Videoage International October 2020

26 October 2020 V I D E O A G E MIPCOM Goes Virtual known as early as June when reports indicated masses of people walking along the Croisette sans masks and failing to socially distance. After the summer, with hordes of tourists with even more cavalier attitudes on display, the contagion increased, ultimately forcing the French government to impose added restrictions. As for the lack of Americans, the problem here was two-fold. On the one hand, the E.U. hasn’t been allowing Americans in. On the other, Americans have been too afraid to travel, especially when airlines don’t enforce safety rules. Of course, there wouldn’t have been any restrictions for U.S. travellers with dual pass- ports, whether they be Canadian, Australian, or European, which prompted The Atlantic magazine’s recent headline: “American Pass- ports Are Useless Now.” In August, MIPCOM had confirmed that more than 600 buyers would attend the market. This was probably largely due to the fact that buyers, including representatives from ITV, BBC, and Sony, were invited at no charge, so many signed on. Earlier, in July, reps from Reed MIDEM explained that its annual flagship event, MIPCOM, would be taking place as a streamlined, hybrid event called MIPCOM Cannes Rendezvous. The three-day event would have taken place October 12-14 in Cannes with a live gathering that would haveworked in tandem with MIPCOM Online Plus, the premium digital service connecting delegates who were unable to attend in person. Another significant change was going to be the new floor plan, which lacked exhibition stands in or around the Palais des Festivals. Market delegates would have had access to open meeting spaces, reserved tables, and private lounges. Then came the September 10 announcement that “the 36th annual MIPCOM will be entirely digital as MIPCOM Online Plus. The physical gathering is cancelled due to the continued impact of COVID-19.” The unfortunate part is that even a smaller- than-usual live portion would have generated more interest for the virtual components since curiosity would have forced more industry people to log on. The virtual market will now take place in three stages over six weeks from October 5-November 17, during which participants and delegates can access programming and networking opportunities. Now, MIPCOM will be centered around the digital MIPCOM Week that occurs October 12- 16, and will include extended features before and after the main event. MIPCOM Warm Up will start on October 5. It offers early access for participating delegates and virtual exhibitors to make the most of the MIPCOM digital marketplace by accessing Market Intelligence sessions, Content & Finance briefings, and the MIPJunior Screenings platform, as well as use of the MIPCOM Digital Hub to plan meetings for MIPCOM Week. MIPCOM Week will be open October 12-16 as a global online interactive business market that will include a fully digital “Main Stage Cannes” conference and screenings programs involving Global Upfronts, keynotes, market screenings, the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards, and much more. In addition, the Virtual Exhibit Hub and enhanced database will allow users to set up highly targeted video business meetings between distributors, producers, buyers, and all international delegates. MIPCOM Follow Up Plus runs from October 17 to November 17 and will offer replays of screenings, keynotes, and conference sessions from MIPCOM and MIPJunior. Delegates and (Continued from Cover) (Continued from Page 24) exhibitors can continue to conduct business through the MIPCOM Online+ interactive data- base tools and Virtual Exhibit Hub, as well as use the MIPJunior digital library. On October 1, Paul Zilk, CEO of Reed Exhibitions’ Reed MIDEM division, which organizesMIPCOM, lefthispost.Zilk is succeeded by Michel Filzi, CEO of Reed Expositions France (REF). Filzi, who has 20 years of experience at REF, will remain REF’s CEO. Zilk joined Reed MIDEM in 2001 and for the next year he’ll serve as an advisor to Dominic Feltham, president of Reed Exhibitions EMEA. GMA productions that were put on hold because of the lockdowns have resumed, but under the ‘new normal.’ GMA continues to actively participate in online editions of major TV markets. We are getting used to having meetings online, although online markets can never replace the energy and the spirit of networking and building relationships as experienced during a physical market.” Sarah Zarka at the Paris-based Federation Kids & Family believes that next year “will see a healthier balance in the way we do business using a mix of online portals, as well as in-person meetings. Despite the challenges, we have also been redesigning innovative ways to launch our programs, using unique technologies and virtual tools.” She continued: “Fortunately, demand for kids programming is stronger than before as children are spending far more time viewing content across a plethora of media. Our focus for the coming year will be to move forward on some of our own productions that we will be ramping up in Q1 2021.” “For 2021, we are optimistic as the distribution business has started to pick up post pandemic,” said Vivek Lath , managing director of Mumbai, India-based GoQuest Media. “In 2021, our focus will turn to developed Western markets.” The company plans to focus on its global expansion plans “by establishing a greater foothold in Europe and North America. To make this possible, in 2020, we hired the best of talents and expanded our sales team in these regions.” He continued: “We will continue to participate in markets as they have been key drivers for sales for GoQuest. With the pandemic slowing down, we will resume travel, starting with participation at NATPE Miami and will join/attend future markets.” (By Dom Serafini) Gary R. Benz , CEO of Los Angeles-based GRB Studios, made a strong case for trade shows: “GRB is a well-established global business, with many existing industry relationships that we would prefer to continue by way of in-person trade events. However, we have registered for MIPCOM Online and DISCOP Africa, and will also attend the virtual MIP Cancun this year. We are hoping ATF happens in December, as currently planned. If so, GRB will be in attendance in Singapore. In August, we participated in the virtual NATPE Budapest, and we will attend NATPE Miami in January 2021 — whether in-person or virtually. We predict that MIP-TV 2021 will be the first live event of 2021 for us to attend in person although we are open to other opportunities. Although we appreciate the opportunities that technology affords us to keep in touch, there is absolutely nothing like meeting in person!” Berk Uziyel , CEO of The Hague, Netherlands- based SPI, said that he plans to “continue our geographic expansion during 2021. The U.S. market will be one of our areas of [focus]. We are looking at different acquisition opportunities in the U.S. along with introducing some of our products like the app DIZI. We are getting ready to enter 2021 with a slate of both new and improved products. In terms of sales and acquisitions, we will attend virtual markets to pursue quality content for both linear and digital distribution, as well as to acquaint buyers with our portfolio of channels, digital services, and programming, including the SPI original My Dad’s Christmas Date . We are looking forward to attending all major trade events, as we have been doing consistently ever since SPI was launched in 1993, as soon as we are globally allowed to travel again in a safe way.” Roxanne J. Barcelona, VP of Worldwide Division of Manila, Philippines-based GMA Network, thinks that “content markets in 2021 will be hybrids of physical and online experiences, if not held entirely online.” However, she said, “[I’m] very optimistic that through cooperation among the players, the international content industry will continue to thrive and will emerge much stronger after the end of this pandemic. The Future Is Closer Than You Think SPI’s Berk Uziyel