ATF Opens in Singapore

SINGAPORE: The Asia TV Forum opened here in Singapore today with an overall 15-percent increase in attendance, reports Reed Exhibitions, including an 18-percent rise in buyer participation, for a total of 2,600 attendees.

Under the theme "Above and Beyond," ATF also reports a 14-percent hike in seller companies, plus a record 13 country pavilions, including four from China, plus new hubs from Finland and Japan. These join the returning France, Italy, South Korea (with two pavilions), Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. About 150 companies are attending the ATF for the first time.

Noting that the market is now in its eleventh year, Michelle Lim, managing director of Reed Exhibitions, said in her opening speech, "ATF has evolved as the leading market for content exchange and collaboration in Asia." Lim also stressed the rising importance of Asian content, as well as the emergence of 3D.

She continued, "The Asian region has become of significant importance and it is with this differentiation that ATF will play a crucial role in raising the Asian voice on the global content stage."

Lim’s comments followed introductory remarks by Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Information, Communcations and the Arts, at the market’s opening ceremony. "With the rising economies in this region and the opportunities presented by a rapidly increasing base of content consumers, the importance of Asia as a market and its influence on global media productions continues to grow," he said. "More than ever before, the global television industry is looking to the Asia-Pacific region to lead international growth."