In anticipation of the upcoming market, we spoke with Prentiss Fraser, the senior vice president, global head of Content Distribution at FOX Networks Group Distribution (FNGD). The company plans to bring premium series from National Geographic, along with a Turkish drama catalogue.
VideoAge: Do you expect this MIPCOM to be different from last year’s in terms of a) results, b) number of buyers you’ll meet with and c) activities around the market (parties/events/etc)?
Prentiss Fraser: Every MIPCOM is different than the last – that’s the amazing thing about this business. Focus, trends, brands and different ways of monetizing and creating content – the industry definitely keeps us on our toes. Fox Networks Group will have a large presence at the market both through our channel execs but also across the Sales business. We are bringing some amazing high-profile series from National Geographic and have many events scheduled to highlight our content throughout the week. It’s going to be a great event.
VA: Do you feel that MIPCOM is becoming too big?
PF: From a sales perspective the bigger the better. Bigger means more countries are represented and that it’s a healthy market.
VA: Are you bringing new shows? What are they?
PF: National Geographic’s new science series Mars is produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer and directed by Everardo Gout. The series includes interviews with some of the greatest minds in science and tells the of a fictitious crewed mission in 2033. Killing Reagan, based on Bill O’Reilly’s book and produced by Scott Free Productions, stars Tim Matheson and Cynthia Nixon in the story of Ronald Reagan’s assassination attempt and how it shaped his presidency. Atlanta, created by and starring Donald Glover,(Community, The Martian) is an authentic and surreal coming-of-age comedy set in Atlanta’s rap scene. In Beyond The Flood, Leonardo DiCaprio interviews presidents, the Pope and NASA scientists in this film about preventing the demise of endangered species, ecosystems and native communities.
VA: Which territories are emerging for you?
PF: We have a gorgeous Turkish drama catalogue, full of FOX Turkey’s local productions. Through this, we are seeing many territories emerging : US Hispanic, Latam, Africa, Pakistan, CEE, Indonesia etc. It’s been a lot of fun.
This story has been modified and edited.
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