With an eye on the close of 2025 and the immediate horizon of 2026, we have consulted diverse industry leaders who have collaborated with the magazine throughout the year, inviting them to share a reflection, based on their experience, on the year coming to an end and the one ahead. Drawing on their testimonies, we take stock of the year and anticipate the key factors that will shape the evolution of the broadcast industry

*This content is included in the December issue of TM BROADCAST. You can access the full magazine here.

The broadcast industry continues to move forward amid a complex process of transformation, in which new opportunities are emerging alongside significant challenges. This is one of the key conclusions of 2025. The transition is now unavoidable. However, when it comes to putting it into practice, difficulties arise that go beyond purely technological considerations and force the industry to rethink its models, structures and priorities.

To take the pulse of this pivotal moment, we have consulted a selection of industry leaders who have collaborated with the magazine over the past year, asking them for a review of 2025, a look ahead to 2026, and a broader reflection on the levers that will drive the sector’s growth in the medium and long term.

From this analysis, several common vectors emerge: the steady advance of the transition to IP; the progressive convergence of the broadcast, IT and ProAV worlds; growing challenges related to talent and cybersecurity; and, cutting across all of them, the impact of artificial intelligence.

We have divided this special feature —which can be read in full in the latest issue of TM BROADCAST— into seven sections. In this article, we outline the key takeaways from the chapter dedicated to LED solutions and software-based systems.

Ubaldo Toni (RAI), on LED solutions: “The advantage is so significant, and the future prospects are so promising, that Rai has launched into these investments without delay”

Among the most visible technological advances of 2025, several experts point to the growing prominence of LED solutions in production environments, both for their creative impact and their operational and sustainability implications.

Ubaldo Toni (RAI) highlights in particular the progressive replacement of traditional set elements with LED screens and FloorLEDs, a shift he considers irreversible. Even in the case of high-quality displays—though not yet those with the extreme specifications required for full integration with virtual environments—costs continue to fall, while the advantages over conventional scenography continue to grow.

“From a sustainability (ESG) standpoint, the benefit is also immense, as we no longer have to dispose of or recycle large quantities of these materials. Furthermore, there are significant savings in the storage and movement/logistics costs of the sets. The creative possibilities are limitless, and the utilization of existing industrial assets (TV studios) becomes much more efficient.”

This technological progress, however, is not without its challenges. Adoption requires the incorporation and training of young professionals capable of mastering innovative technologies and tools such as CuePilot. Even so, Toni leaves no room for doubt: “The advantage is so significant, and the future prospects are so promising, that Rai has launched into these investments without delay,” noting that the broadcaster is currently equipping a large number of studios with LED walls and FloorLEDs.

From another perspective, Adde Granberg, Head of Innovation at SVT, identifies the development of the software-based NEO system as one of the year’s most significant milestones, bringing new forms of production and operation under a single umbrella.

“Imagine moving from no prior knowledge, to just one day of practice, followed by a day of rehearsal, and on the third day, managing a live TV production that includes sound, graphics, replay, and more. This level of efficiency and accessibility is unprecedented!”

Granberg extends the reflection with a broader message for the future of the sector. In his view, the industry must rethink its priorities and move away from an exclusive focus on traditional technical parameters, instead placing the end-user experience at the centre. “It’s crucial for us to shift our focus from traditional production standards, which are often centered on pixels and bits, to prioritizing the end-user’s experience,” he concludes, posing a question he believes will be key in the years ahead: “Are we doing things right, or are we doing the right things?”

Adde Granberg (SVT): “It’s crucial for us to shift our focus from traditional production standards, which are often centered on pixels and bits, to prioritizing the end-user’s experience”