Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has revealed 13,911 trade visitors attended last week’s CABSAT 2015, reinforcing the annual exhibition’s position as the premier touch-point for the regional media industry.
Having gathered more than 900 exhibitors from 60 countries, the 2015 edition of the leading platform for the broadcast, production, content delivery, digital media and satellite sectors across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) has also cemented CABSAT’s standing as one of the world’s top three meeting points for the global media, production and content industries.
“With long-established foundations as the MENA media industry’s leading event, CABSAT 2015 highlighted the show evolution into a truly global exhibition for the global media industry,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC. “In addition to dozens of regional and global product launches, CABSAT 2015 was our most accomplished show to date in terms of expanding our education and knowledge exchange platforms.”
With three specialist conference formats covering a diverse bill of topics in various industry sectors, the headline CABSAT & NAB Show Collaborative Conference featured 16 sessions chaired by 40 leading thought-leaders from regional and global media houses – both visionary independents and mega corporations – and blue-chip companies. Represented brands included Al Jazeera, Avid, the UK’s Channel 4, Coca Cola Co., Comedy Central, Ericsson Media Room, FOX International, ESPN, Huffington Post, icflix, ITV UK, MBC, MTV, NBA, Netflix, Nickelodeon, OSN, Paramount, Piksel, Rotana, Selevision, VIACOM and Zee Entertainment, amongst others.
As the transition to digital television continues across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), key sessions on IPTV and OTT solutions advancing ‘anywhere, anytime’ content absorption trends and innovative monetisation opportunities attracted the show’s best-ever regional representation from MEA. Elsewhere, the first-ever Middle East Post-Production Training Conference – the largest of its kind in the region – featured certified instructors from Apple, Avid and Adobe.
“The post-production workshops were conceived to harness skills, foster talent and give media professionals and students the opportunity to access industry leaders to ignite new ideas and discussions,” said Jamal Al Sharif, Managing Director, Dubai Studio City. “Dubai is an innovative hub that opens doors for talent and we are committed to supporting the future generation of filmmakers and young talent that will build the Emirate’s film and production industry.”
CABSAT 2015 also hosted the co-located GVF Satellite Hub Summit – held in partnership with GVF. The event saw senior level debates on technical trends and major satellite issues and challenges across the satellite industry.
One of the main announcements at CABSAT 2015 was the new Content Marketplace concept that will debut next year and be co-located with CABSAT. Connecting studios and content creators, producers, distributors and licensors with a host of buyers – from free-to-air and Pay TV operators, to Telcos, brands, advertising agencies and media buying houses – the CABSAT Content Marketplace will unite the entire commercial ecosystem for filmed entertainment content by providing a dedicated platform for local, regional and international media companies to launch and source new content, explore exchange and funding opportunities and seal distribution partnerships. Mega brands including VIACOM International Media Networks, Fox International, MBC Group, Zee Entertainment, Dubai Studio City and icflix have already confirmed their participation.
Carlos Tibi, Co-Founder and CEO, icflix, added: “The Middle East is a gateway to the world, so having a professional Content Marketplace in the UAE will help bridge East and West. In the long-term, I would like to see the platform evolve from a compelling commercial proposition into a vehicle which makes Dubai as huge and successful as the Cannes film market.”
Elsewhere, a host of major technology providers also leveraged CABSAT 2015 to roll-out a series of regional and, in some cases, international product launches. At the top end of announcements, Japanese manufacturer Hitachi unveiled its new 4K camera range.
“We’ve been a supporter of CABSAT for twelve years now and we’ve tried to use this event as a major launch platform for new products,” said Paddy Roach, Director and General Manager, Hitachi. “We haven’t allowed our Middle East clients to lag second or third behind our European or American clients. We’ve used this year’s CABSAT to launch our 4K camera in the region so that the product is getting into Dubai and the wider Middle East before NAB Show.”
Having launched only last year, exhibitor demand saw the Content Delivery Hub at CABSAT 2015 expanded to a full hall this year. With more than 90 brands involved in IPTV and OTT solutions delivering content-related demonstrations over three days, the tailored platform saw IPTV specialists Amino and Advanced Media Systems (AMS) unveil their joint solution in the delivery of end-to-end entertainment solutions for the network operator, hospitality and digital signage markets.
“CABSAT is the leading platform to tap into the growth and demand for IPTV and OTT services we are witnessing across the Middle East – we had dozens of serious enquiries at the show,” said Eng. Tarek Malash, Chairman, AMS.
Finally, the CABSAT Global Meetings Programme enjoyed another prosperous outing, with more than 900 meetings arranged for the show’s key commercial partners and attendees in a purpose-built lounge on the show floor.