Abu Dhabi Media Summit (ADMS) 2014, powered by twofour54, is gearing up for its biggest event to date with a host of leading regional and international speakers and a diverse mix of sessions.
Abu Dhabi Media Summit (ADMS) 2014, powered by twofour54, is gearing up for its biggest event to date with a host of leading regional and international speakers and a diverse mix of sessions.
Set to run from 18-20 November at the Rosewood Hotel, Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, this year’s edition will focus on ‘Driving and Sustaining Future Media in MENA and Beyond’.
Featured keynote speakers include Mark Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer, The New York Times Company; Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Group; Gerhard Zeiler, President, Turner Broadcasting System International; and Robert A. Kotick, President and CEO, Activision Blizzard.
Bringing together international top-tier media players with their regional counterparts, the ADMS 2014 Programme, which is now live on the website, will feature a series of high-profile conversations and interviews that mull the content, distribution and financing of media. Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a global media hub will also figure prominently against the backdrop of recent trends impacting the media industry in the region.
H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, ADMS and Chairman, Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority, said: “This year’s Media Summit is set to generate an important range of conversations about how future media is driven and sustained in the MENA region and beyond. The summit and twofour54 are committed to making a significant contribution to the development of the media sector in the region, as well as, being part of a global industry that strives to continually innovate and remain dynamic. We look forward to welcoming our esteemed guests and delegates to another successful edition of the Summit.”
Noura Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer of twofour54, said: “The 2014 ADMS continues to explore opportunities to advance the media industry in Abu Dhabi and the region. This year, ADMS covers three areas crucial to the development of the industry, those being content development, distribution channels, and financing solutions. The MENA region’s media industry is at crossroads not only in terms of explosive growth but also as a result of emerging technologies, new platforms and evolving business models.”
“At twofour54, we have created an ecosystem that encourages innovation and creative thinking. ADMS 2014 has been designed to reflect this approach. Given the event’s high resonance with target audiences, we are confident ADMS will continue to grow as a must-attend annual calendar event for the who’s who of the media sector in the UAE, the region and the world.”
Day one of ADMS 2014 will primarily discuss the importance of local content generation and the need to create home grown intellectual properties. The panel discussions on ‘The Next Big Thing in Future Media’, ‘The Transforming Role of Social Media in the Middle East’ and ‘From Hollywood to Bollywood, is Arabwood Next?’ will explore strategies that the Arabic film industry must adopt in order to expand its presence on the world stage.
The second day of the programme will examine topics such as localising and monetising content for market, the media and millennials, and accelerating the growth of new media, including the ‘second screen’. The negative impact of privacy and piracy on the distribution process will also be debated.
On day three, panellists will explore innovative financing options that fast-track the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. A vigorous dialogue on the resurgence of IPOs and the rise of private equity funding in the Middle East and North Africa media landscape, as well as a thought-provoking panel discussion on accelerating start-ups will bring the curtain down on ADMS 2014.
In a first for the Summit, days two and three of the programme will be opened up to the public with a limited number of places available, to help foster local interest in the industry and inspire future media talent and leaders. Advance registration is required via the ADMS website.
Attendees will be encouraged to use #InAbuDhabi to share the experiences of the Summit and promote the Capital’s role in growing the media industry in MENA and beyond.
The full programme and list of speakers can be found on the ADMS 2014 website: www.admediasummit.com