MIP saw the start of the Digital TV take off, with multiplying niche channels and the emergence of new operators making the market look to the future.
The rapid changes occurring in the business were reflected at the market this year. New technologies are being launched by the day and the upsurge of new broadcast windows is triggering more intricate transactions, new industry heavyweights are rising as mega-players Kirch and Mediaset, or SBS and CME merge. European programs, fiction in particular, have become strong contenders in the race for program sales and Europe has acquired a strategic position as a financing force for US content. Due to channel proliferation, broadcasters face an increasingly competitive market where demand for quality programs is raising costs and strategic partnerships have become essential to create strong co-productions.
Sales, co-productions, merchandising...all areas of program marketing were covered at MIP. Many deals were launched this past week : TF1 signed on with Endemol for several million dollars to acquire the rights to 'Joan of Arc', a mini-series by Alliance Atlantis, along with two additional series and ten TV movies; France's Expand has set out to adapt a Globo Media seriel, 'Medico de Familia' for the French market; Polygram has sold rights to pre-school animated series 'Maisy' to Japan's NHK which indicates that this territory remains open to western programming; Hit Entertainment has sold representation rights to France's VIP for 5 animation series; S4C and /La Cinquieme inked a co-production pact for children and wildlife programs; Unapix sold over 375 reality show hours to Japan's TV Asahi and Sony Digital, TV3 New Zealand and Canal 11 in Mexico; Hallmark licensed 10-hour production 'The Tenth King' to RTL. As anticipated at the initial stages of the market of the market, co-productions had again been at the forefront of the market with deals announced by WGBH and Canal+, Thirteen/WNETand Channel 4 International; Antena 3 and Cheyenne Films.
MIPCOM '99
The success of 'La Bourse aux Co-Production - Market Simulation' which fosters international partnerships and co-productions was considered such a success this year at MIPTV that the organisers have decided to launch an additional co-production session dedicated to formats which are gaining widespread popularity as they offer broadcasters low development costs and certified formulas to win audiences. At this years MIP TV formats had been in the spotlight as specialised companies such as Canada's Distraction launched a catalogue of 65 formats while CBS revamped and sold its 1960's classic 'Roller Jam' to Mexico's Televisa, Sky' also in New Zealand and Various other territories. The Market Simulation will focus on format genres of entertainment programs, game shows and sitcoms through a conference and a series of workshops held during MIPCOM 99, next October 4-8.
In the upcoming MIPCOM there will also be a dedicated special day to Spain, Southern Europe's new television powerhouse. For many years Spain was regarded solely as a buyer of new programs. Now it is moving more and more into production and foreign sales, becoming Europe's second largest producer of animation with companies such as D'Ocon, PPM Multimedia or BRB International. On the broadcasters' front regional networks such as TV de Catalunya, TV Andalucia and TV Valencia along with Spain's two digital platforms, CanalSatelite Digital and Via Digital are increasingly involved in the development of strong localized production.
Another major issue to be addressed at MIPCOM is how the development of broadband Internet is impacting the television business.
Currently cable and satellite broadcasters are creating interactive services and content, while internet operators are and telecommunication companies are shaping up to develop and deliver video based content. To address this new area MIPCOM is to host a special 'Interactive TV and Broadband Day' and bring the main movers from both media who have experience in the field together. A series of workshops and conferences will look at the opportunities and challenges for content providers as well as the networks' choices including new roads in advertising. This intended to be a prelude to the planned bigger operation to launched at MIP TV 2000 which will create an 'Interactive Village' which will hosy companies at the cutting edge of interactive TV and broadband internet.
