Backlight to unveil AI and Automation innovations at the 2025 NAB Show
Posted on Tuesday, April 1, 2025
“Today, every company is a media company, and every team is a media team,” said Kathleen Barrett, CEO of Backlight. “At NAB 2025, Backlight is introducing innovations across our portfolio that enable all kinds of media teams to simplify their content workflows and maximize engagement and efficiency through automation and AI. From newsrooms using Wildmoka to break stories faster to marketing teams using Iconik to launch global campaigns, our latest innovations are designed to make teams faster and businesses stronger.”
Iconik Automation Engine: The Power of Automation at Scale
With Automation Engine soon to be available in Backlight’s Iconik media management solution, users can build powerful, automated workflows without needing API interaction. It allows content creators to automate tasks such as transcriptions, metadata-driven asset movement, and cold storage management, significantly reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Additional Iconik advancements on show at NAB include:
AI-powered facial recognition: Instantly find all clips featuring a specific person, saving time when searching archives. Our facial recognition data stays within the platform, and isn’t shared outside of the user’s Iconik instance.
New iOS app: Review, approve, and share media from anywhere and directly into Iconik.
DaVinci Resolve integration: Effortlessly move media between Iconik and DaVinci Resolve to keep creative workflows smooth and efficient.
AWS Marketplace availability: Now available for purchase in AWS Marketplace, making it easier for enterprises to integrate Iconik into their cloud workflows and purchase Iconik with AWS credits.
Wildmoka: Cloud-Based Channel Creation with Channel Studio and AI-Based Vertical Short Form Creation
At NAB, Backlight is introducing Channel Studio, Wildmoka’s new cloud-based solution for 24/7 live channel management. Built entirely for the browser, Channel Studio allows digital teams to create and operate always-on channels without the need for expensive control rooms or hardware. From scheduling and ad breaks to monetization with ad templates, everything can be managed with ease.
Backlight will also unveil a comprehensive suite of AI-driven features for Wildmoka, designed to simplify the production of vertical short-form content. These capabilities include speech-to-text on live ingest, live translation, smart verticalization with automated rezoning, and titling and caption animations. These features are all about speed, scale, and ease, using AI as a force multiplier for creating high performing content.
Other new features in Wildmoka include:
Vertical editing capabilities: New tools that make it easy to create dynamic vertical clips and optimize subtitles for vertical video.
LLM-based automated metadata: Use speech-to-text transcription and large language models to automate metadata creation.
SCTE marker insertion: Support for time signals for management of ad insertion.
Zype: Elevating Video Distribution and Analytics
New features in Zype further expand its end-to-end video management and distribution capabilities, including:
AI-powered automated transcription and subtitles: More efficient metadata creation, faster content clipping and editing, and improved accessibility of video content.
Zype Portals: Create branded microsites for secure video sharing with external audiences at scale from content housed in Zype’s library or a media asset management platform like Iconik.
Zype Analytics 3: A next-generation analytics dashboard offering real-time insights into content performance and viewer engagement, enabling video publishers to optimize their content strategy, improve audience engagement, and maximize profitability.
Zype Playout: Expanded live ingestion with SRT and Zixi support, enabling lower latency and more flexible connection options for live and linear distribution.
“Always-on” content in Zype Apps Creator: Engage app viewers with a 24/7 active stream playing behind the app menu while they browse content, increasing app engagement.
Celtx Premier Pro Integration
Backlight’s Celtx scriptwriting software now integrates with Adobe Premier Pro, allowing editors to import scripts directly into Premiere, automatically generating scene-based bins and linking assets to script content. This integration streamlines the editing process by enabling quick navigation between the script and media, automated sequence creation, and real-time script syncing, ensuring edits stay aligned with evolving production needs.
Backlight will also showcase the latest features in its Ftrack production management, production tracking, and media review solution.
Live product demos
NAB attendees can see live demos of Backlight’s media solutions in action at the Backlight booth. Monday’s demos will focus on team collaboration, while Tuesday’s demos will spotlight workflow automation and AI for improved efficiency. Signing up for a demo session is the best way to learn about everything that’s happening across the Backlight portfolio.
About Backlight
Backlight replaces broken media workflows with simple, AI-powered products designed to make teams faster and businesses stronger. Through our integrated suite of video solutions, including Iconik, Wildmoka, Ftrack, Celtx, and Zype, we empower creative and production teams to focus on what matters most: crafting compelling stories that drive impact.
Media Contacts:
Bubble Agency
Americas/APAC: Kim Willsher, (+1) 310-569-2603
UK/EMEA: Shawn Belluigi, +44 (0)20-7113-3811
backlight@bubbleagency.com
Backlight
Caitlin McCormick
press@backlight.co
