John Maxwell Hobbs
As well as being a music producer and composer, John Maxwell Hobbs is CEO of music tech startup Streamline, media consultant and the former Head of Technology at BBC Scotland.
Industry TrendsTraining models responsibly: AI and creator rights
Sony Music recently sent a letter to hundreds of AI companies demanding to know if they had used their music for training or scraping, and that this represented copyright infringement. While some AI developers are happy to embrace the current Wild West landscape of AI regulation, others have employed responsible ...
Industry TrendsThe Future of Broadcast Engineering: Navigating the Cloud Computing Revolution
The advent of cloud computing technologies means the broadcast industry is currently undergoing a seismic shift. This transition from traditional hardware-based setups to complex IT-centric systems is fundamentally altering the landscape of media production. Industry veterans Stuart Ray, the Head of Skills and Development at The IABM and Damon Neale, ...
Industry TrendsHow can broadcast engineers keep pace with seismic shifts in the media tech landscape?
IT-based broadcasting is continually evolving and engineers face new challenges in key growth areas such as IP-based production and cybersecurity. John Maxwell Hobbs breaks down the resources at hand to help broadcast engineers stay on top of their game.
Industry TrendsHow can streamers maximise DAI and avoid the complexities of GDPR?
Over-the-top services and streaming platforms have significantly changed the way we consume content, offering a wide array of entertainment and media directly over the internet. With this transformation, a major concern has emerged: transparency on the way that user data is used for Dynamic Ad Insertion. John Maxwell Hobbs reports.
Industry Trends5G in broadcasting: revolutionising content production
Having been successfully deployed for key live events and reality shows, 5G production has proven its mettle for the big stage. John Maxwell Hobbs explores how its wider adoption is set to transform the broadcasting landscape.
Industry TrendsSynthetic-based humans: a solution to talent shortages or threat to skilled jobs?
Following the success of the IBC Accelerators Project on synthetic humans in 2023, John Maxwell Hobbs caught up with one of the project leaders to discuss subsequent progress and wider market adoption.
Executive InterviewsRoss Production Services: innovations in remote production and cloud-based workflows
This year, Ross Video celebrates its 50th anniversary. Not content to rest on its laurels, the company continues to innovate with a set of products and solutions to support the emergence of remote and cloud-based production. IBC365 caught up with CEO David Ross to learn more.
Industry TrendsDonna Smith at Rise: Recruitment and Skills for Women in Broadcasting
Donna Smith, the Managing Director of Rise, the global advocacy membership organisation supporting gender diversity across the media technology sector, has had a career that has cut across a broad swathe of the media industry, writes John Maxwell Hobbs.
Industry TrendsDAI and Sustainability: Session-Based Solutions and Efficiency in Ad Delivery
With COP 28, the UN’s climate change conference taking place through middle of December this year, the world’s attention is once again focussed on the question of sustainability, and the broadcast industry is no exception, writes John Maxwell Hobbs.
Industry TrendsTechnology Leadership in 2024: A Broadcast Perspective
The year ahead is guaranteed to be full of significant changes for the broadcast industry. The rapid rise of FAST channels, the maturity of cloud technology services, the rollout of IP-based systems, and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence assures that we’re all in for an exciting ride in the coming ...
Industry TrendsAI and Ethics: The Defining Point of Content Creation
In the past few weeks, the news has been filled with one dramatic story after the other about AI, writes John Maxwell Hobbs. However, in a significant shift, rather than being about the technology itself, these stories have been about the people creating AI and those affected by it.
Industry TrendsSecuring the Digital Frontier: Effective Anti-Piracy Approaches for OTT Platforms
The explosive growth of Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms has revolutionised the way we consume entertainment, offering convenient access to a vast array of content on-demand. However, this meteoric rise in popularity has brought with it a persistent and pervasive threat: piracy. Unauthorised distribution and consumption of copyrighted material pose significant challenges ...
Industry TrendsCloud Security for Media Services
The use of cloud services by media companies has seen significant growth in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue apace. However, that exponential growth can create risk, especially where security is concerned, reports John Maxwell Hobbs.
Industry TrendsIBC2023 Accelerator Project: Responsive Narrative Factory
The Responsive Narrative Factory project is one of the eight Challenges in the 2023 cohort for IBC’s Accelerator Media Innovation Programme. The project is championed by The BBC and IET and the participants are Infuse Video, MetaRex, Cuvo.io, JPB Media Solutions, and EZDRM.
Industry TrendsIBC2023 Accelerator Project: Synthetic Humans
The Synthetic Humans For Entertainment And Accessibility project is one of the eight Challenges in the 2023 cohort for IBC2023 Accelerator Media Innovation Programme. The project is championed by RAI, EBU, ITV, VRT, YLE, BBC, BT, Verizon Business, Kings College London, University of Southampton, UNREAL / Epic Games and the ...
Industry TrendsIBC2023 Accelerator Project: Gallery Agnostic Live Media Production
The Gallery Agnostic Live Media Production project is one of the eight Challenges in the 2023 cohort for IBC’s Accelerator Media Innovation Programme. The project is championed by ITN, YLE, BBC, TV2, and TRANSMIXR, and the participants are Tinkerlist, Singular.live, Techex, Grass Valley and ZIXI.
