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2026 HPA Tech Retreat: AI, Private 5G, NextGen TV and the Future of Media Production (Image credit: James O’Neal)
The 31st annual HPA Tech Retreat brought together 800 leaders from broadcast, cinema, streaming, and media technology in Rancho Mirage, Calif., to examine where production workflows are headed next.
AI dominated the conversation. But so did sustainability, spectrum congestion, NextGen TV, immersive learning, and a powerful reminder that sometimes the best innovation comes from revisiting proven technologies.
Here are the most important takeaways for broadcasters, live production teams, and enterprise media leaders.
HPA Tech Retreat 2026
AI Is Reshaping Workflows — But Infrastructure Still Matters
Artificial intelligence was present in nearly every session. However, the most practical discussions centered on how AI integrates into existing production pipelines — and where it struggles.
One standout session explored the revival of front projection as an alternative to LED “volume” walls in virtual production environments.
Chris Barnett (Image credit: James O’Neal)
The LED Wall Reality Check
LED volumes have reduced location costs and enabled real-time in-camera VFX. But they come with trade-offs:
- Moiré issues at specific zoom levels
- Significant heat generation
- High power consumption
- Large upfront capital expense
As studios face financial pressure, production teams are reassessing cost structures.
Modern laser-driven projection systems are emerging as a viable alternative. Benefits include:
- Approximately half the upfront cost compared to LED walls
- Dramatically lower power usage
- Reduced thermal load
- Improved control when separating foreground/background elements for AI workflows
The key insight: AI storytelling performance depends heavily on clean signal separation and controllable environments.
Infrastructure decisions directly impact how well AI tools perform.
For broadcasters and live event producers, the message is clear — workflow architecture matters as much as software innovation.
Matthew Goldman (Image credit: James O’Neal)
The Return of the Broadcaster Panel: ATSC 3.0 at a Crossroads
The retreat also marked the return of a dedicated broadcast television session, reframed as a “Broadcaster Update.”
The core topic: NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) and the urgency of establishing a firm ATSC 1.0 sunset timeline.
The “Cycle of Hesitation”
Broadcasters are currently stuck in a strategic stalemate:
- TV manufacturers hesitate to include ATSC 3.0 tuners without consumer demand
- Consumers lack demand because features are limited
- Broadcasters can’t fully deploy new features without reclaiming bandwidth
This cycle delays innovation.
ATSC 3.0 offers significant advantages:
- Hyperlocal emergency alerting
- Enhanced data services
- IP-based delivery architecture
- Future monetization models
But without regulatory clarity, progress remains incremental.
For broadcast engineers and network strategists, this represents both frustration and opportunity. When the transition accelerates, infrastructure readiness will determine competitive advantage.
Thom Belda (Image credit: James O’Neal)
Healthcare Adopts Production Technology
One of the more unexpected themes was the application of media production tools inside healthcare.
The Mayo Clinic presented how technologies traditionally used in film and television are transforming medical education and surgery.
Key applications include:
- VR-based surgical training
- Augmented reality overlays
- Digital twins of human pathology
- 3D-printed surgical implants
- Large LED volumes for immersive learning
“Digital twinning” enables surgeons to examine virtual replicas of tumors or complex anatomy before procedures.
The broader takeaway:
Immersive production technology is expanding beyond entertainment into mission-critical environments.
For integrators and solution providers, healthcare is becoming a serious vertical opportunity for:
- LED volumes
- AR/VR systems
- Secure network transport
- Real-time visualization
VidOvation’s Jim Jachetta (L) explains the technology used to create private 5G networks during one of the Tech Retreat Breakfast Roundtables.. (Image credit: James O’Neal)
Private 5G and CBRS: Solving RF Congestion in Live Production
One of the most practical discussions at the retreat focused on Private 5G and CBRS spectrum for live broadcast and remote production.
At large venues, traditional connectivity is increasingly unreliable:
- 80,000+ fans uploading video
- Wi-Fi saturation
- Public cellular congestion
- Bonded cellular links failing under load
CBRS (3.55 GHz) offers a compelling alternative.
Why CBRS Matters for Broadcasters
- 150 MHz of shared spectrum
- Access to 10 MHz slices (up to four available depending on usage)
- Higher throughput potential
- Controlled access (consumer phones cannot access private networks)
Private 5G networks operating in CBRS provide:
- Reliable uplink bandwidth
- Reduced interference
- Predictable performance
- Scalable throughput
Most modern bonded cellular transmission systems are CBRS-capable via physical SIM or eSIM configuration.
For sports networks, live event producers, and remote production teams, Private 5G is no longer experimental — it is becoming essential infrastructure.
The business driver is simple:
When public networks fail, your broadcast fails.
Private spectrum access changes that equation.
Sustainability and Cost Efficiency Take Center Stage
Across multiple sessions, financial and operational sustainability emerged as a core theme.
Studios and broadcasters are:
- Reducing capital expenditures
- Re-evaluating energy consumption
- Seeking scalable workflows
- Prioritizing flexible IP-based systems
This reinforces several ongoing industry shifts:
- Movement toward at-home / REMI production
- Increased reliance on IP transport
- Migration to hybrid cloud architectures
- Strategic use of private wireless infrastructure
The production community is not chasing novelty. It is seeking resilience.
HPA past president Seth Hallen assists outgoing Tech Retret ‘maestro’ Mark Schubin in formally retiring the bicycle horn he used to signal startup of conference presentations. (Image credit: James O’Neal)
A Moment of Reflection
The retreat also marked the stepping back of longtime conference figure Mark Schubin, whose presence has shaped HPA for decades.
In an industry obsessed with speed and innovation, it was a reminder that experience, context, and community remain central to progress.
What This Means for Broadcasters and Media Technology Leaders
The 2026 HPA Tech Retreat highlighted five major realities:
1. AI Is Powerful — But Infrastructure Determines Success
Clean signal paths, controllable environments, and bandwidth matter more than hype.
2. Private 5G Is Moving from “Interesting” to “Necessary”
Venue congestion is not improving. Controlled spectrum is a strategic advantage.
3. ATSC 3.0 Adoption Will Accelerate — Eventually
Organizations prepared for NextGen TV will move faster when the transition clarifies.
4. Immersive Technology Is Expanding into New Verticals
Healthcare and enterprise are embracing production-grade tools.
5. Cost Efficiency and Sustainability Drive Decisions
Lower power, flexible systems, and scalable architectures win.
The Bigger Picture
The retreat made one thing clear:
The future of media production is not about a single breakthrough technology.
It is about integrating:
- AI
- IP transport
- Private wireless
- Virtual production
- NextGen broadcast
- Immersive visualization
…into workflows that are reliable, cost-effective, and future-ready.
For broadcast, sports, and enterprise leaders, the question isn’t whether these technologies are coming.
It’s whether your infrastructure is ready to support them.