IBC
IBC19, Amsterdam: ‘Red Bee Media builds hybrid media cloud environment with Cisco and 7fivefive’
MUMBAI: Red Bee Media has been working with Cisco and 7fivefive to create a sophisticated media centric hybrid cloud environment, designed to streamline media production, playout, media processing and distribution services for global broadcast customers.
As one of the world’s leading managed services provider, Red Bee is creating a next generation media environment with cutting edge-technology including the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) and cloud software.
“The Media landscape has changed forever and this cloud platform, with best of breed software coupled with our own micro services will allow us to significantly change the way managed services are offered in the market.”, says David Travis, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Red Bee Media. “It allows for commercial and technical flexibility while addressing the cost challenges all our customers are facing. Our work together with 7fivefive and Cisco is a showcase of innovation with the creation of a hybrid cloud architecture that is truly unique in the media industry.”
Cisco UCS provides a unique network architecture with cloud-like behaviour on-premise with an end-to-end hardware stack with superior performance and security to manage today’s network demands, and into the future. 7fivefive is the consulting and integration partner leading project implementation. With this new hybrid cloud media solution Red Bee can offer enhanced speed and performance across its portfolio of solutions including:
· Access services
· Channel origination
· Content origination, production and post production
· Content enrichment and distribution
· Media management
· OTT Streaming
Dave Ward, senior vice president, CTO of Engineering and chief architect, Cisco, says: “Red Bee is marking a milestone in the industry’s quest to transition to IP and virtualized media data centres for simpler, faster networking. Our work together with 7fivefive created a cloud-powered network with the flexibility and security Red Bee needs to scale quickly and adapt to the demands of the media and entertainment landscape.”
Red Bee Media will be showcasing its new cloud-ready platform at IBC in Amsterdam with its ‘Leaders in Live’ demonstration featuring Live football utilizing pure software defined services all in IP. You can see the demo at 11.00 Friday, 16.00 Saturday and 13.00 Sunday on the Red Bee Media Booth (14.D26).
AMSTERDAM: Amsterdam’s RAI convention centre became the epicentre of media’s digital revolution last week as 43,858 industry professionals descended on IBC2025, the world’s largest broadcasting and entertainment technology show. From global media giants to plucky start-ups, 1,300 exhibitors and 600 speakers gathered to chart the future of an industry in the throes of transformation.
The event’s success reflects an industry caught between disruption and opportunity. Visitors from 170 countries—from veteran broadcasters to streaming insurgents—came seeking answers to questions that keep chief executives awake at night: how to harness artificial intelligence without losing the human touch, and how to stay relevant as viewing habits fragment across countless platforms.
IBC chief executive Michael Crimp declared the event had “delivered real business outcomes” with “overwhelmingly positive feedback.”
What struck him most, he said, was the prevailing “sense of optimism and purpose”—a notable sentiment in an industry more accustomed to existential dread.
The debut of Future Tech in Hall 14 captured much of this optimism. Here, punters could witness live demonstrations of generative and agentic AI, immersive media experiences, and cloud-native workflows. France Télévisions showcased a 5G-enabled aircraft, whilst others explored private networks and sustainable innovation—all buzzwords that would have seemed like science fiction a decade ago.
“We’re witnessing a pivotal moment of innovation,” said Tata Communications global business leader Brijesh Yadev. The hyperbole may be familiar, but the underlying sentiment rings true: the industry is scrambling to reinvent itself before others do it for them.
This urgency was palpable in the quality of conversations on the show floor. Gone were the days of casual networking; exhibitors reported “more strategic” discussions focused on “future-looking solutions” and “next-phase investments.”
The conference programme reflected these concerns, with packed sessions on AI, new business models, and sustainability. Icons like Thelma Schoonmaker, the Oscar-winning editor who worked with Martin Scorsese, provided creative inspiration alongside more prosaic technical papers on practical innovation.
Perhaps most tellingly, the industry is finally acknowledging that technology alone won’t save it. IBC2025 emphasised people and talent, with initiatives focused on skills development and inclusion.
The show floor itself told the story of an industry in flux. Established giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Sony, and Samsung rubbed shoulders with newcomers such as Baron Weather, Momento, and Remotly. Each hall showcased advances in production, distribution, and streaming—the building blocks of tomorrow’s entertainment ecosystem.
For all the talk of transformation, IBC2025 proved that some things endure. The event remains the world’s essential meeting place for media professionals. In an increasingly digital world, the value of face-to-face connection—and the deals that flow from it—appears undiminished.
Whether this optimism translates into sustainable business models remains to be seen. But for four days in Amsterdam, at least, the industry felt confident about its ability to shape its own destiny rather than have it shaped by others.
