Videoage International November 2017

10 MIP Cancun which has an adjacent Arena that’ll serve as its convention center, is located a 20-minute car ride south of the Cancun airport. In comparison, the Grand Fiesta Americana (which housed the 2016 edition) is 30 km north, while the JW Marriot (which housed the 2015 edition) is in between. Last year, the market registered a 70 percent increase from the previous edition, so it seems only natural to pick up and go to the new, bigger locale. But the new venue could represent a problem for those uninvited participants who cannot afford the high accommodation rates (in addition to the rather pricey registration fees), especially considering that expensive Moon Palace properties surround the resort. Ted Baracos, director of Market Development, TV Division and director of MIP Cancun at the Paris headquarters of Reed MIDEM, explained that the new venue will be able to accommodate 170 tables, compared to 142 last year, while the number of buyerswill reach 160 from23 countries, out of a total of 26 countries in Latin America. (Last year, there were 135 LATAM buyers.) The business model of MIP Cancun is innovative, and was created by Reed MIDEM. For a flat fee, sellers are guaranteed a certain number of meetings with LATAM buyers. The all-encompassing fee also includes the three-day hotel accommodations with breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Bonafide broadcasters from Latin America are invited all expenses paid, while sellers looking to acquire products for their own distribution pipes would be paying a registration fee — but as buyers, not sellers. Of course, the organizers are aware that those types of buyers might also try to sell during informal gatherings, especially considering the large number of “ultimate” buyers. Last year, the market attracted a total of 560 participants from 387 companies across 42 countries. Participants who couldn’t find accommodations at the Grand Fiesta (or were looking for less expensive hotel rates) were relocated across the street to the Krystal Grand Punta. The event had four components: The pre- scheduled meetings (nine sessions from 9:45 am to 5:30 pm the first day, 13 sessions the second day and five on the third day), the conferences (24 in all), four screenings and five summits. Board of seven LATAM executives, including Gonzalo Fiure of FOX Networks, Diego Avalos of Netflix and Francisco Morales of Turner. Last year, for the pre-scheduled meetings, 135 distribution companies occupied 142 tables (some companies hadmultiple tables). These covered the cost of the whole market, since Latin buyers from TV stations were invited all expenses paid. Each table cost exhibitors U.S.$5,000 and included a three-day stay at the hotel. This year, the fee was increased to U.S.$5,600. Pre-scheduled meetings lasted 25 minutes each and were clocked with the sound of a bell, similar to the one on the stock exchange floor. In total, there were 3,700 meetings. Market organizers were sticklers for assuring that meetings ran smoothly and were quick to call out buyers who were late on the P.A. system. This year, organizers still guarantee a minimum of 25 meetings in three days. Both sellers and buyers can pre-select whom they want to meet with, with the organizers serving as referees. In the afternoon of the last day, distributors can schedule meetings on their own. Now, the question that some LATAM executives are asking is: “How long before MIP Cancun makes the big jump across the Gulf of Mexico and lands in Miami?” This year, there will be 25 conferences, including a keynote and panels, plus six general screenings, but Baracos explained that the conference format will be similar to roundtables with more interaction, and will be held at times that will affect business meetings the least. As usual, there will also be a pre-opening party, as well as an opening and closing receptions. New this year is the Co-Production Matchmaking Market (Co-Pro Market), to be held in an adjacent meeting room with 100 tables. Although it’s not yet completely clear how this will unfold, the format calls for invited “high- profile executives” to meet with producers that are looking for co-production partners. The organizers will match potential co-producers and assign them a table for their initial discussions. The Co-Pro Market will follow the same MIP Cancun model by guaranteeing meetings to registrants (in this case eight guaranteed meetings) who are paying about U.S.$2,000 to attend, including hotel accommodations. To guide this new event will be an Advisory (Continued from Cover) Last year, Inter Medya hosted the most lavish of the event’s parties Meetings are 25 minutes long at the exhibitors’ tables area New this year is the Co-Production Matchmaking Market, to be held in an adjacent meeting room with 100 tables ... the format calls for invited “high- profile executives” to meet with producers. Ted Baracos, director of MIPCancun November 2017