The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has made a series of significant changes to its line-up of conferences and seminars for the second half of 2024. Most notably the December OTT Summit will become an ‘advertising first’ event, making this the key video industry conference that examines and understands the evolution of the advertising ecosystem and its impact on broadcasting and streaming.
Korea in View (Seoul, 29 August):
Building on the success of the inaugural 2022 conference, Korea in View returns to explore the impact of Korean content on the Asian video landscape. This time it will be co-located with the annual content market and conference, BCWW, held and organised every year by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). BCWW runs from August 27-29 with Korea in View on the 29th at COEX in Seoul.
Vietnam in View (Ho Chi Minh City, 9 October):
With a population of 100 million people, a vibrant video ecosystem and a developing regulatory approach to the industry, Vietnam offers great potential and challenges. Vietnam in View, now happening on October 9, will delve into the latest developments in this highly competitive local video ecosystem and the opportunities and barriers for both international and domestic players.
Japan in View (Tokyo, 29 October):
Due to overwhelming industry interest, Japan in View has been rescheduled to October 29 as a full-day event. AVIA’s inaugural Japan-focused event will spotlight the robust video ecosystem, which, according to Media Partners Asia, generated $32 billion in revenue in 2023.
OTT Summit (Singapore, 5 December):
The OTT Summit 2024 has been designated “Advertising First”, meaning this event will engage with brands, agencies and buyers in a way designed to understand and promote the role premium video plays in today’s advertising landscape. In addition to conference sessions covering the evolution of ad buying from broadcast to streaming, the day will also feature a separate Upfront Showcase track where premium video publishers will present their content and buying opportunities to a room full of media planners, agency executives and advertising brands. Being advertising first, not advertising only, means there will still be room for a look at how OTT has evolved in 2024 from a content and technology point of view.
For more information and registration details, visit AVIA’s event page.
The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) and its anti-piracy arm, the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), join with the Indonesian Video Streaming Association (AVISI) in congratulating Indonesia’s Intellectual Property Office (Directorate General of Intellectual Property – DJKI) for receiving an award from Interpol and the South Korean National Police for their actions in working with Interpol, South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism, the Busan Police and the Indonesian National Police to arrest the Jakarta based operator of the pirate IPTV service known as TVDOL.
The arrest of the operator behind TVDOL in Jakarta in October 2023 followed a complaint by the Korean broadcaster Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to Korean authorities of pirating of its content, including in Indonesia. Further investigations revealed the pirate operation was based in Jakarta, Indonesia, and involved a number of individuals, including the main operator Kim Dong Gil. The TVDOL operation had been run since 2010, and, according to the South Korean government, resulted in losses of more than USD11 million dollars.
“Piracy knows no borders and it’s vital that enforcement authorities in different countries work together to take action against pirate operators wherever they are based, and we commend Indonesia’s Intellectual Property Office for the outstanding work that resulted in the takedown of a pirate operation causing damage in multiple countries,” said Matt Cheetham, the General Manager of CAP. “It is very encouraging to see so many enforcement bodies in different countries working together to take action against pirates that are not only damaging the South Korean and Indonesian creative communities, but also placing consumers in both countries at risk from the harms such as viruses and ransomware that are well-known to be associated with pirate operations.”
Fachrul Prasodjo, Deputy Chair of Public Relations at AVISI, stated that efforts to enforce intellectual property law in Indonesia are not only a manifestation of the commitment to protect creative and innovative rights but also a strategic step in building a strong legal foundation and supporting the industry ecosystem. “AVISI congratulates DJKI on the award achieved. We greatly appreciate the strategic collaboration conducted by DJKI at the international level, which aligns with AVISI’s main vision and mission in fighting piracy. The success of this collaboration is a driving force for ecosystem growth from upstream to downstream in this industry,” said Prasodjo.
Click here for some photos from the conference.
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.
About AVISI
AVISI, or the Indonesian Video Streaming Association, is a non-profit organization focused on advancing and promoting the country’s creative-digital industry, as well as building an industry ecosystem that is friendly to video streaming business models. Founded on March 23, 2023, AVISI is a collective of thirteen video streaming platforms, namely BeIN, Bioskop Online, Cubmu, Genflix, KlikFilm, Max Stream, Mola, Netflix, Prime Video, Vidio, Vision+, VIU, and Catchplay+. To achieve its goals, AVISI focuses on three main functions: serving as a collaborative platform for its members, acting as a partner and communication bridge for stakeholders, government, and the industry, and as a collective effort by the video streaming platforms to fight piracy.
