CABSAT this year will have 14 national pavilions or groups comprising more than 200 companies altogether. The show, which will be its biggest ever this year, has seen significant growth in its UK, German, North American, French, Spanish, Chinese and Australian contingents. In fact, CABSAT will also feature its first direct exhibitor from Japan this […]
CABSAT this year will have 14 national pavilions or groups comprising more than 200 companies altogether. The show, which will be its biggest ever this year, has seen significant growth in its UK, German, North American, French, Spanish, Chinese and Australian contingents. In fact, CABSAT will also feature its first direct exhibitor from Japan this year. IKEGAMI will have its first showing as an independent exhibitor at CABSAT.
We have always had a very strong presence from Europe, Germany and the UK in particular, claims David Roberts, Industry Group Manager, CABSAT.
Both have exceeded expectations once again, but Australia, Spain, China and France also deserve a mention, as they have either brought along impressive numbers of exhibitors this year or increased the size of the space booked considerably.
At the time of going to press, CABSAT claimed a 5% increase in pavilion space although that is likely to go up further closer to the show.
The event claims to have at least 150 new exhibitors from all over the world with some companies returning after a long absence.
Humax, EADS Astrium, Paksat, Dynavision, Masstech, Somita and SVS Satellite Systems are examples of companies that have come in with huge stands.
This says a lot about the stature of the show these days taking part for the first time is no longer just a lets dip a toe in the water exercise.
They want to make a big first-impression.
I think that the overall message is that the Middle East, Africa and Southern Asian region is being perceived as an area of positive growth and opportunity by international manufacturers, and that CABSAT is not just a platform to access it, but also a major business driver for it, adds Roberts.
Five weeks into the show, many of the stands are also beginning to take shape, the organiser says.
We are now beginning to see what a lot of the stands will actually look like. To use a broadcasting analogy, the event is moving from 2D into 3D, and as an organiser you have to applaud the effort and innovation that many of our exhibitors have put into their stands this year.
In the meantime, a look from the other side of the coin shows the growing importance of the Arab world in production and broadcasting.
Results of the global transition are evident through films produced in the region which have achieved worldwide recognition; Mahmoud Kaabours film Teta, Alf Marra won awards in London and New York, and has been acclaimed by audiences as far apart as Buenos Aires and Mumbai.
Australian short film festival Tropfest recently expanded into the Middle East during which Jassem al Jabbouri from Baghdad won first prize for Flock of Stars. The television output from the region is also viewed on a global platform, not least in sports where a number of outside broadcast fleets are on the road to get the best from the action in world-class cricket, rugby, golf, horse racing, motor sports and more.
With an expected launch in spring 2012, Sky News Arabia will be debuting at this years show with an aim to provide an advanced technology platform and high editorial standards and Prince Alwaleeds team has nailed down the spot from where his company will launch Alarab news channel, which is also aimed at competing with Sky News Arabia, Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya.
Sky News Arabia will hire and develop local talent to deliver a distinctly regional flavour to news coverage and will run its own training and internship scheme which aims to recruit most of its 370 staff from the region.
CABSAT will also be partnering with twofour54 tadreeb who recently acquired SAE Dubai, a leading higher education institution for broadcasting, film and interactive media to deliver specialist training, workshops and immersive experiences. This will enable students to review latest products from all the top manufacturers, and talk to application experts at the show. The event will serve as a platform to encourage the brightest students in the region to seek careers in the growing media.
