Singapore makes strong showing at 20th Asia TV Forum & Market

The 20th Asia TV Forum & Market 2019 (ATF) kicked off on Wednesday, December 4, at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre,  with Singapore making a strong showing.

The latest works of 80 local media companies – including Encore Films, Mediacorp, and mm2 Entertainment – were showcased at the event's Singapore Pavilion. 

(from left) Robert Gilby, Chairman, Singapore Media Festival; Yeh Chien Ee, President, Reed Exhibitions; Paul Beh, Chairman, Asia-Pacific, Reed Exhibitions; S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information; Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive, IMDA; Michelle Lim, Managing Director, Reed Exhibitions. Photo courtesy: Mr S Iswaran FB page_

Presented by the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), the line-up includes over 750 hours of compelling stories from Singapore and Asia. There were over 150 film, television and VR titles from a diverse range of genres.

"Over the past 2 decades, ATF has grown from strength to strength," said Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran, noting that the festival is "recognised as an important industry event where buyers and sellers from the entertainment industry converge and conduct transactions". 

Minister Iswaran speaking to local actors Desmond Tan and Edwin Goh at ATF. Photo courtesy: Mr S Iswaran's FB page

Speaking at the opening ceremony of ATF, the minister also discussed ways in which the emergence of digital platforms have profoundly disrupted traditional value chains.

"New channels for content have emerged. Customers have greater control over what they watch, when they watch it and how they watch it. This has fuelled a race to create a variety of content that can be delivered in new and exciting ways to the audience," he said.

Asia is home to four of the five markets with the fastest growth in OTT (Over-the-Top) spend, as well as the region with the fastest growing base of internet and mobile phone users. "This convergence of tech and media," Iswaran elaborated, "Raises exciting new possibilities for all of us in Asia."

Minister Iswaran speaking at the opening ceremony of Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) 2019. Photo courtesy: Mr S Iswaran FB page

Citing the aggressive expansion of Netflix and Amazon in Singapore, he pointed that global content creators are poised to ride the Asian wave, with Apple following suit just last month. Next year, WarnerMedia’s HBO Max and NBCU’s Peacock will be joining the list of companies as well. 

"Singapore can serve as a gateway between the world and the region – facilitating exchanges, creating partnerships, and enabling regional talent to fulfil their aspirations," Iswaran said lastly. 

ATF is part of the on-going Singapore Media Festival, and will run from 4 to 6 December 2019.