Satellite Operators Maintain a Positive Outlook on The Future of The Industry and Talk Up Integration, Adaptation and Cooperation

SINGAPORE, Jun 12, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – On June 6, the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) annual satellite conference, the Satellite Industry Forum, welcomed over 140 delegates and speakers including some of the satellite industry's largest operators for a day of discussion on the challenges and growth opportunities of the satellite connectivity market valued at $11.2 billion in 2021, and projected to reach $22.1 billion by 2031.

The conference opened with the regional operators on how they would fit in the rapidly evolving world of satellite. Raymond Chow, recently appointed as Chief Commercial Officer, AsiaSat, provided an overview of AsiaSat's business strategies and emphasized the importance to focus and improve AsiaSat's video business to deliver content to the big screen and small screen. He also opined that customers understand that quality of service can be more important than a small difference in pricing. Being the first private satellite operator company in Indonesia with over 330Gbps capacity across 3 satellites for Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, Agus Budi Tjahjono, Director of Commercial, PSN, is optimistic that PSN will become the biggest satellite capacity provider in the ASEAN region by the end of 2023. Besides sharing his optimism on the growth for demand for satellite communication, Yutaka Moriai, Executive Officer, Group President – Global Business Group, Space Business Unit, SKY Perfect JSAT, also foresees great opportunities in building highly integrated space network for both innovative communication and data collection, with plans to invest up to YEN150b (US$1.1b) by 2030. Besides looking into the new domain of highly integrated space network, SKY Perfect JSAT is also poised for an aggressive push into Earth Observation Space. Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, CEO, Thaicom, shared similar optimism in the Earth Observation Space and GEO special intelligence arena, especially in their home market. Thaicom is also expecting their first commercial partnership in LEO satellite IOT business in Thailand with Globalstar in the coming months.

While there is a trend from Satellite to Cloud, the role of satellite in video distribution is still a growing business, and to achieve this, Sanjay Duda, CEO, Planetcast Media Services, highlighted the need for satellite companies to evolve their business to support the business plan of the video players. Echoing similar sentiments, Alistair Roseburgh, Director, Operations APAC, A+E Networks Asia, noted that satellite remains the choice of delivery for their core pay TV business. Diversification and experimentation in businesses is also more common compared to the past. While FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) has not yet gained much traction in Asia, Rajeev Gambhir, Senior Director (Technology & Policy), SatCom Industry Association, asked fellow panelists about their predictions and what more needs to be done. Alistair highlighted the need for more flexibility such as the pay as you go model which is commonly used by cloud services and the ability to launch and discontinue a service quickly depending on its popularity. While Sanjay stressed on the need for integration with other technologies to deliver seamless connectivity to the consumer.

Building on the optimism on the future of the satellite industry, Cyril Dujardin, General Manager, Connectivity Business Unit, Eutelsat, shared the firm's commitment to building a stronger presence in the connectivity business – mainly their decision to invest in Oneweb. In the same panel hosted by David Bruner, CEO and Principal Consultant, Aviation Communications Advisors (ACA), Mark Rigolle, COO, Rivada Space Networks, shared that the design and market segment for Rivada remains largely similar with LeoSat, except that there is greater market acceptance compared to the past and that their focus on funding is now from telco investors.

In the Philippines where many areas are still unserved or underserved, the general sentiment from operators is that satellite technology will be a game changer. Quoting examples from the major presence and growth of ABS in Philippines, from the first acquisition of Mabuhay Satellite in 2009 to currently having five in-orbit satellites, Vincent Lim, MD, Asia Sales, ABS, pointed out that satellite technology remains as the main form of connectivity in Philippines although consumer broadband is starting to pick up. Agreeing, Brandon Seir, Chief Commercial Officer, Kacific Broadband Satellites, also noted the high cost of routing fibre, the only way to reach out to those places would be through satellite. Ganendra Selvaraj, Chief Commercial Officer, MEASAT, emphasized MEASAT's commitment for digital inclusion, to provide opportunities to people and improve affordability through the community Wi-Fi model which has proven to be successful in Malaysia. General sentiment from the panel was that the Philippines market presents huge opportunity, but more regional cooperation is needed.

From a service provider's perspective, Alan Cheng, Sales Manager, Pacific, SES, disagreed that there is an oversupply in the market and highlighted the desire for more capacity in the pacific region, drawing attention on the vast market that is not yet connected. Mahdi Nazari Mehrabi, CTIO, Northtelecom, noted that although GSO operators might see LEO as a threat, which all three GSO operators denied in unison, it could be an opportunity and quoted Starlink as an example, and stressed the importance of great marketing to put traditional satellite industry for general consumers. Beatrice Mok, Corporate Development Director, Kacific Broadband Satellites, added that it's a fallacy that no contract and low pricing is unique to LEO and cautioned about the attractive pricing from new entrants trying to capture market share and that regulators also have a part to play in preventing predatory pricing in the satellite industry. Expanding on the point of why GSO operators do not see LEO as a threat, Robert Suber, Director, Asia Pacific Sales, Intelsat, highlighted that, it's telco and mobile network operators across the pacific which are worried that OTT and connectivity players bypassing their network and eroding revenues.

