Bill Gates, Ari Emanuel, Bob Bakish among speakers at Abu Dhabi Media Summit

400 global media industry are to participate in the 2012 Abu Dhabi Media Summit (Oct 9 – Oct 11).

The theme for the 2012 summit is ‘redefining the digital frontier’, with a focus on digital media in emerging markets and on the technology disruption that is creating new distribution channels, marketing opportunities and audiences.

Bill Gates (with a speech titled ‘global development’), Ari Emanuel, co-CEO, WME (in a session titled Hollywood vs Silicon Valley), Bob Bakish, CEO, Viacom International Media Networks and Sai Kumar, group CEO, Network 18 (in a discussion titled ‘global media goes local’), Tarek Elmasry, managing director, Middle East, McKinsey & Company and Li Ruigang, chairman, China Media Capital, Jim Wuthrich, president, international home entertainment & digital, Warner Bros and Robert Kyncl, global head of content, YouTube are among the speakers at the event.

Summit sessions will focus on the nurturing of digital skills and talent; emphasize cross-industry perspectives and East-West dialogue; uncover the forces that are shaping the media landscape and identify new sources of innovation outside traditional western media centres.

This year the summit will also feature new sessions that give local and regional media entrepreneurs access to global entrepreneurs and venture investors in a series of show-cases, work-shops, master-classes and talks.

The chairman of the Abu Dhabi Media Summit, H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said: “The continued evolution and strengthening of the Summit mirrors the continued development of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as an important hub for the media industry. As in previous years, the 2012 Summit will create unique opportunities for insights for all who attend. The 2012 event will also see an even greater emphasis on home-grown talent through a series of master classes and workshops.” 

The three-day invitation only event will be held at the Yas Viceroy Hotel, under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.

Previous keynote speakers at the summit have included Rupert Murdoch, Eric Schmidt, James Cameron, James Murdoch, Yuri Milner and Hans Vestberg.