BRIDGE Summit 2025: A Platform for African Media Growth and Global Collaboration
The BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi has emerged as a key platform for African media professionals to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities for expansion. According to Alex Kobia, Africa Distribution Representative at Viory, the summit enables vital interactions that facilitate the exchange of experiences and the discovery of innovative methods in media production, distribution, and transmission.
During the event at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, Alex Kobia highlighted how the summit allows African broadcasters to observe the practices of international organisations and build lasting partnerships. He emphasized the importance of leveraging technological advancements for rapid growth and explained that, “Networks no longer need to follow the traditional path of organic growth. They can now leapfrog to modern broadcasting models using social media and platforms such as YouTube.” This approach opens up new possibilities for African outlets to reach global audiences and extend their influence beyond local or regional boundaries.
Alex Kobia underscored the immense potential held by African content creators. “Africa is not defined by catastrophes or disaster, but by deep cultural diversity.” He pointed out that all 54 countries in Africa are home to rich heritage, featuring more than 200 tribes and their unique narratives. The continent, he noted, is a source of compelling developmental, health, and scientific stories, with significant new discoveries happening each day.
On the topic of partnerships, he stated that African content producers could make significant progress by collaborating on a global scale, allowing for the exchange of content and raising both the volume and quality of programming available to audiences.
Alex Kobia, who has held leadership roles across multiple television networks, including Africa Media Group Limited, also recognized the value of stories from the Middle East—from entertainment to major development projects. He drew attention to the region’s AI-powered innovations, suggesting that such advancements could provide mutual benefits for African media landscapes.
Concluding his remarks, Alex Kobia observed that the BRIDGE Summit has created unprecedented opportunities for industry-wide collaboration at a time of rapid change in how news is gathered, produced, and distributed. He affirmed that these developments, alongside collaborative efforts, would prove beneficial for the entire media industry.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
