Olympic Broadcasting Services to Receive IBC International Honour for Excellence

Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) is set to receive the IBC International Honour for Excellence in recognition of its contribution to live sports production and its influence on the wider broadcast industry. The award will be presented at the IBC Innovation Awards in Amsterdam on 13 September 2026.

OBS is responsible for producing the international television and radio coverage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games for rights-holding broadcasters around the world. Its work has involved the adoption of a range of emerging technologies, including ultra-high-definition production, immersive audio, remote production workflows, artificial intelligence and cloud-based technologies.

The organisation's innovations have also influenced broadcasting beyond the Olympic Games. OBS previously received the IBC2024 Innovation Award for Content Creation for its coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony. The production incorporated video contributions from more than 200 smartphones, while a maritime 5G network was used to support coverage of sailing events in Marseille.

OBS CEO Yiannis Exarchos said the award recognises the expertise and dedication of the organisation's teams and their work in bringing Olympic coverage to audiences worldwide.

IBC has also announced its 2026 Best Technical Paper award, which will recognise research from i2 media research examining how internet-delivered television can be made easier for older viewers to use. Researchers tested viewers aged 65 to 89 and identified barriers including unclear menu structures, layered navigation, unfamiliar terminology and insufficient feedback.

The IBC Innovation Awards will form part of IBC2026, which takes place at the RAI Amsterdam from 11–14 September 2026.