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
As the satellite industry continues to evolve, challenges and opportunities abound. Industry leaders from the Asia-Pacific region and around the world gathered at the Asia Video Industry Association’s recent Satellite Industry Forum, held in Singapore on 28 May, to discuss the state of the industry, addressing critical questions and sharing insights on the path forward.
The emergence of NGSO systems presents both opportunities and threats to traditional GSO operators. In the opening keynote, Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, CEO, THAICOM, highlighted the need for adaptation and strategic partnerships to leverage respective strengths.
Despite challenges, the satellite broadband business remains relevant and lucrative. Suwansiri emphasized the importance of leveraging accumulated expertise and capital to invest in newer technologies and satellites, ensuring continued growth and relevance. “The fundamentals and know-how of doing the broadband business is still there and that is something that technology cannot replace,” said Suwansiri.
While Software-Defined High Throughput Satellites (SD HTS) hold promise for reducing investment risk and enabling new business models, concerns remain about expected capacity pricing reductions. Integration of smart satellite systems with ground systems and the utilization of AI were also highlighted as crucial for driving innovation and efficiency for THAICOM, added Suwansiri.
The ‘Asia-Pacific Satellite Leaders Roundtable’ also discussed the current state and future outlook of the satellite industry, with a focus on where the video industry is heading. Raymond Chow, Chief Commercial Officer, AsiaSat, emphasized their focus on providing end-to-end services and adapting to changing customer demands for global connectivity, with more vertical integration for a holistic view across the video business.
Kenichi Shimotsuma, GM, Asia Regional Headquarters & Regional Director, Singapore Branch, SKY Perfect JSAT, also recognized the evolving role of satellite broadcasting and the need to diversify into content delivery and connected TV services to meet changing consumer preferences.
Conversations around the future of linear video continued with ‘The Customers Talk’. Paul Mattear, Head of Global SatCom (A&S), Amazon Web Services, highlighted the importance of understanding and meeting customer needs, emphasizing a symbiotic relationship between service providers and end-users. For Huang Baozhong, EVP, APT Satellite, maintaining a customer-centric approach is crucial for competitiveness. Trust in IP-based technology is also evolving, with AI playing a role in streamlining labour-intensive tasks, added Mark Wardle, VP, Engineering & Operations, Encompass Digital Media.
Pranav Roach, President of Hughes Network Systems India, offered insights into how the “Norms, Guidelines and Procedures” (NGP) document for the implementation of Indian Space Policy is facilitating easier navigation of regulations and processes, thus benefiting private players in the sector. A notable aspect highlighted by Roach is the significance of spectrum allocation for satellite broadband. The NGP streamlines the process, ensuring administrative allocation to facilitate private sector involvement. Roach emphasized that auctions would have been counterproductive in this context.
The introduction of the New Telecom Law in 2023 also further paved the way for spectrum allocation for satellite broadband. This legislative development clears regulatory hurdles, enabling smoother operations and growth opportunities for private players.
The importance of ground segment adaptation in response to changing requirements was also underscored at the conference. Panellists discussed post-pandemic shifts, emphasizing the need for adaptability and integration with IT systems, with the disruption that the launch of Starlink has brought. “Everyone needs to disrupt themselves and adapt. What is the multi-orbit proposition that we can provide to a particular user. . . how can we integrate better for greater value to the end user?” asked Alvaro Sanchez, CEO, Integrasys.
Conversations also centred around the space industry, following the tumult and volatility of 2023. Dara Panahy, Partner, Milbank LLP, highlighted the ongoing democratization of the commercial space industry, with the need for incumbents to evolve by either scaling up or vertically integrating to better serve customers. Identifying key areas such as mobility, government services, IoT, and earth observation as lucrative opportunities, he underscored the pivotal role of space in the larger economy.
