IBC2011 Conference Set to Inspire with Keynote Speakers Drawn from Leading Figures Across the Industry

LONDON, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IBC, the leading global tradeshow for professionals engaged in the content creation, management and delivery of broadcasting media and entertainment, promises the most exciting conference ever. Major influencers are set to provide stimulating keynote addresses on every aspect of the future roadmap for the industry.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110421/NY87427LOGO )

Included in the list are such notable figures as Andrew Barron, coo of Virgin Media UK; Mike Fries, CEO of Liberty Global; William H. Roedy, former chairman and chief executive at MTV International; Joanna Shields, vice president and managing director EMEA of Facebook; and Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, UK.

Keynote Speakers featuring at IBC2011:

Luke Johnson, founder and chairman of Risk Capital Partners, William Roedy, former chairman and chief executive of MTV Networks International and John Smith, ceo of BBC Worldwide will be debating the challenges and opportunities of current and future broadcast business in The Future of Broadcasting: Addressing issues such as how broadcasters respond to the dilution of ad revenues and the threat posed by new mobile and internet delivery platforms; whether broadcasters are pressured to respond in kind as rival operators begin to invest in original content; what forms of partnership with a mobile or internet operator might benefit both parties, and can connected devices provide an opportunity to refresh the business by allowing broadcast brands to reach audiences lost to online?

Andrew Barron, ceo at Virgin Media, Ferdinand Kayser, ceo of SES Astra and Mike Fries, ceo of Liberty Global, will be bringing a high level view of the future for Cable & Satellite: Future Directions in a Hybrid World: Among the issues to be addressed is the challenge that telco IP delivery is offering in the space traditionally occupied by Cable & Satellite operators. The session will also question whether bandwidth, economic distribution, HD+, standards and security will continue their advantage or will a hybrid, collaborative Connected Home be essential to deliver future audiences and revenues. 

Joanna Shields, vice president and managing director EMEA of Facebook, will take the spotlight at the single most significant session of the IBC2011 Conference Programme with the Social Media Keynote: A rising star in the industry, recently being named as Wired magazine's number 1 'UK Digital Power Broker', Shields' address will focus on the relationship and revolution social media has developed with broadcasting, and a look to the future implications of the pairing.

Michael Comishn, co-founder and ceo of Blinkbox, Neil Gaydon, ceo at Pace plc, Romulo Pontual, executive vice president and chief technology officer of DIRECTV, Inc. and Hiroshi Yoshioka, executive deputy president and corporate executive officer of Sony Corporation will be leading the debate on Connected TV: Remaking the TV Industry: the battle for the home screen: Traditional broadcasters, pay TV operators, OTT players like Blinkbox and Netflix, Google TV, games consoles, and mainstream consumer electronics organisations are all in the fight to be the 'home' EPG for viewers. What are their tactics? What kind of partnerships might be created as audiences demand more flexibility in how they access, view and interact with content? What role will pay and free propositions play? Will they have excellence in service aggregation and navigation/discovery of content, be technically innovative and have breadth of distribution or access to premium content rights? Or is it simply a matter of marketing dollars and brand power that will ultimately win out?

Bernard Pauchon, chairman of Broadcast Networks Europe, Richard Feasey, public policy director of Vodafone and Gina Nieri, director of Mediaset, will contribute their thoughts on the merits of a spectrum compromise in Radio Spectrum Policy: Can Broadcast and Telecom Worlds Cooperate for the Benefit of the Citizens?: Spectrum is a scarce resource in most of the developed world and particularly so in Europe. Increasing demands by large telecoms operators for additional spectrum for wireless services is putting pressure on conventional over the air broadcasters to make compromises on the spectrum they badly need for HDTV and other important services. The European Union's Digital Agenda is further heating up this debate.

Mainardo de Nardis, ceo of OMD Worldwide; Toby Syfret, chief analyst at Enders Analysis; Nick Thexton, senior vp research & development new initiatives at NDS; Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP Group; and broadcaster Steve Hewlett will head the session concerning The Challenges for Advertiser Funded Broadcasting: Traditional TV advertising models are in crisis as media fragments across multiple platforms taking an audience increasingly at home with nonlinear viewing with them. The debate will centre on whether the recession has permanently dented revenues or does the connected TV present a chance to reformulate the relationship with the consumer. As consumers take more control over content at a time of economic uncertainty, will product placement, targeted ads or multi-screen advertising deliver life-saving revenues to commercial broadcasters or is it inevitable that free TV will need to be replaced by some form of payment model?

More information about the IBC2011 Conference

One of the most exciting and original experiences in the industry, the IBC Conference is overseen by a Conference Committee comprising key individuals from broadcasting and media, supported by a Technical Papers Committee drawn from the leading engineers and technologists available. Working together with the most significant speakers from across the industry and some of the most innovative thinkers from the leading companies in the world, IBC delivers an unmissable conference which generates a truly interactive forum for analysis and debate.

Through the conference, IBC offers the opportunity to maximise networking opportunities with hundreds of influential professionals gathered in one place for a week to meet and share experiences. One of the greatest benefits of the conference is the chance to discuss with people from all types of organisations -- from small businesses to the world's biggest and most famous companies to local non-profits and enormous government agencies -- the lessons learned from dealing with shared problems.

Split into four carefully selected streams -- Technology Advancements, Content Creation and Innovation, The Business of Broadcasting, and Added Value -- the conference ensures that that all the themes relevant to the future of the industry are represented. Sessions are a mixture of panel discussions, tutorials, papers, masterclasses and case studies, and IBC offers substantial savings on a range of conference passes to enable attendees to assemble a flexible, tailored programme focusing on practical skills or strategic discussions.

Hot Topics for the conference change year by year, reflecting the evolution and direction of the industry, technology and business models that underpin it. Providing in-depth coverage of  subjects that really matter to the industry today, the spotlight for 2011 falls on Connected TV & Devices, 3D, Sports, Advertising, and Next Generation Workflows.

For more information about the IBC2011 Conference Keynotes visit www.ibc.org/keynotes.

View the full IBC2011 Conference Programme for up to date information about the sessions at www.ibc.org/conferenceprogramme.

About IBC

IBC is the leading global tradeshow for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of broadcasting media and entertainment. The event's unparalleled exhibition and agenda setting conference encompass the very latest developments in broadcasting, mobile TV, IPTV, digital signage and R&D making it essential for everyone's understanding of the industry and its future.

IBC2011 Dates

Conference 8 – 13 September 2011

Exhibition    9 – 13 September 2011

www.ibc.org

SOURCE IBC