BIT 2016: an intense program of parallel activities

BIT Broadcast 2016 is not only an unmissable event for professionals in the sector because it is the largest exhibition of the most innovative audiovisual technology taking place in Spain but also because of the intense program of parallel activities that promote training, entrepreneurship and networking.

Between May 24 and 26, BIT Broadcast 2016, Professional Audiovisual Technology Exhibition, presents one of the most complete showcases of technological innovations in image and sound in Hall 14 of Feria de Madrid. The Show, organized by IFEMA, brings together the new products of 320 participating companies, among which are the major international brands and the most prominent Spanish manufacturers, which are a top-level reference throughout the world for their determined commitment to R&D.

The content of BIT 2016 also includes the latest proposals from companies dedicated to the integration and sale of equipment; streaming, monitoring, solutions for compression and transport of TV signals, or top-level news for audio, together with the offer of importing and distributing companies of professional equipment for television, professional video and cinema, among others, which together will show the professional world a complete reference of technological trends and innovations that have been marking the evolution of image and sound.

All of this at a strategic moment to boost the commercial activity of the sector, and in a format that combines commercial exhibition and the development of an important agenda of activities, with product demonstrations, talks, workshops, training sessions and workshops, focused on sharing knowledge, ideas and experiences.

Activities program

BIT 2016 has prepared a complete program of conferences in which nearly a hundred prominent professionals will take the pulse of the industry. To encourage debate and open an enriching dialogue between the different agents in the sector, the conference will focus on round tables in which attendees will be able to share impressions with the participants in these panels, which will take place in two auditoriums simultaneously.

For three days, key issues for the industry will be addressed such as programmatic advertising, the emergence of telecommunications operators in the audiovisual field, new IP infrastructures, OTT services and hybrid television HbbTV; Ultra High Definition-UHD; the new models of Audiovisual companies; the digital dividend-DD; looking at the Cloud, or the new channels on DTT.

In addition, new IP infrastructures will be discussed; of the challenges in capturing images for live shows; of new keys in the financing of Spanish fiction, with the case study of “The Ministry of Time”; of the current status and future developments of HbbTV; of the future for radio and a radio for the future; of 2020 TV; of Big Data in media, and redundancy in audio distribution networks. Additionally, there will be an interactive session on the transformation from SDI to IP_X000D; The case study of Oera Parsifal recorded and broadcast from the Real tratro (live UHD) will be presented.

For the first time, these tables will be moderated for the most part by the most senior sector managers from the country's main consulting firms, who have a broad perspective of current and future trends.

Demonstrations, workshops and training sessions

BIT will also have a presentation program, organized by the participating companies, at its own stand, in order to offer visitors detailed information about their proposal at the Show. The program ranges from demonstrations of innovative products and virtual studies and augmented reality, to training sessions on new technologies, Master Classes, Workshops and practical tutorials, among other activities.

BIT Innova

One of the novelties of this edition is the presentation of BIT Innova, a gallery of novelties that highlights 9 cutting-edge proposals from the sector, selected by a professional jury, from among all those presented to this platform by the exhibitors of the Fair. The objective of BIT Innova is to offer participating companies a tool of added value for the communication and promotion of the products and services shown at the fair and that stand out for their innovative nature.

Plataforma I+D+BIT

Also for the first time, BIT brings together the best research talent applied to audiovisuals, on the R+D+BIT platform. Through this initiative that includes the most avant-garde projects that are being developed, both in the university and business fields, with the purpose of highlighting new technologies of added value and growth potential applied to the audiovisual industry, as well as recognizing the work of the professionals and entities that make up the world of research in this field.

A Selection Committee, chaired by Pere Vila, Director of Technology, Innovation and Systems of RTVE Corporation, has selected a total of 25 research projects in fields such as audio and video over IP; synthetic speech recognition and generation; use of metadata applied to big data; virtual, augmented and immersive reality; interaction with objects; neuroscience; adaptive streaming; accessibility; automatic video and audio analysis; 360º production; motion capture; search, cataloging and recommendation of content; usability in interactive TV or synchronization of hybrid content.

Premio BIT Shooting Star

Emerging talent in audiovisual communication among new professionals joining the sector will also have a prize this year at BIT, through BIT Shooting Star, a contest of original mini short films for audiovisual communication students, which has received more than 30 entries. The prize is worth 2,000 euros and a second prize will be awarded to the most popular nominated mini-short on social networks. A Jury appointed by the organization will select the final winner, based on criteria of workmanship and creativity, and the Award ceremony will take place within the framework of the Fair.

BIT TV

Live broadcast of conferences, interviews with the main agents of the sector, speakers and participating companies, and all the activity that takes place during these three days at BIT, will occupy the contents of the BIT TV channel, a television set located in the heart of the Show that will be offered daily and through the BIT website. BIT and of BIT Special in Audiovisual Panorama, uninterrupted programming, hosted by the accredited journalist, Gorka Zumeta.

Ibero-American professionals meet at BIT

BIT will also be the venue for an important meeting of Ibero-American professionals, who will visit the Hall to learn about the latest developments in the sector and participate in a Technological Consulting session, organized in collaboration with TEIB – ATEI, within the framework of its Central America and the Caribbean Network initiative, in order to contribute to decision-making for the acquisition of technology and equipment.

The session, which will take place on May 25 and 26, will be attended by more than 20 guests from Bolivia, Cuba, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Puerto Rico, with highly responsible technical profiles in the Ibero-American television channels as well as the public administrations that manage these televisions.