ATF 2012: joining forces is the formula for success

Yesterday, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar were highlighted as growing markets. Kyaw San, managing director of Multimedia Group, explained about Cambodia: ‘We are programming the analog TV station MWD and six new digital channels: MWD Series, MWD Movies, MWD Music & Sports, MWD Documentaries & Entertainment, MWD Shopping and MWD Variety, offering wider options to the audience’.

A new channel from Mongolia is attending ATF: Mongol TV; private network KTK from Kazakhstan has brought more executives this year. JTBC, controlled by one of the largest newspapers in South Korea, celebrates a year in the local TV market: at ATF it is promoting two new drama series; 80% of its lineup fetures in-house productions.

Digital is another big issue across Asia: Toggle, launched yesterday by MediaCorp Singapore, offers the channels produced by the group, international channels, and also VOD channels like Toggle Kids, exclusively for that platform, explained Julian Lit, VP, Programming and Marketing. Broadcasters and brands are investing on ‘second screen’ and social TV projects, while mobile becomes strategic as the penetration of this service grows steadily. For instance, M2B (Singapore) will provide its contents to Vietnamese VASC Software and Media Company platform, which targets overseas Vietnamese communities.

Nearly half of adult Australians (49%) own a mobile phone connected to Internet, twice the number from last year, announced the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), with half of the country going online at least daily, the typical Aussie citizen spending 82 hours a month on internet. ‘Mobile and internet services are the drivers for the digital economy’, said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.

Associations, co-developments, co-productions have become a “must” in the nowadays media landscape, not only to save money in  production expenses but also to reach more screens around the world. Malaysia is a great example of this. Two deals were announced during a Networking Luncheon organized by FINAS. Young Jump Animation (Malaysia) will co-produce with Motion Pictures (Spain) and Sample (Italy) its animated series Pumpkin Reports’.

Turner International Asia-Pacific has confirmed the fifth and sixth seasons (66 episodes) of action adventure comedy series Roll N° 21, produced by Animasia Studios (Malaysia), which has also confirmed sales of the edutaiment series for preschoolers ABC Monsters on Suria (MediaCorp).

Datuk Md Afendi, chairman of FINAS, launched the new marketplace, KLCCIM, targeting the movie, TV, arts and culture industries. 300 worldwide buyers and 200 Asian sellers will be to Kuala Lumpur in March 2013 to promote Malaysia as filming location. ‘Cooperation with international partners is a big part of our success’, remarks Afendi.

What have the buyers been looking for? Leng Raymundo, ABS-CBN (The Philippines): ‘Korean series and movies from Hong Kong’. Kiki Zulkaarnain, ANTV (Indonesia): ‘Kids programming and reality shows’. Nivedith Alva, Miditech (India): ‘Entertainment formats’. Syahrizan Mansor, Nick Asia: ‘Animation and comedy series’. Gunasegaran Kaliannan, SingTel (Singapore): ‘Sport and Indian contents’. Amiruddin Mohamad, RTB (Brunei): ‘Drama and comedy series’.

By Fabricio Ferrara

Second report: ATF 2012: Asia is ready for business
First report: ATF 2012: new players in the attractive Asian scenario