Changing Entertainment World Connects at MIPTV 2009
11,500 entertainment content producers, distributors, digital media and advertising executives from 105 countries, gathered in Cannes this week, saying that the television industry may have changed forever, as the global economic situation and a blurring of lines between television and newer mobile, web and IPTV players, re-draws the entertainment map.
With some 4,000 companies represented at MIPTV, which Endemol Chairman and CEO, Ynon Kreiz, described as "the world's greatest gathering of the world's television industry," delegates said the recession had focused minds but not necessarily dampened spirits. "We've all been humbled by the economic situation," noted Kreiz. "However, we're feeling optimistic. If we are bold and imaginative, there is no limit. Those who can supply to all platforms will prevail."
MIPTV delegates, including 3,800 program buyers, reported that the economic climate and pressure on advertising slot prices have led networks to be cautious about funding new production. However, sales of completed shows remain very much the order of the day.
"It's true that there is pressure on production budgets, but networks around the world still need to fill their schedules. This means that the business is currently weighted somewhat in favour of acquisitions, which reinforces the relevance of MIPTV as an event who's core activity remains the buying and selling of shows, which is what we've been doing successfully all week," said Gary Marenzi, co-president, MGM Worldwide Television.
In a sign of the times, long-standing MIPTV attendees including MGM and the other US majors, the BBC, Endemol, FremantleMedia, TVE, RAI or Beta, rubbed shoulders with senior executives from MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube, Orange, MySpace and Nokia, as well as one of the largest delegations (over 90 companies) of Chinese television companies ever to attend MIPTV.
Day one of MIPTV gave a glimpse of what the future may hold as Paramount Digital Ent. announced its deal with French film major Gaumont to produce SECTION 8, a made-for-internet thriller series which will be premiered on MySpace in the U.S., distributed worldwide by Endemol and eventually released theatrically.
Adding to the MIPTV mix, top advertising executives such as Sir Martin Sorrell (chief executive of WPP), Chuck Porter (co-chairman of Crispin Porter + Bogusky) and Christophe Lambert (co-founder of Blue Advertainment), brought their expertise and thoughts to Cannes to discuss the future of on-line, off-line and mobile advertising and relations between the advertising industry and content producers.
Their message was clear -- in the new, multi-platform "disrupted" entertainment world, content producers and advertisers need to work ever closer together.
"Television delivers huge audiences and the buying and selling of programmes is still the main part of business activity at MIPTV," said Laurine Garaude, Reed MIDEM's Television Division acting director. "However, the days when television producers and distributors eyed the Internet, IPTV or mobile telephone community with a certain lack of comprehension are over. Similarly, major advertising companies are increasingly keen to get close to the content producers who are so important at MIPTV. We started making the introductions three or four years ago and in 2009, people have really connected in Cannes," she added.
According to senior industry executives at MIPTV, 2009 may mark a watershed for the television business. "The recession is changing the basis of the industry we are operating in," commented Sorrell. "A severe recession and big technological changes will drive the process," he told MIPTV delegates.
Addressing a packed MIPTV conference, March 31, Sorrell predicted, "Free-to-air television will not die. It will still be the most effective way of reaching the largest number of people in the shortest possible time at the lowest cost per thousand, but it will not have the (advertising) domination it once had." He added that television production models had got too expensive and would probably change.
One key question on delegates' lips at MIPTV was when the plethora of digital outlets would step up to the plate and provide substantial revenues for content providers and in what form.
With some 4,000 companies represented at MIPTV, which Endemol Chairman and CEO, Ynon Kreiz, described as "the world's greatest gathering of the world's television industry," delegates said the recession had focused minds but not necessarily dampened spirits. "We've all been humbled by the economic situation," noted Kreiz. "However, we're feeling optimistic. If we are bold and imaginative, there is no limit. Those who can supply to all platforms will prevail."
MIPTV delegates, including 3,800 program buyers, reported that the economic climate and pressure on advertising slot prices have led networks to be cautious about funding new production. However, sales of completed shows remain very much the order of the day.
"It's true that there is pressure on production budgets, but networks around the world still need to fill their schedules. This means that the business is currently weighted somewhat in favour of acquisitions, which reinforces the relevance of MIPTV as an event who's core activity remains the buying and selling of shows, which is what we've been doing successfully all week," said Gary Marenzi, co-president, MGM Worldwide Television.
In a sign of the times, long-standing MIPTV attendees including MGM and the other US majors, the BBC, Endemol, FremantleMedia, TVE, RAI or Beta, rubbed shoulders with senior executives from MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube, Orange, MySpace and Nokia, as well as one of the largest delegations (over 90 companies) of Chinese television companies ever to attend MIPTV.
Day one of MIPTV gave a glimpse of what the future may hold as Paramount Digital Ent. announced its deal with French film major Gaumont to produce SECTION 8, a made-for-internet thriller series which will be premiered on MySpace in the U.S., distributed worldwide by Endemol and eventually released theatrically.
Adding to the MIPTV mix, top advertising executives such as Sir Martin Sorrell (chief executive of WPP), Chuck Porter (co-chairman of Crispin Porter + Bogusky) and Christophe Lambert (co-founder of Blue Advertainment), brought their expertise and thoughts to Cannes to discuss the future of on-line, off-line and mobile advertising and relations between the advertising industry and content producers.
Their message was clear -- in the new, multi-platform "disrupted" entertainment world, content producers and advertisers need to work ever closer together.
"Television delivers huge audiences and the buying and selling of programmes is still the main part of business activity at MIPTV," said Laurine Garaude, Reed MIDEM's Television Division acting director. "However, the days when television producers and distributors eyed the Internet, IPTV or mobile telephone community with a certain lack of comprehension are over. Similarly, major advertising companies are increasingly keen to get close to the content producers who are so important at MIPTV. We started making the introductions three or four years ago and in 2009, people have really connected in Cannes," she added.
According to senior industry executives at MIPTV, 2009 may mark a watershed for the television business. "The recession is changing the basis of the industry we are operating in," commented Sorrell. "A severe recession and big technological changes will drive the process," he told MIPTV delegates.
Addressing a packed MIPTV conference, March 31, Sorrell predicted, "Free-to-air television will not die. It will still be the most effective way of reaching the largest number of people in the shortest possible time at the lowest cost per thousand, but it will not have the (advertising) domination it once had." He added that television production models had got too expensive and would probably change.
One key question on delegates' lips at MIPTV was when the plethora of digital outlets would step up to the plate and provide substantial revenues for content providers and in what form.
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