Wrapping up the conference, female leaders took the stage to discuss how to tackle the challenges in the industry and in particular, the lack of women in leadership roles. In the panel moderated by Irina Petrov, VP MarCom & Membership at GSOA, Jacinth Lau, Deputy Director (Industry), Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn), pointed to the lack of awareness of career opportunities amongst the younger generation, the lack of space technology degrees and courses at local tertiary institutions and the difficulties in securing talents due to global competition. Nevertheless, she was optimistic about Singapore's focused efforts in investments of research around Singapore's core strengths as an aviation and maritime hub and collaboration with universities and research institutes. CTO of Boeing Satellite, Rachelle Radpour elaborated not just on the need for diversity in the space industry, but it is also critical to ensure equal access to opportunities, work life balance, keeping a pipeline and culture which supports all stages of an employee's career, regardless of their gender. Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, Co-CEO, TOTOTHEO MARITIME, highlighted the importance of having a role model for young women while also stressing the need for fresh ideas, patience and persistence to make changes.

The Satellite Industry Forum is proudly sponsored by AsiaSat, Eutelsat, Gilat, Hughes, Integrasys, Intelsat, Kacific Broadband Satellites, Marsh, Milbank, Northtelecom, SES, SKY Perfect JSAT, SpaceLogistics and Thaicom.

About the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media enquiries and additional background information, please contact:

Charmaine Kwan
Head of Marketing and Communications
Email: charmaine@avia.org

Tan Teck Wee
Marketing & Communications Executive
Email: teckwee@avia.org

Website: www.avia.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia
Twitter: @AsiaVideoIA

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

InfoComm Asia 2023 Closes on a High

The expanded Professional AudioVisual and Transformative Technology Solutions tradeshow attracted 7,298 business visitors and hosted close to 600 high-profile buyers.

BANGKOK, Thailand, June 1, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The three-day InfoComm Asia 2023 came to a close on 26 May, marking another successful showing for the annual event. This year’s 38% larger InfoComm Asia – featuring 160 exhibiting companies from 18 countries, some 60 of whom are new at the Show – attracted 7,298 unique business visitors from all over Asia.

THE EXHIBITION

Where Valuable Tech Discoveries and Partnerships are Made

Visitors comprised of AudioVisual (AV) and IT professionals looking to stay updated and for collaborative opportunities, entrepreneurs in search of technology-based inspirations, and technology end-users seeking solutions to advance their organizations and businesses. The energetic interactions on the show floor and comments that emerged reveal what a rewarding outing it had been.

Exhibitor Aleksandr Yakimov, Business Development Manager, Unilumin enthused, “We have had a remarkable experience at the Show, and our participation has been consistently strong. The Asia Pacific region holds immense potential as a robust market, and we anticipate significant growth.”

“We’ve had very good response at the Show, having met so many end-users from different parts of the region. And as such we have even decided to expand our space for next year,” another exhibitor, Jerry Park, Executive Director, Crestron added. “We’re very excited to tap on InfoComm Asia as a catalyst to drive and promote our technologies and solutions.”

Some exhibitors – Jabra and Bose, for example – even took the opportunity to gather more than 150 of their regional partners and distributers collectively in one location, in conjunction with InfoComm Asia, and conducted their own activities to deepen connections with their associates.

INVITED GUEST PROGRAM

Top-profile Solution Seekers from All Over Asia Get Inspired by Latest Solutions and Technologies

Among the business visitors, InfoComm Asia hosted close to 600 key senior decision-makers – 65% more than last year – under the Invited Guest Program. From Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, The Philippines and various parts of Thailand outside of Bangkok, these guests come from government agencies involved in education, healthcare, defense and security, smart cities, urban planning, transportation and citizen services, as well as private sectors involved in retail, media and advertising, and real estate development.

Invited Guest Andi Permadi, Director of Operational & Digital Transformation, PT Jakarta Tourisindo (Jakarta Experience Board) beamed as he commented, “InfoComm Asia offers unique opportunities to see the latest AudioVisual technologies in the market which is exactly what we need now. The products and solutions featured at the Show can help accelerate the digital transformation and efficiency in our organization.”

Mr Permadi also added that PT Jakarta Tourisindo is currently renovating seven of their hotels in Indonesia and this is the best time for him to explore new AV technologies that can be implemented in those properties.

Another Invited Guest was glad to have been accorded the chance to see first-hand and up-close the latest technologies and solutions in action. Nguyen Xuan Tung, Deputy Head of Academic Office, Hanoi University of Science and Technology said, “Through the Invited Guest Program, I now have the opportunity to meet face- to-face with solution providers, talk to them, and experience live product demonstrations to understand the solutions better.”

THE SUMMITS AND AV TECHNICAL TOURS

Where Sharing, Learning and Networking Open Minds and Doors

The InfoComm Asia Summit and NIXT Summit saw 1,057 delegates attended the 42 free-to-attend learning sessions, which cut across five different tracks, each catering to a different vertical market like education, retail, healthcare, agriculture, smart cities and urban planning, banking and finance, and enterprise. Delegates found these sessions highly relevant in addressing current and foreseeable challenges facing vertical market decision-makers and AV industry stakeholders.

Fernando Paras, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, University of the Philippines expressed, “Attending the Summits, I learnt a great deal, including current trends and future direction in the education sector.”

Some 87 visitors joined the fast booked-out AV Technical Tours that provided a close-up live presentation of Hikvision’s customizable, high-performing LED screens that were recently installed in the meeting rooms and along high-traffic routes at the newly-built Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

INFOCOMM ASIA 2024

Anticipation for a Larger Showcase with Expanded Halls

“At the close of this year’s Show, more than 90% of the exhibitors have booked their booth space for InfoComm Asia 2024 Show. Next year’s Show will occupy halls 2, 3 and 4 of the same venue, a 50% increase in show floor space compared to this year,” said Alicia Chen, Project Director, InfoCommAsia.

