On Air 2026

On Air 2026 is an ambitious global student-led broadcasting initiative designed to bring together the next generation of media professionals, educators and industry experts. Taking place from 22–23 October 2026, the event will be hosted by the University of Westminster at its Harrow Media Campus in the UK. The event is being delivered by the Media Talent Manifesto and has attracted a growing network of industry and education partners, including Hitomi Broadcast.

The 2026 edition builds on the success of the inaugural On Air broadcast. Rather than focusing on a single stream, this year's programme expands into five dedicated channels covering Culture, News, Sport, Film and Kids. This larger format is intended to give more students the opportunity to experience real broadcast responsibilities while working with professional technology, production workflows and industry practitioners.

For Hitomi Broadcast, participation provides an opportunity to contribute to an initiative focused on developing the skills and practical experience of future broadcasting professionals. Hitomi specialises in broadcast timing, lip-sync and latency measurement through its MatchBox technology, making its involvement particularly relevant to a project centred on live and multi-channel broadcasting.

What Is On Air 2026?

On Air is a large-scale student broadcasting project created to give emerging media talent practical experience in a professional broadcast environment. The project connects participating educational institutions and industry professionals across different countries and time zones.

The 2026 programme is expected to be substantially larger than the inaugural edition. The University of Westminster will serve as a central production hub, with its Harrow campus providing the main UK base for core broadcast operations.

The project is particularly valuable because students are not simply watching professional broadcasting take place. They are given opportunities to contribute directly to production, technology, content and operational activities.

This approach creates an environment where students can develop practical knowledge while collaborating with people from different educational institutions and geographical locations.

Five Dedicated Broadcast Channels

One of the most important developments for On Air 2026 is its expansion into five dedicated channels.

Culture Channel

The Culture channel provides students with an opportunity to explore creative and cultural storytelling. Participants can develop content that reflects different communities, perspectives and creative interests.

News Channel

The News channel introduces students to the fast-moving environment of news production. It provides an opportunity to understand research, editorial planning, production coordination and live broadcasting.

Sport Channel

The Sport channel focuses on sports broadcasting and gives participants exposure to the technical and editorial requirements associated with live sporting content.

Film Channel

The Film channel provides opportunities for students interested in filmmaking, visual storytelling and production. It expands the initiative beyond traditional live television into wider screen production.

Kids Channel

The Kids channel adds another dimension to the programme by encouraging students to consider programming designed for younger audiences and the specific creative and production requirements involved.

Together, these five channels create a broader learning environment and allow students with different interests to participate in areas that align with their career ambitions.

Why the Event Matters for Students

The media and entertainment industry is changing rapidly. Cloud workflows, IP-based production, remote contribution, streaming platforms and increasingly sophisticated broadcast technologies are transforming how content is produced and delivered.

For students, theoretical knowledge alone is often not enough. Employers also look for people who understand practical production environments and can work effectively as part of technical and creative teams.

On Air addresses this need by providing students with direct experience of a large-scale production. The project allows participants to work with other students while receiving support from experienced industry professionals.

This can help participants understand the importance of communication, scheduling, teamwork, technical accuracy and production discipline.

The event is therefore more than a showcase. It functions as a practical learning environment where students can begin developing the professional behaviours required for careers in broadcasting and media technology.

Hitomi Broadcast's Role

Hitomi Broadcast is one of the industry partners supporting On Air 2026. The company's involvement is particularly relevant because live broadcasting depends on accurate timing and synchronisation.

Hitomi's MatchBox solutions are designed to help broadcasters measure audio/video alignment and latency. Its technology can help production teams identify timing problems and verify synchronisation rather than relying purely on subjective observation.

Hitomi's participation also reflects the wider objective of the On Air project: connecting students with real technologies and companies operating within the professional media ecosystem.

For emerging broadcast engineers and technical production specialists, exposure to companies such as Hitomi can help demonstrate how specialist technology is used to solve practical problems in live production environments.

Industry and Education Collaboration

A major strength of On Air 2026 is its collaborative structure. The event brings together educational organisations, students and industry partners rather than operating as an isolated university project.

