Google, Netflix, YouView Execs to Speak at IP&TV World Forum

LONDON: The IP&TV World Forum 2011, which has been renamed to reflect the increasing number of cable companies adopting IP technology, will take place with an expanded format from March 22 to 24 in London, with more than 200 speakers lined up, including executives from Google, Netflix, YouView, Liberty and Virgin Media.

The program is divided into four specific tracks, focusing on IP platforms for TV, network optimization, service management and the business of content. Day one looks at combining cable bandwidth with IP flexibility to create compelling consumer devices. Speakers include Manuel Kohnstamm, the president of Cable Europe and the managing director for public policy and communications at Liberty Europe, and Ian Mecklenburgh, the director of consumer platforms at Virgin Media. Day two is focused on connected TV: challenging business models for the TV environment. On the roster of speakers is Richard Halton, the CEO of YouView, previously known as Project Canvas. Day three, which spotlights putting the user at the center of the TV experience, will feature speeches from, among others, Vinvent Durea, the head of TV technology at Google, and Bill Holmes, the VP of business development at Netflix.

Gavin Whitechurch, the director of the IP&TV World Series of events, commented: “The IP&TV World Forum has seen significant changes over the past seven years. It’s going through a particularly exciting period of change at the moment and we want to be able to connect with the broader audience that is opening up to us.

“The comprehensive speaker line up from over 140 different service providers, plus the addition of the TVAppHub, the IP Workflow Summit, the four work tracks and the expansion of our IP&TV Industry Awards should provide our delegates with an opportunity to connect with potential customers and industry colleagues and learn more about new industry trends.”