CABSAT 2000 To Feature ""Digital Future Display"" At Dubai World Trade Centre

A unique new addition to the Middle East International Cable, Satellite and Broadcast Exhibition (CABSAT 2000) which is being held in conjunction with the Middle East International Telecommunications Exhibition (M.E. Telecoms) at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE, February 29 to March 2, 2000, will enable visitors to discover how broadband access and its applications will change the future of television as we know it today. Five companies focussed on the technological integration of broadcast media and telecommunications technology have developed an interactive multimedia hi-tech display that will be used to deliver interactive demonstrations twice daily during the exhibition. ""This is an intriguing addition to the CABSAT show. The companies participating each have a significant contribution to make to the future of technology and when integrated, their products produce a fantastic window into the future potential for education, recreation and entertainment. This is an important model for the Middle East given the escalation of interest in the internet, fiber optics and digital technology. The launch of Dubai Internet City last fall, the impending launch of E-Vision and the digital revolution will merge interests and technology and through this display people will begin to see just how these various strands will come together to create an incredibly sleek multimedia reality,"" said Richard Davis, International Project Manager for CABSAT 2000. ShowNet, Pace Micro Technology, Bluetooth - Special Interest Group, Echo Star Communications and SGI MENA have developed a 350 square meter visual mosaic integrating revolutionary technological advances on a number of fronts. This display will serve as the back-drop for a series of five-minute presentations integrating live demonstrations highlighting various aspects of digital convergence technology. Two half-hour shows will be delivered twice daily during the exhibition and a VIP Opening Show will be held on Tuesday, February 29 at 10am. In addition, between the staged presentations, each of the five participating companies will have representatives at the display to deliver hands-on demonstrations to trade exhibitors and visitors. International cable and satellite journalist and broadband expert, Chris Forrester, from London will host the opening event and serve as moderator for the daily shows. Forrester is a technology journalist who contributes regularly to a variety of publications specializing in broadcasting technology. The five presentations to be delivered are: ""The Wired Home - Where Is It headed?,"" ""E-commerce,"" ""The DVD Revolution - Will It Change The World?,"" ""TV On The PC, Or Internet On the TV?"" and ""Pay Per View/N-VOD - More Than Movies And Sports."" While some of the technology featured in the various sessions is not yet available to consumers anywhere in the world, it will soon emerge in various markets and is predicted to be available to Middle East distributors within a few years. The Wired Home presentation will introduce the latest state-of-the-art TV sets, satellite equipment and wireless-around-the-home devices, including Bluetooth technology - connectivity at its best. The Bluetooth communications device is a small, low-powered radio in a chip that will ""talk"" to other Bluetooth-enabled products, eliminating the need for cables, or infrared beams to connect portable computers, cellular phones, printers, fax machines and other technological devices. The latest cyber-business interactivity applications will be highlighted during the E-Commerce presentation and visitors will have an opportunity to discover how interactivity can generate new revenue streams for content providers and retailers while opening up a world of choice and convenience for viewers and consumers. The DVD Revolution will feature the Digital Versatile Disc, the little ""silver mirror"" that has grown from an audio-based device to one that heralds a true revolution in the home - as a substitute for video cassettes and as a recording device to store favourite videos on set-top boxes. Trade visitors and exhibitors can learn how in the future, consumers will be able to access Web technology and services through their televisions. Banking, shopping, sending e-mail, playing games and gathering up-to-the-minute news and stock quotes on your television screen will be demonstrated during the TV on the PC presentation. Entrepreneurs will be enthusiastic to discover that pay-per-view (PPV) opportunities know no bounds during the Pay Per View (PPV)/ N-VOD presentation. In the United States, the top seven PPV events last year were wrestling extravaganzas. Industry experts predict that pop concerts, West End plays and other niche events will generate significant earnings for broadcasters able to transform live celebrity events into global extravaganzas through PPV technology. In addition, EchoStar will be on hand to demonstrate a variety of its U.S. models that feature cutting-edge technology, including the DISHPlayer, the worldís first mass produced satellite receiver equipped with a built-in hard-disk drive. Boasting unique features like ""pause"" and ""digital video recording"" (DVR), the DISHPlayer has won numerous industry awards including Popular Science Magazineís top accolade of Best New Product of 1999. ""Weíll also demonstrate an EchoStar satellite receiver that features a built-in D-VHS player and another model with a built-in DVD player. The DVD player/satellite receiver is another ëworldís-firstí product which was launched just two months ago in the USA,"" said Imtiaz Ahmad of Star Distributions. About CABSAT 2000CABSAT 2000, now entering its sixth year, highlights the latest technological advances in telecommunications products and services, including antennas, cable installation equipment, connectors, decoders, digital audio equipment, down converters, feedhorns, receivers, signal generators, telecom and test equipment, pay-TV billing systems, digital compression systems and satellite service providers. The event typically offers both visitors and exhibitors access to important product launches and demonstrations of a wide range of new, state-of-the-art technology. Source: M2 Communications