ATF 2014: Digital is the name of the game in Asia-Pacific

About 5,000 attendees from 60 countries were confirmed by Reed Exhibitions, including emerging markets such as Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Though buyer number was not still confirmed by the organization, it is estimated an attendance of 800 buying executives, including new broadcasters (mainly DTT) and digital platforms.

Prensario has noticed new digital players at this ATF: for instance, the mobile TV channel iBolz (Indonesia) and the aggregator Grey Juice Lab. Moreover, VOD systems Tonton-Media Prima (Malaysia) and TFCnow-ABS-CBN (The Philippines) are evolving to SVOD offerings. At the same time, there are software development companies, such us Cloudpic (Singapore), which is producing animation and visual effects for several projects in which is involved.

Stressing the digital growth, a top US distributor comments: ‘At the four most important meetings I’ve had with broadcasters this ATF, I’ve discussed digital business, which was not expected. Definitely, it is something that is booming in Asia. In terms of development, the digital era is similar to other emerging regions as Latin America, but here it is better organized’.

With the Opening Ceremony organized during the morning of December 10, the first day of the market showed its best face: there is more collaboration between Asian companies, which are becoming more professional on the content production side. Joining forces, they are able to reach international markets easier.

Michelle Lim, managing director, Reed Exhibitions, said: ‘Asia is moving towards a golden age of entertainment content, and an integrated market like ATF & ScreenSingapore, provides a platform for exposure, collaboration opportunities, networking and trade’.

Lawrence Wong, from the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) Singapore, remarked: ‘A more affluent and discerning middle class is spending more money on entertainment: China, India and Indonesia are growing rapidly, and Singapore is well-positioned on that context. We are a gateway between East and West, helping Western companies to expand into Asia, and vice versa. We are also financing films produced in the region’.

Before the Opening Ceremony, the minister had participated in the signing of the first China-Singapore film fund launched by China’s Bona Film in partnership with Singapore-based fund management company Tembusu Partners, and Singaporean media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng. The USD 100 millions closed-end 5-years fund will be formalized on March 2015, and will be the first to allow foreign investors to participate in China’s media market.

Among other top news, it was launched Tech TV, Asian first dedicated platform through regional pay-TV, online and mobile systems, focused on championing consumer technology, start-ups and entrepreneurship. It is focused on urban consumers aged between 21 to 45 years old.

Launched in 2013, the non-profit Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) has signed during this ATF various Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), as a collaboration with the crowd-funding Australian portal Pozible, an alliance with the Motion Picture Association of Cambodia (MPAC), and a co-production between co-founder of SAAVA, Justin Deimen, Chan Gin Kai, from Silver Media Group, and American producer Ross Campbell; it is for the English-language feature film The 100 Yards, which will be shot on the Philippines and takes financing, talent and crew from around the region.

Continuing with collaborative projects, Comarex/Azteca presented the actors of its co-production with Malaysian producer Global Station for Astro (Malaysia) A love to remember, which will be launched on the first quarter of 2015 on Astro Bella (9pm slot). ‘This is an evolution of the relationship we have been building together after many seasons of talent show La Academia. We still have two more TV series to produce, and we are trying to match needs of both parts to select the best titles’, commented Marcel Vinay Jr., CEO, Comarex, and Khairul Anwar Salleh, VP, Malay Business, Astro.

Fabricio Ferrara, from Singapore