RioContentMarket 2016: crisis where?

Prior to the market openings, some participants were worried about how the political and economical situation in Brazil could affect it. But, nothing of that was reflected at the venue. There are deals being agreed everywhere at RCM, with new formulas and models taking shape within the local industry.

After the recent currency devaluation in Brazil and the increase in the production costs, Free TV players have begun to take advantages of the State-funding programs, such us Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual and Article 39 of the SeAC Law, through partnerships between independent production companies and Pay TV networks.

SBT partnered with Mixer for drama series A Garota da Moto: it will premiere on May in Brazil and will be distributed by the international division of the broadcaster. Fernando Sugueno, programming director at Band, has met new local producers at RCM, while the channel has teamed up with Turner for the series Terminadores, produced with the incentives the law provides.

The Free TV and Pay TV session was a good example of this trend: a panel with Hiran Silveira, co-productions head at Record; Fernando Pelegio, creative and artistic planning at SBT; Zico Goes, content director at FOX; Monica Pimentel, VP content at Discovery Networks Brazil, and Joao Daniel Tikhomiroff, director-partner at Mixer, agreed that 'partnering for strategic projects is the best way to have a high quality project with international projection'. Competition programs such us Hells Kitchen or Batalha dos Confiteiros com Buddy Valstro were produced for SBT and Record, respectively, with airing on Discovery Networks channels as part of these alliances.

International deals? The Brazilian Film Commission Network (Rebrafic) and PACT (UK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote co-productions of films, TV and other audiovisual projects. The Canadian Media Found (CMF) closed a deal with funding agency SPCine from Sao Paulo to develop five joint projects between Brazilian and Canadian companies. Stephane Cardin, VP, Industry and Public Affairs at CMF presented one of the animation projects jointly with Kiko Mistrorigo, from TV PinGuim.

The Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimiento Economico e Social (BNDES) approved the support of more than USD 1.2 millions for producer Panoramica, half of it as investment and half repayable. Prodco will use the funds to open new offices in Sao Paulo and co-produce two series: thriller Sem Volta (13x45min), together with Chatrone for Record TV; and Drop, with Prosperidade Comunicaçoes e Filmes and Televisa Internacional Brazil, who will also hold the rights for international distribution. ‘Our final goal is to internationalize the company within the next year with Latin America being be the main target. That’s why we are partnering up with Televisa, as well as with other companies from Argentina and other countries’ explained Rodrigo Guimaraes, business development director.

Day 2 had as well strong panels headed by the Acquisitions and Programming executives at Yle (Finland), NRK Super (Norway), RUV (Iceland), RTP (Portugal), ITV (UK) and Latina TV (Peru) focusing on kids programming and drama series. One of the messages: the buyers request imagination, adventure and compelling characters narrating heart stories that evoke feelings.

Fabricio Ferrara, from Rio de Janeiro