What's new for 2024 at MPTS

By Charlotte Wheeler, Director, Broadcast Tech & Sport Group, Event Director, Media Production & Technology Show

Sponsored by the Media Production & Technology Show

As the UK’s premier event for the media and entertainment industry, MPTS is renowned for exploring the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the industry through its free to attend seminar programme. There are two new features on the show floor this year:

The Media Technology Conference which we are launching in partnership with SMPTE UK. The conference programme will take a deep-dive into the emerging technologies, trends and innovations that every media technologist needs to have on their radar. Bringing together technology leaders and experts in the field of broadcasting and innovation, the two days will provide an intimate backdrop to enable high-level networking and knowledge sharing.

Day One on 15th May is an exclusive summit for industry leaders featuring four 60-minute sessions of thought-provoking content, centred around emerging technologies and post-transformation. Each session comprises of four lightning talks, a panel discussion, and a round-table discussion where delegates can network and exchange ideas with their peers. This is a closed-door environment ensuring high-level conversations can take place.

Day Two on 16 May is a one-day conference for the media industry, bringing world-class technical papers from the global SMPTE community to London. The programme will explore three key topics highly relevant to today’s media technologists: Colour Science, Distribution and Ai for Media.

Speakers include:
Simon Farnsworth, CTO, ITV
Mark Patrick, Solution Lead for Broadcast Core, BBC
Andy Bell, Chief Engineer, Channel 4 and Director, Digital 3&4
Melissa Carr, Transformation & Ops Leadership Consultant
Carys Hughes, Principal PQ/Display Engineer, Sky
Alex Redfern, CTO, EVS Broadcast Equipment

The Media Technology Conference is a must-attend event for those looking to stay at the forefront of technological innovation.

The second new feature is the AI Forum which is a new theatre dedicated to exploring one of the hottest issues at the moment, the impact of AI on the industry. Featuring case studies, panel discussions and debates, the sessions will showcase insights from those who are already using AI to streamline processes and enhance creativity, while also addressing the wider concerns about the impact jobs and the workforce. We are bringing this theatre to MPTS after the sell-out AI Creative Summit we produced that took place at the BFI in November.

Topics include an introduction to AI in media featuring current research and stats, how production companies can use Gen A.I ethically and legally, an exclusive look at an AI powered real-time production facility The Studio of the Future and the impact of AI on the workforce.

Speakers include:
Hasraf (HaZ) Dulull, Director/Producer (Film, TV & Video Games)
Asa Bailey, Virtual Production Supervisor – On Set Facilities
Eline van der Velden, CEO & Founder – Particle6
Guy Gadney, Managing Director – Charisma.ai
Alex Hyrniewicz, Managing Director, Network Social Platforms – Little Dot Studios
Mel Rodrigues, CEO & Founder – Gritty Talent

BAFTA albert will also be running their sustainability series within the main conference programme this year, with sessions on the keynote, production, post, virtual production and technology theatres, ensuring the importance of sustainability throughout all areas of the industry is addressed over the two days.

There are over 100 sessions on the programme across 8 theatres and they have all been expertly curated for 2024 to reflect the most current issues and topics, so although the two new theatres are the most obvious new additions to the event, the whole programme is new for 2024.

The content all takes place within the exhibition hall, where there are a number of new exhibitors we’re excited to welcome to the show, including Nikon, 3D Storm, Diversified, Disk Archive, EVS, Netgear, stYpe, PRS for Music, Theatrixx and Shure.

What do you anticipate the highlights will be at this year’s event/what are you most looking forward to?

This year is our most electrifying seminar line up yet with case studies from industry leaders who’ve shaped some of the most talked about content of the year. We’re particularly excited to have the production team from Mr Bates vs The Post Office share how they brought this incredible true story to life, while keeping in mind the sensitivity of portraying real people who are still dealing with the consequences of what happened. They will be joined by former Sub-Postmistress Jo Hamilton.

Also taking to the keynote stage will be Sam McAlister, the Executive Producer of Netflix’s Scoop, along with Director Philip Martin. They will be sharing behind the scenes insights of the lead-up to the infamous Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew, as well as the delivery of the drama for Netflix.

In the audio theatre we are thrilled to have 2024 Oscar and BAFTA award winning Sound Designer Johnnie Burn deliver the keynote session on his unique approach to one of this year’s most remarkable films, The Zone of Interest.

We also have an In Conversation With Marcel Theroux in the Production Theatre where he will discuss his recent hit documentary The Playboy Bunny Murders.

The award-winning Residence Pictures team behind the BBC series The Gallow’s Pole will share the unique workflow they adopted to overcome the challenges of grading a period piece. The post production theatre will also feature an In Conversation with renowned Editor Paul Machliss (The flash, Last Night in Soho)

What do you believe sets this show apart as a must-attend event?

The scale and breadth of our content programme and the fact all sessions are free to attend makes this one of the most accessible events for the industry. Each session is expertly curated to ensure the programme reflects the current challenges and opportunities facing the industry and it doesn’t matter which part of the industry you work in, whether you are a freelancer or employed by one of the big broadcasters, you are welcome to come to MPTS to benefit from the networking and learning opportunities.

As the UK’s only trade show for the industry there really is nowhere else like it in terms of bringing the industry together on this scale on an annual basis. Everything is integrated on the show floor in the Grand Hall at Olympia so visitors can easily go from experiencing a product demo on an exhibitor’s stand to hearing an exclusive case study in one of the theatres. Our location in the heart of the UK’s creative industry in London also means the event is incredibly accessible and attendees so combine their visit to the show with other business they may have around the capital. What other industry show takes place so close to so many award-winning studios and post houses?