The doors open at the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium
The doors open at the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium
The Collaborate and Innovate theme of the 15th edition of the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium (DBS) drew a reduced crowd of Malaysian TV and radio broadcasters to its conference and workshop in order to gain a better understanding of the benefits associated with the latest digital technologies and solutions.
Likewise, newcomer Blonde Robot with its booth location directly opposite the DBS conference hall was happy with how the local show had gone. ‘We’re an Australian subsidiary serving the ASEAN region from Kuala Lumpur,’ explained channel sales manager Jane Azrina. Showcasing and representing AJA, Atomos, NewTek, Wowza Media and others for its first ABU had provided a good networking opportunity.
The ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium continues at The Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur until 6 March.
Owing to the Covid-19 virus, the four-day composite event with its international conference has been compressed owing to travel restrictions. As such, the industry exhibition and focused workshop showcases addressing current and future challenges within the industry unfortunately lacked many of the scheduled speakers and the normal bustle of delegates. While nobody expected a stampede of visitors under the circumstances, it sets a rather gloomy tone for industry events until the virus is kept under control. This, in a country with only 20+ cases, for which most have now fully recovered.
The projected 50+ exhibitors that were scheduled to come several weeks ago shrank to just 12 in a short space of time. However, Ideal Systems was happy to be promoting a number of broadcast-based solutions from its portfolio. ‘We decided to participate but with a reduced sized booth and by not bringing all our technologies to the event,’ commented CEO, Fintan McKiernan. ‘But it’s been worth it, as we have been demonstrating our cloud-based and broadcast technologies to many visitors and showing them the new cloud-based software that we have developed in-house.’
Sharing a booth with newcomer Tech Know Solutions, JAA.S was exhibiting the Calrec Type R solution together with the new Digispot Alliance Synergy Mini radio mixer. ‘We’re sharing a small space on the Tech Know Solutions booth as we really wanted to showcase both of these products to the ABU visitors,’ said JAA.S MD, David Chan. ‘I’ve been coming here for years and it’s always a great local forum in which to catch up with people. It’s a lot smaller this year, but the conversations are longer and more meaningful.’
Stagetec Asia highlighted its Crescendo console. ‘There are fewer people here and naturally there are less exhibitors,’ noted Stagetec Asia MD, Advon Tan. ‘However, that has been an advantage, as we have managed to see just about all the visitors who have come here.’