With MIP-TV less than a month away, VideoAge is ready with a sneak peek at what’s in store this April 13-16 in Cannes. According to organizer Reed Midem, 11,000 participants are expected from over 100 countries, with 3,800 buyers (1,000 of whom are buying for VOD) and 1,600 exhibiting companies.
In some respects it will be business as usual, with buyers, sellers and producers attending back-to-back meetings and capping those off with cocktail parties. As has become custom, MIP-TV is now only four days long (it used to be five), and all but two studios have decided not to attend. And the event will, once again, feature Mip Digital Fronts, which includes digital screenings and digital talks; MIP Formats (which kicks off two days before MIP) and Mip Doc, which also takes place before MIP and features 700 participants.
But for those planning on attending the event, here are some of the new-to-2015 things to expect for sure (the only unknown: whether the weather will be as rainy as usual).
- Keynote speakers include Jeremy Darroch, group chief executive and executive director at the U.K.’s Sky (who will deliver the Media Mastermind Keynote on Monday), Modern Family co-creator and executive producer Steven Levitan and Yannick Bollore, chairman and CEO of French advertising company Havas.
- Marriott International is MIP’s Brand of the Year in recognition of the company’s all-screens initiative, through its Global Content Studio. Karin Timpone, Marriott International’s Global Marketing Officer, and David Beebe, VP, Marriott Global Content Studio, will lead a keynote on Tuesday.
- A “Focus on Nordics” event will be held on Tuesday, with a series of conferences and networking events. More than 20 broadcasters, producers, distributors, digital media pioneers and creatives from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden will participate.
