32 May 2017 V I D E O A G E Trump, drama, children’s television, documentaries, virtual reality and a new drama festival were the topics that dominated the recently concluded MIP-TV (April 3-6). But it was all mostly talk, since on the market floor many distributors reported little action. However, the event did get going early with a very busy Sunday, the day before the market’s official start, in order to compensate for a shorter event (years ago MIP used to run for five days, now it’s just four). Children’s television got its time in the spotlight judging by the sheer number of exhibiting companies that offeredkids programming: A total of 844 participating companies with children’s and teens’ programs were in attendance. Of these companies, 700 offered animation, while the exhibitors with children’s fare numbered 395. However, Mondo TV’s Matteo Corradi and Rainbow’s Cristiana Buzzelli lamented the problem of Bologna Book Fair taking place concurrently with MIP-TV. As far as trends in children’s TV, Corradi said, “The age group is getting lower for animation. If this trend continues, in the next few years wemay see a higher fragmentation of the market based on age groups: animation for school or pre-school children, live action for teenagers,” he concluded. Italy, in particular, is keen on kids’ television. In addition to the aforementioned Bologna Book Fair, on Thursday some children’s television executives were bused fromCannes toTurin for the 21st edition of Cartoons on the Bay, which ran until April 8. The future was clearly on display at this MIPTV: a total of 13 seminars and conferences about Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR). In this regard, U.S. media consultant and MIPTV veteran Mark W. Cutten, commented: “Come on, we know it iswonderful to imagine the ‘future’ through panel discussions, but we all also realize from years of experience that those crystal ball guesses have no bearing on license and panelists typically asked to make the predictions rarely have actual P/L acquisition experience.” At this MIP, drama was not only on the Palais’ screens but also in Cannes’ corridors of power. As reported in VideoAge Daily, the dates for the first International Cannes Festival of Series were announced for April 9-12, to be held at the Palais during MIP-TV 2018. This will pit Cannes against Series Mania, a similar event sponsored by the city of Paris, and possibly by the current Minister of Culture. A press conference held at MIP followed the official announcement — made by the City of Cannes on March 8 — and named Fleur Pellerin, former French culture and communicationminister and founder of Korelya Capital Investment, as president of the association created to organize the first International Festival of Series. WhenPellerinwas cultureminister, she initiated discussions to expand Series Mania, a TV drama festival in Paris. Now in its eighth year, Series Mania was held April 13-23 at Forum des Images, which is in the Forum des Halles complex in Paris. Basedon a project developed in 2014 by theMayor of Cannes, DavidLisnard, theTVSeries Festivalwill include an international competition, screenings, meetings with artists and writers, and networking between creators, producers and broadcasters. Benoit Louvet, Reed Midem’s Paul Zilk and Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal Plus Group, which is the Festival’s partner, were also present at the press conference. Louvet, a former key executive at TF1 Group, is the Cannes International Series Festival’s managing director. On the first day of the trade show, MIP put the spotlight on Latin America with a first look at top new dramas from Telefe, TVAzteca, Caracol, Telemundo, RCN and Record TV, among others. Together, those screening blocks offered more than 1,700 drama buyers attending MIP-TV the opportunity to prepare their spring acquisition slate ahead of the L.A. Screenings. Traditionally, at MIP the LATAM contingent is not very large, comprising this year of 12 exhibiting and 30 participating companies. However, all themajor producers were in Cannes, together with their top-level executives. The fact that, for LATAM, MIP-TV is not as prominent as MIPCOM was indicated by the conference portion, where out of 360 speakers only threewere fromLatin America. However, business was indeed being conducted, as demonstrated by the press announcement with Kanal D and Mega Chile signing a MoU Agreement. At the MIP Drama LATAM Screenings, Virginia Mouseler, CEO of The WIT, said there was a move toward “more thrillers, less episodes.” Mouseler reiterated how the narco novela has been what gave the telenovela international appeal, and how the narco novela has made an evolution to include politics. MIP also premiered its Pre-L.A. Screenings Showcase at the Palais and, nearby, at the Majestic Hotel, presented its second annual International Drama Co-Production Summit. Those two events served to highlight the importance of primetime TV programming. For the Pre-L.A. Screenings, Disney and Lionsgate showcased series that have already been picked up by the networks. On behalf of MIP organizer Reed Midem, Laurine Garaude introduced Disney’s Mark Endemaño, who presented six pilots; Lionsgate’s Peter Iacono gave a presentation that showed current programs they were presenting at MIP. At the Co-Production Summit, Antonio Campo Dall’Orto, CEO and General Manager of Italy’s RAI, illustrated his group’s co-production requirements. The whole international TV market was recognized in this year’s MIP-TV Medal of Honor recipients: Los Angeles-based Roy Price, vice president of Amazon Studios and global head of Prime Video content; China’s Yi Fang Zhao, president and co-founder of Huace Group; Russia’s Viacheslav Murugov, CEO of CTC Media, and Alexander Coridass, president and CEO of Germany’s ZDF Enterprises. Zhao is the first Chinese TV executive to receive the Medal. Coridass is the fourth German TV executive to receive the award, and Murugov is the second Russian, while Americans have been honored six times. Price, a frequent speaker at MIP-TV, delivered a keynote speech onMonday, but he did not attend the Medal ceremony. Lots of Talk, ButMostly Chats About Sales. The Conference Side Takes Over AtMIP-TV MIP-TV Review Film One’s JJ Merhi and Jalal Merhi with Entertainment Studios’ Tom Devlin At the Medal of Honor Gala (l. to r.): Huace Group’s George C. Chan, Stella Advisors’ Jonathan Norman, Global Agency’s Izzet Pinto, and Huace Group’s Yi Fang Zhao, one of the four honorees
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