Mipcom 2017: content business to a new level

At the second day of MIPJunior, two events called the attention: first, Netflix conference, where Andy Yeatman, head of global kids content, stressed that now the hot topics for the target are fantasy, universal themes, series with an easy, understandable, highly visual and physical hook. ‘We are looking for top IPs in local markets, formats that travel well, top studios and creators, differentiated shows and premium content’.

International kids shows are gaining space on Netflix platform, with content from 49 countries  -just 57% of kids’ titles are produced in North America. ‘We passed from 2 titles in 2013 (1 animation and 1 live action) to 37 in 2017 (5 live action series, 19 animations and 11 preschool series)’.

Second, Russian Export Center organized an Animation Snack N’Screen, confirming the protagonism of the country in Cannes this year. Nine production companies presented shows including one 12’ film, two series targeted to 8 to 12 years old girls, and six series for preschoolers. Trends include learning shows that interacts with the environment and contents that appeal for the whole family.

At night, the big event was the 25th anniversary of Mexican TV Azteca, with 200 top industry people at the Magestic hotel. Benjamin Salinas Sada, CEO, said: ‘When I started, we had 21% share in Mexico. Now we have 35%. We’ve changed our ADN to be more innovative and efficient. The new step in the evolution is Dopamine, a premium content, iconic style, for global audiences, independent entity’. USD 200 millions are approved to support the first ventures.

Also, Sony introduced its new spy TV series Counterpart, with a screening + cocktail for 100 buyers, starred by J.K Simmons and Olivia Williams; Turkish distributor Calinos provided a warm private dinner for acquisition executives and FRAPA, format protection association, organized its Members Meeting, honoring co-founder David Lyle -he passed away recently-  and stressing its new successful services: Legal Report 2017, to rightly proceed in legal format causes, and Format Analysis System, to recognize a true format from a copied one.

Trendy buyer opinions? Lisette Van Diepen, head of entertainment formats at Sony: ‘Entertainment is the new Black. There are many hits, they are more cost-efficient than fiction and there are lots of things to do at international markets’. Michael Mok, Sr. Programme office TVB, Honk Kong: ‘Last years we had 3D, VR, but now nothing is too new. Our country has ups & downs since it is behind Chinese Government. Economy is instable, but there are good investments’.

Ana María Nunez, acquisitions director, Fox/NatGeo Latin America: ‘Buying for kids you have to move in advance, at the origin of the product. If it is already finished, it is not so good if it is still available’. Javier Uriarte, acquisitions director Atresmedia, Spain: ‘In kids we like the transgressor series, as Netflix’s Rick and Morty. We are rebranding our DTT Neox, with a 3 hours slot for kids’.

Iris Xia, deputy GM, Star China: ‘We are very succesful with big entertainment formats. We have an alliance with UK’s Syco, Path to Glory is the new step. We look for more ideas to develop’. Andres Mendoza, acquisitions at Univision, USA: ‘In Cannes, we search for telenovela formats to develop with our partner Televisa’.

Nicolás Smirnoff, Fabricio Ferrara and Rodrigo Cantisano