Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) will receive IBC’s International Honour for Excellence (IHFE), the organisation’s most prestigious honour, for decades of innovation in live sports production and its impact on the global broadcast industry.

In a statement issued yesterday, the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) said OBS has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of live production and that innovations developed for the Olympic Games have helped raise standards and drive adoption across the wider television industry.

OBS has pioneered developments in ultra-high-definition production, immersive audio, remote production workflows, artificial intelligence, cloud-based technologies and next-generation storytelling, transforming how audiences experience the Olympic Games.

According to IBC, these technologies and production approaches have also influenced broadcasters, technology partners, manufacturers and production teams across genres of live television.

OBS CEO Yiannis Exarchos said the recognition was a tribute to the passion, expertise and dedication of the organisation’s teams, and to their commitment to innovation, excellence and service to the Olympic Movement.

He said OBS continually seeks new ways to enhance coverage and the audience experience of the Games.

OBS has previously been recognised at IBC, including with the IBC2024 Innovation Award for Content Creation. It won that award with its technical partners for the live production of the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, which used more than 200 smartphones contributing video.

OBS also used a sea-based 5G network for Olympic sailing competitions in Marseille.

IBC also announced its Best Technical Paper award for research by Emma Maier, Jodie Pearton, Anna Stewart, Arina Mnatsakanyan and Jonathan Freeman of i2 media research.

Their paper examines ways to reduce interaction barriers for older viewers using internet-delivered TV.

The research, based on observational testing with adults aged 65 to 89, identifies design problems such as poor hierarchy, layered menus, unclear feedback and unfamiliar terminology. It demonstrates that an optional age-informed overlay interface can reduce these barriers and support more confident and independent viewing.

IBC, or the International Broadcasting Convention, brings together the creative, technology and business communities of the global media and entertainment industry to collaborate, exchange knowledge and explore new opportunities.

The next IBC event, IBC2026, is scheduled at RAI Amsterdam from September 11 to 14.