Show Organizer InfoCommAsia announce that InfoComm Asia 2024 is slated for 17 to 19 July next year, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC). Stay informed of latest updates at www.infocomm-asia.com.

About InfoCommAsia

InfoCommAsia Pte. Ltd. is the region’s preeminent organizer of tradeshows for the Professional AudioVisual (Pro-AV) and Transformative Solutions industries. Through industry-leading shows for China, India and Asia, InfoCommAsia connects global and regional solution providers, vertical market end-users and the supply chain with the most important markets of Asia Pacific.

Additional information is available at:

infocomm-china.com | nixt-china.com | infocomm-india.com | infocomm-asia.com

For more information, please contact:

Rest of the World
Angie Eng Marketing Director
InfoCommAsia Pte Ltd
angieeng@infocommasia.com

Thailand
Kanokwan Sukchaisri Managing Director Expo Inter Co., Ltd
kanokwan.infocommasia@expointer.net

Media Veteran Gregory Ho Joins The Asia Video Industry Association as Senior Advisor

Singapore, May 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Corporate communications and branding media veteran Gregory Ho has been appointed Senior Advisor with the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA).

Gregory Ho

In this full-time role, Ho will support AVIA CEO Louis Boswell and work closely with the teams in Singapore and Hong Kong, focussing particularly on the curation of AVIA events and conferences as well as membership development and engagement. He will continue to be based in Singapore.

"As our industry continues to evolve during this period of tremendous flux and transition, I'm delighted to have Greg joining the team. His deep experience and understanding of our industry and his extensive network of contacts will be a tremendous asset as we continuously strive to represent and support the industry's and our members' needs including the opportunity to share, learn and engage with each other through our various events and conferences," said Boswell.

The AVIA membership includes key players in every segment across the entire video industry and eco-system in Asia Pacific and facilitates opportunities for members to engage through a series of activities including 8 industry conferences in 2023 as well as a select number of bespoke member events.

"I look forward to working with Louis and the small but mighty AVIA team as we continue to support the industry and our members, shining the spotlight on growth opportunities and the most pressing challenges through our events and conferences – sharing, discussing and debating what matters most to us. I'm honoured to have this opportunity to give back to the industry that I love and has been my career for the past 3 decades," said Ho.

Ho most recently spent 9 years with Warner Bros. Discovery in Hong Kong and Singapore where he led Corporate Communications and Marketing for the media and entertainment conglomerate's entire portfolio of brands, services and businesses as well as Warner Bros., CNN, Cartoon Network and HBO, across Asia Pacific. He also had a long spell with Sony Pictures Entertainment – which included leadership roles overseeing Marketing, Communications, Ad Sales, Research, Channel Management and Operations for its networks in Asia. He began his career with positions at CNBC Asia and Mediacorp Singapore.

About the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media enquiries and additional background please contact:
Charmaine Kwan
Head of Marketing and Communications
Email: charmaine@avia.org
Website: www.avia.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia
Twitter: @AsiaVideoIA

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

A Bigger InfoComm Asia 2023 Set to Inspire Digital Transformation

BANGKOK, May 24, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – InfoComm Asia 2023 opens its doors at the newly-built Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) on Wednesday morning, to a louder buzz than before. The unmistakable excitement in the air is understandable with the Show's 38% expansion in size. This and the presence of heavyweights among all stakeholder categories attest to InfoComm Asia's success in bringing together Professional AudioVisual (AV) solution providers, solution-seekers and key industry experts, and in helping organizations achieve their digital transformation goals.

AROUND THE SHOW FLOOR
Technological Innovations and Business Opportunities Abound

Spanning the exhibition halls, AV and IT channel professionals, as well as vertical market buyers are being greeted by 160 exhibiting companies from 13 countries, some 60 of whom are new at the Show. Major brands visitors can look out for include AVCIT, Audio Technica, Arthur Holm, Biamp, BOE, Bose, Christie, Crestron, Dahua, Danacoid, Harman, Hikvision, Horion, Jabra, Kramer, Lenovo, Lumens, Leyard, Philips, Planar, MaxHub, Sennheiser, Shure, Unilumin, Vertex and many more. First-time exhibitors include Atlona, BARCO, Bluejeans By Verizon, Dahua, Danacoid, Datapath, Harman, HDFocus, Hikvision, Infiled, Leyard, Lumi, Pixelhue, RDL, ScreenBeam, Sennheiser, Televic, Unilumin and Yeastar.

FOR ASIA'S TOP-LEVEL DECISION-MAKERS AND BUYERS
Guided Show Floor Tours that Enhance Visitor Experience

Through the Invited Guest Program, nearly 600 key senior decision-makers – 65% more than last year – from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and the Philippines, as well as Thais from outside Bangkok, are being welcomed at InfoComm Asia 2023. They represent government agencies involved in education, healthcare, defense and security, smart cities, urban planning, transportation and citizen services, as well as industry and business leaders in retail, media and advertising, and real estate development.

With much ground to cover, the 600 vertical market solution-seekers will participate in a specially planned Guided Show Floor Tour for a personal introduction to leading solution providers and their latest technology and product offerings. Post-tour, they will have the opportunity to further connect with the exhibitors and learn more about their solutions up-close.

LEARNING SPACE FOR ALL
Insights into Current, Evolving and Future Technologies and Market Trends

InfoComm Asia continues to inspire and invigorate visionary leaders and organizational decision-makers at its signature learning platforms – InfoComm Asia Summit and NIXT Summit. Over the three show days, visitors can look forward to more than 40 free-to-attend sessions across five different tracks that are either co- organized with or supported by local Thai government agencies, trade associations and institutes of higher learning. These sessions address current and foreseeable challenges facing vertical market decision-makers and AV industry stakeholders, and deliver key learning points for overcoming these challenges inspired by real- life use cases.

