy shares online in what was a huge move for the start-up. Nick Grande, CEO, Mena.tv said: “We’re a start-up business on a very tough journey, so this award means a great deal to us. We’re honoured that the judges recognise the hard work we are putting into building the region’s content marketplace and the mena.tv brand.” Mena.tv also hosted the first ever regional screening of Arabic original content, working with major regional WINNER BEST CONTENT CAPTURE WINNER DISTRIBUTOR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR WINNER ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR OSN’s talent hunt show Live The Oscars was set out to fi nd a co-presenter on the red carpet for the 2020 Oscars The global pandemic has led to Mena.tv’s services jumping 100% in two months producers including Rotana Media, Cedars Art Productions, Spacetoon and Eagle Films as well as international producers of Arabic shows such as VuClip and Comedy Central. industry peers to give us the awards and share this vision of excellence with us.”Next >