The 2024 edition of Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) has had a strong start, consolidating its position as one of the most relevant events in the global audiovisual industry. Focused on technology applied to content and strategic alliances, the meeting, organized by RX, promises to gather 5000 attendees from 60 countries and regions, with an outstanding participation of 697 selling companies, 972 buyers and more than 150 international and regional speakers.

The opening day, titled “The ATF Leaders Dialogue,” offered an in-depth look at the state of the audiovisual sector in Asia-Pacific (APAC). Tony Gunnarsson, principal analyst at Omdia, highlighted a key trend: by 2025, streaming will overtake pay-TV in revenue, driven by content quality and format diversity, including live sports, talk shows and documentaries (see attached article).

For his part, Hou Xiaonan, CEO of Yuewen and VP of Tencent Platform & Content Group, stressed the importance of platforms such as WebNovo in breaking down geographic barriers, promoting global stories. He also highlighted the advances in artificial intelligence applied to machine translation, which facilitate the expansion of content into languages such as Spanish and German.

LG U+ presented an innovative approach through DJ Lee, its content director, who revealed how the company transforms traditional formats. A case in point is "Tara", a movie converted into a hybrid series, combining theatrical and streaming releases to maximize its impact. Lee emphasized how low-cost production can generate high value, optimizing the daily distribution of episodes and exploiting social networks as a promotional tool.

In the financial field, Bennet Pozil, from East West Bank, explained how to structure Asian projects to achieve global success. He highlighted that Asian cinema, with the support of platforms such as Netflix, is at a crucial moment. Pozil advocated taking advantage of tax incentives and international collaborations to consolidate productions in key markets.

Vikram Arumilli from IMAX provided a futuristic view on the integration of advanced technology in streaming and live events. With its StreamSmart tool, IMAX already broadcasts sports finals, such as the NBA, in premium format in selected movie theaters, optimizing the audiovisual experience. In addition, the giant is exploring the world of eSports and concerts, diversifying the use of its spaces on off-peak days (see attached article).

What are buyers looking for at ATF 2024? The executives have varied objectives, reflecting the diversity and growth of the Asian market. Nur Quraisyah from Mediacorp (Singapore) is looking for dramas and educational content, while Hoiye Tang from Cinema World (Singapore) is targeting European feature films. Huawei's Liqiang Zhao is interested in drama films and series, and iQiyi's Li Zhen is focusing on animation co-productions, with an eye on the Chinese and Asian markets.

Amit Jumani from Krisco Media (UAE) and Fernanda Campelo from Globoplay (Brazil) acknowledge the global impact of Asian content, especially Korean dramas, whose rise continues to capture international audiences. ATF 2024 reflects how Asia is leading innovation in audiovisual content and technology. Balancing creativity, technology and financial strategies, the event highlights not only trends, but also opportunities for global collaboration that will shape the future of the industry.

Francisco Ferreyra from Singapore

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