Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the organiser of this week’s CABSAT 2015 has revealed next year’s exhibition will feature the all-new Content Marketplace, a co-located event designed to unite the entire commercial ecosystem for filmed entertainment content.

As a dedicated platform to launch and source new content, explore exchange and funding opportunities and seal distribution partnerships, the CABSAT Content Marketplace will connect studios and content creators, producers, distributors and licensors with a host of buyers – from free-to-air and Pay TV operators, to Telcos, brands, advertising agencies and media buying houses.

With the value of global Over-the-Top (OTT) video streaming due to reach US$22.7 billion by 2018 – up from US$6.5 billion in 2013 – the CABSAT Content Marketplace comes as Frost & Sullivan, the Knowledge Partner of the exhibition, predict the Middle East will have 390 million internet users and up to seven connected devices per household by the end of the decade.

Indeed, as increasingly connected regional users consume vast amounts of video content, the Internet of Everything (IoE) – the hyper-network of connected physical objects that enable enhanced value and service by exchanging data with the manufacturer, operator and other connected devices – will present a further raft of challenges and opportunities for the film and audio entertainment industries.

“Our aim is for CABSAT to remain at the pulse of all disruptive trends, technologies and emerging content platforms over the coming years,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC.  “In this regard, the CABSAT Content Marketplace will service the MENA region’s relentless appetite to consume Hollywood, Bollywood and Arabic content on multiple viewing platforms in the ever-evolving digital content space. With companies such as Netflix and Amazon already streaming in 4K formats, this exciting new feature will only grow in relevance as OTT distributors embrace the potential of Ultra HD video.”

With CABSAT already attracting all of the region’s major satellite operators, Telcos and broadcasters involved in the creation, distribution and monetisation of filmed entertainment content, the CABSAT Content Marketplace will complete the show’s holistic offering by providing a space for key regional players in the Pay TV and content distribution spheres – such as OSN, Fox, MBC Group and icflix – to buy, sell and exchange multiscreen, HD or digital film content.

“With the Middle East being a gateway to the world, having a professional market place in the UAE will help bridge East and West. In the long-term, I would like to see the Content Marketplace evolve from a compelling commercial proposition into a vehicle which makes Dubai as huge and successful as the Cannes film market,” said Carlos Tibi, Co-Founder and CEO, icflix.

Other CABSAT exhibitors were universally positive. “The Middle East continues to be one of the most dynamic broadcast markets for us,” said Stuart Russell, EMEA Marketing Manager, ROSS. “Video is all about live production, so we’re happy to see the show growing into the content space which is of primary importance to us.”

“This is good synergy with the existing exhibitors and the mood of the show,” added Nicki Fisher, Director of EMEA Sales at Clear Com. “It’s complementary in terms of the brand – which should encourage a broadening of the delegate footfall.”

Finally, Michel Merten, CEO of Memnon Archiving Services, said, “We are excited to see CABSAT introducing its Content Marketplace for next year. As a company that handles the restoration, digitisation and preservation of all types of filmed content we see this as an important move for the region.”