This year marks my first time attending the DPP Media Supply Festival in New York. It’s also the first time qibb has exhibited. While I’ve heard that this event is known for sharp ideas, candid conversations and meaningful connections, experiencing it firsthand brings a new level of insight and appreciation.
Over two packed days, we heard from broadcasters, content creators, platform operators and tech vendors about the shifting realities of the media supply chain.
Across all the sessions and conversations, one thing was clear: the industry is in a period of flux, with real urgency to modernize and accelerate workflows, adapt to new platforms and make AI implementation more than just a talking point.
From AI hype to implementation headaches
The conversation around AI has matured, shifting from potential to practicality. While the appetite for innovation is strong, several major broadcasters expressed frustration with internal roadblocks. Legal, compliance and policy hurdles continue to stall GenAI adoption, even in organizations eager to move forward.
By contrast, smaller players are pushing forward. Companies like Blinx and Reuters (who delivered standout sessions) expect their news creators to take advantage of GenAI tools to streamline content creation.
That kind of proactive experimentation is setting the tone, and it sends a clear signal to vendors like qibb: we need to continue pushing the boundaries for AI integration to support these use cases.
Distribution: The new battleground
Distribution has long been at the heart of the entertainment industry. But as content creation tools become more accessible and production scales up, the dynamics of distribution are shifting. Conversations at the festival highlighted a growing urgency to rethink traditional models and that’s reflected in the market with recent spinoff news from Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal.
Meanwhile, YouTube is rapidly becoming the primary platform for TV content consumption, especially among younger audiences.
In this landscape, it’s not the content itself that’s becoming commodified, it’s the tools and processes used to create it. That makes ownership of the distribution strategy more critical than ever. Standing out requires more than compelling content; it demands smart, adaptable delivery.
What does this mean for tech providers?
We need to support agility and interoperability, enabling our customers to reach audiences wherever they are, however they choose to watch.
Standout sessions and signals
A few sessions really stood out. Blinx’s story of scaling from zero to 15 billion views in just 18 months was a striking example of what’s possible when Gen Z sensibilities meet modern tech infrastructure.
Versant’s journey separating from NBCU offered a nuanced view of organizational transformation, echoing challenges many media companies are confronting today.
There was also genuine interest from other vendors in partnering with qibb. The appetite is there to help us plug deeper into customer ecosystems, and this is exactly the kind of collaboration we’re here for.
Why these events matter
For qibb, events like this are all about visibility, building relationships and gaining valuable insight. The Media Supply Festival brought together a high-quality, niche audience – people who live and breathe content workflows
That’s invaluable.
It keeps us close to the problems our industry is facing, allowing us to stay focused on building solutions that matter today, while staying ready for what’s next.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to connect.
Until next time…
Want to see how qibb is helping media organizations embrace the future of AI and distribution? Get in touch or explore our latest solutions here.
