MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC‘s commercial arm BBC Worldwide‘s four-day TV export market, BBC Worldwide Showcase, will for the first time incorporate a dedicated digital day as it adapts to the evolution of the media industry, with speakers from Netflix and Miso in February 2012.
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos is confirmed as a keynote speaker. He has helped Netflix become one of the industry‘s most talked about and watched companies, with over 20 million streaming subscribers in 47 countries.
Miso CEO, co-founder Somrat Niyogi will also address delegates. Miso is an internet start up that focuses on social TV viewing. Recent studies show that tapping into digital communities during transmission is becoming an increasingly important focus for broadcasters to retain audiences.
BBC Worldwide president, MD for sales and distribution Steve Macallister said: "Showcase guests this year are in for an incredibly rich experience. A new host city, hundreds of hours of the world‘s finest new television, abundance of on and off screen talent plus a whole day totally dedicated to digital exploration.
"Digital growth is a huge focus for BBC Worldwide and we‘ve made great strides in the past year. I‘m thrilled that we‘re able to bring some of the leading minds in this space to join us in Liverpool to share and debate their insights with an international delegation."
Seminars, panels and speeches will run throughout the day addressing areas such as IPTV and connected televisions, trends in over-the-top services and discussions around standardisation in digital formats and delivery. Other keynote speakers include Mike Walsh, author of Futuretainment and CEO of innovation research agency Tomorrow, a leading authority on the digital future.
BBC Worldwide Showcase is the largest event of its kind hosted by a single distributor. Over 5000 TV buyers flock to the UK to watch the programming BBC Worldwide has to offer. The four day event, to be held at the ACC in Liverpool for the first time in its 36 year history, will take place between 26 - 29 February 2012.
BBC Worldwide Showcase, a cornerstone event for British television, provides a major boost to television exports and accounts for around 20 per cent of BBC Worldwide‘s annual programme sales. The event is an international platform for British talent as buyers view over 2,000 hours of TV content and attend premieres of brand new programmes.
