IBC2009 opens today in Amsterdam playing host to an industry beleaguered by shrinking advertising revenue, cost-cutting maneuvers, staff downsizing, continuing audience fragmentation and dicey prospects for economic recovery and a return to normalcy anytime soon.
Against this backdrop, the IBC conference schedule, which begins today, and the IBC exhibit floor, which opens tomorrow, seek to provide a bit of guidance to broadcasters and other industry professionals looking for ideas, technology and business strategies that can help them weather the storm.
The conference program will address many pressing business issues during several presentations, including:
- “The Future of the Industry: How to Survive and Prosper,” Thursday, Sept. 10, in Room O
- “Who Pays? Winners and Losers in the New Economy,” Thursday, Sept. 10, in Room O
- “New Money, Smart Investments,” Friday, Sept. 11, in the Forum
- “Fragmentation and Innovation in the Changing Media Landscape,” Saturday, Sept. 12, in the Forum
- “Securing Assets,” Sunday, Sept. 13, in the Forum
- “Allocating Spectrum,” Sunday Sept. 13, in the Forum
- “Buy, Borrow, Share or Rent: Radical New Models for Delivering Technology and Content,” Sunday, Sept. 13, in Room L
- “What is the Cost of not Being Green?” Sunday, Sept. 13, in Room L
- “Public Service Broadcasters: Embracing Change,” Monday, Sept. 14, in the Forum
- “New Networks and the Transformation of Television,” Monday, Sept. 14, in the Forum
IBC2009 also will present a keynote Friday, Sept. 11, in the Forum aimed at identifying potential future areas that are expected to grow. During “Growth Opportunities in Media and Broadcasting,” keynote presenter Erik Hugger, director of future media and technology for the BBC, is expected to draw on his background at the BBC and at Microsoft, where he helped to establish Windows Media in Europe.
In addition to business-related conferences, IBC2009 will devote two separate conference tracks to technology advancements as well as content creation and innovation.
