Digital Television Pioneer Gary Shapiro To Visit Dubai

April 17, 2007

Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®), the U.S. trade association representing more than 2,100 consumer electronics companies and owner and producer of the International CES®, the world’s largest tradeshow for consumer technology, will visit Dubai in May to deliver the keynote address at Hometech Middle East. Produced by Messe Frankfurt and sponsored by CEA, Hometech Expo, the biggest show of its kind in the Middle East, will run May 13-15 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Center. Under Shapiro’s leadership, CEA has been instrumental in fuelling the growth of the consumer electronics industry through the International CES and other industry events, market research and technology policy. Shapiro is widely recognized as a pioneer and leader in the development, launch and marketing of HDTV and has testified before the U.S. Congress on the digital television (DTV) transition and other technology and business issues more than 20 times. “We are delighted that Mr. Shapiro has accepted our invitation to speak at the Hometech conference which clearly underlines the importance that the industry attaches to the Middle East market and to the importance of Hometech in reaching out to a pan-Arab audience,” said Christopher Hudson, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organisers of the event. Shapiro co-founded and chaired the HDTV Model Station and has served as a leader of the Advanced Television Test Center (ATTC). He is a charter inductee to the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers and in 2003 received its highest award as the industry leader most influential in advancing HDTV. As chairman of the Home Recording Rights Coalition (HRRC), Shapiro has led the manufacturers' legal and legislative battle to preserve the legality of recording technology and the consumer battle to protect fair use rights. Shapiro also serves on the Board of Visitors of George Mason University, Virginia's largest university, and is a member of the board of directors of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. Shapiro leads a staff of more than 150 employees and thousands of industry volunteers. CEA has won many awards; including several for its magazine, Vision, and awards as a family friendly employer and one of the “50 Great Places To Work” in Washington. Produced by CEA, the International CES is known throughout the industry as the launch pad for consumer technology, and covers more than 1.7 million net square feet of exhibit space, featuring 2,700 exhibitors and attracting more than 140,000 trade attendees each January to Las Vegas. The Hometech conference running concurrently with the Hometech expo, the biggest show of its kind in the Middle East, is bringing together movers and shakers from the consumer electronics industry from around the world. An exciting host of key executives responsible for setting the pace for the consumer technology, broadcast, telcos and content industries have been slated to speak at the Hometech conference on a variety of topics from ”International Competitiveness,” to ”Connected Home Entertainment” and “the Future of Consumer Electronics.” Issued on behalf of Messe Frankfurt by BIZ COM.

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