Water Cooler

VideoAge regularly surveys program buyers in order to better serve its readers and provide the necessary editorial tools for acquisition executives and sellers.

For this reason, during MIPCOM in Cannes next week, VideoAge will invite a large number of buyers from Latin America to its traditional breakfast meeting to review the challenges facing this particular territory and to prepare for the upcoming NATPE.

For years, VideoAge has recognized the Latin American potential at MIPCOM and encouraged the market organizers to pay increasing attention to this growing territory.

The Latin American selling contingent at MIPCOM has reached its maturity, with well-established companies attending annually and product that is widely appreciated worldwide. The area that needs more attention and represents the growth potential is the future of the buyers’ market. Perhaps by adding seminars and workshops specifically focused on Latin America’s programming needs and coproductions, MIPCOM may better serve their interests.

At the VideoAge breakfast meeting we’ll try to understand the buying patterns and companies’ various acquisition budgets, as well as try to determine who the major players are in Latin American TV program acquisitions.

All the information gathered at the breakfast meeting will be reported in the next day’s VideoAge MIPCOM Daily. A larger and more extensive report will be featured in our December Issue.

In the preliminary stage of our breakfast meeting, VideoAge has surveyed over 30 Latin American distribution companies, gathered information on about 50 acquisition companies and assembled a buying list of over 300 executives. It is expected that 30 of the 100 or so Latin American major TV program buyers who attend MIPCOM will participate at the VideoAge breakfast meeting which will be held in cooperation with NATPE and the Brasil TV Forum.

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By Dom Serafini

About three months prior to the start of Asia TV Forum (ATF) in Singapore (December 2-4), VideoAge asked ATF’s General Manager Michelle Lim, for a preview of what the industry should expect before crossing the Pacific. Held at Singapore’s Suntec Convention Centre, ATF brings together international TV broadcasters and new media content providers to service programming sellers and Asia Pacific buyers. In 2008, more than 285 companies exhibited programs from more than 35 countries, an increase of 32 percent from 2007. Lim is from Reed Exhibitions (Singapore), part of Reed Elsevier, parent company of MIPCOM organizer, Reed Midem.

VideoAge International: How will this year's ATF compare to last year?

Michelle Lim: This year, Asia Television Forum celebrates 10 years of content business in Asia. With strong support from the industry, we have come a long way in establishing ATF as the leading programming market of Asia. In this 10th edition, ATF will continue to strengthen its content with a compelling line-up of conferences with a key focus on formats and distribution of content on cross platforms. Despite the conservative economic outlook, ATF expects over 700 participating companies from 50 countries, and will be occupying a bigger hall in the convention centre. With Asia’s rising importance, we are expecting a strong and steady market with renewed seller participation from country groups including France, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan and also a new Italian group representation joining us for the first time. New sellers include Discovery (Australia), HBO (U.S.) and Turner (Hong Kong S.A.R.). In line with the increasing profile of cross platform convergence, we will be unveiling an enhanced version of the “i-Screeners” this year. Introduced at the ATF last year, “i-Screeners” is a streaming portal that allows our sellers to promote their content in a user-friendly digital environment and facilitates on-demand viewing of trailers over broadband. Such digital extensions will deliver cost-savings and efficiencies to enhance the buy and sell activities of our buyers and sellers; as well as complement and strengthen the trade capabilities at ATF. To increase buyer loyalty and encourage more meetings between sellers and buyers, a new buyer rewards program, “Are you Game,” was also launched at ATF2008. This year, with both buyers and sellers already familiar with the program, we expect even greater participation and motivation towards achieving more meetings during the market.

VAI: Why is it important for distribution companies to be at the ATF?

