London, 11 September 2014: IBC today announces that registration for IBC Content Everywhere MENA is now open. The event will take place in Dubai on 20-22 January 2015 at the Madinat Jumeirah. Pioneering an entirely new way to do business and with unprecedented networking opportunities to penetrate the region, IBC Content Everywhere MENA will provide a unique forum for the vibrant media sector of the Middle East and North Africa to interact with technology companies and service providers dedicated to opening up global opportunities for online content distribution content everywhere'.By the end of the first quarter of 2013, 284 million mobile subscribers in the Middle East represented mobile growth nearly twice that in Western Europe and North America combined and mobile penetration of 109% now exceeds USA, APAC and the global average. Following forecasts that Middle East mobile data traffic will grow 77% CAGR to 2017 the highest growth for any region it is anticipated that the Middle East and North Africa will experience the greatest average growth in mobile broadband speeds, with a 13-fold increase up to 2017 and the region's average mobile speed will reach nearly 3 Mbps.
It is therefore no surprise that the media sector has been identified as a strategic building block for sustainable post-petrochemical economies by several governments in the Middle East and North Africa, especially in the Gulf.
With the whole of the Middle East as well as major media centres in North and East Africa, Central Asia, India and Pakistan all within four hours flying time, this ground-breaking event is an exceptional opportunity to obtain exclusive insights into the consumer behaviours, business models and technologies driving the growth of content everywhere. IBC has already secured ASBU (Arab States Broadcasting Union) as a Gold Supporter, Dubai Media City and Etisalat as Host Sponsors and a list of exhibitors which includes Cisco, Nvidia, Quantel, Aspera, Irdeto, Vimond and Content Wise alongside the players who have shaped the regional media landscape. In addition, NHK will give the first display in the MENA region of images taken by its 120Hz frame frequency 8K Super Hi-Vision camera. 8K provides 33 megapixel ultra-high-definition images of the Brazil World Cup, which lets viewers feel as if they are right where the action is taking place.
IBC Content Everywhere MENA aims to maximise opportunities for dialogue through this event and to facilitate new and exciting business partnerships, sharing vital expertise and key developments around the hot topics that are changing the international face of content. Rich media content, devices, apps, big data and cloud services, will all be covered in the IBC Content Everywhere Hub and high-level analysis will be facilitated in the Theatre.
The three-days of the conference will feature an outstanding mix of local and international speakers, with the programme themed around a keynote address, followed by case studies, discussion and debate of the most significant issues facing the region today. The key focus of the conference is centred around the challenges and opportunities arising from digital convergence faced by both traditional broadcasters and telcos. Discussions will include business models for the new technologies and strategy for dealing with disrupters, monetising digital content and the rise of ultra HD content, wrapping up with an analysis of the drivers that are the motive force behind the technological and behavioural changes that are being witnessed in the market and a look at what the future holds for the region.
The IBC Content Everywhere MENA Hub will act as an easy-to-find location for informal meetings and networking for both exhibitors and attendees and will host a programme of free-to attend sessions and product demonstrations exploring the diverse implications and opportunities arising out of IBC Content Everywhere. Each day, the programme will be built around two, hour-long, curated and editorially-independent sessions and panel discussions providing insights into the consumer behaviours, business models and technologies driving the growth of content everywhere'.
Establishing and maintaining new business relationships is a core part of this innovative new event, which will feature widespread use of Touch & Connect technology. NFC devices revolutionise the visitor and exhibitor experience by offering both real and virtual networking as well as content exchange during and long after the event.
Located in the Hub, the Download Wall enables attendees to collect session and demonstration presentations as well as brochures, white papers, data sheets and other collateral from IBC Content Everywhere MENA exhibitors, using their personal Touch & Connect devices. Downloaded materials, together with contact details of other Touch & Connect users that have been met can be reviewed online in the Touch & Connect portal 365 days a year.
General registration for the event is free, however for a completely immersive and superior experience, attendees can upgrade to an IBC Content Everywhere MENA Gold Pass. Exclusive benefits of the Gold Pass include 3-day access to the exhibition and VIP networking Lounge with complimentary beverages and buffet lunch, private meeting rooms and use of the business centre as well as reserved seating in all sessions at the Content Theatre.
Also included is exclusive access to all sessions and recorded sessions via VOD; a selection of IBC2014 content including IBCTV VOD, IBC2014 conference presentations and editorial content; all contacts collected during IBC Content Everywhere MENA; all IBC Content Everywhere MENA Hub recorded sessions as well as membership of the elite IBC Content Everywhere Touch & Connect Club for pre-show, onsite and post event use.
To be a part of this landmark event regi
