Showtime for MPTS
Posted on Apr 29, 2025 by Admin
With professionals from across the M&E industry set to descend upon Olympia London once again, we pinpoint what to look out for at MPTS
Words Nicola Foley
Hot on the heels of NAB Vegas, MPTS is back 14-15 May, bringing the M&E industry together in London for a look at the latest tech and trends. As the UK’s key event for the broadcast media and production sector, this show is always buzzing with ideas and innovation, making it a must-visit no matter your area of interest.
This year’s show, taking place over two levels of Olympia London’s Grand Hall, is set to be the biggest yet, welcoming 300 exhibitors and sponsors, and an estimated 12,000 attendees. The organisers are confident that visitor numbers will surpass 2024’s record-breaking event, as the show entices returnees and newcomers alike with fresh attractions such as the AI Media Zone, an all-new Broadcast Sport Series and 100 live sessions, including a seminar programme supported by SMPTE, BAFTA albert and the cream of creative talent.
“We can’t wait to bring this year’s event to the industry, which, with the many new features we’re introducing on the show floor, promises to be bigger and better than ever!” enthuses director Charlotte Wheeler. “MPTS is the authoritative destination for creatives and technologists to unite and share in the future of the UK’s M&E industry. It’s accessible to all, as registration and our leading content programme remain free. Not only are we delivering more vital content that digs under the headlines, but there’s more space for meetings, discussions and chance creative connections. For all the AI in the world, this is what the industry thrives on.”
The show floor will be teeming with stands to check out, from studios such as 3 Mills and Blue Dot to camera makers, lighting companies, workflow solution specialists, VFX firms and industry bodies such as BECTU. New exhibitors this year include RED, Dizplai and Yamaha, while there’s also a host of top companies returning to show off their most recent innovations, such as Blackmagic Design, EditShare and Videndum, to name a few.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors can access free sessions across eight theatres: AI, Audio, Broadcast Technology, Keynote, Production, Post Production, Virtual Production and the Media Technology Conference. We’ll definitely seek out Production State of the Nation (14 May, 10.30am), which will see senior executives from independent production companies gather to discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping the industry today. We’ll also check out Beyond the Lens: Crafting Hard-Hitting Documentaries (14 May, 1.30pm), which will explore the art of making impactful, award-winning documentaries in the UK. There’s also Safeguarding Your IP in the Age of AI, a deep dive series on powering sustainable productions with BAFTA albert; and To VP or Not to VP?, a look at weighing up the pros and cons of VP for your next project. Check out our top picks from the exhibition across these pages!
On the show floor
amaran (E45)
Supplying lights for content creators, interviews, portrait photography and video production, amaran will be luring in visitors with its all-new amaran Pano series: two portable, full-colour panel light kits (the Pano 60c and 120c), both designed with mobile content creators in mind. The brand is also teasing some brand-new panel lights, specifically designed for desktop creators, YouTubers and streamers.
Aputure (E45)
Aputure will be showing off the STORM XT52; it’s the new flagship in its line of STORM lights and the brightest tunable white point source LED in the industry. More powerful than a 6K HMI – while weighing just 27.7kg – it features the revolutionary BLAIR light engine which delivers a wide range of excellent white light. It’s also the brightest light in the world to offer colour adjustability.
Atomos (G60)
Video tech innovator Atomos was the first-ever company to combine high-quality touchscreen monitors with removable storage and Apple ProRes to dramatically augment almost any camera. The team has been on a bit of an innovation spree lately, launching ATOMOSphere, a powerful new cloud-based production ecosystem and membership platform that integrates with cloud-connected Atomos Ninja
and Shogun monitor-recorders.
Its A-Eye series is a range of AI-enhanced PTZ cameras designed for hands-free multicamera production. Also check out the TX-RX, a versatile 4K wireless video transmitter and receiver system used to enhance on-set video monitoring, and the brand’s new StudioSonic headphones.
Blackmagic Design (H50)
Blackmagic will showcase the URSA Cine 12K and 17K, two cameras on a mission to take large format cinematography to the next level with a new RGBW sensor delivering 16 stops of dynamic range, interchangeable PL/LPL mounts and pro-grade Lemo and Fischer connections. With 8TB of built-in high-speed storage and 10G Ethernet, handling massive files is easier than ever.
Meanwhile, the URSA Cine Immersive is built for Apple Immersive Video, able to capture 90fps stereoscopic 3D at 8160×7200 per eye to a single file. Its fixed custom lens system ensures perfect alignment, while post-production is fully integrated into DaVinci Resolve, streamlining the Apple Vision Pro workflow for users.
CVP (H40)
The UK’s go-to source for all things production, CVP is bringing its blend of in-house technical experts and cutting-edge kit to MPTS. A gold sponsor of the show, the company will also host two seminars – including one on cinematic lighting for diverse skin tones – and offer attendees the chance to mingle with its wide network of industry partners.
Dot Group (AI1)
At stand AI1, in the new AI Zone, Dot Group will showcase AI-powered sustainability solutions that help production facilities reduce both their operational costs and carbon footprints. Through intelligent resource optimisation with IBM Apptio and IBM Turbonomic, video production companies can implement integrated GreenOps and FinOps practices that address the industry’s growing focus on sustainable operations, without sacrificing efficiency.
Dot Group will also feature DataSprint, an enterprise-grade file-transfer solution powered by IBM Aspera technology that offers two flexible commercial models – a fixed-price option with unlimited transfers and an on-demand service requiring minimal upfront investment.
Hawk-Woods Ltd (D10)
With a product range spanning camera batteries, chargers and power adapters, through to cables and bespoke, custom-built products, Hawk-Woods has more than three decades of experience in the film and broadcast industry. At this year’s MPTS, the brand will showcase the BP-98X battery, which offers unmatched flexibility for those in need of reliable power during long shoots and is tailored for Sony camcorders and Blackmagic Design PYXIS users. With versatile output options, the BP-98X ensures all your gear stays powered up, keeping your workflow uninterrupted. Stop by to see that and the rest of the range at MPTS.
NXTGENbps (E55)
Exhibiting for the first time at MPTS, NXTGENbps will showcase its expanded range of sustainable battery solutions on stand E55. Highlights include the Swift, a flight-safe, lightweight portable battery, and the SHAPE Basecamp Emperor, distributed exclusively in the UK and Europe by NXTGENbps. The full range provides reliable, emission-free power designed to support media production workflows both on-set and on location.
Riedel Communications (C45)
Best known for its intercom and replay solutions, Riedel helps teams bolster communications across a range of live production scenarios. Fresh off NAB Show in Vegas and Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, the comms company has some fresh releases to showcase at MPTS. Its Easy5G solution boasts blazing speeds and extensive coverage, while its SmartPanel family has just added the DSP-1216HL desktop intercom panel. See more at stand C45!
Videndum (C50)
Home to a slew of production solutions, Videndum designs, manufactures and distributes premium equipment – including camera supports, lighting, monitors, motion control and the like – to filmmakers and content creators. Several of its brands are due for display at MPTS, such as Anton/Bauer, Litepanels, Quasar Science, SmallHD and Teradek – giving attendees a comprehensive collection of incredible tools to trial.
This guide appears in the April 2025 issue of Definition
