Peter White, director general of the IABM industry association, told IBC delegates that despite some challenges, there was a greater sense of optimism both from the demand side of the business, as well as the supply side, writes Chris Forrester.
White used the IABM’s recent Global Market Valuation Report (compiled by HIS/Screen Digest), which showed that the global economic downturn, as well as major events such as the Japan tsunami and ‘Arab Spring’ uncertainties had not helped confidence. However, after the 2010 low point respondents were now more optimistic that by 2015 the industry would have regained and passed its pre-recession business levels. White said this meant an industry likely to be worth $29bn in 2015.
The IBC session, chaired by Media Asset Capital’s Adrian Scott, saw all panelists express enthusiasm about growth prospects in the BRIC markets, and Africa, as showing better-than-average growth prospects.
Alain Andreoli (pictured), president/CEO at Grass Valley, said: “The positive trends are coming from these emerging markets. The focal point of our business is shifting from Europe and North America to China, Asia and wherever there are greenfield developments. We remain completely optimistic. I do feel that we sometimes need to switch off the TV and radio news and escape from stories which seem to say that everything is crisis and chaos.”
www.ibc.org/conferenceprogramme