Summit highlights on 24 May (Day 1) include the following:

– At Asia AV Leaders Connect, specially-invited Professional AV Industry's C-suite and Directorate-level Leaders will have the opportunity to network and share knowledge on industry trends and emerging technology disruptions, and to identify future growth opportunities and potential collaborations. This segment is anchored by a talk on "Global Pro-AV Market Trends in the Next 3 – 5 Years" – highly apt in light of the current incredible pace of evolution of communication, collaboration and user experience technologies.

– NIXT Summit highlights emerging tech-driven integrated solutions. This year's focus is on the Education and Retail industries. The program for each of these industries will culminate in a by invitation-only networking reception for top professionals from the respective industries.

– The ever-popular AV Technical Tour was quickly booked out the moment registration opened. Tour participants will be treated to a close-up live presentation of Hikvision's customizable, high-performing yet easy-to-maintain LED screen, in addition to its application in meeting rooms as well as along high-traffic routes at the newly-built Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).

As InfoComm Asia Summit and NIXT Summit continue over the next two days, delegates from AV and IT channel as well as vertical markets can look forward to more learning sessions across dedicated tracks – namely, Industry Forums, DSS InfoComm Asia 2023, AV Training sessions and a second round of the AV Technical Tour.

SHOW RUNS UNTIL FRIDAY, 26 MAY

Admission is free

InfoComm Asia 2023 runs for another two days at Halls 3 and 4 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). Opening times (in Thailand standard time) are 25 May (Thursday): 10am – 6pm and 26 May (Friday): 10am – 4pm. Visitors may register their visit to the Show at www.infocomm-asia.com.

About InfoCommAsia

InfoCommAsia Pte. Ltd. is the region's preeminent organizer of tradeshows for the Professional AudioVisual (Pro-AV) and Transformative Solutions industries. Through industry-leading shows in China, India and Asia, InfoCommAsia connects global and regional solution providers, vertical market end-users and the supply chain with the most important markets of Asia Pacific.

Additional information is available at:

infocomm-china.com | nixt-china.com | infocomm-india.com | infocomm-asia.com

For more information, please contact:

Rest of the World
Angie Eng
Marketing Director
InfoCommAsia Pte Ltd
angieeng@infocommasia.com

Thailand
Kanokwan Sukchaisri
Managing Director
Expo Inter Co., Ltd
kanokwan.infocommasia@expointer.net

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

AVIA and CAP Strongly Support the Passage of Legislation to Amend the IP Code of The Philippines to Allow for Pirate Sites to be Blocked in The Philippines

MANILA, May 23, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) and the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) warmly congratulate Albay Representative Joey S. Salceda for the passage of his legislation (House Bill 7600) through the House of Representatives to amend the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines to allow for pirate sites to be blocked in the Philippines. To become law in the Philippines a bill needs to be passed by both the House and the Senate and the successful passage of HB7600 through the House is a major step towards the enactment of site blocking legislation in the Philippines.

AVIA and CAP believe Congressman Salceda's Bill will go a long way to addressing the rampant online piracy in the Philippines that is damaging the growth of the Philippines economy as well as providing real harm to consumers. AVIA and CAP have been working with the Philippines Government and the Philippines content industry for some time to champion the passage of site blocking legislation to address this concern, including a number of meetings and workshops such as an anti-piracy seminar hosted by AVIA, CAP and the Globe Group in Manila in September 2022 where Congressman Salceda was the keynote speaker.

2023 figures from a study conducted by YouGov and commissioned by AVIA and CAP showed that almost 60% of Philippine consumers watch pirated content – an alarming number that has a direct impact on the Philippine creative industry and consumer safety.

However, the study also showed growing consumer awareness of the damage caused by piracy, with 90% of consumers believing that piracy has negative consequences for the Philippines. The study also showed a path ahead with 45% of Philippine consumers believing a government or court order for ISPs to block pirate websites would be the most effective measure to reduce piracy in the Philippines. Congressman Salceda's Bill has been strongly supported by local industry with numerous representatives, including GMA Network, Inc., the Globe Group and KROMA Entertainment attending the Second Reading of the HB7600 in person.

Matt Cheetham, General Manager of CAP, noted, "The evidence continues to show that site blocking, when implemented in an efficient and effective way, and ensuring the necessary elements of due process, is an incredibly powerful tool to both stop online piracy and protect consumers from the unseen harm caused by piracy, and we applaud Congressman Salceda for his determination to address the issue." Cheetham also noted that earlier this month, Senator Estrada introduced matching legislation in the Senate (Senate Bill 2150) for Congressman Salceda's Bill. "With the successful passage of Congressman Salceda's Bill in the House, we look forward to the successful passage of matching legislation in the Senate that will allow the Philippines to grow its economy and protect its consumers from online harm," he added.

"The Globe Group congratulates Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda for steering House Bill No. 7600 towards its triumphant passage at the House. This is a landmark achievement for the creative industry, with the bill a step closer to becoming a law. We are inching closer towards ensuring more stringent protection for our content creators and their livelihood," said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.

"Piracy not only jeopardizes the livelihood of content creators and other works in the creative industry but also worsens consumer exposure to malware risks. Revisions to the IP code are essential for bolstering a digital landscape that is secure and equitable," she said.

