After a two-year halt, the event is finally returning to its traditional in-person format at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, presenting a new, three-day, business-efficient edition. Lucy Smith, director of Miptv, shares all the details about what the event has in store.
During the past two+ years, the entertainment industry has had to reinvent itself, adapting to a digital reality where distribution strategies and traditional tradeshows had to be rethought.
And while those alternatives worked as a temporary solution to a global crisis, there’s no denying the power that physical events and meeting face-to-face has on alliances and deals, especially in an industry that’s used to meeting in person.
So now that certain restrictions have been lifted and markets go back to their normal reality, the industry is looking forward to the upcoming Miptv, which is returning to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes with an optimized three-day setting and an array of activities, conferences and screenings.
“Though we all adapted as was needed over the last two years, there is simply no substitute for meeting in person”, said Lucy Smith, RX France Entertainment Division Director & Director of Miptv. “So this means a great deal”.
“Also, we’re finally able to deliver on the new, transformed, business-efficient three-day Miptv that was first envisaged back in 2019. I can’t wait for people to experience the new Miptv and to re-connect personally with everyone at the market”, she added.
Over 1200 buyers and 5000+ attendees confirmed
The excitement for the event is clearly noticeable in the number of attendees that are set to make their way to Cannes for this year’s Miptv, which is set to welcome delegates from 80 countries, with 150 exhibitors in the reshaped layout in the Palais des Festivals and 1200 buyers.
“Really encouraging is the return of US studios and networks to Miptv,” Smith added, listing big names such as Fox Alternative Entertainment, Sony, Lionsgate, NBCU, Warner Bros., Paramount Global Content Distribution, eOne and A+E, all attending with varying divisions in different ways. “The major streamers are also attending with teams from Netflix, Amazon and HBO Max amongst others”, she added.
The executive also highlighted a great representation from Latin America for this year’s event, with teams from Televisa, TV Azteca, Globo, Caracol Television, Chilevision, Teleonce, Telefe and TVUNAM, among others, coming to Cannes.
Overall, Miptv 2022 is on track to hit around 5000 attendees, which is up from the 4500 who made it to Cannes in October for Mipcom, when there were still more travel restrictions than now.
The highlights of this year’s agenda
Miptv 2022 is starting with the MIPDrama Screenings on Sunday, with international screenings of new productions from around the world. “MIPDoc and MIPFormats were previously held on the weekend before Miptv, but this year, we’re bringing them into the show”, the executive explained. “They both have focused sessions, meeting areas and pitching competitions. We are delighted that FOX Alternative Entertainment, who have a US$100-million investment fund to look for new formats, is sponsoring the MIPFormats pitch and that the MIPDoc keynote is being given by the brilliant and fascinating Patrick Aryee (among its other many highlights)”, she added.
The director also highlighted the “Change for Good” initiative, which remains central to the team at Miptv. “This year, the event will have both Women’s and Diversity & Inclusion Mentoring sessions lined up, the support for which has been great. The MIP SDG Award, which we launched three years ago in association with the United Nations, is also back, with a new “innovation” award. There’s much to learn, and be inspired by, from the tactics and achievements of this year’s honorees ACT (Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe) Junk Kouture”, she explained.
The event also has an exceptional line up of leading figures addressing the market first hand. Kevin Mayer and René Rechtman are giving the opening keynote, Candle Media’s purchase of the trail-blazing kids company Moonbug is of course one of several recent high-profile acquisitions of, and investments in, content companies by the next generation media company. Similarly, Sony’s Wayne Garvie and Jane Tranter from Bad Wolf are also sharing the stage for the first time since their acquisition deal.
Moreover, Sky Studios’ Cécile Frot-Coutaz is receiving this year’s Variety International Achievement In Television Award and will be offering a keynote six months into her role. Whilst fresh from rolling out to a further 15 European countries, Head of HBO Max International Johannes Larcher will be outlining the next stages for the streamer.
“The sad development since we last spoke is of course the war in Ukraine. Our clients from the Ukrainian TV industry have been clear to us the importance of continuing to commercialise their content”, Smith said. “We are pleased to welcome several Ukrainian companies as our guests to the market, collectively exhibiting at the self-titled National Ukrainian Stand and we’ve programmed a session with them on the Monday afternoon in the Palais. If you are coming to the market, please try to find time to visit one or both,” she added.
An increased demand for global content
Miptv 2022 will also shine a light on the biggest trends in content and the TV industry, many of which are driven by the rise of international non-English titles.
“Globally, the demand for content is undeniable. It’s driven by several factors, demand pent up from the pandemic, from streamers who are in competition for subscribers, and, in turn, from domestic broadcasters and platforms who are themselves in competition with streamers for eyeballs”, Smith said.
“Also, what is hugely encouraging, is the increased appetite for non-English language content on the global stage. Over a third of Netflix’s top 100 titles last year were from outside the US, a trend that is set to continue given the increased commissioning and international roll out of major streamers”, she added.
“The future opportunities around Web3 for the industry are also fascinating, and you’ll see the focus on these in the programme”, Smith explained. “We have a session looking at what the industry needs to understand about NFTs and we’ll hear from Scott Greenberg, CEO of Blockchain Creative Labs (FOX) who is a real expert on the subject. With the metaverse, it’s very much about where the TV industry fits into this vision of the future and we have There is a great presentation by David Kleeman from Dubit about making youth TV brands ‘metaverse-ready’.”
The future is in person
With Miptv already set to begin in a few hours, the organization is already thinking about the other major markets set for this year, which the executive believes will be more than successful following the changes made for Miptv.
“Mipcom is on the horizon, and work is year-round for the industry’s biggest global content market again this October. MIP Cancun will be back next November. And with the changes we’ve brought to Miptv, and the great response to date, I believe the future is truly bright for our Spring Market also”, she said.
“For us the future is very much in person. Though there is a place for digital connectivity, there’s no substitute for meeting your peers, competitors and the industry at large face to face. It also brings that element of serendipity, chance encounters that only an in person market can deliver and which can be priceless,” she concluded.
