ATF 2012: taking the content business to the next era

A buyer from The Philippines highlighted: ‘ATF is a great market because it is quiet and we have more time to spend with the companies, without needing to run to other meetings. It allows us to visit sellers to acquire content, but also meet buyers to show our most recent productions’.

Regarding the exhibitors, a top Malaysian animation producer said: ‘We notice a big evolution of ATF. A few years ago, there were plenty of agents and distributors seeking content, but in this edition we directly have met broadcasters and producers. Our staff has been busy full time’.

The 13th edition of the show confirmed that the Asian companies are ready to take content business to the next era. The relationship between international and Asian companies is bigger and stronger, as the former ones are not only interested in doing local business, but also to expand to other markets, especially Europe, Middle East and Latin America, with co-productions and co-development.

In this context, China grabs most of the attention. Just prior to this ATF opening, a new joint venture between Talpa Holdings (the creator of hit music format The Voice) and Puji Star Media, which created Talpa China Star to develop TV formats for the booming Chinese market was announced.

Shangai Media Group has closed another joint venture with TVB, the largest free TV station in Hong Kong. ‘They are well known drama producers with a unique style; during the last 20 years their series have been very successful in Southeast Asia, so we want to generate together new ideas for the Chinese market. We have started a co-production that will be premiered in early 2013’, remarked to Prensario a source from SMG.

Multimedia Development Corporation, one of the pioneer Malaysian entities promoting local content, is promoting the Malaysian animation and videogame industries. It gathers 270 companies, half of them producing 3D animation and 50 focused on post production and visual effects. 

Kamil Othman, VP & director, explained: ‘We generate multimedia content for other platforms outside TV (tablets, mobile, etc.), specifically on animation. We have a challenging role looking for strategic partners outside Asia (Europe and Latin America) that understand the worldwide market needs’. Saladin, co-produced with Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (Qatar) was sold to ToonGoggles.com in USA (Internet) and China Mobile, for example.

Through MDA, Singapore announced three co-production deals on ATF Day 2. Moving Bits is co-developing factual series The Eagle and The Dragon: stories from inside China with PBS (USA) and China Intercontinental Communication Center (CICC), while Beach House Picture has joined forces with Northern Pictures, ABC and Screen Australia to produce Kakadu, a documentary about Australia’s heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.

Indonesia is another key territory. With more than 10 national broadcasters, the country is facing a tremendous competition: RCTI and SCTV keeps being the #1 and #2 channels, but the other stations are investing a lot in new ideas. TransTV and MNC TV (MNC Group owns RCTI, Global TV and MNC TV) are behind them, while ANTV takes the fifth position in prime time, according to Kiki Ied Fikri, general manager.

By Fabricio Ferrara

Third report: ATF 2012: joining forces is the formula for success
Second report: ATF 2012: Asia is ready for business
First report: ATF 2012: new players in the attractive Asian scenario