Amazia, ABU in New Promotional Pact

PARIS, March 12: Amazia, Reed
MIDEM’s new multiplatform conference and exhibition, has inked a promotional
partnership with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) for the inaugural
event.

The first Amazia,
organized by Paris-based Reed MIDEM, will take place from November 17-20 at the
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

With eight months to go
before the kickoff of Amazia, the event has already signed up some 160
companies from around the world and more than 140 Asian buyers. The market will
open with the Amazia Entertainment Summit (November 17-18), a two-day
conference bringing together the entertainment, digital and advertising leaders
both from Asia and around the world to discuss the opportunities presented by
Asia's media revolution.

“The ABU’s experience in
broadcasting throughout Asia Pacific and its commitment to developing Asian
entertainment production and distribution platforms makes it a natural partner
for us,” said Amazia’s director, Franz Caduc. “This new event is dedicated to
facilitating business within Asia Pacific by bringing together the region’s
leading entertainment and content distribution companies with their
international counterparts. Following in the footsteps of China’s State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and the Shangai Media
Group (SMG), who both gave their backing to the event in October, Amazia is delighted to be partnering
with the ABU and we look forward
to welcoming ABU members to Hong Kong.”

“The Asia Pacific
broadcasting market is extremely dynamic and the ABU welcomes the opportunity
that Amazia provides to focus international attention on the region,” said David
Astley, the secretary-general of ABU. “In addition to the clear business goals
of the exhibition for buyers and content producers, Amazia’s Entertainment
Summit provides the ideal forum to explore next-generation digital distribution
platforms and content services.”

The ABU’s mission is to
facilitate the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region and to
organize cooperative activities among its members. It currently has more than
170 members—some of which operate more than ten channels—in 53
countries, reaching a potential audience of some 3 billion people in an area
stretching from Turkey to Samoa, and from Russia to New Zealand.

—By Irene Lew