"GMA Network fully supports this extremely important legislation which would benefit and protect not just the creative industry but the viewing public as well. Website blocking for copyright infringement has been proven as an effective tool to fight digital piracy and support legal content creators and services, whether it's TV, film, books, video games, or music. It is about time that the Philippines enact a site blocking law that would help curtail the losses of an already struggling industry," said GMA Network, Inc.'s Asst Vice President for Litigation and Special Projects, Legal Affairs Atty Jose Vener Ibarra.

About the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media enquiries and additional background please contact:
Charmaine Kwan
Head of Marketing and Communications
Email: charmaine@avia.org
Website: www.avia.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

2023 CAP Consumer Surveys Continue to Show the Benefits of Effective Site Blocking

Singapore, May 15, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The most recent piracy landscape consumer surveys commissioned by the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) show that while piracy rates remain stable in many countries around Asia-Pacific, we have seen notable increases in piracy rates in Thailand and Taiwan, with a discernible increase also in Hong Kong. Notably, rights holders face challenges in procuring effective and efficient site blocking in all three of these countries. These consumer surveys acknowledge site blocking as an effective tool to mitigate piracy harm.

For those countries that are implementing site blocking effectively, there continue to be demonstrable effects in behavioral change with 62% of consumers in Indonesia and 64% in Malaysia indicating that they have changed their viewing habits as a result of pirate sites being blocked. Both of these countries have long-running, effective and efficient regulatory blocking regimes. In Singapore, one of the first countries in the region to allow rights holders to protect their content via the provision of judicial site blocking measures, it is notable that after almost ten years of this measure being in place, Singapore has the lowest percentage of consumer piracy in the region, with only 39% of consumers pirating. However there remains issues with the time and cost involved with obtaining site blocking orders in Singapore.

Encouragingly, the surveys show that regular site blocking not only stops consumers accessing pirated content online, but also drives them towards legitimate sources, with an average of 20% of consumers subscribing to paid services and an average of over 40% accessing legitimate free content services as a result of pirate sites being blocked. Furthermore, almost 50% of consumers around the region stated they would subscribe to legitimate paid online services if the content they wanted to watch was not available via a pirate source.

Awareness of the risks associated with online piracy also continues to grow, with at least 80% of consumers in every market around the region unequivocal that piracy has negative consequences. Consumers are aware that the perceived damage varies from job losses, impact on the creative industries and also the risk of malware infection on personal computers and devices.

In addition to consumers accessing pirate content via pirate streaming sites, apps or illicit streaming devices (ISDs), social media and messaging platforms providing access to pirated content continue to be a concern as one of the main sources of accessing pirate content. CAP is working with the major platforms across the region to address this issue.

Encouragingly, the survey also shows huge unmet potential as more than 60% of consumers across the region said they would subscribe to legitimate services if there was no pirate content available on social media and messaging platforms.

Matt Cheetham, General Manager of CAP, noted, "The evidence continues to show that site blocking, when implemented in an efficient and effective way, is an incredibly powerful tool to both stop online piracy, and direct consumers towards legitimate content." As with the 2022 survey, the data points towards an ongoing consumption of pirate content via social media and messaging platforms. However, Cheetham also noted, "The surveys also show the benefits of consumer education with a growing awareness amongst consumers of the negative consequences of piracy, particularly via illicit profiteering and malware."

This is the second time CAP's YouGov consumer surveys were undertaken across several countries at the same time. The surveys will continue to be repeated across the same countries annually, and in doing so, will continue to provide longitudinal analysis of consumer behavioral trends towards piracy and enforcement measures around the region.

About the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media enquiries and additional background please contact:
Charmaine Kwan
Head of Marketing and Communications
Email: charmaine@avia.org
Website: www.avia.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Vibrant Taiwan – Video Evolving at Home and Abroad

TAIPEI, TW, May 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) welcomed over 100 guests to its Taiwan in View conference, with Deputy Minister of Culture, Sue Wang, giving the opening remarks as the Guest of Honour.

Deputy Minister Wang highlighted the importance of the video industry in Taiwan and announced that the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Act will be revised to foster its growth. She said that the government aims to work closely with video operators and urge them to invest more comprehensively in the video industry, beyond films and into local content creation. She also emphasized the need to safeguard local content from piracy and admitted that the current efforts are not satisfactory. She also shared that the Ministry of Culture's vision is to enhance the quality and availability of Taiwanese content across all platforms.

National Communications Commission (NCC) Commissioner Wang Jiang-Jia set the stage for the day's discussions with Commissioner Wang laying out NCC priorities to support the development and growth of the local content industry. He noted that the OTT TV Act, which had been under discussion for many years, was still being considered. However, the NCC was mindful of the need to ensure consumer protection was balanced with the constant needs for consumption of content, especially as 5G was being developed across Taiwan.

This focus on local content was reiterated during the panel on The Streaming Wars, where Daphne Yang, CEO of CATCHPLAY, stressed the importance of protecting and promoting local stories and content on both domestic and international platforms. She said that OTT players still need to work with aggregators to reach a wider audience and that there is a lack of original content in Taiwan. Similarly, Daphne Lee, Chairperson, NMEA and Vice President of New Media Service Business, Taiwan Mobile, also said that global OTT players will be key partners to mobile operators like herself. And like many markets around the region, the cost of acquiring and producing content in Taiwan is increasing and poses a challenge for everyone. However, the market certainly has potential for more content providers to compete and operators would like to see more quality content produced by their partners.

