The broad theme for the 2008 International Council is Globalization, The Next Wave: What It Means for Media Companies.

Mobility and connectivity now literally span the globe, which exponentially increases both the opportunities and challenges for media companies. This conference will draw on the richness of India's communications industry and the unique role it has played in creating and nurturing the global technological change, in focusing on the following topics:

Investing in India
India is one of the most attractive media markets in the world, in part due to its size and the emergence of a growing middle class. The numbers don't lie—India's economy enjoyed a growth rate of nine percent over the past three years, mostly fed by foreign-investor enthusiasm about the country's economic growth. What are the hottest investment areas? How do foreign companies navigate the various rules and regulations? What are some of the success stories?

Totally Mobile
India and its neighbors in Asia are setting the pace for the world's mobile phone usage. In India alone, five million new customers sign up for mobile phones every week. What's the next trend in this mobile revolution? And what are the implications for content companies?

Conversation: The Evolving TV Landscape
The TV industry has been in a race to keep up with the quickly-evolving needs of India's consumers. And new offerings from DTH (direct-to-home) to multi-platform channels have dramatically shifted the landscape for TV operators. A few players in this space will embark on a frank conversation about the ever-changing opportunities in the TV industry.

Reaching the Youth Market
With more than half the population under the age of 35, India's youth generation is the target audience for many media companies. What are the media consumption habits of today's young people? How have media companies responded to shifting tastes? Are there any predictions to be made from observing the habits of the youngest of these consumers?

The Next Frontier in Outsourcing
One of the consistent trends in the global economy has been international companies outsourcing to India. But rising wages, a stronger currency, and talent shortages are beginning to challenge that model. What are the next trends in outsourcing? What is India outsourcing? What are the newest enterprises (some of them surprising) to be outsourced?

Local vs. Global
Hollywood may represent glitz and glamour in the US, but not so in India, where Bollywood films captured ninety-five percent of Indian box office sales last year. One of the biggest lessons of globalization is that local tastes still count. What are some of the most prevalent tastes and trends in the Indian market? How can companies better package their product to pique Indian consumers? And how can international media companies really compete?

Improving the Quality of Life Worldwide
Business has a strong tradition of giving back to its consumers through social responsibility and community interaction. But many of today's businesses are taking it one step further by taking an active role in making dynamic change in some of the most needed areas. How can companies and non-profits apply business tactics to make charity more effective? Where can we see real impact? And how are technological developments helping to change the philanthropic landscape?

2008 Fall Meeting—New Delhi and Bangalore, India, November 16–19

General Agenda


NEW DELHI

Sunday, November 16

Remarks by
Radhika and Dr. Prannoy Roy, NDTV

7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Opening Dinner hosted by NDTV
Imperial Hotel

Monday, November 17

Remarks by
Subhash Chandra, Essel /Zee TV

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Meeting Session
Imperial Hotel Ballroom

Panels to include:
Investing in India
Totally Mobile
Conversation: The Evolving TV Landscape
Reaching the Youth Market

7 to 10:30 p.m.
Gala Dinner hosted by Essel / ZeeTV
Location TBD


BANGALORE