Promote the development of new technologies in modern media and create an international broadcasting exchange platform.
——Wu Baoan, spokesperson for the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, answers questions from reporters regarding BIRTV 2012.
The 21st Beijing International Radio, Film and Television Equipment Exhibition is set to be grandly held in Beijing. Recently, Wu Baoan, spokesperson for the National Radio and Television Administration, answered reporters' questions regarding the event.
Question: Could you please provide a brief overview of the China International Radio, Film and Television Expo? How is the preparation for this year's Beijing International Radio, Film and Television Equipment Exhibition progressing?
Answer: The China International Radio, Film and Television Expo is a national-level, international broadcasting and film event organized by the National Radio and Television Administration and hosted by China Central Television. It primarily includes the Beijing International Radio, Film and Television Equipment Exhibition (BIRTV) and the China International Film and Television Program Exhibition, among other activities.
The Beijing International Radio, Film and Television Equipment Exhibition is one of the main activities and initiatives of the China International Radio and Television Expo. The equipment exhibition began in 1987 and attracts over 50,000 domestic and international professionals each year. After years of development, it has become the largest and most influential event in the domestic radio and television technology equipment industry, setting the highest standards. It serves as an ideal platform for showcasing high-tech innovations and exchanging advanced ideas, playing a significant role in expanding communication and cooperation between China's radio and television industry and the world's advanced broadcasting technologies, promoting the progress of China's radio and television national industry, and driving the development of China's radio and television事业产业.
The Beijing International Radio, Film and Television Equipment Exhibition will be held from August 22 to 25 at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing. Nearly 500 exhibitors from both domestic and international markets will participate, covering an exhibition area of over 50,000 square meters. The latest technologies and equipment, including HD, ultra HD, 3D, integrated networks, all-media, cloud computing, NGB, CMMB, Olympic broadcasting, and digital cinema, will be comprehensively showcased. During the exhibition, there will also be a series of events including the BIRTV thematic report conference, the China Integrated Network Summit, the release and promotion of new broadcasting and television standards, the seminar on all-media and 3D production in broadcasting and television, the first China OTT TV Summit, the BIRTV Technology Development Forum, and the China Film and Television Digital Editing Competition, among others.
Q: What is the theme of this year's exhibition? What are its standout features? What new highlights can we expect?
Answer: The 6th Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party proposed to deepen the reform of the cultural system, making the cultural industry a pillar industry of the nation, which brings new opportunities for the vigorous development of the broadcasting and film industry. In response to the new situation and requirements, this year's exhibition has put forward the theme of "Character Media, Quality Life," advocating for broadcasting and film as mainstream media in society. While correctly guiding public opinion and promoting advanced culture, it also actively applies advanced technology, continuously innovates its business, leads content creativity, and enhances content dissemination capabilities and levels, making greater contributions to enriching the public's life and improving quality of life.
During the "12th Five-Year Plan" period, it is a critical time for China's broadcasting and film industry to accelerate its transformation, transitioning from a major broadcasting and film country to a strong one. To fully achieve the development goals of the "12th Five-Year Plan," efforts must be made not only to accelerate the transition from traditional media to the integration of traditional and new media but also to speed up the transformation of broadcasting and television networks from transmission coverage to full functionality and services, while promoting the integration of culture and technology. A key focus of this exhibition is the display of new media technologies, with the Central People's Broadcasting Station, China International Broadcasting Station, China Central Television, and Beijing Broadcasting and Television Station all participating. A highlight is the Broadcasting and Television Technology Innovation Exhibition organized by the Technology Department of the State Administration, which comprehensively showcases the achievements of broadcasting and television technology and the innovation of the three-network format in recent years through two major sections: technology and business innovation. This includes technologies such as the Next Generation Broadcasting and Television Network (NGB), high-definition television encoding, digital audio broadcasting, cable television broadband access technology, live satellite push-on-demand, and new generation flat satellite antennas, as well as live demonstrations of various content like CMMB and Internet television, allowing attendees to understand the new formats of broadcasting and television and the future development direction.
