Industry Leaders Meet in Singapore

Ed Ng President Reed Exhibitions, Singapore-Malaysia

ATF is the leading Asian programming market. What are your main objectives with this event?

According to a report by PriceWaterHouseCoopers, the global entertainment and media market worth US$1.3 trillion in 2004, is expected to see exponential growth over the next 3 years, with Asia leading the growth (up 72% from 2004 to 2009). We hope to facilitate this expected growth in the Asian media industry, by providing a platform, through Asia Television Forum and Asia Film Market & Conference, for international television and film program sellers to meet with Asian buyers to buy, sell and network. The event comprises of a media market, industry specific conferences and a host of networking opportunities and is designed to encompass the entire media business value chain from media financing, content production, buying and selling of content, to the recognition of media talents. Over the last six years, the market has seen a steady increase in programme sales transactions of more than 50 percent year-on-year. From a humble US$6.3 million in 2002, the market has grown to encompass sales of US$33 million in 2005, with more expected this year. This is a testimonial to the success of the event and the strong support we have received from the industry.

ATF is a part of Asia Media Festival. What are the benefits of this partnership?

The Asia Media Festival is a showcase of Asia 's diversity, strong business networks and burgeoning talent in the media industry and comprises of events for both trade professionals and consumers. As the Festival's anchor trade event, we provide a strong business platform, in line with the festival's positioning as a media exchange for financing, trading, production and distribution of media content and services. Our event helps to attract established global and regional industry media players to Singapore which translates to business, content trading and creative opportunities.

Can you tell us about this year ATF developments? What do you expect from this year event?

Our TV and film market continues to exceed all expectations, with overwhelming support and response from the industry. Major film studios and television production companies such as NBC Universal Television Distribution, Sony Pictures Television International, Buena Vista International Television (Asia-Pacific), CBS Paramount International Television, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution continue to have a strong presence at the market.

As of now, w e are very happy to welcome more than 45 media companies who will be joining us at the market for the first time. There are also participants from five new countries of Greece, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Lithuania and Ukraine. Korea will also be having a strong presence at the market, with the inaugural participation of all four major Korean broadcasters - Educational Broadcasting System (EBS), Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS). And, for the first time, Taiwan will be coming in with its own "Taiwan Animation Pavilion". There has also been a significant increase in participation from Central and Eastern Europe, with companies like Mosfilm Cinema Concern, Kazakh Cinema Distribution and RUSCICO (Russian Cinema Council) taking part for the first time. We are especially delighted to welcome buyers from more than 30 broadcasting stations and distribution set-ups who are attending our market for the first time. This year's conference will focus on new media initiatives, with speakers from leading media companies such as Discovery Network, BBC World and Public Television Services sharing their experiences in HDTV, IPTV and Mobile TV, respectively. With all these new and exciting developments, we expect this year's event to be bigger and better than ever. By the time Asia Television Forum start, from 29 Nov to 1 Dec, we expect to see even more new companies and participants.