The inaugural 'Saudi Broadcasting Business Forum' will focus on key opportunities and challenges for the Kingdom's broadcasting industry when it opens in capital Riyadh on Sunday.

The advanced communications event will see experts address the massive growth potential in accessing information via social and new media channels within the Kingdom, said the event organisers, IQPC.

The four-day forum, to be inaugurated by Dr Abdulaziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information at Holiday Inn Al Qasr, is dedicated to strategy – business objectives, market size and trends, revenue forecasting and market share issues.

On the subsequent days, the main conference will address topics such as the quality of content, understanding new market dynamics, digital rights management, the complex relationship between new internet and traditional TV, pay to view, piracy and the future of HDTV and 3DTV.

Delivering a keynote presentation on the strategy day is Ahmad Nassef, VP and Managing Director,Yahoo- Maktoob Middle East.

He will be addressing how to ensure your companys’ growth and objectives are met by understanding the ambitions of the largest broadcasting market in the Middle East.

 “We have provided a ‘strategy’ day for broadcasters to gain a greater understanding of upcoming projects, government goals and initiatives which will offer industry professionals a first class networking opportunity to discuss commercial opportunities in the Kingdom,” said Raj Parmar, forum director from IQPC.

Some of the topics that will be highlighted in the keynote panel discussions over the four day forum will be Dr Riad Najm, assistant deputy minister of engineering, Ministry of Culture and Information, Riyadh.

He will discuss how the MENOS (Multimedia Exchange Network over Satellite) project has hugely benefited the broadcasting industry in the Middle East region.

On the final day, Dr. Tarek Riri, general manager, Eqtsadla TV will be holding a keynote panel discussion on understanding the relationship between the government’s role in communications and Saudi Arabia’s economic development.

The forum has attracted leading expert speakers such as Alan Musa, GM & VP Africa, Middle East and Pan Region, Turner Broadcasting; Caroline Faraj, CNN Arabic digital services director, Hossam El-Sokkari, Yahoo-Maktoob Middle East; Dr Ali Shwel Algarni, president, Saudi Association for Media and Communications and Faisal Al-Saif , Saudi TV channel 2.-TradeArabia News Service