Ahead of MIP-TV (which starts on Monday), we thought we’d catch up with Laurine Garaude, director of the Television Division of Reed MIDEM, to find out what’s in store. Below are some excerpts from our conversation:
VideoAge International: What are you expecting in terms of numbers?
Laurine Garaude: We are projecting over 11,000 attendees from 100 countries this year and 1,600 exhibiting companies. We’re expecting 4,000 buyers, and we have over 800 VoD/ digital buyers, which is 30 percent more than last year.
In terms of exhibitors, the top countries continue to be: the U.S., the U.K., France and Germany. In terms of important progressions, we’re seeing increases from Russia and Ukraine, and a continuing increase in presence from China. Participation is also up from Brazil and Mexico and Latin America as a whole.
VAI: Anything new this year?
LG: On the occasion of MIP-TV’s 50th anniversary, we are extremely pleased to support the UN Education First initiative, which will mobilize the entire international TV and online ecosystem to create together a real impact on the global movement to make education a priority, and to ensure that by 2015 every child has an education.
As part of UN Education First drive at MIP-TV, there will be a “Countdown for Global Education” networking lunch for top executives presided by former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and in partnership with the Gucci “Chimes for Change” enterprise.
We are launching the MIP-TV Medailles d’honneur, where we will be honoring executives from around the world for their contributions to the international television community. We will continue to do this in coming years, and are pleased to be introducing these for our 50th anniversary.
VAI: Why is MIP still such an important event?
LG: In addition to the distribution negotiations, which are core to MIP-TV, the changing industry creates a greater need for making new contacts with new entrants to the ecosystem, and with new territories.
The need for partnerships has increased, and so has the need for exchange, discovery of new trends, technologies and new talent.
This is precisely why we created MIPCube, and also MIPFormats, which are discovery and community/contact building events.
The economy has also created a greater need for finding financing which is why co-productions have grown to new heights, with high quality and very successful productions increasingly being co-produced.
MIP-TV has developed a very strong co-production component allowing for partnership discussions at a very early stage in development. The result of this is an increased participation by producers with a rise of eight percent more in attendance.
VAI: Can you tell us some more about MIPCube?
LG: This year MIPCube is an integral part of MIP-TV. The goal of MIPCube is to create a forum for innovation, exchange and partnership for the enlarged TV ecosystem.
It brings together agencies and brands with tech companies, start ups and new video producers in a context conducive to networking and at the heart of the leading content market that is MIP-TV.