Content is the greatest resource, advantage, and core competitiveness of broadcasting and television. Actively utilizing new technologies to strengthen content development and utilization, accelerating the construction of high-definition television production and broadcasting systems, and promoting the application of 3D television technology are important tasks for the recent development of television technology. Another major highlight of this exhibition is the display of high-definition and 3D technologies. Numerous domestic and international manufacturers will showcase their latest technological achievements, aiming to gradually transform high-definition television and 3D technology from a rare visual enjoyment into a viewing habit, continuously meeting people's new demands and expectations for broadcasting and television content and services.
The Chinese film industry is an important aspect driving industry growth and will also be prominently showcased at this exhibition. This year, there will be further acceleration in the application of digital technology in film, comprehensively enhancing the level of film digitalization development. The exhibition will host the China Film Technology Innovation Exhibition, themed on "Independent Innovation and Self-Development" in the film technology industry, showcasing various domestically produced innovative equipment for film production, distribution, screening, and cinema management. The organizers will also set up a high-end screening room representing the cutting-edge technology and equipment in China's cinema construction, visually demonstrating the significant achievements in independent innovation and self-development of Chinese film technology in recent years.
This exhibition adheres to the principle of technology being human-centered, expressing technology through works, and will invite the editor of "A Bite of China" to share behind-the-scenes stories. The production teams of Hollywood films such as "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," "Wrath of the Titans," and the Taiwanese epic "Seediq Bale" will also make appearances.
Question: The BIRTV Technology Development Forum makes its debut at the exhibition this year. Could you introduce the content of the forum?
Answer: In order to align with the development trend of technological upgrades and strategic transformations in the broadcasting and television industry, and adhering to the principle of balancing exhibition display with academic exchange, the BIRTV organizing committee has established the BIRTV Technology Development Forum this year to further promote technological exchanges and cooperation between the domestic and international broadcasting and television industries.
First, there is the BIRTV Theme Report Meeting. The theme report meeting serves as an important platform for the National Radio and Television Administration to release industry guidelines and development strategies each year. At this year's theme report meeting, leaders from the three central stations and relevant department officials from the National Radio and Television Administration will interpret the future development prospects of the broadcasting and television industry, focusing on points such as promoting the construction of a public service system for broadcasting and television and a modern communication system. Industry professionals attending the meeting will also express their views on topics such as the development of high-definition television, 3D film and television, the integration of the three networks, new media, and new businesses.
Second, there are specialized seminars. Various specialized seminars, represented by the China Summit on the Integration of the Three Networks, are an important component of the BIRTV exhibition. The types of meetings will cover hot technology exchange discussions, promotion of high-tech system equipment, management concepts, and learning exchanges on business operation development models. Meeting themes will include the integration of the three networks, all-media, 3D production and broadcasting, visual effects, OTT, and other broadcasting and television technology fields, as well as the promotion of advanced audio and video coding technology standards for broadcasting and television.
Additionally, some manufacturers will also conduct a series of displays and seminars, promoting technological exchanges through their own technology and business showcases, conducting product promotions, and helping the audience understand the latest technological hotspots and development trends.
Question: It is reported that forums and award activities will also be held during this exhibition. Could you please provide a brief introduction to the relevant details?
Answer: The focus of the BIRTV Technology Development Forum is on the discussion and exchange of current advanced technologies, while one of the main roles of the exhibition is to guide the development direction of industry technologies. This is where the BIRTV Product, Technology, and Application Awards come into play. As the only award in China that gathers numerous technical experts from the broadcasting and television industry for evaluation, the awarded products and solutions of the BIRTV Product, Technology, and Application Awards reflect the hottest technologies and development trends at present. They serve not only as a barometer for the future development of broadcasting and film technology but also as an important reference for industry users in equipment procurement. The evaluation process for these three awards has been completed, with the judging panel selecting 34 award-winning projects from 106 entries. The results will be announced at the thematic report meeting on August 21, where the award ceremony will also take place.
Question: What specific measures has the organizing committee taken to ensure the success of this exhibition? What improvements have been made in terms of enhancing service offerings and improving the exhibition's effectiveness?
