Natpe Budapest: new TV channels & more local production

About the bad feelings, the executives consulted mention the crisis and the US Studios screenings as the main reasons. But, when they are asked about their meetings (quality and quantity), they say they are pretty the same of last year and mostly of them have been accomplished so far.

‘At the end, the most important thing here is to meet new companies to introduce our products and to consolidate the relationship with the clients. The number of people in a trade show should not be a problem for us, every time we fulfill our business aims’, a very well-known distributor from Europe said.

About the new ventures, there are new TV channels in Czech Republic, where Česká televize will release in August its new kids channel CT:D, completing 5 networks all in all; in Hungary, where MTVA has re-launched m2 as a kids station focused on target 4-12; and in Poland, where the largest commercial media group TVN has launched a new generalist network, TTV.

Yesterday morning, moderated by Julian Clover, editor at Broadband TV News, Extending the Value of Content-Beyond Borders and Across Platforms offered a general view of the increasing local production trends across CEE. Antony Root, EVP original programming and production, HBO Europe, summarized: ‘The best TV is possible, but audience have to understand that they have to pay for it. We did really well with Czech, Polish, Romanian and Hungarian versions of the Israeli format In Treatment, as well with the Czech story Burning Bush and Shall we kiss? (Israel), which second season will be on air in Hungary’.

Peter Radnai, director of Local Production, Chello Central Europe, highlighted: ‘Local production gives a channel both identification (to distinguish itself from competitors), ratings (local attention), and marketing values (it creates local heroes)’. Patty Geneste, chairman at the Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA), remarked the values of the organization in defending original formats and described the services provided to its members (price calculator, bible generator, etc.).

Lastly, Nessima Boudi, sales manager, Eurodata, said the worldwide TV viewership grew +1 minute in 2012, being +7 minutes in Europe. ‘Crossing the data from all channels and countries, the most watched genres are entertainment (41%), fiction (38%) and factual (28%). Talent formats (The Voice-Talpa in 16 countries or Your face sounds familiar-Endemol in 20 countries), British fiction (Downtown Abbey sold in 100 countries), nostalgia period dramas (Mr. Selfridge) and bold stories (Utopia-Shine) are the big trends worldwide’.

US Studios also concluded their screenings yesterday with CBS in the morning, attended by close to 60 buyers; Fox and NBCUniversal from 1pm to 5pm, gathering over 40 buyers each. The acquisition executives consulted, highlighted Under the Dome, Gang Related, and Ironside, respectively, as the top series.

By the end of the day, Natpe organized with MTVA (Hungary) the welcome party at the Sofitel hotel. Rod Perth summarized the achievements of this year edition (more exhibitors, new investments), while Zsuzsanna Kálomista, director of archives and program acquisitions, stressed the new programming slate the sales division is promoting in Budapest, and the re-launch of new kids channels m2. ‘We also want to congratulates the local producers (two digital journalists) of On the spot, that won the Golden Nymph in Monte Carlo TV Festival as Best News Documentary’, completed Kálomista.

Fabricio Ferrara, from Budapest

Full Story June 25 | June 24