ML: Asia represents one of the fastest growing consumers of media content in the world, with an increasing receptivity and appetite for different types of content across multiple platforms. As Asia’s leading programming market, ATF is well-positioned as a credible trading and learning platform bringing International sellers to Asian buyers. Being a proven International exhibition positioned primarily as the gateway into the Asia market, ATF is also an important niche extension after MIPCOM. In the last decade, ATF has played a key role in bringing the professionals of the media industry from the East and the West closer. With Asia rising, so will the importance of participation at ATF. ATF has grown in importance over the years to become the must-attend event on the media calendar for many who are serious and curious about Asia.

VAI: What kind of buying contingent can you assure?

ML: To date, we have confirmed attendance from buyers across Asia including Amuse Soft Entertainment Inc (Japan), Asia Television (Hong Kong), Hanaro- Broadband Media (Korea), KBS (Korea), Korea Telecom Corporation (Korea), MediaCorp (Singapore), Metropolitan TV (Malaysia), Mongol TV (Mongolia), MyTV (Cambodia), Natseven TV (Malaysia), NBC Universal Global Network (Singapore), SPE Networks Asia (Singapore), Trans World Associates Inc (Japan), PCCW (Hong Kong) Starhub (Singapore), Singapore Telecommunications (Singapore), Thai Public Broadcasting Services (Thailand), The Bangkok Entertainment (Thailand), TVBI (Hong Kong S.A.R.), Viacom 18 Media (India), The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) (Singapore), YOYO TV (Taiwan) and others.

VAI: What kind of “trimmings” (i.e., seminars, parties, etc.) will you be offering?

ML: The 10th edition of ATF will offer a strong line-up of conference content, including a powerful keynote on Formats by Rob Clark from FremantleMedia, followed by the ever-popular SuperPitch –– calling for the “Greatest Formats” idea. There will also be a strong lineup of panel speakers comprising of representatives from the various format providers such as 2waytraffic, activeTV, Armoza Formats, Endemol Group, BBC Worldwide Asia, and others sharing their experiences working with Asian broadcasters. In addition, the Motion Picture Association and the Singapore Media Academy will be addressing issues related to the distribution of content on cross platforms. Participants can also look forward to an array of networking events including the Opening Party, lunches and cocktails organized by key national groups, and of course, the annual Asian Television Awards.

VAI: Are you planning any awareness activity at MIPCOM?

ML: ATF will be exhibiting at Stand 06.32 at MIPCOM. We will be happy to meet and answer any enquiries at the stand.

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By Dom Serafini

Like clockwork, the American Film Market (AFM) comes around every fall, and with it, a set of recurring questions for its organizers from the press, posed by AFM exhibitors and buyers alike. Always up for the challenge, AFM managing director, Jonathan Wolf, is prompt with answers that, like Chinese food, may satisfy for the time being, but leave the industry hungry for more as soon as the AFM is over. The AFM is organized by the Los Angeles-based Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) and is taking place this year from Nov. 4-11 in Santa Monica, California. Wolf is also executive vice president of the IFTA.

VideoAge International: Jonathan, it looks like the fall is getting more and more crowded with new film festivals and markets. We've counted 11 from September to November. The strongest seems to be TIFF. What is your assessment?

Jonathan Wolf: Dom, according to FilmFestivals.com, there are over 1,000 film festivals worldwide in the fall and more than 100 of them routinely host world premieres. Many in our industry forget that most film festivals are cultural events for their communities. They celebrate the art of film and the cinema experience. So what is my assessment? Let the celebrations continue in every corner of the world!

VAI: Does it make sense to you to have two countries (Italy and Canada) competing with each other and each country competing internally with two film festivals/markets apiece?

JW: As I said above, film festivals are cultural events for their communities. An outsider (me!) should not comment on what is right for someone else’s community. I was in Montreal this year during the festival. The community truly embraces and enjoys their festival and I’m sure it’s the same in Rome, Toronto and Venice. Don’t look for a fight. This is not a competition, it’s a global celebration.

VAI: It seems that Rome is looking to claim the MIFED mantle. Do you think it will succeed?

JW: I can’t answer hypothetical questions. What I can tell you is that we have an excellent relationship with the festival’s Business Street. We coordinate the shipment of prints from Rome to Santa Monica and give special considerations to films that are screening there. We do not compete, we cooperate.

