IBC reveals 2024 attendee and exhibitor numbers

IBC has shared figures from this year’s exhibition and conference, with 45,085 visitors from 170 countries gathering at the RAI Amsterdam.

IBC said that in addition to drawing 2,000 more visitors than last year, the show attracted over 1,350 exhibitors – up 100 from 2023, with 150 new exhibitors. The amount of exhibition space reached 46,000 square meters, exceeding the previous year’s total of 44,500 square meters.

“IBC continued on an upward trajectory in 2024, with tremendous turnout across the entire IBC community as people gathered in Amsterdam to explore the technological advances and market dynamics redefining our industry,” said Michael Crimp, IBC’s chief executive.

“In a year marked by major events such as the Olympics and national elections, there was an extremely positive buzz at IBC2024. This year’s show addressed soaring interest in trends such as AI’s leap from theory to real-world applications, how the industry is fighting disinformation in news, and the need to foster talent and diversity across media, entertainment and technology.”

Other themes that took centre stage at IBC2024 included sustainability, 5G, cloud, esports, immersive experiences, over-the-top (OTT) and streaming, adtech, metaverse, edge computing, and connected technologies.

Many of these were addressed in the three-day IBC Conference, relocated to the Auditorium Complex at the RAI, as well as in the various show floor theatres and by many of the exhibitors themselves on their stands.

A number of IBC2024’s defining themes were also focuses of the IBC Accelerator Media Innovation Programme, which this year included another IBC first: the AI Media Production Lab, exploring a series of projects in which some of the industry’s most inventive innovators collaborated on specific AI concepts.

The new AI Tech Zone, powered by EBU, featured organisations sharing examples of practical applications ranging from automated video editing and music-audio separation to content provenance tracking and fast and secure cloud storage, while a stage devoted to the topic of AI featured speakers who shared insights into how the technology will impact the future and how it is already transforming media in areas such as discoverability, news verification, and creating immersive experiences.

Another new feature at IBC 2024 was the Audio Visual (AV) buyers’ event on the eve of the show.
Working with the AV User Group, media technology companies at the show were able to actively engage with major AV purchasers such as Arup, AstraZeneca, Bank of America, Barclays, Deliveroo, Direct Line Group, KPMG, Schroders, Sopra Steria, UBS, and WPP.

The inaugural, free-to-attend IBC Talent Programme featured lively and engaged discussions on mentoring the industry’s next generation, recruitment challenges, and the importance of diverse perspectives for driving innovation. The programme was preceded by the World Skills Café, run by Global Media and Entertainment Manifesto, which took place at the RAI the day before the show.

IBC director Steve Connolly added: “In the last few years, IBC has gone from strength to strength, with exhibitors continuing to find more ways to make the most of the show as we add new features and grow its scope and reach.

“The feedback we get is incredibly positive, with many seeing IBC evolving as an increasingly important incubator of media tech innovation, as well as maintaining our status as an essential networking destination and source of intelligence on new industry trends and developments.”

All content sessions from IBC 2024 will be made available online following the show.

IBC returns in 2025, from 12-15 September.