The Satellite Industry Forum concluded with senior industry executives convening for a high-level discussion on the future trajectory of the satellite industry. Sanjay Duda, CEO, Planetcast Media Services, highlighted his focus on the role of satellite technology in delivering media services, particularly for the video industry. He emphasized the continued relevance of satellite in delivering linear channels, especially in underserved regions like India, while acknowledging the pressure on costs and the evolving landscape of mobility. Neha Idnani, Regional Vice President, APAC, Eutelsat OneWeb, also stressed the importance of working closely with regulators and industry bodies to ensure data security and protect sovereign interests, while Katherine Gizinski, CEO, River Advisers, reiterated the importance of regulatory considerations, particularly regarding spectrum and physical space access. She advocated for greater industry cooperation to address sustainability concerns and anticipated closer scrutiny from regulators as the industry continues to expand.
The Satellite Industry Forum is proudly sponsored by Gold Sponsors SKY Perfect JSAT and MEASAT Satellite Systems; Silver Sponsors Arianespace, AsiaSat, COMSYS, Eutelsat, Gilat Satellite Network, Hughes, Integrasys, Marsh, Milbank LLP, Northtelecom, Rivada Space Networks 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.
The 4th edition of InfoComm Asia—Asia’s International Pro AV Exhibition –returns to Bangkok with an estimated 180 exhibiting companies featuring 280 brands from over 15 countries, spread across 16,905 sqm in three halls signifying a 40% overall growth compared to the 2023 edition. Country representation includes Australia, China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and more including 74 first-time exhibitors, highlighting the show’s appeal to emerging players and start-ups alongside major global industry names. InfoComm Asia 2024 will take place 17-19th July 2024 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). Registration is now open for all professionals and businesses looking to enhance their Pro AV experience and understanding.
InfoComm Asia – visitors watching product demonstration of latest digital signage technology
Solution-seekers ranging from corporate to governmental organizations, educational institutions to entertainment venues and service providers will experience first-hand the cutting-edge Pro AV technologies and solutions by familiar big names like Barco, Christie, Crestron, Jabra, Fujifilm, Leyard, Lumens Digital, Sennheiser, Shure and explore fresh technological capabilities by brands and organizations such as Asukanet (holographic display), Neat (smart meeting solutions), Philips (Advanced Colour ePaper display), Institute for Information Industry (digital signage) and more.
Visitors can discover a plethora of solutions including the latest in digital signage, to intelligent video conference systems, to artificial intelligence (AI) in LED virtual production, to naked eye 3D displays, smart classroom solutions, interactive immersive projection mapping and more.
More than just an exhibition, the 2024 InfoComm Asia Summit (held concurrently with the exposition) will feature 42 free-to-attend seminars. A glimpse of the exciting lineup of sessions includes a kick-off overview “Navigating The Future: Strategic Insights into the Pro-AV Asian Market in the Next 3-5 Years” led by AVIXA CEO Dave Labuskes, “The Future of Hybrid Events in Asia” exploring Pro AV application for live events, as well as industry-focused sessions dedicated to retail, hospitality, and education sectors like “Future Restaurants 2030”, “The Future of Hybrid Learning Environments”, which explores real-world strategies using AI, VR, and digital platforms for immersive experiences.
“Hosting leading Pro AV events globally in collaboration with AVIXA uniquely provides InfoComm Asia the connections and insights of emerging technologies and opportunities across the world,” said June Ko, InfoComm Asia Executive Director. “We are excited to bring all this knowledge and technology to Asia and Southeast Asia to further uplift the industries.
Finally, InfoComm Asia 2024 expands with exciting new offerings that includes a dedicated summit track covering the fast-growing Esports market in the “The Integration of Advanced Pro AV in Esports Arena”, plus specially curated Tech Tours ranging from introductory overviews for first-time visitors to specialized tours who those seeking industry-specific solutions for those in the Invited Guests program. Visitors can also participate in business match-making as well as other specially designed experiential events.
InfoComm Asia – visitors attending a specialized workshop conducted at one of participating exhibitor’s booth on the show floor
For full information including exhibitors, products, seminars, registration and last remaining sponsorship opportunities, visit infocomm-asia.com.
Embark on a Journey of Resilience and Self-healing with Zhang Zhehan’s Inspirational Directorial Debut, ‘August’
Zhang Zhehan’s directorial debut documentary ‘August’ was officially released online with an IMDb rating of 9.8 and has risen to 10th place among IMDB’s most popular documentary films.
