CASABLANCA — Casablanca Broadcast Days will hold its fifth annual event June 11–12 at the Grand Mogador City Center in Casablanca, Morocco.
Organized by systems integrator and distributor PHF Com Morocco, the two-day conference and exhibition brings together broadcast-gear manufacturers and industry specialists to exchange information and contribute to the continued development of the Moroccan audiovisual sector.
EXPANDED REACH
With support from l’Association des radios et télévisions indépendantes (the association of private broadcasters); public broadcaster Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision; and Maghreb Arab Presse, CBD has grown steadily since its inception.
The first two editions (in 2015 and 2016) mainly targeted technical staff of TV and radio stations, while the 2017 meeting extended its realm to reach stations’ commercial teams. In 2018, CBD welcomed the participation of content providers and journalists.
Younes Yamouni, managing director of PHF Com Morocco, explains that the company initiated this project as a way of encouraging the advancement of the country’s broadcast industry by providing information on the latest technological developments.
“Moroccan broadcasters rarely have the opportunity to attend training courses offering insight into the most recent technologies,” explained Yamouni. “So, in 2015, in an effort to enhance the professional skill set of the country’s broadcasters, I asked my foreign partners (hardware and software providers) to come to Casablanca to provide free technical training.”
Initially, explains Yamouni, the event was only open to the brands PHF Com distributed, but it is now open to all firms in the industry.
With 10 technical, three content and five marketing/sales workshops on tap this year, CBD appears set to become a mainstay in this North African country where broadcasting is still in its infancy.
LIBERALIZATION
“Liberalization of the Moroccan audiovisual sector is still quite recent. The existing authorized operators began their activities between 2006 and 2010, but these broadcasters now radiate nationally with fairly extensive coverage networks,” said Yamouni.
“The progress over the last 15 years has been gigantic. But a lot still needs to be done, and the increase of smartphone usage, particularly among younger audiences, has lead to major a transformation in the way media is consumed.”
Workshops scheduled for this year’s conference include “Enhance Your Intercom System With AoIP;” “How Does Radio Adapt to the Needs of Young Audiences and With Which Technical Tools?;” “Next-generation IP Audio Codecs;” “Content Is the Future of Radio;” and “Optimizing Your Resources With Virtualization.” Futuri Media, WinMedia, 2wcom and The Telos Alliance are just a few of the companies slated to hold presentations during the event.
Yamouni adds that three years ago, CBD began offering workshops on sales and marketing topics in addition to its regular lineup of technical topics.
“Since the Moroccan market is relatively young, this information is especially useful to local operators,” he said.
Tabletop exhibits run parallel to the workshops and will feature products from manufacturers such as WinMedia, The Telos Alliance, Calrec, BW Broadcast, Eddystone, EVS, Sony, Reezom, Enensys, Newtec, Eutelsat, Yellowtec and DEVA Broadcast.
CBD attracts attendees from organizations and broadcasters nationwide. This year, organizers will welcome representatives from Haute Autorité de la Communication Audiovisuelle (the country’s broadcast authority), Atlantic Radio, Cap Radio, Chada FM, Chada TV, Hit Radio, Luxe Radio, Médi-1 Radio, Médina FM, Azawan FM, Télé Jeunesse, MED Radio, MFM Media Group, NRJ Maroc, Radio Aswat, Radio Mars, Radio Plus, Radio Tanger MED, FM6 webradio, Télé Maroc and Télé Découverte.
“Investment in equipment here in Morocco is substantial, public and private sector combined. The advertising market is a little less dynamic precisely because of its reconfiguration as a result of the advent of new media,” concluded Yamouni.
“The 2019 edition of CBD will focus on how radio and TV can successfully position themselves in a digital world and with the proper tools.”
