Application diversity demonstrates sector strength
Europe's largest Internet audio and video event, Streaming Media Europe 2001 and Content Management 2001 (23-25 October 2001), welcomed over 4,500 senior decision makers through the doors of the ExCeL venue in London. This year showed the highest attendance to date, with visitors meeting with more than 100 exhibitors and listening to over 170 leading industry speakers in the conference and educational seminars.
Top players from the rapidly growing streaming and content management industries chose the event as the platform to launch new products to the marketplace. Kamera Communications, Europe's leading Internet TV company, announced the launch of its Corporate Internet TV service and discussed its successful pilots with leading blue-chip companies such as Absolut Vodka, Nokia and Nordea.
BTopenworld announced its choice of Windows Media to deliver the UK's first secure music subscription service to its 1.5 million-strong subscriber base. webstreaming.com, the fastest growing independent web streaming service and delivery provider in the UK, also announced its agreement to acquire OuterEye, a streaming company focused on the small to medium sized enterprise market.
Once again, Streaming Media Europe 2001 proved to be the European event at which to do business. Tim Teo, CEO of synchronised multimedia publisher Smibase, said: ‘Streaming Media Europe 2001 was our first trade show, and we are pleased to say that the response has been overwhelming. We are excited to announce that within 24 hours of the show finishing, Smibase had already signed up several new customers, including a world-leading broadcaster.
’The success of Streaming Media Europe has far exceeded all our expectations. I feel that the industry has given us and the show a big 'thumbs-up', so much so, that we will now be exhibiting at Streaming Media East, (New York, 11-13 December 2001)’ continued Tim. Streaming solutions provider GroovyGecko.com was another satisfied exhibitor. Marketing Manager Sarah Platt said: ‘The industry has gone through a great deal of change over the past year. The delegates displayed a high level of knowledge and were serious in their intent. With the quality of leads generated here, Groovy Gecko is confident it will maintain and build upon its position in the European streaming market’.
Prestigious keynote speakers delivered insightful addresses in the conference. Joanna Shields, Vice President, EMEA, RealNetworks gave an overview of the streaming industry and demonstrated the new RealOne Platform, a product expected to revolutionise electronic media delivery. Lars Boman, President, Internet Applications Group, Ericsson, discussed the requirement of the wireless community to deliver compelling and quality streaming services to subscribers to ensure expectations are met. John McMahon, Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Europe, Columbia TriStar International Television spoke of the challenges of delivering content on demand from the perspective of a studio.
‘The shows have been a real success and have received continuing support from the industry's leading companies -- demonstrating the latest streaming and content management solutions for business and entertainment,’ commented Phil Nelson, Show Director, Penton Technology Media. ‘We have substantial bookings confirmed for next year's event’.
Streaming Media Europe 2002 and Content Management 2002 will take place between 3rd -- 5th December 2002.