Press release from ASTRA
The subscription television industry’s peak body, Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) confirmed yesterday that the ASTRA 2011 Conference will be held on 29th March at the Sydney Convention Centre. With the theme Content Matters, the Conference will connect and inform Australia’s subscription television industry and its key contributors.
The daylong conference will bring together the industry, international speakers and local experts for a timely look at the media landscape and what lies ahead.
Following the recent announcement of a solid 26% growth in local content production investment by subscription television in Australia*, the Conference will cover a range of topics focussing on the strategy behind and demand for programming that is driving the industry today.
The Channel Keynote Speaker is Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney/ABC Television Group, who was recently named one of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes, one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune and the Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter.
"Australia has made an impact on global viewing trends by embracing innovative technology to deliver entertainment,” said Sweeney. “Changes in consumer behaviour are driving our businesses in ways we couldn't have imagined a few years ago. I look forward to the conference and discussing the demand for great content and its power to shape our business."
“Subscription television is a significant investor in the Australian media sector, through technical innovation and infrastructure, production and employment. Attendees to the ASTRA 2011 Conference will have the opportunity to explore the issues shaping, and content created by, the Australian and global media and entertainment sectors. Networking and gaining industry knowledge is essential to anyone with a stake in the industry and the Conference makes this possible,” said Petra Buchanan, CEO of ASTRA.
Local industry leaders John Porter, CEO of AUSTAR and Kim Williams, CEO of FOXTEL will each address attendees providing their view of the competitive environment and what their respective organisations are tackling in the quest for growth and innovation. The ASTRA 2011 Conference will be headlined by a Platform Keynote and Channel Keynote Address. The Platform Keynote Speaker will be announced in coming weeks.
The 2011 conference program will offer insight, direction and time for discussion through a combination of keynote addresses, panel discussions and breakout sessions delivered or moderated by global and local industry icons.
The ASTRA 2011 Conference will also honour excellence with Awards that debuted successfully at last year’s Conference under the aegis of CEO Petra Buchanan who celebrates one year at ASTRA – the ASTRA Pioneer Award and the ASTRA Industry Excellence Awards.
The ASTRA Pioneer Award will be presented at the Women in Television Breakfast to an outstanding person acknowledging and celebrating their contribution to the industry. Last year’s recipient was Kim Vecera, one of Australia’s most highly regarded Executive Producers.
The ASTRA Industry Excellence Awards which, for the first time last year, were repositioned and included in the Conference, will be presented to exceptional contribution in the subscription television marketing and promotion sectors.