The lead single, “Can You Hear Me”, of the third album, will be released on May 8th.
Ranyi Music, an emerging music production and artist management company based in China, proudly announces the premiere of “August,” the first directorial effort by its distinguished artist, Zhang Zhehan. Launched on YouTube on April 14th, 2024, this compelling documentary showcases Zhang’s personal journey of self-healing following a tumultuous cyber media storm. Acclaimed for its profound impact, “August” has achieved an impressive IMDb rating of 9.8 and has risen to 10th among the most popular documentary films in IMDB.
In August 2021, Zhang Zhehan found himself caught up in an unprecedented storm. A massive wave of public opinion suddenly swept in, fueled by false information and malicious distortions on the internet, shattering his career and personal life. He chose to bravely face everything and embarked on a self-healing journey.
The documentary “August” was filmed for nearly 20 days, capturing Zhang’s cycling trip from Shangri-La to Lhasa. Along this journey, he encounters snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and herds of livestock, meets many ordinary, yet touching, faces, and listens to the pain and love within himself. He shares stories of the strangers he meets: a bar owner who accompanies himself with a lifelong passion for music, the growth and dreams of two basketball-loving brothers, the innkeeper’s tales of the hustle and bustle on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, and a ‘love at first sight’ kind of enchantment.
The documentary “August” has been highly praised after its release, not only covered by multiple media outlets but also achieving a high score of 9.8 on IMDb.
Zhang Zhehan: unveiling the evolving power of music
On May 8th, the lead single from his third album, “Can You Hear Me”, will be released. The singer takes a more daring and avant-garde approach to the composition, with the entire song built around the single line, “Can You Hear Me”, transcending the boundaries of language, the limits of time and space, forging a soulful connection between inner confession and the sounds of the outer world.
Zhang Zhehan’s low point is now a thing of the past and his career is blooming again
In 2023, Zhang Zhehan released two albums, and his songs immediately dominated the charts on various global music platforms. In May of the same year, he held two “Primordial Theater” concerts in Bangkok, Thailand, kicking off his concert tour. He then performed in Malaysia and Singapore. In February 2024, Zhang Zhehan held a concert in Hong Kong, China, attracting nearly 10,000 spectators.
Zhang Zhehan’s musical talent is undeniable, and his popularity is evident. In Spotify’s rankings released last year, Zhang Zhehan achieved an impressive feat as the ninth most-streamed Chinese pop singer worldwide. He has consistently topped radio charts in Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan, and received invitations to participate in the year-end award.
That August is now a thing of the past, and we eagerly anticipate the next August, experiencing the profound meaning of a new, “August.”
The Asia Video Industry Association’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) has published its 2024 annual piracy consumer survey, conducted by YouGov. Despite a decrease in piracy on pirate TV boxes, pirate apps and streaming or torrent websites, the survey shows an increase in the incidence of piracy across the region, climbing from 52% last year to 59% this year due to more piracy on social media and messaging platforms. Particularly concerning are the increases in the Philippines (12% yoy) and Vietnam (13% yoy), with both countries also now having the region’s highest incidences of piracy amongst their populations, at 70% and 71% respectively.
The dominance of social media and messaging platforms as the conduit to piracy not only remains, but has grown more severe, increasing by 14% across the region. Meanwhile, only 13% of consumers in the region now access pirated content through websites, and 11% by pirate TV boxes – both down from last year.
Awareness of the negative consequences of piracy (89%) remains extremely high across the region, with consumers being most aware of criminals profiting from pirate services, the risks of malware and the damage piracy causes to local industry being most prominent. And the impact of judicial or administrative orders requiring ISPs to block access to pirate sites is clear, with Indonesian (59%), Vietnamese (54%), Malaysian (42%) and Singaporean (28%) consumers saying they have either stopped entirely or rarely access pirate sites as a direct result of sites being blocked.
The survey shows a dramatic increase in the number of consumers in Asia-Pacific both searching for and accessing pirate content via social media or messaging services. CAP is continuing to work with the major platforms across the region to address this issue but remains concerned with the lack of response from some platforms, notably Telegram.