VAI: Of the many fall film/TV events, in which does the IFTA take an active role and why (outside the AFM)?

JW: At MIPCOM, we operate an umbrella stand for some of our members because the costs are so high. Other than the AFM, that’s the only fall event attended by the majority of IFTA’s members.

VAI: The U.S. Cable industry bundled 11 separate organizations (and their trade shows) to come up with one major event (Cable Connections). Could the film/TV content industry make a similar move?

JW: No, and my answer has nothing to do with politics, logistics or economics. Choosing the market or festival to announce and sell a new film is a very strategic decision. A “one-size-fits-all” event would not satisfy the needs of the industry.

VAI: The AFM comes towards the end of the budget cycle and after most trade shows, i.e., when buyers have run out of money. How can buyers be persuaded not to make any buying decisions before they've seen what the AFM has to offer?

JW: Dom, you have been talking to buyers too much. Film and television markets have flourished in the fall for decades and they continue to flourish. Buyers always have reasons why they won’t pay asking prices. In the fall, the answer is “no budget.” In the winter, it’s “I don’t want to buy too soon and miss something good later.” This is just the art of negotiating.

VAI: What is the film production trend out there? How many finished films will be reaching the international market in 2009 vs. 2008?

JW: We track global production at TheFilmCatalogue.com. In 2008, 985 independent feature films were completed and brought to market. As of 14 September 2009, 581 are reported as completed and 190 more are in production or post and will be finished by the end of the year. We estimate an additional 120 films have not been reported yet but will be completed by the end of the year. That will put the total at approximately 891, or 10 percent below 2008.

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By Karen Ruttner

Laurine Garaude is bursting with optimism when it comes to MIPCOM 2009. Participant enrolment is at a healthy clip, the panel schedule is rife with marquee talent and executives, and the overall attitude is that of “change for the better.” VideoAge had the opportunity to get insight in regard to the industry’s new direction and how this year’s MIPCOM will serve as guide from Garaude, who is acting director of the TV division of Reed MIDEM, MIPCOM’s organizer.

VideoAge International: We know that nowadays the quality of participants is more important than the quantity, but exhibitors like to be reassured that a good number of buyers will be at MIPCOM. How are things looking in terms of projected attendance this year?

Laurine Garaude: Attendance is looking good. Currently we have over 3,000 buyers signed up for MIPCOM and some 400 for MIPjunior. We should have close to 4,000 buyers at MIPCOM. The overall projected attendance is in the region of 12,000 or more participants.

VAI: The fact that Warner Bros. was allowed to pull out from this past MIP at the last minute caused some awkwardness among the other U.S. studios. Is there a way to avoid similar occurrences this year?

LG: Warner did participate at last MIP-TV, although they didn’t have a stand. These have been particularly challenging times, and this was directly linked to the economic situation, but Warner will be back as usual at MIPCOM.

VAI: Do you have any news concerning your next head of U.S. operations? You were recently in your New York City office to interview potential candidates. When will you be able to announce the appointment?

LG: We are currently interviewing candidates and we hope to be able to announce an appointment soon.

VAI: Can you give us an idea of the key events that will make MIPCOM a must attend market?

