Video Age International February-March 2016

18 March 2016 V I D E O A G E Discop Istanbul one umbrella stand as sign of discontent. Some wondered why Discop’s Zuchowicki Jucaud did not merge with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which successfully organized an umbrella stand at MIPCOM. After showing interest initially, Globus Fairs did not reply to VideoAge ’s e-mail questions. However, at NATPE, Zuchowicki Jucaud told VideoAge that he did, indeed, try contact the ICC, only to be told that they can only operate outside Turkey. In any case, he wanted to reassure Turkish distributors: “I’m now back in full control of Discop Istanbul and in addition, I managed to get the Tech Export Union of Turkey to invite 100 buyers with all expenses paid by them. At this point we have 350 buyers already committed,” he said. Zuchowicki Jucaud founded Discop Istanbul in 2010. Hakan Adiguzel and his wife, Ozlem, started Globus Fairs as a show for local grocery markets. All Turkish companies are reluctant to talk about the discord with Globus, except to say that at Discop, the major distributors will be under They added the hardware-related Istanbul TV Forum and Fair (ITVF) in May 2013. ITVF continued in June 2014. After a hiatus in 2015, the conference will return in 2016, and will be held together with Discop Istanbul, March 1-3. In April 2014, VideoAge reported that the partnership with Globus alarmed Turkish distributors, who foresee an increase in costs. At the upcoming Discop, the big six Turkish distributors (ATV, Calinos, Global Agency, ITV, Kanal D and TRT) have all agreed to exhibit under the pavilion, and not in large individual booths as they traditionally do. “We are welcoming a bigger delegation of exhibitors from China and fromKorea andwe will refocus the attention on Turkey, CIS, CEE and MENA countries in order to bring to the market the core 400- plus buying companies from these regions,” Zuchowicki Jucaud said. Becauseof turmoil in theMiddle East, the region is expected to send fewer buyers. Discop organizers will compensate with buyers from Central Asia, Russia and North Africa. On the concern for potential acts of terrorismlikethosethataffected Paris, theU.S. Department of State put Turkey on the “warning” list only for its southeastern territory (on the Syria border) on par with some areas of Mexico, Israel and Colombia. A less dire warning is an “alert” the State Department issues for such countries as Tunisia and Uganda. At the same time the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, issued a “travel guidance” related to the Zika virus for 14 countries and territories in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Meanwhile, in order to strengthen the market, and as a show of confidence toward Turkey, Zuchowicki Jucaud is considering moving Discop start from March to June for its 2017 edition, or reinforcing the March dates with a new strategic alliance. (Continued from Cover) Patrick Zuchowicki Jucaud A children's property that'll make you take another look at your toys For more information, contact Cathy Malatesta, President of Lawless Entertainment at +1 (323) 201-2678 or visit www.lawlessent.com