BCM 2016: Korean content at its best moment

Korean distributors are the stars, but there are also representatives from other countries, such us China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, as well as ITV Studios (UK), Talpa (Netherlands) and Eccho Rights (Sweden), and two Latin American companies, Caracol TV International (Colombia) and Telefe International (Argentina). All them are here for the very first time, and have found at BCM a good business hub to explore.

It is also the first BCM for Prensario, who had the opportunity to see the best and most recent drama series from Korea. Leading companies KBS, MBC, SBS, CJ and JTBC use BCM platform to release their brand new dramas. The common denominator is romance stories, but there also are epic dramas, comedies and mystery.

KBS launches the love story Uncontrollably Fond (20x’70), while MBC presents the period drama Flower of Prison (50x’70). SBS exhibits the music series The Entertainer (16x’70), while CJ the drama Dear My Friends (16x’60) and JTBC the historical fantasy drama Secret Healer (20x’70). It is a good selection of the wide offer of Korean dramas. 

South East Asia buyers are very aware of the new releases from Korea and they are mostly buying romance series. ‘Love stories always work well in our market’, highlights Rachel Simon, head of acquisitions at ABS-CBN, the leading broadcaster in The Philippines. ‘But we are also looking for mystery and suspense dramas’.

Indonesian broadcasters used to program a good quantity of Korean dramas on prime time, but new competitors have appeared: ‘First the local dramas, which are the top rated shows on TV. Second, Indian and Turkish series. We still buy Korean, but TV channels are placing them on day time. They continue to do very well’, explains Sophie Djudzman, CEO of the distribution company Red Candle.

Cambodia is similar example, trying for new drama origins. In Sri Lanka, the national broadcaster Sri Lanka Rupavahini TV Corporation is looking for ‘all types of dramas, but must be originally produced in English’, says M.A.L Priyankara, from the secretary programme procurement committee.

Korean dramas are being tested in Central Asian markets, as Pakistan or the CIS with good results. Buyers from Middle East and North Africa are in Busan looking for the best titles for their region. ‘We still have not broadcast any series, as we mostly program Arabic content. But we are opened to see series that can fit our requests’, says a buyer from Qatar.

Apart from Korea, the buyers have highlighted the quality production from Taiwanese series, whose companies are also promoting Virtual Reality content, as well as from Hong Kong and China. All these countries are well represented this BCM edition.

Drama series are the most requested genre from South Korea, but the country has a wide content offering. For instance, Arirang TV is promoting its high quality documentaries; Channel A, reality shows; and Grafizix new animation projects. They are a proof that there is much more to explore in this market.

Fabricio Ferrara, from Busan