Centered on the television content business in the broader Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa, this new DISCOP market has been established to become the cost effective annual business hub for content exporters, broadcasters and pay-TV platforms targeting a world region seen by many analysts as being among the fastest growing markets in the industry.

"Turkey's current and historic relations with the Arab world and Central Asia and its ‘no-visa' policy towards business travelers from these regions will clearly facilitate the organization of our market", points out Aurele Rivet, Planning Manager for Basic Lead, the organizers of the DISCOP markets, "and the fact that all major Turkish production, distribution and programming players are signed up to take part will clearly boost the power of attraction of our market in the region."

With five months still to go, 160 companies, buyers and sellers of television content are already on board for DISCOP ISTANBUL, 65% of the 250 expected to attend the 3-day market set to take place five months from now.

Sellers already include Al Jazeera, Alfred Haber, ATV, Banijay, Bavaria Media Television, Calinos, Caracol, Deutsche Welle, Discovery Networks, Global Agency, FremantleMedia, Kanal D, ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment, Mediaset, MGM, Mondo TV, ORF, Telemundo, Turkish Radio and Television, Televisa and Venevision, alongside a contingent of Russian, French, Spanish and Italian companies which will be grouped under national umbrellas.

DISCOP ISTANBUL's Opening Cocktail Party will be hosted in honor of Iraq's vibrant television sector. "Television has become essential to reaching Iraqi audiences" says Patrick Jucaud, General Manager of Basic Lead, "more than half the Iraqi population, nearly 16 million viewers, turn to TV for information, more than any other medium, including newspapers, radio or the Internet."

To take place after the 3-day market, on 17 March, the DISCOPRO informative and networking program will focus on formats coproduction and distribution in the greater Middle East, and will include speakers from outside and inside the region.

DISCOP ISTANBUL will take place from 14 to 16 March, 2011 at the Intercontinental Ceylan Hotel in Istanbul. 1050 companies, buyers and sellers of television content have attended DISCOP events in 2010, underscoring the importance of fast-growing regional marketplaces for the future of television content business.

After 15 years of operating independently, DISCOP events have now partnered with NATPE since 2005. NATPE is a global, nonprofit organization committed to being a catalyst for the content revolution. Evolving to meet the needs of a changing media landscape, NATPE through its many activities including exclusive videos, live streaming events and vibrant annual market is at the nexus of the multiplatform content world. Moving to Miami, a major international destination, NATPE 2011, January 24-26 is where creativity meets connectivity and commerce. NATPE, Content First.

BASIC LEAD is a full service event production and management firm with two decades experience planning public exhibitions, industry trade shows, conference programs and corporate functions in more than 25 countries.

For further information contact:

Debbie Lawrence
The Lippin Group – London
T: +44 203 008 5406
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Cassy Salyer
The Lippin Group – Los Angeles
T: +1 323 965 1990
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