The winners of IABM’s Broadcast and Media awards (BaMs) were announced at IABM’s BaM Awards party on 15th September during the IBC Show in Amsterdam. The winners, across nine categories described by the BaM Content Chain: Creator to Consumer, as well as a 10th category recognizing an outstanding project, collaboration or event, were selected from an initial 149 high quality submissions.
The judging was carried out by a panel of more than 40 non-affiliated, expert judges, each with specialist expertise in one or more of the awards categories. Final selections were made after visits by the judges to view the shortlisted entries on the applicants’ stands at IBC2018.
John Ive, IABM's director strategic insight, who chaired the judging panel, said: “This year’s awards really reflect the changes in our industry and showcase the amazing innovation on display at IBC2018. We were looking for applications that are game-changers from a wide cross-section of enterprises, large and small. Our independent panel of judges was challenged to select the best of the best and has done a great job.”
The winners are listed below by category, with the judges’ comments appended.
Create
SHOTOVER Camera Systems – M1 Camera System
“This product's highly versatile, future proof design makes it the ideal system to be used in a large number of challenging shooting environments. It provides unprecedented benefits that enhance the user's creative process.”
Produce
Aperi - V-Stack virtualized production platform
“Excellent example of a different approach to live production that leverages software and IP-based platforms. An innovative product for live production as we move to IP broadcast systems. No Capex and a great offering.”
Manage
Microsoft – Video Inedexer
“A great product making powerful machine learning modules available to the masses with multiple use cases to drive operational efficiency and revenue. It enables media organizations to make sense of their content in a period in which this is exploding.”
Publish
Limelight Networks - Realtime Streaming
“As OTT becomes more important for live and real-time content such as sports events, Limelight is bringing an innovative new solution to market to help ensure high-quality content experiences are delivered to viewers - without making them wait.”
Monetize
Promethean.TV – Promethean Broadcast Centre
“An innovative system that's highly relevant for today's multi-platform delivery. It's an excellent solution for increasing revenues from OTT content. Promethean has engaged with the market and industry very positively. A great example for other start-ups to follow.”
Consume
Hexaglobe – X-TREME Player
“Hexaglobe's X-TREME Player recognises the importance of ensuring a high-quality experience all the way to the consumer's device. Hexaglobe has worked hard to understand consumers, delivering a player that offers great new features - including letting viewers switch seamlessly between different camera feeds of an event.”
Connect
BT Media & Broadcast – Media Workflow Connect
“Connectivity is one of the biggest challenges in adopting cloud and remote working. BT's solution goes a long way to addressing some of that, and providing connectivity "on demand" to suit the project-based nature of productions. The real innovation here is in the packaging and the business model - and that's an area that many vendors would be wise to focus on more.”
Store
Editshare – XStream EFS
“A new approach to everyone's nightmare. Much more than an upgrade and helping manage crucial aspects of content security in a user-friendly way.”
Support
Portrait Displays/SpectraCal - CalMAN Auto Calibration for LG OLED and Super UHD Displays
“A really neat solution for the home and the control room. Increasingly domestic grade monitors are used in control and edit rooms. This tool allows the users to calibrate these screens consistently and easily. Potentially a big hit.”
Project, collaboration or event
Telestream - Enabling New and Revolutionary Workflows for Real Time Remote Production of Live Events
“The dream of remote production has been bedevilled by latency issues around file handling. This cooperative effort by Telestream removes this roadblock by enabling near-realtime editing on growing files remotely - a real breakthrough.”
The IBC 2018 BaM Award winners are automatically shortlisted for IABM’s Peter Wayne Golden BaM™ Award, with the winner announced at the IABM Annual International Business Conference and Awards in December 2018.