Matt Cheetham, General Manager of CAP, noted, “We are greatly encouraged by the continuing downward trend of consumers accessing pirate content from illegal websites, which reflects the work done over many years in the region by industry and governments. However, it is clear that social media and messaging platforms must do more to prevent their services being used to find and access pirate content.”
About the Survey
The survey was conducted online by YouGov between 1st to 7th February 2024. Research was conducted in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The sample size was 10,123 people across all 8 Markets.
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.
The Future of Video India conference welcomed over 130 senior government and industry leaders in Mumbai for a day of discussions centered around one of the most vibrant and burgeoning video markets in the world.
Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)and Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), opened the conference with optimism about the industry. The MIB hopes to see the current $30bn industry grow to $100bn in the next 4-5 years. Both senior officials talked of the need to create a level playing field and balance the interests of the different sectors of the industry to encourage growth and investment.
For Kiran Mani, CEO – Digital, Viacom18, technology was enabling as many Indians as possible to access content. “People are doing more with content than ever before. It’s not doing more content,” said Mani. With the IPL on both streaming and pay TV now, Viacom18 had democratized sports, which had gone from 100mn to 500mn screens, and with this move, they had also made sports a ‘lean forward’ experience by enabling the content to be watched over mobile devices and enabling a whole new level of engagement and interactivity with the content.
Similarly, Sajith Sivanandan, Head, Disney+ Hotstar, India, shared that ‘the best businesses happen at the intersection of people and technology… finding and operating in that intersection is the gold mine right there.’ However, serving the consumers remained critical for a consumer first company like Disney, and that was through telling great stories that were both relevant as well as personalized for the consumer, and serving the right content at the right point in time, added Sivanandan.
Beyond reaching and engaging consumers, content too had the power to influence and change perceptions, with Aparna Purohit, Head of Originals, India & SEA, Prime Video India, sharing during her session on ‘Inspiring and Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders’, that diversity was key to greenlighting any projects at Amazon Prime Video, and that there must be a woman in every writer’s room. Sanjog Gupta, Head – Sports, Disney Star, too shared that sports over the last 5 years had seen women more visible than ever before.
With Indian content more accessible than ever, India was becoming less exotic and more real in western minds, resulting in greater success and recognition, said Sai Abishek, Head of Factual & Lifestyle Cluster, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery. However, it was important to focus first on an Indian market and get an audience there, to build the chances of international success, added Rishi Negi, Group Chief Operating Officer, Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India. But with many more stories to be mined, India was barely scratching the surface in its journey to making its mark globally, concluded Abishek.
Future of Video India is proudly sponsored by Gold Sponsors Akamai and MEASAT.
Please click here for a selection of photos from the event.
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.
The Asia Video Industry Association’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) welcomes the Singapore High Court’s latest order to block another 26 illegal streaming sites and more than 100 associated domains responsible for the distribution of illegally streamed content in Singapore.
The Court’s order follows on from a similar order obtained in Singapore by the Premier League in March and continues the push by the applicants BBC Studios, LaLiga, the Premier League and TVB International, that in recent years has seen the blocking of hundreds of illegal streaming sites and hundreds more associated domains that were offering access to some of the most sought-after content including premium sports, drama and entertainment. The order is also part of a comprehensive campaign by CAP and its members against online piracy in the region.
“Blocking access to pirate sites also brings wide benefits, not least of which include protecting consumers from the demonstrable harm such as viruses, malware and data theft that many pirate sites are specifically designed for. Such pirate sites are honey pots, designed to attract consumers with offers of ‘free’ content when in fact the consumers are the products, targeted by the criminals running the sites for cyber scams and other cyber threats,” said CAP’s General Manager, Matt Cheetham. “A recent study by Cyberstronomy has highlighted these dangers in particular to Singapore consumers, in finding an average 48% chance of encountering a cyber threat on the top 25 pirate sports streaming sites in Singapore. Furthermore, there was a 3.5 times greater chance of consumers being scammed when visiting these sites compared to when visiting mainstream sites(1),” added Cheetham.
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.
The Asia Video Summit, the marquee conference for the video industry, kicked off in Hong Kong this year from 13 – 14 March, as part of the HK Entertainment Expo.
The Summit opened with an overview on the state of video in Asia, and how scale had redefined the industry. Vivek Couto, Executive Director, Media Partners Asia, shared that the ecosystem had changed, and a new pecking order was in place, with the global digital giants dominating video action in APAC, with a total video and screen revenues of US$24.4B coming out of Asia in 2023.