LG: MIPCOM will once again to be a very busy and dynamic global market where the entertainment industry converges to showcase, license and finance the most compelling new programming and productions across all platforms. In addition to the business aspect we are also expecting a number of world renowned creative personalities and stars. We are delighted to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons, the longest running comedy series on prime time TV, together with Twentieth Century Fox Distribution. We are proud to welcome to MIPCOM the series’ creator Matt Groening and executive producer Al Jean as keynote speakers and we will be honouring Matt Groening with our inaugural Creative Icon Award on October 7. The legendary Jerry Seinfeld will be in Cannes with Endemol to launch his new comedy format The Marriage Ref with his partner Ellen Rakieten (The Oprah Winfrey Show). His packed schedule includes a press conference which is open to all MIPCOM participants. Of course, the conferences too include a line-up of leading industry figures who will be giving keynotes, including: Tom Rogers, President and CEO of digital video recorder pioneer TiVo, Tony Cohen, CEO of Fremantle, Brian Goldner, CEO of Hasbro, Richard Pinder, COO, Publicis Worldwide and Javier Perez Dolset, President & CEO Zed Worldwide. Lisa Kudrow will be in Cannes to promote the format Who Do You Think You Are and will speak on the importance of creativity in the session “International Format Creators”. The famous Japanese format creator and producer, Yasushi Akimoto, will also be speaking in same session. We are also delighted to welcome the British actor, John Nettles, who stars in one of Britain’s highest rating TV police dramas, Midsomer Murders.

VAI: Why is this MIPCOM of particular importance in terms of its place in the industry landscape in the current economy?

LG: As Sir Martin Sorrell said during his keynote at MIP-TV, it is expected that the post-recession media world will be forever changed, the economic crisis having accelerated the changes taking place particularly in the areas of digital, production models and the relationship between TV and advertising. In addition to the traditional buying and selling of international programmes which characterizes MIPCOM, and which is even more important in these challenging times, MIPCOM 2009, the largest gathering for TV and media professionals, will be of particular importance in helping professionals take stock of the key issues, identify new business models, exchange with fellow counterparts internationally and create new relationships and partnerships in new areas. The conferences offer an ideal opportunity to do this and bring together some of the greatest minds in TV and media. This year’s central conference theme is entitled “Rethinking your Business” and includes over 45 sessions, keynotes, screenings and matchmaking events. During such challenging economic times and coupled with a period of rapid migration to online viewing, we see “Rethinking your Business” as an immediate call to action to re-examine production funding and distribution monetisation models. There will be three key streams of conferences and events. “Rethinking Production” kicks off the conference programme, which will focus on identifying new revenue streams, taking a close look at co-production deals, commissioning, Internet distribution, new formats and online content monetisation. We have been working closely with a number of producers’ associations worldwide in developing this programme and to make the initiative as accessible as possible for new independent producers, who are so important to the creative process, we are offering a special rate to first timer producers. The new “Games2TV2Games Summit” is a full-day conference track where we will explore the impact of online gaming on the production business and how to develop revenues with online partners. Online gaming is one of the fastest growing areas of entertainment and there are new opportunities for producers and broadcasters to forge new relationships with online gaming companies. MIPCOM is seeking to facilitate this by bringing together game developers with international TV channels and production executives. Finally the third focus “Connected Entertainment” will look at the impact of technology innovations and Internet-enabled TV sets in the home on all areas of the TV industry, including cable, IPTV, telcos and online distribution platforms. It will look at how Pay TV can adapt to the threat from web video. It will also focus on how the explosion of Mobile Apps will offer new sources of revenues for the content industry.

VAI: You’re a Yalie, how do you cope with an industry full of Harvard’s MBAs?

LG: Well I never thought about it that way… I guess we are complementary!

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CTAM Europe, the Zurich, Switzerland-based international cable TV association for marketing, is organizing its traditional EuroSummit Sept. 24-25, this year at the Sheraton Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal.

VideoAge got a hold of the London-based Chad Raube, the chairman of CTAM Europe for an overview and insights into the conference.

VideoAge International: How did CTAM Europe first come about and why?

Chad Raube: In 2004, a small group of seven cable executives met up informally to exchange learning’s from their respective markets, and to form professional friendships that they could rely upon to help them address challenges they faced in their respective home countries. While Cable Europe was in existence, there was no specific industry organization in Europe focused on the marketing, product and customer experience challenges that cable executives faced. The executives in question (some of these had been members of CTAM in the U.S.) decided to launch the European chapter of CTAM, seeing a beneficial opening to create a unique forum which would enable marketing and product leaders to connect and network with each other. What started as an idea to address a need has grown into a vibrant community of professionals that is adding value to the industry.

