IBC has long been a staple on the global broadcast and satellite conference circuit. The conference usually showcases the latest in cutting edge broadcast technologies and the satellite industry has always had a strong presence at the event. This year, I think it will be interesting to see how much discussion there will be on a topic like Ultra HD, which is slowly coming into prominence. While watching Ultra HD broadcasts may still be a little time away, I notice the term being mentioned more and more, and I think at IBC this year, those discussions will only intensify. Also, the demand of people to access content on multiple devices has now become a key theme of broadcasting and I would expect this to provide another key theme of this year’s event.
   Ultra HD, of course, could be a boon to the satellite industry, given the likely capacity demands that could result if we start seeing these broadcasts. However, as we move into IBC, the satellite industry has good reason to feel optimistic. Despite the moves towards IPTV and OTT television, satellite broadcasting still leads the way in many countries, and the demands for capacity show no sign of slowing. With broadcasting underpinning a lot of the revenues of the FSS sector, this is undoubtedly good news. What this IBC will likely tell us is where broadcasting may go next and how satellite’s role in that whole ecosystem might change. We should get a better idea of what trends to look out for and the impact they may have on the satellite industry as we continue the evolution of broadcast standards.