CASBAA to Host Sports Forum in China

HONG KONG, July 17: China
International Television Corporation (CITVC) and the Cable & Satellite
Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) will host the International Sports
Television Forum on August 24 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing.

“The Forum has been
developed as a key component within a strategy of informing and exchanging
information with the international community on the development of China’s
sports television industry,” said Marcel Fenez, the chairman of CASBAA.

Hosted by the State
Administration of Radio, Film & Television (SARFT) and co-organized by
CASBAA with CITVC, the commercial arm of the state broadcaster CCTV, event will
have a slightly different format this year. “This year will offer even more
debate and discussion about the pertinent issues surrounding sport on
television as well as in the wider sports arena,” said Kevin Jennings, the
events director for CASBAA.

Topics for discussion
include an in-depth analysis of how companies can expand their sports brand in
China, with emphasis placed on football clubs in the English Premier League.
There will also be panels on how to invest in the China market, and on gains
and losses from previous Olympics and partnerships between sports leagues and
pay TV.

Participants include CCTV,
Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BoB), the Beijing Olympic Committee Organizing
Group (BOCOG) and representatives of national Chinese and European sports
bodies. Along with global sports TV networks and sports management teams, other
speakers and delegates will be drawn from wireless, broadband and HDTV sectors.

In addition, the
conference organizers will invite VIPs and special guests for a sneak-peak tour
of some of the completed Olympic instillations being prepared for the 2008
Beijing Games.