Convenciones
CEE TV market evolves fast, Natpe Budapest must do the same
As an outcome, Natpe Budapest has stressed, more than solved, its evolving problems after this 2013 edition. Though quite many executives finished the market pleased, complains about buyer assistance and networking tools were lauder than last years. Natpe organization must follow participants feedback to improve the show next year.Prague appears to be the next city where Natpe would place its CEE tradeshow. Yet, nothing was confirmed by the organization, but in case the research made during the show concludes that it should be a change, the Czech Republic capital city seems to be the best replacement for Budapest, because of its distinctiveness and the local TV industry tips, agreed some of the participants consulted by Prensario.
Meanwhile, TV business continues to evolve fast in Central & Eastern Europe. In Russia, prodco Amedia released by the end of May the free basic cable channels Amedia 1 (legendary seasons of series and films) and Amedia 2, formerly known as Amedia Channel (series locally produced) and Amedia Premium with a cost of €2.5 (content from Amedia foreign partners). It also released this month Amediateka.ru, an internet portal that offers online all the Amedia channels content; users will also be able to watch movies, series, etc. for €5.7.
Pink has just launched 30 channels in Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro. They will have 60 channels in September and, eventually, 100 by the end of the year. In general, there are more cable channels within the region: for example, while Croatia, Hungary and Czech Republic begun this trend some years ago, Slovenia has concluded the launch of eight networks in two years.
In Macedonia, after A1 was closed, Alpha took its frequency becoming the fifth nationwide TV station, apart from Sitel (the leading one), Kanal 5, MTV (public) and Alsat. ‘Turkish series are the top rated programs in our market. For next year, we are analyzing which is the best way to produce our first own series (building studios, hiring talent, etc.)’, explains Dejan Zerajic, program and acquisition manager at Kanal 5.
In Hungary, ATV, a basic news cable channel is adding new programming to its grid, apart from its mainstream genre. Emese Boda, acquisition and programming coordinator, comments: ‘We are now looking for series and TV movies, especially, about politics, current affairs and public life that exhibit themes with an international appeal’.
Local production is always the top trend. Some buyers choose to produce this year due to main three reasons: 1) its not so expensive; 2) it offers audience loyalty; 2) it brings better ratings. ‘The top worldwide fiction producers are Latin America, Turkey, Asia, Western Europe: there are more and more year to year. But right now we see that the hardest competitor is local production’, said a distributor.
Fabricio Ferrara, from Budapest