Media and Telecom operators: Friends or Foes?

The convergence of media, telecom and information technology pushes the hitherto disconnected players in the three sectors towards operating in an increasingly merged segment. This convergence carries threats to existing revenue and business models, but also bears new opportunities for new models. There will be winners and losers. Arab Advisors Group June 2004 Media and Telecommunications Convergence Conference: Convergence Threats and opportunities, aims at enhancing awareness of the convergence trends apace in the Arab World. The conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Amman – Jordan between on June 10 and 11, 2004.

September 14, 2003 -

Advances in telecommunications and Information technology have resulted in the compression of time and space. This rendering of time zones and distances as virtually irrelevant has had a major impact on traditional industries. TV viewers are no longer limited to one or two terrestrial channels but have an abundance of stations, free and otherwise, to choose from. Moreover, the Personal Computer connected to a broadband Internet connection has become an interactive TV and radio station: Listeners can now listen to radio stations, in FM stereo quality, broadcasting thousands of kilometers away.

Online content is also migrating “eye balls” time to the personal computer away from TV and print media. The revenue impact of the telecom and Internet era does not just lie in the growth of online ads but also in the adoption, by media companies, of telecom-based revenue streams: Using SMS, voice calls and the Internet many media companies are generating massive revenues for themselves as well as the telecom operators through programs that make use of the telecom and Internet infrastructure. Indeed, as a recent research report from the Arab Advisors Group has shown, Future TV’s Arabic Superstar program grossed over US$ 4 million in voting revenues alone. The telecom-based revenues for TV stations are becoming a major source of revenue equal in importance to traditional ad sales.

Building on its intimate knowledge of the Arab World’s Media, Telecom and IT markets, the Arab Advisors Group is organizing the “Media and Telecommunications Convergence Conference 2004: Convergence Threats and opportunities”. The conference will be the ideal forum for discussions and debates on the convergence trends underway in the Arab media and telecom markets.

“We aim at contributing to a “convergence renaissance”, if you will, in the Arab World” Mr. Jawad Abbassi, Arab Advisors Group’s founder and president said. “Over 20 visionary executives from 20 regional and global companies and organizations will be presenting at the conference. Moreover, the conference attendees will have access to primary research-based analysis and reports on both the telecoms and media industries in order to have well informed debates and discussions. All the prerequisites for a very successful conference are already covered”.

Confirmed speakers in the conference include Dr. Jon Anderson, PHD
Co-director of the Arab Information Project- Georgetown University - Washington DC, Mr. Tarek Abualam, Business Development Director - TE Data, Mr. Bashar Arafeh Marketing & Mobile Data Services Director – FastLink, Dr. Henry Azzam Chairman of Mobilecom and CEO of Jordinvest, Mr. Tony Ghattas Business Development Manager - Cisco Systems, Mr. Gilbert Lacroix General Manager - Middle East & Africa- Intel, Mr. Deepak Padmanabhan Chief Planning & Business Development Officer Dubai Technology Electronic Commerce & Media Free Zone Authority, Mr. Hosam Sokkari Head of BBCArabic.com - BBC Arabic and Mr. Samih Toukan Chief Executive Officer - Maktoob.com. Other presenters from LBC, Future TV, ShowTime Arabia will also share their wide experiences at the conference.

“We believe that the conference will be the ideal meeting and discussions forum. Delegates from Media Stations and Telecom Operators will attend with no registration fees and at no costs whatsoever.” Mr. Bahaa Najeeb, Arab Advisors Group’s sales and marketing manager said. “Over 90 delegates from almost all Media Stations and Telecom Operators in the Arab World will be attending the conference. The conference will be a focal point for the telecom and media industries in the Arab World. ” Mr. Najeeb added.

The conference has sponsorship opportunities and an exhibition floor for companies interested in showcasing their solutions and products. Moreover, delegates that register to attend the conference will receive their choice of one of Arab Advisors Group’s over 180 published reports on the Arab World’s media and telecom markets.

Please contact the Arab Advisors Group for more information on the conference program, speakers, sponsorship opportunities and attendance matters.

The Arab Advisors Group’s team of analysts in the region has already produced more than 180 reports on the Arab World’s communications and media markets. The reports can be purchased individually or received through an annual subscription to Arab Advisors Group’s (www.arabadvisors.com) Strategic Research Services (Media and Telecom). To date, Arab Advisors Group has served more than 100 global and regional companies by providing reliable research analysis and forecasts of Arab communications markets to these clients.