Discop West Asia 2013: 30% more participants

Apart from representatives of those territories, there is a significant presence of Central and Eastern European countries, especial from the former Yugoslavian territories (Croatia, Serbia, etc.), as well as some Bulgarian, Romanian and Russian broadcasters and producers. 

Also, there are new broadcasters and pay TV platforms from former Soviet countries like Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; a bigger number of representatives from Lebanon and Middle East in general, and some Indian, Malaysian and Philippines companies. 

‘There are all kind of things to do here, as some of the countries in these regions are just maturing in the TV business’, highlighted a buyer during the previous day of the show. This is a feeling shared with the distributors: apart from the Turkish Kanal D, Global Agency, ITV, TRT, Calinos, and regional producers, many major Latin distribution companies are here, as Televisa, Telemundo/TVN, Venevision, TV Azteca, Globo and Caracol.

The organizer Basic Lead informed that there are 734 participants pre-registered (representing 403 companies), with 220 buying companies and 100 producers, 30% up from 2012. About 100 more participants (40-50 companies) are expected during the three-day convention. The distributors are divided in three rooms in two levels, and top Turkish distributors have exclusives separated rooms.

Yesterday, Patrick Jucaud-Zuchowicki, CEO of the organizer, commented to Prensario: ‘There is a shift in the center of gravity, these regions are playing a strategic role in the content business. Even when the political and social realities are unstable, the TV markets are growing fast’.

‘I think TV brings peace to these countries, playing a key social role and bringing together different cultures. The world is taking note about this, and it is turning back to this part of the world. The most important thing we see here is that Discop is not anymore a regional market, but an international hub with companies from the entire world’, he remarked.

According to the executive, there is more drama production in countries like Egypt and Lebanon (following the Turkish trend), who are also selling their contents here in Istanbul. Co-production is a big trend, as well: DISCOPRO gathers 18 new projects that are looking for partners. 

Discop West Asia is not only confirmed for March 4-6 2014, but also there are big news: it will change the venue. Jacaud-Zuchowicki completed: ‘We will move the market to the Istanbul Convention Center (close from the Ceylan Intercontinental), as we need more space. All distributors will be at the same place as a traditional floor. We are already selling those spaces and we are having tremendous feedback, fortunately’.

By Fabricio Ferrara, from Istanbul