During his session on Upping the Local Content Game, Jay Lin, Founder & CEO, Portico Media & GagaOOLala, shared his strategy to go from niche to mainstream, or to "play small and go big". Lin also shared that in the past, platforms and IP were the only ones travelling, but the trend has now shifted to streaming travelling too. Phil Tang, President, Greener Grass Culture, is also seeing a trend where local content producers are working with local OTT platforms to bring content internationally as evidenced by the huge success of his series, Copycat Killer, on Netflix.

With Taiwan having long been one of the most important cable markets in Asia, it was interesting to hear the differing views from cable industry chiefs. Cliff Lai, Vice Chairman, Homeplus Digital, felt that cable TV will slowly decline, and that broadband will be its salvation. He also expects more competition from broadband in the future, as it offers good transmission and affordable prices. Lai also highlighted that a stronger fight against piracy is needed to give cable TV a better outlook. Concurrently, Steve Wang, President, Kbro Co, highlighted the lack of uniform regulation across cable TV and how that was holding back the cable industry.

The conference also took time to focus on some of the issues that are impeding the growth of the industry. Grace Shao, Head, IP & Tech Group, Baker McKenzie Taipei, Edward Lee, Secretary General, Chinese Internet Channel Community Association (CICCA) and Yeo Kok Siew, Managing Director, Warner Music Taiwan, discussed the need to have transparency and accountability in the relationship between the video industry and the music collecting associations. Music is essential for the video industry, and there is no lack of desire to ensure rights are paid for, but the number of associations, the artists represented, and rates charged are not clear, making the subject more challenging than is seen in other markets.

Piracy has also been proliferating in Taiwan with a growing need to address the problem. Both Claudia Peng, Secretary General, Cable Broadband Institute in Taiwan (CBIT) and May Chen, Secretary General, Satellite Television Broadcasting Association (STBA) agreed that addressing online piracy, particularly via illegal set top boxes, is a matter of urgency and they urged the government to implement efficient and effective anti-piracy means such as Domain Name Service Response Policy Zones (DNS RPZ), while Taejin Lee, Senior Manager, International Development Department, Korea Copyright Protection Agency, concluded with a sense of hope by talking about the success that Korea had seen in both promoting and protecting their content.

Taiwan in View is proudly sponsored by A+E Networks, Brightcove, Broadpeak, IP Systems, Irdeto, National Communications Commission, Portico Media and Satellite Television Broadcasting Association

About the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media enquiries and additional background information, please contact:
Charmaine Kwan
Head of Marketing and Communications Email: charmaine@avia.org
Website: www.avia.org |LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia |Twitter: @AsiaVideoIA

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

InfoComm Asia 2023: Connecting Ideas and Opportunities Across Asia

BANGKOK, May 9, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – InfoComm Asia 2023 is where Asia's AudioVisual (AV) professionals will meet from 24 to 26 May — to rekindle friendships, connect with others, share ideas and discuss opportunities. With a 38% larger show floor featuring even more AV technologies, solutions and learning opportunities as well as highlighting greater business opportunities, the Show is the place to be for the Professional AV industry in the wider Asian region.

SHOW FLOOR ACTION: Interact, Ideate and Grow

Amidst the current global geopolitical developments that have increasingly led to market fragmentation and technology bifurcation, it is imperative for like-minded visionary AV players to gather at the intersection of varied needs and robust solutions, and explore potential opportunities and synergies. At InfoComm Asia 2023, AV professionals, system integrators and manufactures will be inspired to share ideas, spark new ones, and establish collaborations that can birth the next big solutions.

The go-to Show for the industry is set to rally AV professionals from all over Asia, including Japan, China, India and even Australia, as well as IT professionals and vertical market buyers from all over Southeast Asia. For this extensive reach in the region, the former InfoComm Southeast Asia has been renamed InfoComm Asia.

LEARNING PLATFORMS: Deeper Insights with Summits and Technical Tour

AV professionals can look forward to enhancing their market knowledge and technical know-hows with InfoComm Asia's signature learning platforms – InfoComm Asia Summit and NIXT Summit. The former is the pre-eminent educational platform for everything AV, and the latter providing a peak into how industries are engaging the power of emerging tech to secure their future.

The Asia AV Leaders Connect at InfoComm Asia Summit gathers the industry's C-suite and directorate leaders from across Asia for a half-day program that will open with a keynote by Dave Labuskes, CEO, AVIXA on "Global Pro-AV Market Trends in the Next 3-5 Years"; followed by a panel discussion, "Spotlight on Asia's AV Market". Thereafter, AV leaders can network and connect with their peers at the exclusive networking reception.

The AV Training spans across the first two days of InfoComm Asia Summit, and caters to AV professionals like AV project managers, technicians, programmers and engineers who are looking to hone their AV technical expertise. Designed and delivered by leading AV system integrators and consultants, the sessions will deep dive into a range of topics including:

– AV Projects – The Need for Both Science and Art to be Successful
– Enter a New Dimension of Control for the Modern Control Room
– Will Video Conferencing be Replacing In-person Meetings in Our Regional Business Conduct Post-Covid Era?
– The Great AV Talent Drain
– The Mega Trend of the Workplace, Hybrid Meeting
– How to Maximize the Potential of the Microphone
– Manageability in AV
– AVL and Acoustics in Performing Arts Centres and Modern Houses of Worship
— Same Same but Different

There will also be opportunities for AV professionals to join the popular AV Technical Tour on 24 and 25 May to see in-person digital signage systems installed within the newly-constructed Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).
REGISTRATION IS OPEN: Admission is Free

One of the world's most attractive destination, Bangkok, Thailand is all set to host AV professionals from all over Asia to gather, network and exchange knowledge on the latest AV trends and developments in Asia and beyond. It will also be a treasure trove of solutions for every organizational need. Professional AV stakeholders can reignite the spark to boost their business right here, and pave the way for their client organisations to advance by quantum leap.

