IBC2009 Delivers a Successful Event

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Despite some pessimistic predictions, IBC2009 exceeded expectations, delivering a final attendance of 45,547, just 7% down on the 2008 figure. Taking exhibitors out of the calculation, visitor numbers were even more impressive, falling by less than 5%. "Judging the success of an event like IBC purely on numbers does not do justice to the whole experience, " emphasised Michael Crimp, chief operating officer of IBC. "IBC is about the quality of the interactions, and that is where we delivered once again, through a conference illuminated by some remarkable keynote speakers and an exhibition where virtually all of the world's leading manufacturers met virtually all of the world's key decision makers.

"Our main aim is not to be a trade show but to be an experience, " he continued. "One of the ways in which we do that is through the content we provide which puts the technology on the exhibition floor into context. We knew that in 2009 our constituents needed to invest in knowledge to enable them to compete in the new media landscape as well as the new economic climate, and this is what we provided."

IBC added value to the experience of its visitors in ways as diverse as keynote addresses from Marty Pompadur and Rory Sutherland; movie screenings in stereoscopic 3D; a unique opportunity to study both the ASC and the BSC digital camera tests and question the experts behind them; and the chance to let off steam in virtual motor races in the Games Arena.

Visitor reaction to IBC2009 was uniformly positive. Mr Ma Ju, president of ABS SARFT in China said "Many international giants come to IBC, bringing with them the most advanced technologies and the ideas that will guide industry development forward. IBC is a barometer for international broadcasting development."

David Hill, chairman and CEO at Fox Sports established IBC's place in the industry: "IBC is the most important media technology meeting in the world, " he commented. Dieter Engel, senior vice president of Deutsche Telekom, agreed, saying "IBC is the most important show for me - more important than CES or NAB. This year it has been even more relevant than last year. All the vendors who are important to me are here."

In conclusion, IBC's Michael Crimp underlined the importance of IBC being run by the industry for the industry, and the way that meant the event could move quickly to respond to changing requirements. "We are all about sustainability, for us, for our exhibitors and our visitors, " he said. "We build an event that is right for the mood of the market, and create a buzz around it to ensure that the right audience attends.

"I believe we have exceeded expectations in 2009, and I look forward to welcoming everyone to IBC when it returns to Amsterdam in September 2010."

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