Mumbai: Increasing numbers of US and European investors and pay-TV operators are recognizing the enormous potential of the Asian opportunity, looking for new ways to take a larger slice of the market.

This trend coincides with the growing CASBAA membership, accounting for almost half of new members since January this year. In the past two months, six more organizations have joined CASBAA.

This follows a pattern similar to the previous membership announcement in March, when four out of seven new member organizations were based outside of Asia. Meanwhile, the UK-based digital pay-TV solutions provider NDS has upgraded its membership from Corporate to Patron status.

The most recent new corporate members of CASBAA include US-based research specialist SNL Kagan, European broadcaster TRACE, Scandinavian content security solutions provider Conax Access Systems Pvt. Ltd and India-based broadband & multi system operator Indusind Media & Communications Ltd, as well as Indonesian pay-TV platform operator Telkomvision and Hong Kong-based digital and interactive TV services provider BEE MediaSoft.

"The success of Asia’s pay-TV industry is catching worldwide attention. Ambitious players recognise they need to inject more investment into Asia," said CASBAA CEO Simon Twiston Davies.

"Nevertheless, despite the Asian upside, there are issues, such as IPR, that need to be addressed. To that end CASBAA will continue to demonstrate its thought leadership to facilitate regional growth," added Davies.
 
Meanwhile, CASBAA will stage its eighth Satellite Industry Forum on 16 June at the Four Seasons Hotel, Singapore.