Abstract
This paper reports the IBC2018—the Europe’s largest exhibition of broadcasting equipment—held in the Netherland in September 2018, presenting its current status, which may suggest the future of broadcasting in Japan. At the IBC, broadcasters and manufactures from all over the world showcased cutting-edge devices and technologies. NHK also exhibited the developmental process of the total system of 8K broadcasts from program production to reception by the end users. The 50-year history of the IBC can be said to be the history of development of broadcasting technology, and recent years see exhibitions halls not only for TV broadcasters but also for companies developing services that enable users enjoy content no matter where they are, which indicates the changes in the meaning of “exhibition of broadcasting equipment” and the presence of broadcasters. In Europe, watching TV programs using an IP network by connecting television to the internet is already spreading, and more and more broadcasters analyze audience data obtained from IP TV viewing to utilize them in programming. In the meantime, as to live streaming services, which has been seeking new opportunities, an issue of IP network delays was highlighted, and the solutions for it were discussed at the IBC. Traditional broadcasters continue to search how to respond to the changing surroundings of the broadcasting industry such as the competition over OTT services distributing content online and the expansion of the media industry and how to take advantage of their strength such as their long-standing content production skills and development capacity.