InfoComm Asia 2023 will take place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) from 24 to 26 May. Admission is free. Visitors can register their visit and get the latest Show updates at www.infocomm-asia.com.

About InfoCommAsia

InfoCommAsia Pte. Ltd. is the region's preeminent organizer of tradeshows for the Professional AudioVisual (Pro-AV) and Transformative Solutions industries. Through industry-leading shows for China, India and Asia, InfoCommAsia connects global and regional solution providers, vertical market end-users and the supply chain with the most important markets of Asia Pacific.

Additional information is available at:
infocomm-china.com | nixt-china.com | infocomm-india.com | infocomm-asia.com

For more information, please contact:

Rest of the World
Angie Eng Marketing Director
InfoCommAsia Pte Ltd
angieeng@infocommasia.com

Thailand
Kanokwan Sukchaisri
Managing Director Expo Inter Co., Ltd
kanokwan.infocommasia@expointer.net

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Filmhedge Leads 1st Atlanta Delegation to Cannes Film Festival, Marche Du Film

ATLANTA, GA, Apr 19, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Filmhedge CEO, Jon Gosier, will lead the first delegation of City officials and business leaders to the Cannes Film Festival, May 16 through May 27.

FilmHedge CEO, Jon Gosier at Cannes

Gosier, who founded Filmhedge in 2020, understands the importance of not only attending The Cannes Film Festival but of contributing to the success of the critical financial landscape that can make or break a successful year for filmmakers.

"Filmhedge is sponsoring the Marche du Film's International Film Finance Forum as well as a number of other events at Cannes like the Producer Forum, where many films land lucrative distribution and sales deals," said Gosier. "These events comprise the top echelon of the entertainment industry. As a funder of films with budgets as high as $50 million, globally, Filmhedge has an important seat at the table. Atlanta has an important seat at the table. We need to celebrate that fact," Gosier said.

On Tuesday, April 18, at The Garden Room of the Atlanta St. Regis Hotel, Filmhedge hosted Atlanta's critical assembly of economic leaders for film and television production for the first Annual Cannes+Atl.

Cannes+Atl is an association of local investors, producers, bankers, and others who will host events in both Atlanta, GA, and Cannes, France aimed at celebrating Georgia's contributions to the Film and TV industry.

With support from city officials, Atlanta delegates, and members of Cannes+Atl, the principals are excited to be present and meet decision-makers at the 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in May.

When asked what motivated the launch of Cannes+Atl, Gosier responded, "I've been hosting and sponsoring events for 6 years at Cannes, the most prestigious and largest international film festival in the world." Gosier continued, "I'm always there championing Georgia's entertainment infrastructure, its state tax incentives, and various local creators. Recently, it dawned on me that Atlanta, and Georgia more broadly, really had no prominent 'voice' at the conference. Last year I sponsored an event from another State because there was no Georgia event to support. I asked myself, how is that possible? This gap inspired my team to create one. FilmHedge is happy to give back to the state of Georgia, which has become so important to the entertainment industry."

Present at Cannes+Atl were Marsei Martin – star of ABC's Blackish and Executive Producer at Genius Productions; Joshua Martin, President, Genius Productions; Bobby Huntley, Director; Doug Cash, Vice President HULU; Cardelia Hunter, Director of The Atlanta Mayors Office of Film & Television; Brandon Butler, Owner ButterATL; Paris 'PK' Kirk, PK Music Management; Melissa Proctor, CMO of The Atlanta Hawks; Kaleeta McDade, Chief Experience Officer, VLMY&r; Ryan Millsap, CEO The Blackhall Group; Jessica White, Producer, Model; Rodney Ho, Entertainment Reporter, Atlanta Journal Constitution; and others.

Ryan Millsap, CEO of The Blackhall Group, and founder of Blackhall Studios says, "The missing pieces in the Georgia Film ecosystem are money, development, and distribution; We need Georgia capital to invest in film and television imagined in Georgia, developed in Georgia, and distributed by Georgia entertainment companies. I'm thrilled to hear that Jon Gosier and Filmhedge are growing an entertainment capital company based in Georgia." Millsap continued, "Truly, we need Georgia-based Capital making money in film and television. Capital is integral to the long-term independence and sustainability of the entertainment industry in Georgia. Today our industry is dependent on a tax credit, but with enough capital in the space we could one day have an entertainment economy like Los Angeles that functions organically with or without a tax credit. We aren't there today, but growing Capital companies takes us one step closer."

Joshua Martin, President of Genuis Productions, and father of Marsai Martin of the ABC sitcom Blackish, knows how critical it is to think creatively and to take risks. "Our goal at Genius is to mine and nurture stories that might be overlooked by mainstream entertainment studios." Continuing, Martin went on to say, "My job is to find that diamond in the rough. Filmhedge is a unique catalyst that not only diversifies funding but also breaks the money mold to diversify opportunity."

