10 V I D E O A G E December 2022 Floating around the offices of many international TV executives are two big considerations for the upcoming revival of what used to be NATPE Miami. The first has to do with the belief (which is held by many, including a number of trade publications) that an important TV market inMiami has to be organized and run by an independent organization, specifically one that has a track record for staging TV markets. Think the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA) in Los Angeles, which organizes the AFM; the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in Washington, D.C., which organizes the NAB Shows (Las Vegas and New York City); and DISCOP, the Los Angeles-based organizationthat createdandorganizedDISCOP Budapest (1993 to 2011, whereupon it was sold to NATPE), DISCOP MENA (Istanbul and Dubai since 2007), and DISCOP Johannesburg (which started in 2007 as DISCOP Africa). Publications, news agencies, producers, agents, and distribution companies are good for organizing conferences and seminars, but not suitable for TV trade shows that rely on exhibitors. The second consideration has to do with the focus of a Miami TV market, which begs the question: “Why organize another LatAmcentric market when there is already a very successful one — MIP Cancun — held just two months earlier?” The calendar dates selected by DISCOP Miami organizers (January 31-February 2, 2023) are also ideal as they come a month after the lengthy Christmas holidays. The hotel, the Grand Beach in Miami Beach, is also generally said to be perfectly set up for such a market, and is within walking distance of the Fontainebleau, which is where the prepandemic NATPE Miami events have been held for the past decade. Organizers chose the Grand Beach for two reasons. First, because of the relatively low rates. And second, to limit commuting time. Miami residents will spend more time at the Miami Beach hotel than they would at any of the downtown Miami hotels, since those are closer to their offices, and thus encourage office trips and time away from the market. As for the thrust of the DISCOP Miami market itself, after surveying a few potential exhibitors, the organizers decided to re-direct the market towards a U.S.-based event focusing on the global market, rather than just the LatAm region — one with a strong domestic (U.S.) participation from Anglo- and Spanishlanguage TV stations, cable networks, and platforms. This is partially due to the rising popularity of the recently concluded MIP Cancun (see separate front cover story). As for NATPE, by filing for Chapter 11, the association was trying to restructure its finances with the help of a U.S. bankruptcy court, which basically entails counting the money on hand against the money owed to various entities, which include hotels and exhibitors that paid in advance for the 2022 market that was ultimately canceled. Since its 2023 market, originally scheduled in Nassau, in the Bahamas, was also canceled, the association has no future revenue to depend on. The attorney in charge of NATPE’s bankruptcy proceedings, Leslie Cohen from Santa Monica, California, reportedly received bids from several potential buyers for NATPE’s assets. A hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2022. If the terms of the auction are approved, the auction will take place that day. If approved, a sale could be completed by December 23, 2022. In its bankruptcy filing, NATPE reported that it ran at a $1.33 million deficit in the first six months of its fiscal year. After making an initial bid for some of NATPE’s assets, the DISCOP organization decided to withdraw because a potential buyer could be liable for NATPE’s outstanding debt connected to those assets, explained Patrick Zuchowicki, the 63-year-old founder and director of the DISCOP organization. A French native, Zuchowicki relocated to Los Angeles in 1984, and became an American citizen in 1996. He is known in TV trade show circles as a pioneer of emerging TV territories — first with Eastern Europe, then the Middle East, and later Africa, where he currently stages a yearly TV market in Kigali, Rwanda. Naturally, a new Miami TV market was also on the minds of many participants at the recently concluded MIP Cancun. “We’ll go where our Turkish clients go”, said Liliam Hernandez, CEO of Miami-based dubbing company Universal Cinergia. It happens that DISCOP is also returning to organizing a TV market in Istanbul that will be held May 9-11, 2023, therefore it is assumed that Turkish companies will also participate at DISCOP Miami. Emilia Nuccio, vice president of International Content Sales for New York City-based FilmRise is “certainly considering DISCOP Miami.” Jose Luis Gascue, the Miami-based EVP and head of Worldwide Sales for the Istanbul-based Calinos, echoed the opinion of MIP Cancun’s organizers, who noted that a Miami market should be more of a North American and international event, rather than just a LatAm market. Marta Ezpeleta, director of Distribution, International Offices, and Co-productions at the Spain-based Mediapro Studio, said that NATPE Miami used to be an important market for Mediapro. As for DISCOP Miami, she said that she and her team are in the process of analyzing the market and finding out which members of the distribution teammight attend. “Our Miami team will be there for sure, but as for our other salespeople, it depends where the buyers will be coming from. If Colombian buyers will be there, our Colombian team will attend. Similarly, if Argentinian buyers will be in Miami, our Argentinian sales team will be there, and so on.” Cecilia Gomez de la Torre of Peru’s Tondero and Roxana Rotundo of Miami-based VIP 2000 also had positive things to say about a Miami Beach TV market. Finally, Marcel Vinay, president of Mexico City-based Comarex, said that he’d surely be at any Miami TV market (“After all we have a Miami office”, he said), however he’s concerned about the high cost of accommodations at DISCOP Miami’s hotel. Road to DISCOP Miami: New Mart to Become Americanized Making $$ and Cents The Grand Beach hotel is located half a mile north of the Fontainebleau hotel, on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach Why organize another LatAmcentric market when there is already a very successful one ... held just two months earlier?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI4OTA5