Digital Media Legend Ted Leonsis to Headline BIA/Kelsey's 'Interactive Local Media East,' March 26-28 in Boston

CHANTILLY, Va., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BIA/Kelsey today announced the initial speaker lineup for its upcoming Interactive Local Media East conference (ILM East), which takes place March 26-28 in Boston. Headlining the event is digital media legend Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman and CEO, Monumental Sports Entertainment; vice chairman, board of directors, Groupon; and member of the board of directors, American Express. ILM East is the leading industry conference focused on the latest business models, technological innovations and trends driving the local segment of the digital media marketplace.

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"Our ILM conferences offer a front row seat for previewing the next wave of innovation in local," said Peter Krasilovsky, BIA/Kelsey vice president, program director and ILM East conference chair. "The ILM East program is filled with 'doers' and innovators who are truly transforming and redefining the interactive local media space."

In a preview of ILM East and his keynote address, Leonsis will join BIA/Kelsey analysts Peter Krasilovsky and Jed Williams for a roundtable webinar on Monday, Feb. 13. The discussion will focus on the biggest opportunities in local, the drivers of the next generation of commerce and what is next for social, mobile and video. To register for the webinar, go to https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/431734097.

The theme for this year's ILM event is "Channels. Commerce. Conversions." The agenda will drill deeply into these essential elements for winning in the local media space. To provide context for the program, BIA/Kelsey analysts will present the firm's latest research and forecasts, including findings from BIA/Kelsey's Local Commerce Monitor about SMBs and media channels. The most recent wave of LCM (conducted online in Q4 2011) revealed SMBs use an average of 4.4 different media for local advertising and promotion. The ILM East agenda will examine where SMBs are allocating their ad dollars, which media channels are gaining market share and what it means for companies participating in the local media space. 

The ILM East agenda also includes a special one-on-one interview with Jason Calacanis, CEO of Mahalo. Other featured speakers include Leslie Berland, vice president, social media strategy, American Express; Jay Herratti, CEO, CityGrid Media; Michael Silberman, general manager, digital media, New York media; and Michael Zimbalist, vice president, research and development operations, The New York Times Co.

Among other highlights of the ILM East agenda is a special venture capital panel and innovative sessions on social, mobile, deals, video and hyperlocal. View the complete agenda online at http://www.biakelsey.com/ILMEast2012/agenda.asp.

About ILM East
ILM attracts a global audience of executive-level decision makers from across the local media landscape, including companies engaged in local search, deals and group buying services, location-based services, local social media, traditional local media, classifieds and vertical media, advertising and marketing agencies, local digital media suppliers, and sector-focused investors and financial analysts.

ILM East sponsors include Acxiom, Apptus, Axiom, Infycosm, Microsoft Advertising, Mongoose Metrics, Reply.com and vSplash. Conference association partners include the Local Search Association (LSA) and Web Marketing Association (WMA). Media partners include GigaOM, NetNewsCheck, Search Marketing Standard Magazine, Topseos, The Next Web (TNW), TVNewsCheck and Visibility Magazine. For more information about ILM East, including the complete agenda, list of speakers and companies attending, visit http://www.biakelsey.com/ILMEast2012.     

About BIA/Kelsey
BIA/Kelsey advises companies in the local media space through consulting and valuation services, research, Continuous Advisory Services and conferences. Since 1983 BIA/Kelsey has been a resource to the media, mobile advertising, telecommunications, Yellow Pages and electronic directory markets, as well as to government agencies, law firms and investment companies looking to understand trends and revenue drivers. BIA/Kelsey's annual conferences draw executives from across industries seeking expert guidance on how companies are finding innovative ways to grow. Additional information is available at http://www.biakelsey.com, on the company's Local Media Watch blog, Twitter (http://twitter.com/BIAKelsey) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/biakelsey).

SOURCE BIA/Kelsey