Perifery at IBC: An Open Future with TIBO

We launched a special show podcast to capture the insights and perspectives from several media industry leaders at IBC 2023. In this episode, Leanne Tomlin, Senior Marketing Manager at Perifery, is joined by Adnand Mahmut, owner of TIBO.  

With an obvious passion for his company’s work, Adnand begins the conversation by outlining what TIBO does. “We are internet ISP, OTT platform and the broadcasting for live events, sports events… we go to cover all the sports in Albania, even the minor sports, even for the children.” With existing rights for major sports leagues and Olympic Committee events, Adnand shared that the company is constantly looking for new avenues to invest in, such as radio and podcasts.  

With an impressive 15 years in the industry, Leanne asked Adnand how TIBO started. He replied, “because the necessity to go from analog in our territories and to give the possibility to other people to go in the next step, to go nearer to Europe with the events.”  

Adnand explained that one of the first, and pivotal moments in TIBO’s history, was establishing a commitment to providing TV access to refugees working in other countries. He said, “this is very important for us to go and to offer a product that can arrive in territories far away from Albania.” Deciding that Over-The-Top (OTT) services were the best way to reach its audience, TIBO designed its own software to keep consumers connected, both in and out of Albania. 

With an active role in the M&E sector for the last 15 years, Leanne asked whether Adnand had seen many changes in that time. Adnand highlighted how well the OTT community is doing. He noted that during, and since, the Covid pandemic, the demand for OTT services has significantly risen. Sharing his reasoning, Adnand explained that TV provided people with an alternative means of entertainment in a time when they could not go outside. He also highlighted how OTT services were now much more accessible, with households owning multiple TVs and mobile devices, meaning family members could watch different shows simultaneously, with the restriction of only one device. 

Moving the conversation on to industry trends, Leanne asked Adnand’s views on key focus areas. Adnand emphasized the need to eliminate geo-blocking, making content accessible across all borders. Advocating for a more open and consumer-friendly approach, he shared his belief that subscribers should be able to access content they've purchased regardless of their location. Adnand also highlighted the need for unified networks and communication systems, eliminating the complexity of navigating different networks when crossing borders. 

When asked about his views for the future, especially in a time of growing digitalization, Adnand said, “It's a very personal thing because some people are conservative, some people are more open-minded. I come back again in the discussion together about what I see for the future... I see an open world.” Believing that consumers should be able to choose which content they view, Adnand said, “We can't decide for other [people] what is bad, what is beautiful.”