IBC2008 organizers will add a first-ever Digital Signage Zone to its existing lineup of special technology areas, which includes IPTV and mobile video, to this year’s convention Sept. 12-16 in Amsterdam.
According to the organizers, the zone was added in part based on industry forecasts that project the number of digital signage sites worldwide to grow from 210,000 in 2007 to 850,000 by 2010. That quadrupling in the number of digital signage screens will attract an estimated $2.7 billion in advertising revenues, they added.
The Digital Signage Zone will include representation from Sony, Panasonic, Harris, Matrox, Future Software: DigiSHOW, Thomson and Kinoton. Additionally, Miya Knight, editor of Retail Technology will moderate the opening digital signage panel.
Our take:
There is no shortage of digital signage themed trade shows at present, yet it seems like more are added every day. IBC is similar to the US's NAB trade show, which, while it has seen the number of digital signage vendor/exhibitors increase in recent years, is still almost entirely focused on non- digital signage related industries and activities. Thus, this is likely a case of the trade show company looking to make a few extra dollars off of our growing but much over-hyped industry.
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