CABSAT 2021 -A review

The global broadcasting, media, and satellite industries gathered once again in Dubai today, October 26, at CABSAT 2021. It marks the first in-person broadcast, satellite and content event since 2019.

Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from October 26-28, CABSAT 2021 explored the world of media, satellite, content, and tech, covering features from satellite solutions to set-top-boxes that can stream content offline, to video analytics and content protection, and more.

CABSAT 2021 attracted the biggest names in the business including Arabsat, which celebrated its 45th anniversary at the show, as well asArabsat, AsiaSat, Broadcast Solutions, Draka, France24, Gazprom Space Systems, Nilesat- which is readying for the launch of its new satellite, Thomson Broadcasting, Evertz Microsystems, and Turksat all eager to demo innovation across the full content journey from creation, through production, to distribution and many more. They demonstrated a vast range of innovation across the full content journey from creation, through production, to distribution. The show also featured dedicated pavilions representing Bavaria, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland.

An international line-up including pavilions from Bavaria, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, will expand the world of media, satellite, content, and tech, covering features from satellite solutions to set-top-boxes that can stream content offline, to video analytics and content protection.

CABSAT 2021 featured three dedicated, free-to-attend forums: Content Congress, SatExpo Summit, and NextGen Content. 60 international speakers addressed the audience. India was represented by Siddharth Roy Kapur, the leading film producer, and Founder and MD of Roy Kapur Films and President of the Producers Guild of India, whose filmography includes some of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

Kapur said in the past year global OTT revenues soared by 35% to US $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, the OTT boom, said Kapur, 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 and will be OTT main stays while slap-sticks, super-heroes 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 as the reason for the surge.

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, Al Suwaidi said that while traditional paid TV and cinemas have dedicated audiences it is becoming increasingly evident that consumers like the convenience of choice and availability; “As well as traditional paid 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,” he said.

CABSAT 2021 wrapped up, with the promise that they would be back next year from May 17-19, 2022.