Global demand for premium Asian content continued to grow substantially, with 1.4B active unique users worldwide consuming almost 14B hours of Asian content in 2023, equivalent to a global average of 9.9 hours per user. Asian content also drove significant viewership and acquisition in APAC, with Korean, Anime and Chinese content coming up tops. Couto also shared that Chinese short form drama may be the next big thing, with the domestic market having grown to half a billion in 2023.
For Karen Fu Binxing, CEO of Huace Group, one of China’s largest content producers, the increasing interest in Chinese content overseas filled her with optimism on the rise of Chinese content, with a view to focus more on international cooperations. Fu also added that AI was unstoppable and would bring changes to all aspects of production and broadcasting trends in the content industry.
Wang Yangbin, CEO, Vobile, similarly added that generative AI was a new frontier but believed that the core value of the ecosystem were the rights and the intellectual property, both of which needed to be protected effectively for the industry to grow. However, for Michael Kwan, Senior IP Enforcement Advisor, TVB, AI was very much seen as a double-edged sword, with both pirates and companies using AI to achieve their goals, and infringers using AI to automate piracy and bypass site blocking mechanisms.
AI as a topic came up organically throughout the summit. Kelvin Yau, President, APAC and Overseas Marketing, International Business Department, iQiyi, talked about the use of technology across the company to help the business. By listening to social trends, AI enabled social media posts to be done quickly, to help promote their shows and satisfy what people were curious about. “It was a sprint race before, now it’s a marathon. How do you win the marathon in keeping the pace, changes the whole game,” said Yau.
James Gibbons, President, Asia Pacific, Warner Bros. Discovery, stressed the importance of focusing on both growth and profitability for streaming in APAC. Gibbons also added that the reason the pay TV model worked so well was due to its dual revenue streams, and this needed to be recreated for streaming. The fact that advertising in a premium video environment lagged so far behind social and UGC video platforms was a huge issue for the industry, and hence it was incredibly important that people who had an investment in premium video came together to solve this issue.
Phil Hardman, SVP & General Manager, Asia, BBC Studios, highlighted the need for curation and aggregation of content, and felt the term pay TV was becoming redundant. Avi Himatsinghani, Founder & CEO, Rewind Networks, also said that it was all converging together, with linear services aggregated alongside streaming services. “We have to reinvent and work harder to make the narrative come alive,” added Himatsinghani.
For sports platform, beIN Media Group, now was a period of rationalisation. “It’s about carving out your niche and finding a sustainable model which can be profitable, and building scale through partnerships,” said Mike Kerr, MD, Asia. “The players that are left standing understand the value of sports and how to manage it from a consumer perspective.” However, with piracy taking US$30B out of the ecosystem it was not sustainable, and the industry needed to come together to combat it, added Kerr.
Closing off the Summit, Alexandre Muller, MD, APAC, TV5MONDE, said that the region needed to listen to local audiences and deliver what they want, and not listen to all the noise coming out of the US. “Asia is Asia, we need to follow our own path and find the right equilibrium among ourselves,” said Muller. “The world is just waking up to the great content that is coming out of Asia,” added Phil Hardman.
The Asia Video Summit 2024 is proudly sponsored by Lead Sponsor Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Gold Sponsors AsiaSat, Bango, InvestHK, Publica, TV5Monde, Vobile, Warner Bros. Discovery; Silver Sponsors France24, Paramount and Bronze Sponsor A+E Networks
Visit the event website and gallery for more information and photos from the Summit.
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.
ABC News and David Swan, technology editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have walked away with the Gold Lizzies, taking the top honours at the 22nd Annual Samsung IT Journalism Awards.
Produced by media intelligence platform Influencing, the Awards recognise the most outstanding journalists and outlets covering technology in Australia each year.
This year our event’s new home at Doltone House in Jones Bay Wharf played host to around 300 guests and sponsors, with the harbour providing a stunning backdrop for red carpet arrivals & cocktails from 6.30pm.
Below – Marc Fennell of the ABC with Graeme Philipson Best Columnist winner Jackson Ryan on the red carpet.
