If the UK’s creative industries are to continue to add hundreds of billions of pounds in value to the country’s economy then much will rely on the success of a new network of tech labs exploring the future of media.
“The UK’s creative lifeblood is creative IP,” says James Bennett, director of CoSTAR National Lab. “How does that creative IP live on different platforms and reach audiences beyond screens in hybrid spaces? We need to see creative applications in 5G and 6G that work together with AI neural networks to create a future of holographic imagery, innovative live performance and enhanced mixed reality experiences.”
The CoSTAR Network is the evolution of the government funded Creative Industries Clusters Programme that ran ended in 2023 and spent...
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IBC2026: What to look out for on Day 1
From 11 to 14 September 2026, IBC2026 will open its doors to the international media and entertainment industry.
IBC2026: Creating meaningful opportunities for start-ups, students, educators, and innovators
IBC2026 is set to tackle the media and entertainment industry’s talent shortage this week, with several initiatives designed to give students the chance to attend the show, meet industry professionals and start building connections for their careers.
IBC Accelerator: Agentic AI for live sports
With an eye on the future, this IBC Accelerator plans to move beyond isolated use cases and demonstrate how agentic AI can be applied across the full live media value chain, from automated production tasks to highlight generation, personalisation, and monetisation.
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Innovation Awards: Stories behind Content Everywhere finalists
The Content Everywhere finalists in this year’s IBC Innovation Awards run the gamut across: a giant DTV+ implementation project in Brazil; the Premier League’s connected fan experience; and the AI-generated phenomenon Tilly Norwood. Fergal Ringrose, Chair of Judges for the IBC Innovation Awards, reveals why.
Edinburgh TV Festival 2026 review: So long, and thanks for all the views
As this year's edition of the TV Festival is the last to be held in Edinburgh before the move to Manchester, change in many forms featured high on the agenda. The message was that change is not just coming, it's already here – so deal with it.
