Last week’s Streaming Media East show in New York was by far the biggest show since our parent company, Information Today, purchased the Streaming Media property in 2002 — more than 3,500 attendees, 65 exhibitors, and more than two dozen conference sessions. Especially heartening was the number of visitors from outside the U.S., which bodes well for our Europe show coming up in October in London.

Not surprisingly, the hottest topics of discussion were high-definition video, user-generated video, and of course how to monetize any and all content. What stood out the most for me as I walked the floor and talked to attendees was just how many people were attending for the first time, coming in with a vague idea of what they were looking for and being blown away by the breadth and depth of the solutions being offered for delivering video online both to consumers and for enterprise communications. For a great example of just one of those “wow” moments, check out episode 16 of our Streaming Media podcasts, in which Jose Castillo and Tim Siglin speak with Steve Garfield about how he dazzled attendees by webcasting live from his mobile.

Of course, that points to one of the big differences between our U.S. shows and Streaming Media Europe, and one of the big differences between the U.S. market and the markets in the UK and Europe: Mobile traction stateside is nowhere near what it is in the UK and Europe, and so the Streaming Media Europe show will feature more sessions devoted specifically to mobile video, as well as a special Mobile Video Pavilion in the exhibit.

Clearly, though, awareness of and interest in online video solutions has reached critical mass, where we’re no longer simply preaching to the choir. Online video is accessible and affordable enough now that it’s finally appealing to potential users in every possible vertical and businesses of all types and sizes. This year’s Streaming Media Europe will be leaps and bounds beyond the last two years’, both in terms of size and scope.

Welcome to the Streaming Media Europe Conference 2008 Blog…

While you’re probably thinking that the last thing any of us needs is yet another blog, at least we can promise you that this one has a limited life span — and direct applicability to our upcoming event. We’ve started this blog as a place to focus on what’s happening within or affecting Europe in the world of streaming media as we plan, organise and prepare for our annual Streaming Media Conference, taking place this year on 16-17 October 2008 (with pre-conference workshops on 15 October) at Novotel London West, UK.

Basically, we wanted to start a dialogue with you for gathering and bouncing off ideas, comments, and thoughts as we start building off of our Advance Programme and getting details finalised for the conference.

But first things first — Introductions! “We” are Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen and Eileen Broch. Eric is based in the States and is editor of Streaming Media Global, and Eileen is based in London, where she is investment director for Ambient Sound Investments, non-executive director (board member) technology & innovation for The National Archives, and likes to stay on top of all high-tech, including streaming of course. Between the two of us, we hope we can cover what’s of interest to you and address all of your areas of interest across multiple time zones. For example, we look forward to giving you sneak peeks and early notices about our session announcements, speaker confirmations and other events related to the show.

More importantly, however, we want to hear ideas and comments — either positive or otherwise — from you regarding what you’d like to have covered at the conference, which speakers you want to hear from, and what you think are the most pressing topics to raise and address.

We look forward to getting to know you over these coming months and, of course, seeing you at the show. (Matter of fact, you can register right now here in order to save your spot right away). Watch this space, as there’s much more to come!