Event Preview: Istanbul TV Forum & Fair


ISTANBUL: One week from today, the Istanbul TV Forum & Fair (iTVF) will open its doors for the very first time, welcoming delegates from more than 70 countries to the Halic Congress Center.

The event, which runs from June 20 to 22, has been in development for nearly two years, with a lot of time and effort going into the process of making it a reality.

“We chose Istanbul for this event because we feel as though it is the ideal city for international platforms,” says Özlem Adıgüzel, the general manager of Globus Fair and Congress Management, the organizer of iTVF. “Strategically located at the midpoint between East and West, it provides level ground for both cultures to interact and, of course, the beauty of the city is above argument. iTVF will be the brand-new meeting point of the TV world and host a spectacular event, year after year, gathering all of the industry professionals under one unforgettable spectacle.”

With the support of RATEM, which has more than 800 members and is the umbrella union for broadcasting companies in the region, iTVF has been able to secure a large participation from various countries across many continents within its first year. The event also has the support of the Republic of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which was essential to forming a hosted buyer program that encouraged a large number of buyers—around 400 to be exact—from around the world to join in the event in its first year. “TV channels, distributors and other leaders in the sector will be present at iTVF this year, all of whom I am sure will be looking forward to returning next year,” says Adıgüzel.

The event consists of four main functions: a TV market, broadcasting fair, forum and awards. “The TV market has been devised to encourage the growth of the commercial volume and networking within the industry, gathering content creators, producers, license holders, TV channels and distributors into one vibrant function,” explains Adıgüzel. “Attendees will have the chance to discover the newest content as well as network and enhance their international cooperation channels.

“The forum program will cover the future of TV, sharing the latest in the content world and a forecast of what the future of TV is going to look like,” Adıgüzel continues. “The themes of each year’s forum program will be defined by the most recent developments in the industry. With participation from notable keynote speakers, the forum is sure to introduce new [information] and spark the creativity of the audience. With the mission of catering to the recent demand for a hasty transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, the broadcasting fair promotes the presence of local and international suppliers and buyers from over 70 countries’ broadcasting channels together in one well-rounded event.”

On iTVF’s opening day, the conditions, criteria and evaluation of the Istanbul TV awards will be announced. The awards themselves will take place on September 21.

“The launch of the TV awards, which we are organizing, is an amazing event where there will be domestic and international awards,” says Adıgüzel. “The voting system is also incredibly interactive and unique. I don’t want to give too much away at the moment, but we will announce all of the details on the first day of iTVF.”

Another highlight of iTVF will be the announcement of the winners of The Formats Project, a competition to find the world’s freshest format, launched by Global Agency in partnership with World Screen. The selected submissions will be presented during the forum’s Discover the Formats of the Future session.

Globus Fair and Congress Management has been active in using social-media channels, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, to engage with participants and those interested in the event. “We are also planning to hold some social-media competitions at the event itself, which is something to watch out for,” says Adıgüzel.

Adıgüzel believes that all attendees stand to gain something from their participation in iTVF. “Exhibitors will get a chance to show their latest products and buyers will get a chance to view these, enhancing their international networks and improving their communication channels. All participants will be met with a wealth of opportunity, and at the end of the three days of business we have reserved some time for pleasure with a Bosphorus boat trip, which I am sure everyone will enjoy.” The tour will take participants from Europe across to Asia and back.

“Over the past few years Turkish productions have become highly in demand among broadcasters in the international arena,” says Izzet Pinto, the CEO of Global Agency. “We believe Istanbul TV Forum & Fair will be an exciting market where the latest series and films are exhibited.”

Irfan Sahin, the CEO of Kanal D and Dogan TV Holding, is equally optimistic about the event. “Istanbul has turned into a center of attraction with its creativity and its high-quality production capability and, most importantly, with its global vision.”