MPTS 2025 marks biggest edition yet with record visitor numbers

Broadcast Pro

23-05-2025

The event delivered 100+ free-to-attend sessions across eight theatres, showcasing the insight and passion of more than 350 expert speakers and guest keynotes.
The Media Production & Technology Show (MPTS) concluded its buzziest edition yet after two days of discussions, networking, and inspiration, drawing a record-breaking 13,000 attendees from 50 countries. Held on May 14–15 at Olympia London, the event brought together the UK's media and entertainment sectors in a landmark gathering that reflected both the challenges and the transformative opportunities facing the industry today.
This year's MPTS featured a packed editorial programme with over 100 free-to-attend sessions spread across eight theatres. More than 350 expert speakers and keynote guests shared their insight, vision, and creativity, while the show floor buzzed with over 300 exhibitors and sponsors showcasing cutting-edge technology and the extraordinary talent that powers the UK's creative and technical sectors.
The event kicked off with the keynote 'State of the Nation: Production,' which laid bare the sweeping changes reshaping the media landscape. 'TV doesn't exist anymore in the way we knew it,' said Kate Beal, CEO of Woodcut Media. Derren Lawford, CEO of Dare Pictures, added, 'We are in the middle of a decade of profound transition, and we're past the tipping point.' Both emphasised that traditional television now forms just one piece of a broader content ecosystem that spans creators, formats, and platforms of all kinds.
High-profile speakers brought their perspectives to the main stages. Acclaimed producer and presenter Ross Kemp recounted his experiences documenting dangerous global conflicts and organised crime, underscoring the vital role of truth in storytelling. Georgie Holt of Flight Story, producers of the globally popular podcast Diary of a CEO, championed the rise of the 'Founder Creator'—a new era where content creators are bypassing traditional gatekeepers to build direct, monetizable relationships with audiences.
Former NFL player and current broadcaster Jason Bell spoke about the changing nature of sports media, pointing to the success of documentary formats like Drive to Survive as key to expanding audience engagement by spotlighting athletes' personal stories. Hollywood editor Eddie Hamilton, best known for Top Gun: Maverick and multiple Mission: Impossible films, offered a behind-the-scenes look into the meticulous craft of blockbuster editing, describing days spent watching 10-minute scenes dozens of times to perfect the audience's visual journey through the frame.
Representation and inclusion remained at the heart of MPTS, with organisers placing a strong emphasis on ensuring diverse voices and equal opportunities across the programme and the show floor. The event was widely praised for attracting a new generation of talent and fostering an environment that celebrates difference and drives meaningful change.
Sustainability was another key theme, with the BAFTA-aligned Sustainability Series bringing vital discussions to the forefront. Industry experts including Jimmy Keeping (Sustainable Film), Nazia Zaman (Warner Bros. Discovery), Junaid Baig (Dimension Studio), and Claire O'Neill (A Greener Future) addressed the urgent need for environmentally responsible production practices.
As the curtains closed on what has become the largest MPTS to date, the event left behind a powerful message: the future of media and entertainment lies in embracing change, championing innovation, and building inclusive, sustainable communities ready to meet the next frontier of storytelling.
Sam Street, Marketing Officer, BAFTA Albert commented: 'MPTS is a really key moment in our calendar. It is always so great to connect with suppliers, companies, studios and creatives who share our common passion for sustainability within screen industries. It has also been really valuable to curate our sustainability series of panels across this year's show, we've had some really insightful discussions and emphasised the importance of environmental focus throughout the screen industries.
'We didn't need a machine to predict the high demand for news and information about AI. The brand-new ticketed AI Training programme and the expanded AI Media Zone drew exceptional attendance, with exhibitors such as Dot Group, Moments Lab and Software. Conversations in these packed-out sessions revolved around the impact of AI from ideation to VFX, featuring real-world insights and discussions on bridging the gap between theory and practice from speakers including Pete Archer, BBC; Jon Roberts, ITN and Damien Viel, Banijay Entertainment.
'With a record number of exhibitors already rebooking for 2026, MPTS continues to prove its value as the UK's number one event for media and production professionals, where brands, creatives and decision-makers come together to connect, collaborate and grow.'
Jane Shepard, Senior Channel Marketing Manager, Sandisk, added: 'MPTS 2025 was a spectacular showcase of innovation, bringing together the brightest minds and cutting-edge technology in the industry. An unforgettable experience for all attendees.'
Tom Rundle, Application Engineer, Yamaha Music, stated: 'It has been very busy for us. We have seen a huge mix of customers from the broadcast sector here, but also customers from the other industries which we serve, whether that's live or theatre who have deliberately come to the show to seek us out to speak to us. Will we be back next year? Yes, absolutely, this is the first year for us, so it was always a bit of a toe in the water, but it's been vastly more successful than we thought it was going to be.'
Peter Alderson, Business Manager, Nikon, said: 'This is our second year at MPTS, we've gone a little bit bigger on our stands, almost doubling it, and I think it's definitely been worthwhile doing. We've partnered with RED, who we recently purchased, and MRMC so it's making a lovely statement about where we are in the market, and I think we're in the right place to make that statement here at MPTS.'
Jennifer Hudson, Marketing Executive, Videndum, noted: 'This show is really important in our calendar – we attend nearly every year and find so much value in it. We get to meet with so many different professionals within the industry, and this year has been really, really positive for us. We've walked away with quite a few leads and made new relationships. It's a fantastic show, and we would thoroughly recommend anyone thinking about coming and having a stand here to definitely do it – you won't regret it.'
Will Pitt, Head of Sales Solutions, Techex, remarked: 'My impression of the show is that it's been incredibly busy and very positive. Techex particularly specialise in solving some of the headaches that a lot of the broadcast industry is grappling with at the moment, namely, how they transition into an IP-led architecture from a legacy architecture and what that journey looks like. As such, our standards have been packed pretty much throughout the show to come and look at products, but also to come and talk about ideas and lean into what that journey looks like specifically for them. So not a generic journey, but specific to their drivers and their wants and needs in the short and medium term. We particularly like MPTS because it's London based and many of the engineers that we speak to and collaborate with are based here and therefore it's an easy journey for them to take half a day, a day out to come and investigate what we have to offer, but also to have those conversations. And so for organisations like WBD or Sky, the BBC, ITV, etc. They can come here quite easily and engage with us, spend some time talking in real life and not over teams or Zoom.'
Charlotte Wheeler, Event Director, MPTS, noted: 'Without doubt, 2025 was the most stimulating, ahead-of-the-curve MPTS yet. At a time when we are seeing the industry under real pressure from budget cuts to talent shortages and perpetual change, the conversations and connections on the show floor were positive and demonstrated infectious community spirit. The level of attendance and the quality of attendees from across all sectors of the industry was incredible – not just stakeholders in technology but representatives from production and commissioning, the creator economy, those new to the industry and freelancers were all brought together by MPTS under one roof.
'A huge amount of work goes into making sure that there is equal representation across our extensive conference programme. I am proud that MPTS is one of – if not the – most diverse shows both in terms of attendees and panellists.
'Thank you to everyone for exhibiting, sponsoring, speaking, attending and engaging with the show to make MPTS such a thrilling success. We are already planning for 2026, which marks MPTS' 10th edition, so look forward to a landmark celebration!'