The University of Westminster has described the initiative as an opportunity to connect students, educators and media professionals across six continents. The university's Harrow campus is particularly suitable because it hosts subjects including film and television, media and communication, music, fashion and related creative disciplines.

The project therefore provides a bridge between education and employment.

Students gain practical experience, while industry partners have an opportunity to engage with emerging talent and contribute to the development of future media professionals.

A Focus on Real-World Broadcast Skills

One of the most valuable aspects of On Air 2026 is its focus on real-world responsibilities.

A professional broadcast involves far more than cameras and presenters. Successful productions require planning, scheduling, technical operations, communications, content management, editorial decision-making and coordination between multiple teams.

On Air allows students to experience these responsibilities in a collaborative environment.

The 2026 programme will also involve teams operating across different countries and time zones. This creates additional challenges around communication, scheduling and coordination while reflecting the increasingly international nature of modern media production.

Opportunities for Media Technology Professionals

Although students are central to the event, On Air also has relevance for established media professionals.

Broadcast engineers, production specialists, educators, technology companies and media organisations can participate in supporting the next generation of talent.

For industry professionals, the project offers an opportunity to share knowledge and demonstrate practical approaches to production.

Technology companies such as Hitomi Broadcast can also help students understand the technologies that support modern live broadcasting.

This type of interaction can help reduce the gap between classroom learning and professional employment.

The Importance of Live Production Experience

Live production presents challenges that cannot always be replicated through classroom exercises.

When multiple channels operate simultaneously, teams must coordinate information quickly and accurately. Technical issues can have immediate consequences, and communication between departments becomes essential.

Students participating in On Air can therefore gain an appreciation of the pressure and responsibility involved in live broadcasting.

The experience can help develop skills such as:

• Technical problem-solving
• Production planning
• Team communication
• Time management
• Editorial judgement
• Live broadcast operations
• Cross-border collaboration

These skills can be valuable for students seeking careers in television, streaming, film, sports broadcasting, production technology and media operations.

University of Westminster as the UK Production Hub

The University of Westminster's Harrow Campus is located on Watford Road, Northwick Park, Harrow, Middlesex, with postcode HA1 3TP. The university identifies the campus as a base for media and communication, film and television and other creative disciplines.

Its existing media-focused facilities and educational community make it a natural location for a project centred on student broadcasting.

Hosting On Air at the Harrow campus also gives participating students an environment where academic learning and practical production can operate side by side.

What Attendees Can Expect

Participants can expect a highly collaborative broadcasting environment rather than a conventional conference or exhibition.

The event's emphasis is on production, participation and practical experience. Students will have opportunities to work alongside peers and industry professionals while contributing to content across multiple channels.

The involvement of organisations from across the media technology ecosystem also creates opportunities to learn about professional workflows and emerging technologies.

For educators, the event provides an example of how industry-connected learning can complement formal media education.

For professionals, it offers an opportunity to support emerging talent and contribute to the development of future industry skills.

The Future of Broadcast Talent

The broadcasting industry continues to evolve as traditional television increasingly overlaps with streaming, cloud production, remote workflows and digital platforms.

This changing environment requires professionals who can adapt quickly and understand both creative and technical processes.

On Air 2026 responds to this changing landscape by putting students into an environment that resembles modern media production. Instead of treating technology and creativity as separate disciplines, the project brings them together.

The involvement of industry partners strengthens this approach by giving students exposure to companies and professionals working within the sector today.

Wrapping Up

On Air 2026 represents an important opportunity for the UK's emerging media and broadcast talent. Taking place on 22–23 October 2026 at the University of Westminster's Harrow Media Campus, the initiative will expand into five dedicated channels covering Culture, News, Sport, Film and Kids.

With students, educators and industry partners working together, the event provides a practical environment for developing the skills needed for modern broadcasting.

Hitomi Broadcast's participation further connects the initiative with specialist broadcast technology. Its expertise in timing, synchronisation and latency measurement is relevant to the technical demands of live and distributed production.

Ultimately, On Air 2026 is about more than producing content. It is about giving future media professionals the opportunity to experience responsibility, collaboration and technology in a real production environment while creating stronger connections between education and the broadcasting industry.