The broadcast technology industry in 2025 faces a confluence of challenges and opportunities. A recent roundtable discussion among industry executives revealed three key areas of impact: the financial pressures of technology adoption, the complexities of integrating new systems with legacy infrastructure, and the growing importance of sustainability initiatives.
Financial & ROI Challenges are significant. Tim Jackson, SVP, sales and marketing, Globecast, notes the age-old issue of cost vs. ROI, particularly with the shift towards SaaS models and shorter CapEx cycles. Steve Reynolds, CEO, Imagine Communications, emphasizes the need for broadcasters to carefully analyze the cost-effectiveness of on-prem versus cloud solutions, suggesting a regular reassessment of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Anupama Anantharaman, VP, product management, Interra Systems, highlights the uncertainty in media monetization models, making ROI forecasting difficult. Peder Boberg, product owner, Intinor, points out the need to balance meeting audience expectations with cost reduction, while Vincent Noyer, director of product marketing, Lynx Technik, anticipates a rise in hybrid solutions combining SDI, IP, and cloud technologies. Kristan Bullett, CEO, Humans Not Robots (HNR), emphasizes the focus on immediate ROI given market consolidation and budget constraints. Sam Peterson, COO, Bitcentral, adds that the focus is shifting from innovation for its own sake to measurable results.
Legacy Systems & Technical Integration pose another major hurdle. Jon Wilson, president and COO at Grass Valley, notes the challenge of integrating modern content consumption tools with traditional broadcasting foundations. Thorsten Sauer, CEO, Pixel Power, highlights the conservative nature of the industry and the challenges of legacy workflows and cybersecurity concerns in cloud-based workflows. Dan Goman, CEO, Ateliere Creative Technologies, points to the costs associated with technology updates, staff training, and hardware upgrades. Andy Rayner, CTO, Appear, emphasizes the integration challenges, interoperability, and cybersecurity in increasingly IP-based workflows. Michael Demb, VP, product strategy, TAG Video Systems, mentions the cost of system upgrades and staff retraining. Mathieu Planche, CEO, Witbe, discusses the challenges of Smart TV OS fragmentation. Ciro Noronha, president, The RIST Forum, highlights the lack of trained personnel and interoperability between vendors. Sanjay Duda, CEO, Planetcast Media Services, focuses on fragmented supplier setups hindering efficiency and innovation. Suzana Brady, SVP, worldwide sales and marketing, Cobalt Digital, points to the opportunities in single-stream production of SDR and HDR and supporting 4K and HDR in ATSC 3.0.
Workforce & Cultural Adaptation is critical. Bea Alonso, independent media tech consultant, emphasizes the importance of change management, noting that changing habits is harder than changing technology. Adam Leah, creative director, Nxtedition, calls for a shake-up to a more software-driven approach. Martin Klampferer, director, R&D, Vizrt, mentions the challenges of staff training and integrating new solutions. Narayanan Rajan, CEO, Media Excel, highlights internal organizational resistance to cloud and IP shifts. Steven Edwards, VP, broadcast distribution, Rohde & Schwarz, emphasizes the need for ecosystem alignment. Peter Watling, senior sales director, EMEA, Perifery, discusses budget and personnel challenges. Dana Forte, SVP product management and strategic partnerships, Vubiquity, addresses bridging established workflows with citizen developers. Robin Kirchhoffer, CMO, Dalet, highlights the challenges of legacy systems and the need for a proactive approach. Dan Goman, CEO, Ateliere Creative Technologies, mentions post-election regulatory changes and their impact on M&A activity. Tim Jackson, SVP, sales and marketing, Globecast, discusses the potential impact of the new FCC. Vincent Noyer, director, product marketing, Lynx Technik, mentions the impact of tariffs. Duncan Beattie, market development manager, Tuxera, points to changes in regulations to protect younger audiences and data privacy. Sergio Brighel, EVP, robotics and prompting technology, Videndum, discusses the impact of the European Accessibility Act 2025.
Business Reality vs. Sustainability Goals often see sustainability take a back seat to core business needs. Derek Barrilleaux, CEO, Projective, notes that efficiency gains and waste elimination will be key drivers. Jan Weigner, CTO, Cinegy, highlights the energy consumption of AI data centers. Michael Lantz, CEO, Accedo, anticipates more tangible results in sustainability in 2025. Simon Hawkings, director of sales and business acceleration, Ross Video, discusses the scrutiny faced by public broadcasters in Europe regarding sustainability metrics.
Technical & Infrastructure Solutions addressing sustainability include a move towards energy-efficient practices. Thorsten Sauer, CEO, Pixel Power, mentions sustainability metrics in building new facilities. Tim Jackson, SVP, sales and marketing, Globecast, discusses Globecast's efforts in reducing satellite antennas and improving HVAC systems. Steve Reynolds, CEO, Imagine Communications, highlights the role of remote production workflows and hybrid systems. Suzana Brady, SVP, worldwide sales and marketing, Cobalt Digital, focuses on designing energy-efficient products. Erling Hedkvist, sales and business development, Arkona Technologies and Manifold Technologies, notes the benefits of less hardware and the virtual OB concept.
Regulatory & Industry Pressure is another important factor. James Fraser, VP, U.S Sales, Moments Lab, notes the growing importance of environmental responsibility in regulation and customer requirements. Kristan Bullett, CEO, Humans Not Robots (HNR), highlights the role of legislation in driving sustainability. Bea Alonso, independent media tech consultant, mentions the importance of cost reductions in sustainability initiatives. Russell Johnson, director, Hitomi Broadcast, highlights the impact of remote production on reducing transport needs.