IBF announces the Indian TV Fest (ITF), a unique platform dedicated to interaction among broadcasters, to be held at Goa on November 2-3
The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) is all set to give the Indian television industry the biggest platform dedicated to broadcasters in India in the form of the ‘Indian TV Fest’ (ITF), scheduled to be held at the Baga Grounds, Goa on November 2 and 3, 2012. The exchange4media Group, which publishes IMPACT, is the exclusive industry partner for ITF 2012.
IBF office-bearers comprising its three Board members – Uday Shankar, CEO, STAR India, Sunil Lulla, MD & CEO, Times Television Network and Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) – are spearheading the initiative. The ITF Organizing Committee comprises Lulla, Keertan Adyanthaya, MD, NGC Networks India, Monica Tata, GM, Entertainment Networks, South Asia, Turner International India and Lydia Buthello, Head of Events, STAR India.
The objective of the ITF is to become a definitive platform where all genres of broadcast media and their allied partners can come together for a stimulating exchange of ideas on how television broadcasters and television protectors can serve society effectively and definitively. The ITF would focus on the larger picture and how the industry can benefit the society and the community by exploring how to take TV to the next level, which implies taking the business of television and its service to society a notch up.
According to Tata, television provides significant opportunities and the television industry has been instrumental in bringing about social change, education, development, interaction and awakening. “There is a great opportunity for growth as well. At present, TV has 60% market penetration with cable and satellite. TV reach is expected to grow at a rate of 288% by 2016. Also, the time spent on television in the country is less compared to markets such as the US, where it is 270 minutes and UK where it is 240 minutes. Even Indonesia has a higher time spent than India, which is 174 minutes. These statistics indicate growth opportunities for television to progress into a Rs 100,000 crore industry,” she said.
The two-day fest will be a unique platform for Indian and global broadcasters to network and exchange ideas through panel discussions and master classes. The key differentiator in this event is that it will completely be an industry event -- of the industry, for the industry and by the industry. The event would also provide broadcasters an opportunity to meet established players of the industry and study Indian and international success stories.
Elaborating on this, Shankar stated, “This is a platform where we can come together, leave our competitive urges behind, meet away from our work pressures and mindsets and talk about the future, and about the larger issues that are essential for us to solve together if we want to go to the next level. We are totally committed to making it the most iconic gathering of television minds, creativity and TV strategy.”
According to Shankar, the two aspects are linked. “If we don’t take TV to the next level, then it wouldn’t be able to live up to its social responsibilities. Unless we are not conscious about our social responsibilities we would not be able to take the business to the next level, which is the objective of this initiative,” he explained.
The event would also provide broadcasters a platform to interact with regulators, who are an integral part of the industry. The event would focus on all genres of television such as music, kids, sports, lifestyle, news, etc., making it one big happy television family in November.
Renowned names from India and across the globe are expected to participate in the mega event, which already has an impressive line-up of speakers, including Andy Bird, Chairman, Walt Disney International; James Murdoch, Deputy COO, Chairman and CEO, International News Corporation; Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Corporation of America; Hugh Johnson, Head Commercial Marketing & Research, Channel 4; Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Zee & ESSEL Group and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder, Isha Foundation.
To register, one needs to log on to www.indiantvfest.com. The first 200 delegates to register can avail of a 10% discount. In a committed effort to bring in fresh ideas and young minds, all delegates below the age of 25 years can avail of a complementary delegate pass.
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