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CABSAT 2021 WRAP-UP
FUTURE OF CINEMA, ABU DHABI’S PRODUCTION PROSPECTS DISCUSSED AT CABSAT 2021
Professionals from the broadcast and satellite industries gathered at CABSAT to discuss the strategic shifts that content producers and satellite operators have been compelled to make in recent times with the pandemic. We bring you some sound bites and news from the show
OTT serves as a catalyst for content
CABSAT’S Content Congress heard how a major surge in OTT revenues is prompting producers to re-engineer their entire strategies. Siddarth Roy Kapur, founder and Managing Director of Roy Kapur Films and President of the Producers Guild of India, said that in the past year global OTT revenues soared by 35% to $24.5bn as people consumed unprecedented amounts of content. “OTT platforms are booming like never before, which bodes well for an industry which is now as essential as infrastructure to human beings.”
However, he said the OTT boom is forcing industry players to rethink their approach to what they should produce for specific delivery channels. “Some productions, such as rom-coms for instance, may no longer draw people into cinemas
Siddarth Roy Kapur addressed the gathering at Content Congress.
and will be OTT mainstays, while slapsticks, superheroes and period dramas, which require a big screen experience, may find cinemas to be the best outlet.”
Kapur said content production is witnessing an investment surge, with Asia climbing up the rankings. “In India and Korea, content production is at an all-time high,” he said, citing expanding distribution capabilities.
Abu Dhabi on course for new production value record
Hans Fraikin, Head of Abu Dhabi Film and Television Commission, said the
Majed Al Suwaidi, MD of Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and Production City.
Hans Fraikin (r), Head of Abu Dhabi Film and Television Commission, confirmed to Heba Korayem (l) at CABSAT that a major Egyptian animation player will be moving into the UAE capital by the end of this year. In the past year global OTT revenues soared by 35% to $24.5bn, Siddarth Roy Kapur stated.
UAE capital is on course this year to surpass its 2020 $100m production value total, with its success during the pandemic giving it “strong momentum”.
He said Abu Dhabi’s industry reputation has grown following its success at hosting major productions during the pandemic, with strong health and safety protocols and production crews working and living in bubbles. He cited the Mission: Impossible shoot as a case in point, with a thousand people working on the production and all remaining Covid-free. “This is because of the government’s prompt response and protocols it put in place to maintain an industry it regards as essential.”
The Abu Dhabi Film Commission Head also confirmed that in its 2022/2023 expansion of its plans to build a fully integrated film ecosystem, it would focus on the visual effects, digital animation and virtual production sectors, and confirmed a major Egyptian animation player would move into the UAE capital by the end of this year.
Gaming set to take lion’s share of region’s media market, says Dubai Media chief
Broadcast radio is facing disruption in a digital era, while gaming is set to command the lion’s share of the regional media market, according to Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Production City. Addressing CABSAT’s Content Congress, he said that while traditional pay TV and cinemas have dedicated audiences, it is increasingly evident that consumers like the convenience of choice and availability.
“As well as traditional pay TV and cinemas, traditional broadcast radio is being challenged with the advent of digital radio, which saw a growth of 25% in 2020. Another industry we are all watching closely is gaming, where compound growth of the sector is expected to increase by 8.9% by 2024, making it the largest segment of the regional entertainment and media market. What these statistics show is that now more than ever, the consumer directs the content. Digital is the future, and as much as it has required us to adapt and learn, it also gives us much more in return by doing so.”
Steven Doiron, Executive VP, Regulatory & Spectrum Affairs at Yahsat.
Yahsat calls for action to address space debris crisis
Steven Doiron, Executive Vice President, Regulatory & Spectrum Affairs at Yahsat, insisted that governments and satellite operators need to collaborate internationally to improve space situational awareness (SSA), which allows effective regulatory implementation and monitoring. At the CABSAT 2021 SATExpo Summit, he outlined the international satellite operator community’s efforts to address space debris and urged governments to take action.
