(ATR) The 29th edition of SPORTEL in Monaco runs from Oct. 22 to 24. The convention for sports marketing & media industry leadersfeatured 3045 participants from 1048 companies last year. Around the Rings correspondent Heinz Peter Kreuzer spoke with CEO Laurent Puons about this year's event and the changes ahead for SPORTEL.
ATR: What are the main topics of this year’s SPORTELMonaco?
Laurent Puons: OTT Direct to consumer models, social media companies broadcasting live sport and big data are continuing to grow in importance year on year. These are not new themes in the industry but they are the ones that have survived the everchanging evolution of the international sports media and technology industry and are here to stay.
ATR: How does this year’s conference program look?
Puons: This year our participants will have the opportunity to take part in a number of sponsored conference program events, which include presentations by La Liga, Feed Construct, Sixty and more.
Regarding SPORTEL’s conference programs globally, this year marks an important strategic change for SPORTEL as it redefines the opportunities for all three of its SPORTEL Events.
SPORTELMonaco will remain the global marketplace, concentrating on maximizing commercial opportunities for its members from across the world.
SPORTELAsia is the ideal environment for the SPORTEL Community to come together to do business in the Far East and across Asia Pacific. It is a unique opportunity for SPORTEL participants to meet the leading sports business decision makers from Asia who do not attend any of SPORTEL's other events.
Regarding SPORTEL Conference Events, SPORTEL will provide our participants with the opportunity to participate in a new event, which will shape the future of the international sport business industry. The new event will include very high level speakers and discuss the key issues that need to be addressed by the decision makers of global markets. An official announcement of the new concept will be done during SPORTELMonaco.
ATR: Which markets are growing the fastest for you and how is this reflected in SPORTELMonaco?
Puons: Geographically we are seeing increased participation from members of our community based across Asia Pacific and the Middle East. This is no doubt due to specific markets within these territories that are embracing sport more than ever before and using new technology to engage with sport.
ATR: Could you compare this development with the editions in Asia and America?
Puons: There are a number of similar themes that are across sports business globally, but adapted to each specific market. For example, SPORTELAsia 2019 is the ideal environment for international stakeholders in sport to meet, share knowledge and do business with decision makers across Asia Pacific. The Convention’s main purpose is to help our community develop business in these regions, thus the majority of participants will be from Asia compared to SPORTELMonaco the majority of participants are from Europe.
ATR: In the past years, the number of OTT providers and companies, who develop solutions for broadcaster and rights holders, is growing. Will this trend continue?
Puons: For sure. Technology is changing the global sports media industry and I believe this will continue.
Interview by Heinz Peter Kreuzer
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