'Smart Connections' Leaders' Summit Offers Unique High-Level Networking Opportunities at IBC2012

LONDON, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Following the success of the inaugural Leaders' Summit at IBC2011, IBC has announced that the 2012 event 'Smart Connections' is to be held on Thursday 6 September at IBC2012, RAI Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Every year, IBC brings the world's electronic media and entertainment industry together. Now in its 45th year, IBC has evolved from its broadcast roots to encompass the creation, management and delivery of electronic entertainment in all formats for all audiences. Over 50,000 visitors from 160 countries attend the show in Amsterdam, among them key decision makers that shape the future of the industry.

The IBC Leaders' Summit is an exclusive invitation-only event designed specifically to cater for the needs of the most influential and visionary people from across the Technology, Media and Telecommunications industries. This year's Leaders' Summit will focus on the theme 'Smart Connections'. It will examine the subject of Connected Devices and will also explore the business opportunities and pitfalls of the vital issues affecting all of the communications industries - their connected future and the resulting rise of rivals to challenge established media businesses and economics.

Led by some of the industry's most inspirational and influential figures, the Summit will look at what consumers are actually doing with all the technology and choice now on offer and explore the implications of their decisions for the key industry players. Focusing on the strategic opportunities and threats, the debate will be underpinned by proprietary research from Deloitte and will aim to chart a course through likely future developments and discuss how to maximise the opportunities these changes present.

Chaired by highly respected Journalist, Publisher, Broadcaster and Media Owner, Andrew Neil, Speakers include:

• Mike Darcy, COO, BskyB
• Mike Fries, President and Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Global, Inc. (LGI)
• Ingrid Deltenre, Director General, EBU
• John C. Hahn, Managing Director, Providence Equity
• John Hardie, CEO, ITN
• Linda Jensen, Chief Executive Officer, HBO Central Europe
• William H. Roedy, Global Citizen, Former Chairman & Chief Executive, MTV Networks International
• Brian Sullivan, CEO, Sky Deutschland

For more information on the speakers at the IBC2012 Leaders' Summit please go to http://www.ibc.org/leaders

As VIP guests of IBC, attendees at the IBC2012 Leaders' Summit will experience a wide range of benefits including; a door-to-door chauffeur service from arrival and for the duration of the Summit, complimentary accommodation at the 5* Luxury Grand Hotel Amrath of Amsterdam, tailored networking opportunities, a complimentary Gold Pass to the IBC Conference and an exclusive dinner in the beautifully restored 17th century West India House.

At the end of the summit attendees will carry away unique and valuable strategic insights and a host of influential industry contacts. For just 24 hours of your time, the IBC Leaders' Summit promises to be the most stimulating, entertaining and informative event you will attend this year.

For further information on the IBC Leader's Summit please go to: http://www.ibc.org/leaders

About IBC

IBC is the leading global tradeshow for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of broadcasting media and entertainment. The event's unparalleled exhibition and agenda setting conference encompass the very latest developments in broadcasting, mobile TV, IPTV, digital signage and R&D making it essential for everyone's understanding of the industry and its future.

IBC2012 Dates

Conference 6 - 11 September 2012

Exhibition 7 - 11 September 2012

http://www.ibc.org

Additional Information

For more information on the IBC2011 Leaders Summit go to http://www.ibc.org/leaders

To view the programme go to http://www.ibc.org/leadersprogramme

To view images from the IBC2011 Leaders Summit photo gallery go to http://www.ibc.org/leadersgallery

Testimonials from the IBC2011 Leaders' Summit

"The discussion and lively debate at the inaugural Leaders' Summit was excellent and to the point. IBC is not only a place where you can debate leadership and innovation - it is where you can shape it for the future. As a speaker, I had the chance to meet and network with peers and delegates across EMEA who found the summit sessions both timely and compelling. This whole experience was invaluable"

Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association

"Thank you for the opportunity to speak at the IBC's inaugural Leader's Summit. It was a great pleasure for Yahoo! to be at the IBC once more. I particularly enjoyed the Leaders' Summit, and the subject of my panel was of particular relevance given that week's events at Yahoo! The event was phenomenally well run, the hospitality and welcome I received from the IBC team was incredible. I hope that either I or Yahoo! has the opportunity to be involved again in future years."

Rich Riley, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA, Yahoo!

"The Leaders' Summit was a great forum for discussion of some of the key topics that are affecting media businesses today. The format encouraged genuine debate around digital disruption and how increased interdependency between content, technology, consumer insights and audience/user participation affect business models and ultimately our way forward as media businesses. The quality of the panels and the intimate setting made this event both interesting and insightful."

Giorgio Stock, Executive Vice, President and Managing Director, Disney Channels, Gaming, Online, Music and Publishing, The Walt Disney Company EMEA