Convenciones
Natpe Europe 2015, not a one-way business anymore
The final figures demonstrate that NATPE Europe 2015 has remained stable in terms of attendees, compared to last year. Organizer confirmed 600 executives from 27 countries at Hilton hotel, from which 250 were buyers. There were doubts about this last figure, but it was informed that 98% of them picked up their badge. Another highlight was that 15 Czech producers, gathered at the local production association, APA, have participated for the first time.NATPE Europe and CEE region face important challenges for the future. First of all, the organizer has an important decision to take: it must define if it will move the market to another hotel in Prague, or change the city. The contract with Hilton Prague finishes this year, so it needs to carefully decide the next step, and soon. ‘Something is for sure, we will return to CEE and the show is confirmed for next year in the same date, June. In the next couple of weeks, we will be announcing the news’, a key NATPE executive confirmed to Prensario.
Some participants agreed that Polish cities Warsaw or Krakow are not the best choice (more Eastern, less Central), but others said that the TV market there is booming, and that the move will refresh NATPE Europe. Many have nostalgia of Budapest, and a return to the city will be very welcomed, too. Other cities mentioned where Athens (Greece) and Barcelona (Spain), but NATPE dismissed those rumors.
Nevertheless, there are options to improve the show in Prague. Prensario discussed this topic with some attendees, who proposed to make a unique market in the floor, without suites. Regarding the US studios screenings, it is clear that NAPTE cannot ignore them (buyers are especially happy with them), but can use their strength to generate an advantageous business atmosphere for everybody.
Someone has given an idea: ‘Maybe they can be integrated to the market. They could be organized at the same hotel during the market days, but with the buyers among us, not outside the hotel’. Both options will allow the indies to have a stronger buyers’ traffic on the floor, which was a hard issue the last editions.
What have the buyers looked for at the show? Dzenan Priganica, Plus (Bosnia & Herzegovina): ‘New entertainment formats for prime time’. Elza Strapkova, Markiza (Slovakia) and Mariyana Grozdeva, FOX International Channels Bulgaria: ‘Drama series, specifically’. Nina Nerezhkova, acquisitions manager, Cat LCC (Ukraine): ‘The local TV channels are buying mostly movies and TV series from Europe and US, to fulfill the spaces of Russian content, which is not allowed at these times’.
A trend is definitely consolidated in CEE: there are more and more local productions from different genres on the channels grids, what let less space to international programming. As a result, this own production needs to be monetized at the international market.
Dragana Kos, RTL Croatia, has had meetings for both, acquisitions and sales, and her series are doing very well in the former Yugoslavian territories. Dragan Jelicic, Pink (Serbia) hired a meeting table to offer his formats, which are working well in RTL Croatia (kids singing show) and Lebanon (cooking shows). Marie Magdalena Nováková, Ceska televise (Czech Republic) has confirmed its first deal in Brazil, including a Ballet program and an animation series. She is also focusing in Japan, Scandinavia and Italy. There are not anymore unidirectional businesses…
What is absolutely true is that CEE is not the region that used to be to many attending companies, both buyers and sellers. It is evolving, with media consumption habits changing all the time, with the digital boom we stressed yesterday. From the distribution side, new strategies and approaches must be implemented to be successful. As in most of the TV markets of the world, there is not a unique formula. It is time to re-think CEE.
Fabricio Ferrara, from Prague