Mipcom 2016: X-business drives X-content

Disney, through a Ben Pyne press conference, stressed that its next step is to focus on original production at every region, with local language, talent and alliances, setting a distance against local versions of studio TV series. Fernando Barbosa is usually a pioneer in Latin America, and has had unique success with "Hasta que te Conocí" (Until I met you), a biopic of Juan Gabriel, a famous Mexican singer, co-produced with Turner, TV Azteca (Mexico) and Telemundo (USA).

Keli Lee announced that ABC Studios, from now on, will focus on international co-productions and regional format acquisitions. Pyne also stressed the launching of Polaris, a division of Maker Studios (short contents) focused on computer games, following eSports fever.

Lionsgate is launching four in-house OTT channels. ‘Comic-Con HQ’, with comics fare, is already available. During the next quarter it will roll out ‘Pantalion’, with Latin films from its joint venture with Mexican Televisa. In 2017 it will release ‘LOL-Laugh out Loud’, with comedy and gags, and in 2019 ‘Shortlist’, applying the Tribeca studio library.

ITV Studios (UK) Introduced two fresh entertainment shows: “Five Golden Rings”, with Talpa (Netherlands) a physical game show where the floor is a giant led screen, and “This Time Next Year”, with Two Four Rights (UK), where participants are followed during a complete year while they try to reach a personal goal: losing weight, improving their marital relationship, etc.

Turner is engaged in the evolution of three of its channels --TNT, TBS and TruTV-- to better capture the millennial audience, featuring more genre mixtures, breaking-edge products, black comedies and quality sitcoms, that improve transmedia and social network activities. ‘Search Party’ is a good example of this transformation.

NBC Universal has launched Telemundo International Studios, which focus on developing high-level co-productions between two or more countries. Marcos Santana heads the new company, following his expertise with distributor Telemundo International.

The World Premiere at this Mipcom was devoted for the first time to a Russian TV series spoken in English, Star Media’s ‘Mata Hari’, distributed by German Red Arrow. TV Azteca (Mexico) is launching ‘Super series’, positioned between series and telenovelas in length and cost per episode. One of them, ‘Between run and live’ is aired almost simultaneously since this week in Azteca’s Channel 7 and Blim, the new OTT system owned by its archi-rival Televisa.

Astro, top Malaysian satellite platform, is developing through producer Global Station its third telenovela venture with Comarex (Mexico), now with Chilean Channel 13 format ‘Papa Ricki’. Astro and Comarex share distribution in Asia. Dato’ Kahirul Anwar Salleh, VP Astro: ‘We are well positioned regarding entertainment, we need to grow in scripted. With the Comarex product, ratings grew five times. Now we want to continue the trend. There are global fiction contents, very good to adapt’.

ITV Inter Medya (Turkey) signed a distribution deal with Spanish producer and distributor Secuoya Group, to represent its entertainment format catalogue in several territories. Additionally, ITV Inter Medya will produce some of the formats in Turkey.

Tibor Forizs, head of acquisitions at RTL Klub, Hungary: ‘Our main success this year is X Factor, but restyled: younger juries, etc. We let it rest one year, it was important. At that same time, there were big show investments in the country that resulted in big failures’.

Mondo TV (Italy) sealed a production deal with Chinese Henan York Animation, for three series to be completed by 2020, with an investment of USD 24 millions.

Japan ‘Country of Honor’? There are 500 delegates from Japan vs. 350 in 2015. The country is the second largest market in the world, after USA, with USD 37 billion and will grow 2.1% this year. From total media income expected for 2020, broadcast will represent 62%, satellite/cable 24% and online 6%. Animation is a key genre with an annual revenue of 1.825 trillion Yen, featuring global smashes such as “Dragon Ball”, “Naruto” and “Pokemon Go”. Technology is another key asset: by the Olympic Games of Tokyo 2020, the country expects to have 8K television fully developed.

Nicolás Smirnoff, Fabricio Ferrara and Rodrigo Cantisano