MIPJunior 2015 returns to Hotel Martinez, reloaded

Last year edition had taken place at Palm Beach, but for 2015 the organizer Reed Midem decided to relocate back the kid show at the classic Hotel Martinez, which seems to be ‘much more confortable for everybody’, according to a key participant. In comparison with 2014, the market remains stable in participants/buyers, but there is an important increase of titles available for screen: from 1,060 to 1,300 (23%+).

Along the two days, there are interesting panels including top commissioning editors, licensing, digital media, screenings & networking events. Keynotes: today at 5.45pm, Stephen J. David, EVP, CCO, Hasbro Inc. (USA) explores brand activation best practices and multi-platform delivery strategies to engage kids & families. ‘Kids still consume 22 hours of TV per week. So, even though we have to consider the new content ecosystem, it is important to note that TV still reigns’, he expresses.

Russell Hicks, president, content development & production, Nickelodeon and Dan Schneider, renowned hit-maker (Henry Danger, iCarly, Victorius), will discuss tomorrow, October 4 at 11.45am, about how to attract kid’s attention and what gives a program the potential to be a global phenomenon.

Malik Ducard, global head of family and learning, YouTube, will talk on Sunday at 4pm about the new opportunities for producers and creators to engage kids & families like never before. ‘We are seeing a tremendous growth in the educational market. All in all, there has been an increase of 50% in viewership on YouTube, but the growth is 200% on the family category only. Kids don’t see themselves as just “watchers”, but as content creators’, he remarks.

What are buyers seeking at MIPJunior? There are special sessions about this, such us What do Platforms Want?, held today at 11.15 with Sean Chu, WeKids Asia; Tara Sorensen, Amazon Studios; Carlos Tibi, ICFLIX Media FZ; and Nick Walters, Hopster; and View from the top: what do buyers want?, tomorrow at 9.45am with Jules Borkent, Nickelodeon; Caroline Cochaux, Lagardere Active TV Channels; Sebastian Debertin, KiKA Kinderkanal (ARF/ZDF); Karen Miller, Disney Channels Worldwide; y Adina Pitt, Cartoon Network & Boomerang.

Other important panels are Maximizing Digital Opportunities, on Sunday, October 4 at 10.45am; Discover the Best New Edutaining Preschoolers Content from Turkey, presented by TRT Coçuk on October 4 at 12.30pm (TRT is also sponsoring the Snack & Screen on Sunday at 12.30pm), as well as The Best Norwegian Children TV, by NFI and Virke on October 4 at 4.40pm.

Before MIPJunior, Reed Midem asked some attending buyers What kind of sales pitches do you respond best to? Deirdre Brennan, head of ABC Children’s Television (Australia): ‘Showcase imaginative content that fits with public broadcaster purpose and offers something unique for younger audiences’. Linda Granath, head of acquisitions, Children, SVT (Sweden): ‘If a project is in an early stage it should have a bible, synopsis, trailer and a few scripts ready’.

Lastly, MIPJunior organizes today at 5.45pm the 2015 MIPJunior World Premiere TV Screening of Zorro the Chronicles (26x’22), an action comedy series produced by Cyber Group Studios (France) in association with Zorro Productions, Blue Spirit Studios, France Televisions and RAI. CGS distributes the series worldwide, and hosts the Opening Party at 7pm at Martinez Hotel.

Nicolas Smirnoff, Fabricio Ferrara & Rodrigo Cantisano