VAI: What is CTAM Europe’s remit and how is it affiliated with CTAM in the U.S.?

CR: We work closely with CTAM U.S. (based in Virginia) and our European members also receive complementary access to their network and knowledge databases. Our remit is to provide the cable industry with a European forum dedicated to marketing, sales, product and customer issues. As such, the organization provides a community in which we can exchange experiences, so members do not have to tackle issues on their own, but can benefit from the support of others who have been through something similar in other markets. This also provides valuable benchmarking as well as a channel to gather and deploy strategies and solutions that members might not normally have access to. Moreover, CTAM Europe provides a networking platform for senior executives so that they can build meaningful relationships with their peers across Europe. The flagship event for both knowledge sharing and networking is the annual EuroSummit, but throughout the year we also offer key events, such as webinars, as well as membership in industry groups such as the Customer Experience Consortium, and research seminars.

VAI :How has the organization evolved over the last few years and how does it foresee the future?

CR: The organization has matured since its founding in several ways. Membership has grown to be more geographically representative of Europe, with notable expansion into Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Spain, and Germany. In parallel, the CTAM Europe Board has grown in size and now includes senior executives representing the major cable companies in all geographies. Additionally, CTAM has added smaller cable operators as members, partly due to its emphasis on creating knowledge sharing opportunities relevant for industry, not just its major players. It has also expanded its event-schedule from what was originally just an annual EuroSummit.

VAI : CTAM Europe will be launching its 6th annual EuroSummit this year in Lisbon, tell me more and what delegates can expect?

CR: The EuroSummit will be hosted this year in Lisbon, a beautiful backdrop for what is always an excellent event for networking with peers and connecting with partners from across the industry. Notably, unlike many conferences, the EuroSummit is attended by a large number of senior executives which provides a unique forum to share insights. Additionally, we have assembled a great line-up of high-profile speakers, who will focus on the theme of how cable companies can “Thrive, not just Survive” in the current recessionary environment. As such, the sessions focus both on practical solutions that can provide immediate benefits as well as more forward looking concepts that companies need to address in order to maintain their leadership positions.

VAI: What are the highlights of this year’s Summit and why?

CR: Where do I begin? This EuroSummit promises to be our best ever, starting with our two keynote speakers: Jeffrey Rayport and Duco Sickinghe. Rayport, a Harvard Business School Professor and MD of Marketspace consulting, is a leading light within cable who regularly consults the CEO’s of U.S. cable companies and who was the keynote speaker at the CTAM annual summit in the U.S. Sickinghe, one of the smartest and most highly regarded CEO’s in European cable will speak on the keys to delivering a successful bundle that expands beyond pure price promotions. Another major feature of the Summit is the Creative Award Program, which recognizes the best marketing campaigns across Europe in our industry and has a record number of nominations. And last, but not least, the EuroSummit’s first visit to Lisbon will provide a superb backdrop for networking with likeminded industry colleagues.

VAI: How has the EuroSummit changed over the years (if so) to address market needs?

CR: CTAM always tries to add value by addressing topics at the EuroSummit that provide both practical, quick wins for attendees to take back to their companies, as well as subjects focused on future innovation, both in terms of product and processes, to ensure cable is not left behind. On the former point, since its inception, the EuroSummit has added significant content in the areas of customer care and experience management, which has become core to success for all operators, to complement its existing marketing, product and sales emphasis. Additionally, it has tried to provide its marketing sessions with a balance of thought leadership but also real ideas that can be quickly implemented by members. CTAM also now regularly invites innovative start-ups that are having major impacts on our industry to ensure cable is not left behind its competitors, as well as addressing cutting edge topics such as corporate social responsibility. Finally, we have looked to develop programs that address the needs of not only the largest cable operators, but other members of the industry ecosystem, such as smaller cable networks and our partners in the content, systems and applications areas which help cable to remain ahead of the competition.

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