Answer: This exhibition adheres to the concept of enhancing service projects, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere that emphasizes effectiveness for both exhibitors and visitors. It provides a more pragmatic platform for communication and experience, allowing participating organizations and attendees to personally experience the advanced technologies and public service awareness in China's broadcasting and television industry today, while also fully showcasing the standards and style of this exhibition. To ensure the success of this exhibition, the organizing committee has implemented specific measures in three main areas:
First, we focus on aligning with international standards. We continuously draw closer to major international exhibitions, inviting more industry-representative international manufacturers to participate; using exhibitions as a platform to fully showcase the fruitful achievements of broadcasting and film enterprises going global, we strengthen the international promotion of broadcasting and film programs, technologies, and products, and support national brand enterprises in their efforts to "go global."
Secondly, various forms of presentation are used to showcase the exhibition content. This year's exhibition utilizes multiple promotional channels, including the "BIRTV Electronic Weekly," to regularly release exhibition information through website promotions, mass emails, official Weibo, mobile newsletters, and other methods, providing exhibitors with a broader platform for display and real-time updates on exhibitor status.
Third, further improve various service works. During the preparation phase, the organizing committee communicated extensively with domestic and international manufacturers to understand the needs of all parties, further enhancing on-site facilities and improving the exhibition effect. To better provide high-quality services to the audience, the organizing committee also offered a complete set of exhibition materials to pre-registered attendees, provided guidance and free translation services for international visitors, and arranged dining and meeting spaces for guests.
Question: Could you please discuss the future development direction of the BIRTV exhibition?
Answer: In recent years, the BIRTV exhibition has shown strong growth, with its influence and recognition continuously increasing. It has facilitated international communication and cooperation within the broadcasting industry, becoming a catalyst for the broadcasting technology sector. Moving forward, we will continue to strive to promote the exhibition's development towards professionalism, internationalization, and branding.
Firstly, continue to enhance the brand value of the exhibition. By showcasing more new businesses and new formats in the broadcasting and television sector, we aim to increase public awareness of the new developments in broadcasting, further promoting the growth of the industry. We will continuously innovate the exhibition format and improve service levels, driving the broadcasting industry to transform its service methods through serving the industry, exhibitors, and users, enhancing content operation capabilities, and creating new value for media.
Secondly, we will continuously strengthen the role of the exhibition platform. At the BIRTV exhibition, overseas exhibiting groups will showcase their most advanced technologies and experiences, providing a valuable opportunity for professionals in China's broadcasting industry to learn and observe in a free and open environment. Furthermore, the exhibition serves as an important window for China's broadcasting industry to engage internationally, acting as a platform for foreign industry professionals to understand the development of China's broadcasting sector. In recent years, the domestic broadcasting industry has developed rapidly, aligning with international standards in many aspects and even surpassing some advanced levels. The exchange and collision of experiences and technologies between Chinese and foreign broadcasting institutions will have a positive impact and promote the broadcasting industry both in China and globally. This year, BIRTV will continue to enhance its role as an international platform, actively promoting national brands with independent intellectual property rights to go global, and supporting the growth of our national brand enterprises, showcasing the remarkable achievements of China's broadcasting industry and the character of Chinese media to the world. At the same time, we will actively invite foreign audiences to visit China, promoting extensive exchanges and cooperation in the broadcasting industry both domestically and internationally.
Thirdly, we will further deepen and expand cooperation. In the future, we will take BIRTV as an opportunity to widely invite senior officials from broadcasting institutions in neighboring countries to visit China through activities such as attending the exhibition and participating in high-level forums, facilitating high-level and in-depth exchanges and building cooperation platforms. Currently, the organizing committee has received visit requests from audiences from several countries, including the United States, Germany, and France. Additionally, this year, representatives from various institutions and companies from over a dozen countries will also visit, including a ministerial delegation from the "China-Africa Media Cooperation Forum" and an ASEAN visiting group. We hope that the exhibition will attract more domestic and foreign enterprises and insightful individuals to engage in the development of China's broadcasting and film industry, jointly promoting significant growth and prosperity in this sector.