(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)
With 23 categories contested by 140 entrants, the awards were as closely fought as they have ever been. This year The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s David Swan and ABC News have taken home the top awards known as the gold Lizzies, taking home Best Journalist and Best Title respectively.
This was the third win for both parties. David Swan also scored the trophy for Best Technology Journalist and Best Telecommunications Journalist with a highly commended in the Best Technology Issues category.
Meanwhile ABC News also took home Best Gaming Coverage and Best News Coverage in addition to their Best Title win. The ABC team is pictured below with our Naming Rights sponsor Samsung Australia.
Left to to right: Julian Fell (ABC); Ben Spraggon (ABC); Matea Rojas, Head of Corporate Communications at Samsung Australia; Gianfranco Di Giovanni (ABC) and Jackson Ryan.
(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)
“Once again, the Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards proved what a special event it is – it is remarkable that even after 22 years it continues to grow in importance and stature,” said Influencing CEO and show host / MC Phil Sim (Pictured below presenting this year’s Pioneer of IT Media to industry veteran Len Rust).
“Our 2024 awards once again served their mission. Primarily, that is to recognise excellence in technology media and journalism, with the ambition that it inspires journalists to rigorously investigate and report on critical technology-related issues faced by the world today.”
“However, it is also about bonding the community – it is the one event that brings together technology journalists, and the people they work with, to renew friendships and build new ones, and with more than 280 people in attendance, it certainly achieved that again.”
(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)
We would like to once again thank all our sponsors for their support; the community of media communications professionals who choose to join in support of the event each year, and of course all our entrants, finalists and winners at this year’s Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards.
The complete list of winners and highly-commendeds is below. Thank you everyone for making the event special, we look forward to bring this event to you again in 2025.
2024 IT Journalism Award Winners Alicia Camphuisen Best New Journalist Petra Stock HC: Emily Spindler-Carruthers
Best Security Journalist David Swan HC: Patrick Gray
Best Technical Journalist David Braue HC: Jeremy Nadel
Best Gaming Journalist Fergus Halliday HC: Daniel Van Boom
Best Gaming Coverage ABC News HC: GamesHub
Paul Zucker Best Technology Industry Journalist Jessica Sier HC: Nick Bonyhady
Best Game Reviewer Edmond Tran HC: Amanda Yeo
Best Technology Reviewer John Davidson HC: Alex Kidman
Best Technology Issues Journalist Ariel Bogle HC: David Swan, Julian Fell
Pioneer of IT Media Len Rust
Best Short Form Content Tobias Venus HC: Cam Wilson
John Costello Best Business Technology Journalist Justin Hendry HC: Paul Smith
Best Business Coverage The Australian Financial Review HC: Mi-3
Best Consumer Technology Coverage The Age & Sydney Morning Herald HC: SmartCompany, Canstar Blue
Best News Coverage ABC News Story Lab HC: The Age & Sydney Morning Herald
Graeme Philipson Best Columnist Jackson Ryan HC: Paul Smith
Cass Warneminde Best News Journalist Ariel Bogle HC: Andrew Birmingham, Joseph Brookes, David Braue
Best Independent Media Checkpoint Gaming HC: The Martech Weekly, Player2
Helen Dancer Best Consumer Technology Journalist Alex Kidman HC: Fergus Halliday
Best Audio Program Risky Business HC: Download This Show, Debunks
Best Video Program SBS HC: Tobias Venus
Best Telecommunications Journalist David Swan HC: Paul Smith
David Hellaby Best Media Relations Salvatore Di Muccio HC: Angela
Best Corporate Content David Braue HC: Huntley Mitchell
Gold Lizzie: Best Journalist of the Year David Swan
Gold Lizzie: Best Title of the Year ABC
About Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards Known affectionately as The Lizzies and held every year since 2003, the Australian IT Journalism Awards acknowledge the most outstanding journalists and outlets covering technology in Australia each year. Content, Journalism, Beat/Vertical and Media Relations – there are 21 separate awards, plus our two special categories: Title of the Year, currently held by the Australian Financial Review; and Journalist of the Year, currently held by David Braue. Ensuring audiences have an accurate, balanced & accessible understanding of technology is critical for Australia’s future commercial growth. The peer-judged awards advance this cause each year, by publicly identifying and encouraging good tech journalism. https://www.thelizzies.com/