About FilmHedge

Founded in 2020, FilmHedge is a fintech platform that provides private credit and financing solutions to qualified TV and Film producers, offering up to $10 million per Film or TV production. In addition to financing, the company uses data to track Film/TV production financial data, interest rates, and the creditworthiness of producers and production companies. In 2022 FilmHedge successfully closed on $100 million in financing to meet growing demand. For more information on FilmHedge visit: https://www.filmhedge.com

About Cannes+Atl

In its inaugural year, Cannes+Atl is a loose industry association and delegation of Financiers, Production Companies, Directors, and other local stakeholders aimed at celebrating and highlighting Georgia's contributions to the international film community, while also attracting new business to the State. For more information on Cannes+Atl visit: https://cannesatl.com

Contact Information
Nye Ballard
Marketing Manager
nye@filmhedge.com
(205)566-9120

Related Image

FilmHedge CEO, Jon Gosier
FilmHedge CEO, Jon Gosier at Cannes
https://cdn.newswire.com/files/x/09/59/b8dcb44a2123a9148c0789c3c8db.jpg

FilmHedge, Atlanta, GA
FilmHedge out of Atlanta, GA
https://cdn.newswire.com/files/x/c3/96/c130091ea113631c50a12c53d32d.jpeg

SOURCE: FilmHedge

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Content Remains King in the Future of Video in India

MUMBAI, INDIA, Apr 17, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Asia Video Industry Association's (AVIA) Future of Video India conference opened to a full house with a keynote conversation with Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Secretary Chandra stated that with OTT, Indian content has become more accessible and more acceptable to a global audience. "Quality of content has always been very good in India, but now it is easier for Indian content to travel across the world. OTT has helped it in a big way," said Chandra. He also reiterated the need for OTT to continue with a soft touch approach, as the three tier self- regulatory system has been working well. While there were concerns that light touch regulation has led to less desirable content, he remained of the view that the industry needed to be more self-aware so that the government need not step in. Chandra also shared that a National Broadcasting Policy has been in the works, as the industry was becoming more fragmented. However, this would take time in order to balance the conflicting interests of all the disparate parties.

With the explosive growth of OTT and original content in India, the MIB also remained committed to the fight against piracy. "The new Cinematograph Bill that is underway seeks to protect the entertainment industry from piracy. We are ready to take action against not only those who record the content illegally, but even those who are transmitting it online. The websites which stream pirated content will be blocked," said Chandra.

This focus on content was a theme that followed throughout the conference. Sushant Sreeram, Country Director, Prime Video India, talked about the importance of authenticity in a market as diverse as India. "By being locally authentic, it provides the best opportunity for regional and global success," noted Sreeram. India also maintained the second largest development slate after North America, signalling Prime Video's commitment to the market.

Similarly, Sajith Sivanandan, Head of Disney+ Hotstar India, said, "We are building for all India. There is no one India, there are many India's and it is important that we speak to all of them." However, much greater interactivity with the content was on his wishlist for the future, as well as the ability to serve the masses but at a scale of one. "Creative and technology should be working together to serve every single person to get the content they want," he added.

Meeting the digital consumers' demand was also part of the vision for Viacom18. "We have a digital-first mindset for the foreseeable future. We want to back the digital India vision and put our might behind it," said Jyoti Deshpande, CEO, Viacom18, with most of the money spent on content going to digital and not TV. "All formats will co-exist for the foreseeable future. The consumer should be free to interact with content the way they please," added Deshpande. Sameer Nair, Managing Director, Applause Entertainment, also noted that 'streamers have done a great service to the content industry, making content more easily available to consumers.' "We are in the business of creating mass-distraction," quipped Nair.

Vikram Sahay, Joint Secretary (Policy & Administration), MIB, who participated in a content panel with some of the industry's top content leaders, also said that the best thing about OTT was the democratisation of talent. "The greatest thing is the democratisation of talent which this industry has allowed across all parts of the creative content chain," said Sahay.

However, the jury is still out on the best way to monetize the content that is flooding the Indian market. For Arghya Chakravarty, COO, Shemaroo Entertainment, advertising was highly dependent on the economic climate, as the advertising markets changed. Hence the sweet spot was always somewhere in the middle, and for long term sustainability, it would require a mix of both. Praveen Chaudhury, Director, Retention, Engagement & Growth Strategy, DTC Marketing, Warner Bros Discovery, APAC, also noted that the high cost of direct customer acquisition meant aggregation and partnerships remained key.

As the fragmentation of advertising delivery was continuing to put huge downward pressure on rates, the role of operator bundling was also super important, said Prasad Sanagavarapu, Chief Business Officer, INVIDI. With very rich first party data sitting with the aggregator at a level dwarfing what any individual OTT service could manage, they had a crucial role to play in advertising, added Sanagavarapu.

The very important issue of female representation in the television and entertainment industry was discussed by a distinguished panel of female industry leaders. Smriti Mehra, CEO – Business News, Network18, highlighted the fact that all too often workplaces had defining gender roles and too many talented former colleagues had dropped out of the industry. There were societal issues at play as well of course, but there was much positive action that could be taken within the corporate context. Earlier in the day. Jyoti Deshpande had defined it as the search for equity, not just equality.

Wrapping up the conference, Mihir Shah, VP, India, Media Partners Asia (MPA), said that India's growth story remained intact amidst global turmoil, with macro tailwinds and digitalization propelling growth for video advertising, and digital penetration now on par with television.

Content spend was also expected to double to US$10bn in the next five years, with online video content investments catching up with pay TV. Shah also noted that mergers and acquisitions will continue to fuel scale and profitability for the major incumbents. And with Connected TV adoption on the rise, premium inventory will fuel the growth for the AVOD segment. "Content is king, and it's reigning supreme," summarised Shah.

The Future of Video India is proudly sponsored by AKAMAI, Bharucha & Partners, INVIDI, Magnite, MEASAT, PubMatic and Samsung Ads.

About the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media enquiries and additional background information, please contact:
Charmaine Kwan
Head of Marketing and Communications
Email: charmaine@avia.org
Website: www.avia.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia
Twitter: @AsiaVideoIA

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com