With just over a week to go until the start of MIPCOM, we caught up with Laurine Garaude, director, Television Division of Reed Midem, for an up-to-the-minute interview to find out what’s the latest for this year’s event.
Do you expect growth and in which areas (digital, broadcast, pay, etc.)?
This is going to be a very strong MIPCOM. We are expecting over 12,500 participants including 4,400 buyers, 500 of them digital buyers from the around the world.
We will also welcome a number of new exhibitors and regional pavilions. We have an outstanding content program with an exceptional roster of Mastermind keynote speakers and creative talent including Harvey Weinstein, Jane Campion, YouTube’s Robert Kyncl, Hulu’s Jason Kilar, Sony’s Andrea Wong, Warner Bros. Television Group’s Bruce Rosenblum, One Three Media’s Mark Burnett, A + E Networks’ Nancy Dubuc and more.
Also one of the highlights will be FX’s The Americans, which is MIPCOM’s World Premiere TV Screening.
What makes this edition different from past editions? Is there anything new?
We are delighted to have Canada as the Country of Honour. As a leading country for the export of programs, we are focusing on this dynamic production market and highlighting Canadian excellence in international co-productions with a particular focus on scripted dramas, animation, documentaries, experimental and digital media.
Leading Canadian industry figures, Pierre-Karl Péladeau, president and CEO of Quebecor Inc., and Wade Oosterman, president of Bell Mobility and Residential Services, will each be giving a keynote address.
Other highlights will include matchmaking sessions between Canadian producers and leading international companies who are looking to co-produce with Canadians. There will be numerous screening sessions of Canadian content: a special Fresh TV from Canada, a Focus on Multiplatform Content and a focus on Multiplatform Content for Kids at MIPJunior.
It looks as though the Latin American element is strengthening; is it part of a deliberate strategy or an organic development?
The strong Latin American presence and focus on Latin America at this MIPCOM is a reflection of this fast growing market. There are many new exhibitors including new pavilions from Colombia and Chile, with exhibiting newcomers, like Canal 13 Chile and TV Films International.
The Argentinean and Mexican pavilions are both expanding in size due to new exhibiting companies, for example Argentina’s INCAA.
The growth of the US Hispanic market is also having a significative impact with the presence of U.S. Hispanic broadcaster Estrella TV and US Hispanic company, Somo Distribution.
We are extremely honored to award Televisa’s Emilio Azcárraga Jean as this MIPCOM’s Personality of the Year. He will be giving a keynote address on Wednesday, October 10th and will be recognized at a Gala Dinner that evening.
We are also particularly delighted that Adriana Cisneros, Vice Chairman and Director of Strategy of the Cisneros Group of Companies, will be the guest keynote at the first LATAM Global Dealmakers Networking Lunch.
This new senior level gathering, will bring together some of the most influential entertainment executives from Latin America and worldwide who are driving the growth in international co-productions and media investment deals in and out of the Americas. The lunch will be sponsored by Telemundo Internacional and TVN Chile.
Are you leveraging the strength of MIPCOM to re-invigorate MIPTV?
MIP-TV and MIPCOM are both the major industry events at six-month intervals and in many ways they “invigorate” each other.
MIPCOM is the distribution market for content across all platforms and, because of its timing in the business cycle, where many new major global programs are launched.
It is also a platform for high level thought leadership events. I mentioned before the LATAM Global Networking lunch. We are also introducing this year the first Women in Global Entertainment Power Lunch in partnership with Lifetime Networks.
MIP-TV, while very similar in terms of the distribution side, has a greater focus on production, new talent and digital innovation. This has been the case for several years, but given the growing importance of early stage discussions and new business models this is increasing with a large focus on international co-productions, new content creation with ad agencies and brands, and the evolving digital video entertainment ecosystem (MIPCube).
2013 will be a particularly exciting MIP-TV, as it will be its 50th anniversary. We will be celebrating the industry and its leaders and innovation and creativity at the heart of the event.
