ATF 2015: the future is here, now

Yeow Hui Leng, senior project director ATF, Reed Exhibitions: ‘We are excited to collectively move Asian industry forward to the next level. Here it can be found the best of the entertainment content industry, to buy and sell content, co-produce and distribute’.

The business is up in every Asian market, but especially in Southeast Asia, where the main TV companies, entities are joining forces to get stronger. For instance, the last day of the show, a key meeting between MDA (Singapore) and FINAS (Malaysia) took place, to discuss a possible Co-production Treaty.

Dato Kamil Othman, director general, FINAS: ‘We are concentrating our forces in the Asian region, there is a lot of work to do here. We don’t have just to create contents, we need to develop “Content as a Brand” (Star Wars, Bond). First, we need to hear what does the global market needs, discuss with trendsetters, etc. We are in that stage at FINAS’.

Free TV is focused on big TV shows (entertainment formats); Pay TV is looking for niche content, factual, lifestyle, dramas; and digital platforms, stars of this ATF, are expanding and looking for co-productions partners. The common denominator is local production, the main competitor according to international distributors.

Local production is now more sophisticated and with better quality values. Every country is learning, or helped by governmental initiatives or private ventures. Companies are not only producing for the domestic markets, they are also exporting: MCN Media, one of the biggest groups in Indonesia, Working Point, producer of Thailand and Gold Cinema Group, Kazakhstan, have been exhibiting in ATF for the first time. Asia Pacific business seems to be limitless.

Globalization is here, and it is expressed through some of these deals: Latin Media (Malaysia/USA) will launch at NATPE Miami for Latin America three new Filipino telenovelas, from GMA; the distributor already manages a catalogues of series from Taiwan, China, Philippines, Korea and Peru. ABS-CBN has sold the series Bridges of Love to a Peruvian broadcaster, while The Promise format is being considered by Latin American broadcasters. From and towards, joining forces, picking up the best partners. Take the risk, the moment is now.

For next year, Reed Exhibitions confirmed the launch of ATF Formats Pitch with all3media International (UK), whose CEO, Steve Macallister, was in Singapore: ‘This initiative is a key element of our strategy in Asia: to build relationships with good local producers. Great content always travels and we are keen on tapping into the excellent talent base of the region’. The event is a competition aimed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and talent between the leading international companies and Asian-based producers.

It was very curious to notice in Singapore the “MIPCancun effect”. Aware of this show held last month in Cancun, Mexico, some companies requested Reed Midem to organize a similar show in Asia next year. MIPCancun formula has been very successful: 3-days convention, selected buyers invited and meetings arranged by the organization matching two side preferences.

Prensario checked the information with the French organizer, and a source confirmed it is aware of these request, and that some possibilities are being taken into consideration. Much more is expected for next year ATF edition. Don’t miss it.

Fabricio Ferrara, from Singapore