nextMedia will kick start new media regulatory debate

Already one of the premier digital media events in the country, June's nextMedia conference in Banff now has the additional cache of providing the first opportunity for Canada's interactive media heavyweights to collectively debate the CRTC's recently tabled new media agenda. First up: a panel of executives from Canada's largest broadcasters. "We see ourselves as a facilitator of business for the digital media community in Canada and abroad," says Mark Greenspan, director of digital media for the event's organizer, Achilles Media Ltd. "As a facilitator our role is to try to bring all stakeholder voices to the table and provide an environment where people can actively learn. Next Media and the Banff World Television Festival attract a very high level of talent across government and private bodies." Registration for nextMedia begins on June 6, but the event really gets going the next morning at 10 with the Canada's Digital Media Giants session. Moderated by Astral Media Inc.'s VP of interactive Claude Galipeau, the panel includes: Maria Hale, VP of content, product and services for Telus; Stephan Argent, VP of digital media for CTV; Dominique-Sebastien Forest, GM of digital media and e-commerce at QMI; Steve Billinger, executive director of digital programming and business development for the CBC; and Kevin Bartus, VP of digital media for Rogers Media. The panel will discuss the impact of big media consolidation on digital strategies and the blueprint for thriving in the digital media marketplace. No doubt, the talk will also focus on questions raised by the CRTC in last week's call for comments on new media broadcasting. "This is a very, very exciting year for digital media in Canada and it's a year where there's just been a lot of media consolidation happened, specifically in the digital media space," says Greenspan. "And now we're going to see a number of different policy and government regulatory initiatives take place, so the idea is that we have all the key players there at nextMedia. It's really to help facilitate dialogue around so we can work together to actively shape the most healthy economy for the production and financing of digital media content." Once the annual hotspot for Canada's broadcasting elite, Banff is increasingly becoming the place in June for digital media artists and executives. "If you're into innovation and rapid developments and the rapid evolution of the television industry, you would find nextMedia quite exciting," he says. "If you're a seasoned television producer looking for an international commissioned editors to green light your content, you would find the Banff quite interesting." Some people are interested in both; this year half of the nextMedia delegates are also registered to attend the TV fest. This will mark the fourth year nextMedia and the Banff Television Festival have run concurrently, and nextMedia continues to take advantage of the prestige of the TV Fest. Not only is there the crossover cocktail reception and panels on June 8, but this year there will be one nextMedia session held each day throughout the TV Fest, which runs to June 11. "Banff still has a massive economy around it, and the economy around nextMedia is growing," says Greenspan. Greenspan adds that nextMedia has made strides this year in attracting representatives from the advertising community as well as the international digital media space - six of India's top media executives will form the India Rising panel on June 7. "This year we've really tried to make a blend between big media, independent media, creativity, technology and business," says Greenspan. "I think we've done a pretty good job of that, but I guess we'll see in a couple weeks."

nextMedia will kick start new media regulatory debate

News | 05/21/2008 1:30 pm EDT

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