The Media Production & Technology Show is one of the key events in the industry calendar where technology, creativity and innovation converge. As you’d expect, BBC R&D was well represented across the show.

In this special episode of Inside R&D, Joseph Turner headed to MPTS 2026 with a camera and microphone, catching up with BBC R&D engineers and a former colleague now working in the wider industry.

Across three short conversations, they explore what’s changing, what’s exciting, and what’s coming next for media and technology and what that means for the BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/producing-audio-experiences

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/personalised-accessible-audio-experiences

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/publications/research_article_frontiers_vr_interactive_audio_augmented_reality_participatory_performance

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2024-12-immersive-gaming-concert-experience

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/publications/decarbonizing-media-broadcast-streaming

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/cloud-computing-energy-monitoring-footprint

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-01-sustainability-web-energy-consumption

Find us on:
Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd
Mastodon: https://social.bbc/@BBCRD
X: https://x.com/bbcrd
Facebook: https://facebook.com/bbcresearchanddevelopment

Once a research concept, the Time‑Addressable Media Store is now a real‑world workflow beginning to make its mark on media production.

In this episode of Inside R&D, Joseph Turner speaks to Sam Mesterton‑Gibbons, a senior engineer at the heart of TAMS. Together, they explore what TAMS is, why it was built, and how it’s been designed to support fast‑turnaround, cloud‑native ways of working. Sam reflects on the role of open standards, collaboration across the industry, and what it really takes to evolve media production without losing sight of editorial values. From live workflows to emerging uses of automation, this conversation offers a glimpse into how TAMS could influence what comes next for the industry.

Follow the links below to learn more about BBC R&D’s research and the things mentioned in this episode:

https://youtu.be/W7WAV65duj0
https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-09-cloud-software-based-broadcast-facilities

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-09-time-addressable-media-store

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-09-ibc-2025

https://tech.ebu.ch/dmf/mxl

Find us on:
Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd
Mastodon: https://social.bbc/@BBCRD
X: https://x.com/bbcrd
Facebook: https://facebook.com/bbcresearchanddevelopment

Danijela Horak led AI Research at BBC R&D for three years. Before she departed in 2025, we had the opportunity to reflect with her on why AI research matters for public service.

In this conversation, we unpack the strategic and cultural role of AI research within a public service organisation, and why responsible development and participation matter as much as innovation. From shaping standards and expectations to understanding the risks of disengagement, this episode examines why sustained investment in AI research is vital to delivering public value in an AI‑driven future.

Follow the links below to learn more about BBC R&D’s research and the things mentioned in this episode:

R&D's AI & ML research page - https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/topics/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/

BBC Verify - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify

https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-10-ai-content-detection
https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/publications/deepfake-detection-image-manipulation
https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/publications/reliable-deepfake-detection-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/articles/bbc-to-launch-new-generative-ai-pilots-to-support-news-production/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-10-natural-language-processing-news-editorial-tools
https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-10-computer-vision-virtual-production-archives-anonymisation
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002792v

Find us on:
Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd
Mastodon: https://social.bbc/@BBCRD
X: https://x.com/bbcrd
Facebook: https://facebook.com/bbcresearchanddevelopment