“We need everybody to participate by the same set of rules,” he said. “Governments should support research and development efforts both nationally and internationally to improve space situational awareness.”
Doiron said regulatory frameworks governing commercial and noncommercial missions should incorporate space debris mitigation requirements to proactively mitigate risks, while giving operators flexibility on meeting the requirements. “We need to have that collaboration not just with governments but with operators and companies internationally, to make sure that everybody is playing by the same rule book. These actions will go a long way to ensure the continued use and critical benefits of space for all humankind.”
Mesut Ciceker, Chief Advisor at SSI of Monaco.
Mesut Ciceker, Chief Advisor at SSI of Monaco, questioned whether lowEarth orbit (LEO) is becoming an uncontrolled billionaires’ playground and called for increased regulation of space activities. Speaking at the CABSAT SATExpo Summit, he said, “Regulation is very important, and we don’t have enough in place.”
Ciceker went on to warn of the risk of overcrowded LEO space, with an influx of smart satellites to boost the cost-effectiveness of satellite operations and end-user services. “In a rush to make things more costeffective, we should be aware that we
can disturb the ecosystem. We must be more sensitive towards space.”
Dr Badr Alsuwaidan, VP & Chief Technical Officer of Arabsat, said digital demand is inspiring new developments in the satellite industry.
Satellite industry in new era, says Arabsat CTO
Dr Badr Alsuwaidan, VP & Chief Technical Officer, Arabsat of Saudi Arabia, said the satellite industry is entering an entirely new development era driven by increasing digital demand. The advent of smart satellites from an increasing range of start-ups is disrupting the industry, enabling satellite operators to become more “affordable and accessible”.
“As demand for digital services grows, the industry is undergoing disruption and even our end users have changed from major government and defence entities to everyone, everywhere, so the manufacturers of satellites must also change so we can ensure an improved efficiency of satellite services.”
Satellites have a role to play in bridging connectivity gap, says GSM Association
CABSAT’s SatExpo heard how the satellite industry has a role to play in bridging a connectivity gap affecting 9.61% of the world’s population. Jawad Abbassi said that while the mobile industry is the largest connectivity platform on Earth, with 5.2bn cellular users, half a billion people are in a coverage dilemma. “We cannot leave these people behind, and the satellite industry has a role in expanding reach to places where microwave or fibre have no impact.” Abbassi said the mobile trend over the coming five years would see a gradual switch off 2G and 3G networks, and growth of 4G and 5G networks. “The major role for NTNs (non-terrestrial networks) will be in bridging the coverage gap. Much as 4G, as the first harmonised network, unleashed the gig economy, 5G networks can solve the dilemma of half a billion people currently being left behind.”
Jawad leads the GSMA MENA team that is responsible for GSMA work & activities in the MENA region.
Above, Deepraj Sandhar hosts a meeting at the Ross stand; below, Ahmed Magd expresses delight that Riedel equipment worth more than $5m was rented at the Expo 2020 site.
Rajesh Jagadish and Razik Zaghlouli at the Ateme stand in the French pavilion.
Raed Bacho from MBC Group spotted at the Vitec Production Solutions stand. Samir Isbaih at the Pebble stand at CABSAT.
Dr Mona Al Sabban, who is based in Egypt and runs a free online film school, was in Dubai to promote her classes.
Said Bacho, Chief Revenue Officer at Editshare, says the company will invest in additional pre-sales and support staff for the MENA region; below, Nagra, Harmonic and Aveco share a booth.
Grass Valley (r) impresses visitors with the AMPP solution; below, Sohail Shafi (R), MD of ARRI ME, with Ayman Zeibak, GM of Advanced Digital Media Company (ADM), whom ARRI recently appointed as their Saudi distributor.
Above, Talal Awamleh of Arab Telemedia Group, Jordan and team were at CABSAT to discuss acquiring content for their newly launched OTT platform Hakaya.
