RioContentMarket 2016: business regulation, digital, co-productions

The intense and dynamic of the show is notorious: meetings take place everywhere, while high quality panels convene in seven different rooms discussing the hot topics of the Brazilian and international TV industries: business regulation, content trends, what do buyers want and much more.

The figures are impressive: about 1,180 business meetings have been scheduled with more than 1,000 projects being presented; 206 executives speak at the conferences; 198 key players acquire content. There are 32 countries represented and delegations from 6 countries (Argentina, Canada, France, UK, South Africa and Germany) are exhibiting at RCM.

Two of the major issues surged at the panel with Manoel Rangel, president-director at Ancine: 'The decision of the Supreme Court (the increase of 28 percent in the tax the telecommunication companies have to pay to finance the audiovisual sector) is a confirmation of the founding model we have implemented for this segment of business. We will continue with second and third versions of programs such us Brasil em todas as Teles (Brazil at all the screens)'. And he added: 'The sector is mature enough for the next step: the regulation of the VOD market, which will allow independent producers to have new opportunities'.

Regarding Argentina, the new authorities at the INCAA outlined the goals for the next years: Alejandro Casetta, president, and Ralph Haiek, VP, said the focus will be on a Cinema + TV sustainable model, but also on “building” audiences. “We need to plan sustainable investments from the State not as subsidies, but focused on promoting the industry as a whole”, they remarked. New partnerships and co-production treaties have been announced with Latin American countries, with special focus on Brazil. On the other hand, PACT (UK) and the Brazilian Film Commission have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding during RCM 2016.

Several panels showcasing documentary buyers have been organized during Day 1: Al Arabiya (UAE), First HDTV (Russia), TVP (Poland), Canal 22 (Mexico), ZDF-Arte (France-Germany) and NHK (Japan). They are looking for high quality productions about natural history, science, sports and current affairs, while they also attend RCM to seek co-production partners.

Globo TV Prime Time: Supermax, was the last session of the day, with a full auditorium watching the first trailer of this miniseries (12 episodes). Scriptwriters, creators and developers, including Daniel Burman, CEO, Estudio Burman (Argentina), described this project; it will premiere within the second half of the year on Globo TV. It combines different genres such us reality, thriller, terror; an international version in Spanish is also being developed, Azteca (Mexico) has been the very first network interested in this project.

Industry news? Keshet International CEO, Alon Shtruzman, introduced the brand new format Elevator Pitch, which has been developed with e Brazilian producer Ricardo Bellino. 'We are seeing less global content and much more locally developed content', he asserted. Dubbing house Universal Cinergia (USA), headed by Liliam Hernadez and Gema Lopez, attends the market for the first time and has announced its first deal: it will dub the Portuguese version of Sila (from Turkish broadcaster ATV) for Band in Brazil.

Fabricio Ferrara, from Rio de Janeiro