MAM
Media execs applaud change in venue of ATF, AFMC
MUMBAI: Buyers to the Asia Television Forum (ATF) and Asia Film Market and Conference (AFMC) 2004 exhibition that is scheduled to be held soon, have welcomed the change in venue from Sentosa Island to the much larger Shangri-La Hotel in Mainland Singapore.
Reed Exhibitions, the organiser of ATF and AFMC, recently announced that it is moving the 2004 edition of ATF and AFMC from Sentosa Island to Shangri-La Singapore on Mainland Singapore, the events first re-location since its inception in 2000.
With 103 participating companies and over 2,600 participants from 35 countries attending the 3-day event at Rasa Sentosa on Sentosa Island last year, a larger and more accessible venue was necessary to facilitate the upbeat growth of the show and the introduction of new show highlights.
The flagship property for the award winning Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts group, the Shangri-La Singapore hotel houses over 20 function rooms fully equipped with communication lines and the necessary support facilities for audio-visual requirements.
The recent announcement of the setting up of Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, a digital animation studio designed to produce digital animated content, including films, television and games for global audiences, has attracted much interest from many key buyers around Asia.
The upcoming ATF and AFMC events will see an increase of 25 per cent in sellers. The 2004 edition will also experience an increase in buyer attendance from groups like India’s Sony Entertainment Television and Discovery Communications, Thailand’s Kantana Group and M.O.M. International Co. Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Media of Medias Plc and Indonesia’s PT. Broadband Multimedia Tbk.
Many buyers acknowledge the practicality of being on Mainland Singapore and appreciate the move. “We definitely welcome the move as it comes with much convenience and flexibility. With its close proximity to Orchard Road, it’ll be now much more convenient for us to organize our meetings and evening activities. We also like the fact that we need not rush to leave the island at any specific time,” said Associated Broadcasting Company vice president Victorino Vianzon.
The sellers have also recognised that efficiency will be increased with the move to Mainland Singapore. “The change in location will provide more varieties and opportunities to the event,” said CBS Broadcast International MD Yuet-Fung Ho.
It’s fantastic holding ATF in the city. It facilitates the participants to run a hectic-free schedule. I am sure both buyers and sellers will enjoy this wonderful arrangement. Agogo International Ltd director programming May To. The view from Sentosa will be sorely missed but accessibility and practicality will no doubt be considerably increased, Indigo sales manager Emma Collin, aptly sums up.
“We are much encouraged to learn that the move from Sentosa Island to Mainland Singapore has garnered such positive feedback and responses from both our buyers and sellers. We believe the move will serve our customers well. They will benefit from both the convenience of being on Mainland Singapore and the flexibility being near Orchard Road and all its facilities,” said Reed Exhibitions president Ed Ng.
Asia Television Forum and Asia Film Market and Conference, will be held from 1 – 3 December 2004, and are the anchor events for Asia Media Festival 2004. An event organised by Reed Exhibitions and hosted by MDA, the fortnight-long Festival will showcase a host of trade and public events in print, broadcasting, film, publishing, digital media and online media.
Some of the events, which will be held during the festival includes Asia Television Forum, Media Financing Forum, Asia Animation Summit and Conference, Asian Television Awards, Promax & BDA Asia, Asia Animation SuperPitch, Asia Television SuperPitch and Scriptwriting workshops. There will be also special showcases on Animation, iTV and Locations.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
