day “Saudi Broadcasting Business Forum” kicks off today (Sunday) focusing on key opportunities and challenges facing the Kingdom's broadcasting industry. Dr Abdulaziz Khoja, Saudi Minister of Culture and Information, will inaugurate the event at Holiday Inn Al Qasr, in Riyadh. The gathering will also address the business objectives, market size and trends, revenue forecasting and market share issues. Event organizers IQPC said experts will address the massive growth potential in accessing information via social and new media channels within the Kingdom. 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, are also high on the agenda in the subsequent days of the forum. Raj Parmar, IQPC forum director. said “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.” Dr. Riad Najm, assistant deputy minister of engineering, Ministry of Culture and Information, Riyadh, will discuss how the MENOS (Multimedia Exchange Network over Satellite) project has hugely benefited the broadcasting industry in the Middle East region. Dr. Tarek Riri, general manager, Eqtisadia 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
