Mid-Year Review II: The Trends Taking 2024 By Storm

Diving Back In

In the second part of our halfway blog series where we discuss the most impactful trends taking 2024 by storm, we dive back in with some more of the biggest developments the industry has seen so far. In the first half, we explored the dominating force that is AI, and the major changes it has already had on workflows, systems and infrastructure throughout the media and entertainment industry. We also looked at the unprecedented changes to the advertising industry, and how the prospect of a cookie-free world is forcing a shift to contextual based advertising, and why this is an exciting thing for many organizations.

Aside from AI and advertising, there are other important and striking trends taking place in the industry right now – ones that could change the way we interact with technology and infrastructures for good. This time, we start with the issue of our planet, discussing sustainability in M&E.

A Focus on Sustainability

One of the more prevalent and important developments being made is the focus on reducing our carbon footprint, as the industry becomes more accountable to its impact on the planet by taking action to counter it.

The drive for sustainability is pushing for a change in the way video is distributed, taking into consideration the energy required for producing content and delivering files of data. As we learn more about the most viable ways of working, content delivery and video are making the shift towards more eco-friendly workflows and finding new and innovative ways to distribute content while taking the needs of our planet into consideration. More broadcasters and media providers are prioritizing this important issue, with more environment-friendly technologies and methods starting to be used by the media and entertainment industry. We expect these new technologies and ideas surrounding workflows will continue to prosper throughout 2024, with more environmentally conscious practices becoming the norm within the industry in the years to come.

HDR and High Resolution in Sports Broadcasting

Among the trends that we saw most notably at NAB LV was a rise in technology for sports broadcasting, particularly the shift from resolution-focused developments to High Dynamic Range (HDR) implementation.

Many broadcasters and media providers are gradually beginning to focus their attention on the importance of HDR, rather than just on resolution. While resolution is vital to a certain degree, recent data has found that consumers might not be able to tell the difference in quality between 1080p Full High Definition (FHD) and 4K/UHD (Ultra High Definition).

In the age of growing consumer demand for live sports broadcasting, the most essential elements of content distribution are efficiency, high bandwidth and low latency to guarantee the highest quality content to the consumer. Viewers come to expect the highest quality possible for premium sports events such as the Olympic Games, but it might not be so necessary for everyday sports.

The rising popularity in HDR among consumers suggests that while consumers do want high quality content in some cases, the production cost savings from not delivering content in 4K/UHD might leave more space for innovation and creativity in content workflows where the highest resolution is not needed.

Summing Up and Looking Forward

It’s hard to believe that so much has already happened in the industry in these six short months, but the prospects and developments on the horizon are exciting and building day by day. As we look towards the second half of 2024, there are trends that we need to watch out for, as well as trends to leave on the shelf, and the industry is constantly changing as a result. With that said, what should we look out for in the remainder of 2024 and beyond?

Firstly, AI will undoubtably continue to dominate the discussion as it begins to influence our workflows and technologies, gaining more and more momentum as we move into 2025. The opportunities presented by AI are not to be scoffed at, and we are going to see substantial improvements in the world of ad-insertion, administration, content creation and distribution over the next year or so. Not only this, but 8K continues to move forward, and with the development of AI in video workflows, this will likely come on in leaps and bounds by 2025, and beyond.

Sustainability is also a hot topic right now, and rightly so – with more prospects than ever before arising in the field of new technologies and workflow solutions. As we move forward into the second half of 2024, we will see more developments and substantial improvements in the field of sustainability, including sustainable industry applications and the adoption of approved practices for a decreased carbon footprint across the industry.

Keep your eyes peeled as we continue to monitor industry trends here at MainConcept, and we will check in at the end of the year to see how it all looks. If you can’t wait until then, check out our other blogs on trends here.