Hong Kong, 18 March 2008 – The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has concluded its first ever “India Satellite Forum” in New Delhi. The conference, themed ‘New Horizons, New Challenges’, brought together more than one hundred decision-making satellite industry executives drawn from pay-TV platform operators, content providers and satellite system operating groups, as well as senior government officials to debate the hottest issues within India’s fast moving communications market.
The Forum was keynoted by Shrimati Asha Swarup, Secretary of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in India, while other speakers included Tony D’Silva, COO of Sun Direct, Andrew Jordan, President and CEO of SAT-GE, Shyamal Ghosh, Former Telecom Secretary & Chairman of the IPTV Forum India, Ravi Mansukhani, MD Indusind Media Communications and David Ball, Regional VP Asia Pacific at Intelsat.
Discussion during the Forum focused on the availability of sufficient satellite capacity over India to meet the growing demand for digital communications services, including VSAT, IPTV, DTH, HDTV and mobile TV.
“India is one of the key markets in the region with huge business opportunities. The regulation and liberalization of satellite services for India are critical factors if we are to sustain the growth of recent years,” said Marcel Fenez, the Chairman of CASBAA.
“We are delighted with the success of the first India Satellite Forum, demonstrating the strength of India satellite services and pay-TV industries. We are particularly pleased with the support of our speakers and the government officials who participated throughout the day,” added Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA.
Meanwhile, CASBAA will continue to work closely with its India-based members, these include Zee TV, Reliance Big Entertainment, INX Network, Network 18, Tata Sky, Ten Sports and law firm Amarchand Mangaldas to encourage the further growth of the pay-TV and related sectors within India.
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About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) is an industry-based advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of multi-channel TV via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video networks across the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA represents some 128 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, VOOM HD Networks Asia, Walt Disney Television International, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Arqiva, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, EuroNews, Eurosport, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, Hallmark Channel, Hong Kong Cable TV, INX Network, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Kbro, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity, PT Direct Vision, Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, SAT-GE, Spectrum Value Partners, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, TV5MONDE, Universal Electronics, Viaccess and Zee TV.
For enquiries, please contact:
CASBAA
Helen Shek / Carmen Mak
Marketing Communications
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com