Videoage International January 2018

20 January 2018 V I D E O A G E V ideoAge ’s first impression of the Moon Palace Resort, which this year housed the fourth edition of MIP Cancun, was that it was overwhelmingly large. The complex has three huge properties, each with 10 or more buildings for the room accommodations. MIP Cancun’s complex was called “Sunrise,” and was adjacent to the Moon Palace Arena and the Expo Center, where all MIP Cancun functions took place. Visitors were provided with maps, which at first sight resembled those that were used for WWII’s Normandy Invasion. However, visitors quickly learned not to follow them (or to rely on directions present on various paths), but rather to use their own navigational instincts to more quickly reach the “Sunrise” lobby. Although the three-day market officially began on Wednesday, November 15, most participants arrived a day early, which helped them get oriented, as well as allowed them to attend a “pre-opening” drinks reception sponsored by Turkey’s Calinos. Sitting at the lobby bar, Rosalind Rotundo, who was exhibiting with Miami-based VIP 2000 TV, marveled at how everything — including drinks and food — was included in the MIP Cancun registration fee of about U.S.$5,000 for one “Distribution Meeting” table and one person. (If two people wanted to take meetings at the table, it would have cost an additional U.S.$2,000.) Some exhibitors compared the event to NATPE Miami, which is considerably more expensive. But considering the larger number of buyers in attendance at the Miami event, most said that the higher NATPE costs are balanced out by the larger number of meetings scheduled with buyers during the January market. Also, even though “all-inclusive” is a good concept, in actuality it sometimes proved challenging, since Moon Palace hotel guests were given different hospital-style wristbands, color-coded according to the complex where they were staying. This meant that if someone housed at “Sunrise” wished to go to a restaurant in “The Grand” (another part of the Moon Palace), different colored wristbands were needed (at a cost of an extra U.S.$200 per day). However, to use the facilities in the third complex, the “Nizuc,” the “Sunrise” wristband did work. The wristband ID system did not sit well with most participants. On the market side, the guide listed 422 companies from 45 countries, but failed to specify whether they were sellers or buyers. According to Ted Baracos, MIP Cancun’s director, there were 160 buyers in attendance. Among the most surprising participating countries were Cuba, Finland, New Zealand and Venezuela. The market had 175 tables in all (compared to 142 last year), but that number did not reflect the total number of exhibitors since some companies, like CBS, had three tables. The event was different this year in that a board identifying the table number of the exhibiting companies—which historically had been present at the entrance to the “Distribution Meetings” section — was missing. This time, if one wanted to find out the table number of a distributor, an executive had to rely on the fact that companies were lined up in alphabetical order. But buyers did receive a list with table numbers in advance of the market, together with instructions stating that each meeting was to last no more than 25 minutes. That’s when a bell would ring. Buyers then had an additional five minutes to proceed to their next meeting. In addition to the market, which consisted of MIP Cancun’s traditional one-on-one meetings, there was a newly introduced co-production matchmaking event (renamed “In-Development”) that also consisted of one-on-one meetings. There were also several 30-minute roundtables with various TV network executives. The co-production matchmaking event had 55 tables, each assigned to pre-registrants who paid U.S.$1,500 and then used the meeting as a jumping-off point for potential co-production deals. Also new this year was the introduction of eight stands outside the “Distribution Meetings” hall. Each was priced at U.S.$2,500, but they did not include a guarantee of meetings with buyers. Sponsoring the opening night party was the Turkish company Inter Medya, which, on day one, screened its new series, Broken Wings . With seven major companies, including Kanal D (who sponsored the hotel’s door key cards), Turkey was a noticeable presence at the market. MIP Cancun is especially important for the country, since for companies like Inter Medya, for example, LATAM now represents 35 percent of their annual business. Even though the MIP Cancun one-on-one meeting concept will remain, its Paris, France- based organizer Reed MIDEM has not yet committed to the Moon Palace Resort for next year’s event. Perhaps that’s partially because, while the complex is near theCancun International Airport, it’s a 45-minute car ride from the nearest city center, which makes it difficult to leave. Just getting from one property to another via a “lobby-to-lobby” shuttle took 20 minutes each way. However, since Reed MIDEM has announced the dates for MIP Cancun 2018 as November 14- 16, organizers have most likely already secured a location. Exhibitors No Longer Challenge LATAMMarket’s Success MIP Cancun Report AtthePlenarySession,TVAzteca’sAnaCeliaUrquidi,Boutique Filmes’TiagoMello,andonthe left,DisneyLATAM’sFernando Barbosa(whoarrived justforthedaypilotinghisownplane fromMiami)wereprobedby Produ ’sRichard Izarra. Ted Baracos, MIP Cancun’s director, next to a sign indicating the various event venues. Distribution Meeting tables TheMoonPalaceResorthousedthe2017editionofMIPCancun