MIPTV 99 Europe's largest TV product market kicks off this Sunday (11/4/99) at its traditional home, Cannes in the south of France.
Overall participation this year Mip is up 8% over last year with 11,000 delegates heading for the market; the U.S. contingent is expected to of a similar size as last year's. US suppliers are feeling nervous in particular about this years market as the formula's which sustained the $4.5 billion American companies sales of movies and shows to TV outlets is collapsing. Sales by US companies are expected to level off this year if not drop for two reasons firstly the market in the US and abroad has been saturated with off the shelf US product and more importantly audiences are rejecting the same old formula in favour of local product in prime time slots which has left many schedulers burned. Although acquisitions are cheaper schedulers are attracted to owning the rights into perpetuity coupled with the success of strong, cheap, high rating genres such as reality TV.
US suppliers are desperately seeking a format which will address the changing needs of the international market place and many major companies are beginning to seek large local players to cut co-production deals with to address the more diverse market that has emerged in recent years which should make for an interesting market.
Another feature of this years market will be the spate of mergers which have occurred in the US and European markets with further deals expected to discussed at MIP.
Some of the highlights of this years market are:
Mip TV spotlight on Japan
On April 13th, Mip TV 99 is hosting two special conferences dedicated to the recent changes in the Japanese television landscape. As digital platforms and new channels are launched and Japan's involvement in international co-productions grows, top executives from leading companies as well as international programmers will take part in two panels. At 10.30am panelists from Fuji, NTV and TBS will asses changes which have occurred since the last Japan conference at Mip Asia 98 in December in Singapore in particular with the expansion of Communications Satellites and the development of "Hi-Vision" Programs. The second conference, at 3.30pm will focus on variety programming and successful formats. A special lunch will be held at the scenic Villa Domergue in honour of the Japanese delegates.
Gala dinner for Mip TV buyers
On Thursday April 15th, 250 top-level international buyers, among the most important in the industry, will gather for a gala dinner at the Carlton. The BBC's Alan Howen, a veteran acquisitions executive and a regular at Mip TV since the market's creation, is guest of honour. Each year, nearly 3000 buyers from television networks and distribution companies congregate at Mip TV.
Mip TV companies to announce new deals and program launches
Many companies have already signed in to hold press conferences including Southern Star, Magus, UNICEF, Mediametrie, Arte, La 5ème, INA, TF1 International, Le Nombre d'Or /International Widescreen Festival, HMC Productions.... Various dinners will be hosted by companies such as EM. TV, M5, Southern Star, ARTE, Mediaset, etc.
Market Simulation's 10th edition set to stimulate program co-productions
Market Simulation started 13 years ago under the impulse of Pat Ferns at the Banff Television Festival. Held at Mipcom and Mip TV since 1994, this unique event consists of a series of bidding sessions during which international co-production projects are presented to an audience of producers and acquisition executives from various countries. The Markets have allowed many producers to finalise projects by finding the right partners. Four Market Simulation sessions are scheduled: Documentaries on Sunday April 11th (during Mipdoc) ; Drama on Tuesday April 13th (Mip TV) ; Youth Programs on Wednesday April 15th and Educational Programs on Thursday April 16th.
Mipdoc turns 2 !
After last year's dynamic start up of the two-day screening event dedicated to non-fiction programs, Mipdoc returns with new buyers and a unique seminar on factual programming. Among the newcomers over 20 companies have never attended either Mipdoc or Mip TV before : CNN Productions ; Filmakers Library (USA) ; TV 5 La Television Internationale (Canada) ; Israel Broadcasting Authority ; Eurofilm (Media Programme) ; Stelfilm (Italy) ; Off The Fence (Netherlands) ; etc.
Mipdoc's seminar on Sunday April 11th, looks at the current "documania" : "Programming for Documentaries: Channels Answer your Questions". A panel of executives from five international channels unveil their editorial policies for documentary programming. Speakers will compare in-house production with pre-purchasing and co-production strategies, as well as methods for working with producers and distributors. Programming strategies, including tips on the proper choice of time slots and audience analysis will be addressed. This lively debate will also feature extracts of successful documentaries.
Eastern and Western broadcasters meet at Europe-Asia Forum
On April 14th, Mip TV will play host to a Europe Meets Asia Forum dedicated to cultural and educational networks in the two regions. The meeting is organized jointly by the Europe Asia Foundation (ASEF) ARTE, Europe's cultural channel, La Cinquième, a channel dedicated to training, knowledge and discovery, and Singapore Television Twelve (STV 12), a cultural and educational service. The forum aims at fostering contacts between television channels from the two continents and develop relationships between professionals operating in the field of cultural and educational television. Doors to the forum open on April 13th at 6pm, with a welcome cocktail hosted by ASEF Executive Director Tommy Coh, STV12's President Philipp N. Pillai and Jérôme Clément, President of La Cinquième and La Sept/Arte. On the 14th a series of screenings, conferences and workshops will be held.
Stars on the Croisette
Horst Tappert (Inspector Derrick) returns to Cannes to present a new co-production between ZDF, Rai and ORF called "The Cardinal". From Cuba, one of Latin America's most acclaimed actors, Luis Alberto Garcia is introducing the first Cuban-American feature film in which he stars, "Los Zafiros, Locura Azul". The film is the winner of 11 International Film Awards and sold 6 million tickets at the Cuban box office. "Los Zafiros" portrays the life of the famous 1960's Cuban vocal quartet. Producer Hugo Cancio, the son of the group's founder, will also attend the presentation.
For further information contact:
Peter Rhodes,
Palais des Festivals,
Cannes,
France.
Tel: 44 (0) 171 528 0086
Fax: 44 (0) 171 895 0949
WWW: www.miptv.com
