MIPCOM Junior's 14th edition presents its largest ever conference program and a total of eight events center on the flourishing children's TV market. Some of the key topics scheduled to be discussed include multi-platform content, licensing and merchandising and programming strategies.
A major highlight this year will be a special discussion between two heavyweight executives, DIC Ent.'s chairman/ceo Andy Heyward and Toper Taylor, president/coo of Cookie Jar Ent. The session is co-organized with LICENCE! MAGAZINE and will focus on the importance of licensing for children's TV companies.
Other key conferences include a special session on the evolving landscape of animation in India. This spotlight will enable potential investors to keep abreast of the developments, which are attracting more and more foreign investment.
On Oct. 7, three separate sessions, partnered with KIDSCREEN MAGAZINE, will demonstrate to participants the art of pitching projects to broadcasters, optimizing new digital platforms and anticipating the needs of buyers.
Also on the agenda are two specialized licensing workshops; the first is in collaboration with the French consultancy agency Kazachok and is entitled "I Have a Great TV Program, How do I License It?" During the session leading experts in the licensing/merchandising field will give participants first-hand advice to help them successfully license their products. The second workshop organized by The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Assoc. (LIMA), demonstrates via case studies with companies such as Nickelodeon, the mechanics of producing spin-off products parallel to the TV success of a program.
The ever-popular "MIPCOM Junior Licensing Challenge" returns to Cannes Oct. 8, giving delegates the opportunity to put their property forward in full view of the TV community in the hope of finding tomorrow's licensing star. The competition is held in association with LICENSE! MAGAZINE. Following a pre-selection process led by the editor-in-chief of the publication, a jury of experts, predominantly toy manufacturers, agents and broadcasters, will evaluate a total of five non-aired projects selected on the basis of their strong potential for licensing and merchandising exploitation.
The number of programs screened at the 2005 edition of MIPCOM Junior reached an all time record with the easy-to-use digital video library launched in 2004. A total of 39,134 screenings were recorded compared to 13,956 in 2004. Once again this new digital technology will offer optimal screening conditions for all the programs listed in the MIPCOM Junior 2006 catalog.
MIPCOM Junior 2005 welcomed, 819 participants from 497 companies and from 53 countries. 839 programs were presented of which 462 were new.
For the latest information, go to www.mipcomjunior.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
