Event Overview
The APEX Content Market 2023, held April 26-27 at the Grand Cevahir Hotel & Convention Center in Istanbul, Turkey, brought together airline content buyers and worldwide content distributors for an exclusive, members-only event focused on in-flight entertainment. As the only global industry event dedicated to connecting these key stakeholders, APEX Content Market 2023 provided an intimate and productive setting for all airline content needs, including TV, movies, games, GUIs, apps, and audio content.
Key Highlights
Regional APEX Awards
A significant highlight of the 2023 Content Market was the announcement of the regional winners of the APEX Award for Best Entertainment. These prestigious awards recognized excellence in in-flight entertainment across different geographical regions, celebrating airlines that have demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation, and passenger engagement through their content offerings.
Turkish Airlines Showcase
As a prominent host-country carrier, Turkish Airlines featured prominently at the event, showcasing their award-winning in-flight entertainment system. The airline, which later in 2023 would receive the APEX Passenger Choice Award for Best Inflight Entertainment System in Europe, demonstrated their commitment to providing passengers with premium content and innovative entertainment solutions.
Content Acquisition Sessions
The market featured structured sessions focused on content acquisition strategies:
- Global Content Trends: Presentations on emerging viewer preferences and content consumption patterns
- Regional Content Focus: Discussions on the importance of culturally relevant programming for diverse route networks
- Technical Integration: Workshops addressing the challenges of implementing new content formats across varied IFE systems
- Licensing Frameworks: Sessions on navigating the complex landscape of international content licensing
Networking Opportunities
The event facilitated valuable connections through carefully designed networking events:
- Opening Reception: A Turkish-themed welcome event showcasing local culture and cuisine
- One-on-One Meetings: Scheduled appointments between airline buyers and content providers
- Content Showcases: Screenings of upcoming releases and premium programming
- Evening Events: Exploring Istanbul while providing informal networking opportunities
Industry Insights for Influencers
Content Trends
APEX Content Market 2023 revealed several key trends that industry influencers should monitor:
- Localization Excellence: Growing emphasis on high-quality dubbing and subtitling for global content
- Short-Form Content: Increasing demand for bite-sized entertainment suited to various flight durations
- Interactive Experiences: Rising interest in games and interactive content that engage passengers throughout their journey
- Exclusive Partnerships: Strategic alliances between airlines and content producers for unique offerings
- Wellness Programming: Expansion of meditation, sleep assistance, and wellness content
Strategic Opportunities
For industry influencers, APEX Content Market 2023 presented valuable opportunities to:
- Analyze Content Metrics: Understand how airlines measure content performance and passenger engagement
- Identify Emerging Formats: Spotlight innovative content types gaining traction in the IFE space
- Bridge Industry Segments: Connect content creators with airline buyers to facilitate new partnerships
- Forecast Content Trends: Provide informed predictions about future passenger content preferences
- Highlight Success Stories: Document case studies of successful content strategies across different airlines
Video Highlights
While APEX did not release a dedicated public highlights video specifically for the 2023 Content Market in Istanbul, the event was featured in several industry publications and social media channels. Turkish Airlines, a prominent participant in the event, showcased their award-winning in-flight entertainment through various channels, including their official recognition video for the “APEX 2023 Passenger Choice Award for Best Inflight Entertainment System in Europe.”
The APEX Association’s social media channels, particularly their LinkedIn and Facebook pages, featured photo galleries and short video clips from the Istanbul event, highlighting:
- The vibrant setting of Istanbul, bridging Eastern and Western content markets
- Key moments from content acquisition sessions and panel discussions
- One-on-one meetings between airline representatives and content providers
- Networking events featuring Turkish hospitality and cultural experiences
- The announcement of the regional APEX Award winners for Best Entertainment
Additionally, APEX’s press release following the event (available at: https://apex.aero/apex_press_releases/apex-content-market-connected-airlines-with-the-best-and-latest-in-flight-entertainment-announced-the-regional-winners-of-the-2023-apex-award-for-best-entertainment/) provides a comprehensive overview of the event’s highlights and achievements.
Future Outlook
The success of the 2023 Content Market in Istanbul set high expectations for future iterations of this essential industry event. The following year’s Content Market would be held in Dubai, continuing the tradition of bringing together key stakeholders in the in-flight entertainment ecosystem to forge partnerships and shape the future of passenger experience.
Conclusion
APEX Content Market 2023 reinforced its position as the essential event for in-flight entertainment content planning, bringing together decision-makers from airlines and content providers in an intimate setting designed to facilitate productive connections. The event’s location in Istanbul—a city bridging East and West—symbolized the global nature of modern in-flight entertainment and the importance of diverse content offerings.
For industry influencers, the market provided unique insights into content trends, airline priorities, and passenger preferences that would define the in-flight entertainment landscape in the coming year. As airlines continued to differentiate themselves through superior content offerings, the relationships formed and knowledge gained at APEX Content Market 2023 proved invaluable for those seeking to lead rather than follow in this dynamic sector.
The announcement of the regional winners of the APEX Award for Best Entertainment highlighted the industry’s commitment to excellence and innovation, setting benchmarks for quality that would inspire continued advancement in passenger experience.
This blog post is based on comprehensive research of APEX Content Market 2023, including official event information and industry reports.
