Experts will come together at the Dubai World Trade Centre to discuss the changing roles of content creation, distribution and consumption.
At CABSAT, the entire Entertainment & Media (E&M) ecosystem will be addressed by experts from all corners of the industry. The event to be held from March 12 to 14 at Dubai World Trade Centre will host three key tracks – Content Creation, Content Production and Post-Production, and Content Distribution and Delivery.
CABSATÂ’s Content Congress will play a critical role in uniting the discussions surrounding the rapidly changing content landscape. The event will bring together over 250 leaders in their industry, including Carlos Tibi, Chief Executive Officer, icflix; Raffaele Annechino, President and Managing Director for Viacom International Media Networks’ (VIMN) Southern & Western Europe, Middle East and Africa; Kaswara Al Khatib co-creator UTURN and, Sanjay Raina, General Manager, Fox International.
Speaking about CABSAT 2019, Raffaele Annecchino, President, Viacom International Media Networks Southern & Western Europe, Middle East and Africa, who will be unpacking the new media landscape as an expert speaker at the exhibit said: “Viewers are consuming more content than ever today, and this is a great news. We’re living in an era where content is at the centre of everything we do. Our viewers consume content where and when they want, on the device of their choosing, so our mission today is to be everywhere, producing great content that can work on different platforms creating experiences for audiences that work across devices and in real life.”
Content creators, distributors and buyers will gather at CABSATÂ’s Content Marketplace to exhibit the latest content offerings, explore production and scout for content that will speak to niche audiences and global fan bases alike. With viewers calling the shots, the industry is seeing a cadre of new, personalised content. This is particularly true in terms of content tailored to regional tastes, languages and cultural mores. Streaming content giant Netflix is now available in 190 countries and is aggressively sourcing content that speaks to regional audiences.
The MEASA market is ripe for innovators looking to unlock new revenue streams. The Content Congress at CABSAT will provide in depth insight into how to disrupt and adapt traditional broadcast models to meet the demands of viewers looking for a bespoke experience. Panelists at the Content Congress will be addressing issues that the industry cannot afford to ignore, including the fate of broadcast television, the potential of content creation in the MEASA region and the integration of social media platforms in traditional broadcasting.
Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Studio City, added: “Today, the content creation landscape is a dynamic and evolving one, and the biggest challenge remains to keep up and adapt to the changes. As a developing content creation hub in the Middle East region, our future truly lies in producing exciting and ground-breaking work that meets and exceeds the expectations of our consumers. Lately, we have introduced several products and initiatives – including CineMENA – to provide a direct gateway into content creation.”
The global E&M industry is in the midst of a significant shift as viewers demand a more personalised experience, both in terms of the content they consume and their platform of choice. The fast-paced development of mobile and streaming technologies have sparked a marked shift in consumer behaviour, thrusting the industry into an era analysts are referring to as Convergence 3.0. In this new wave of entertainment, technology is giving a voice to the consumer and that voice is clear – viewers are demanding bespoke content that they can consume anytime, anywhere. With expectations at an all-time high, the E&M industry must adapt to meet the brief.
With digital revenues set to make up 56.9% of the industryÂ’s income by 2022, competitors and niche providers alike are forced to reevaluate obsolete business models driven by advertising revenue, instead shifting their focus to providing bespoke content to consumers on an in-demand basis. Experts from the industry will come together at CABSAT, to discuss the changing roles of content creation, distribution and consumption.
