As part of the Road to MIPCOM series, we have chatted with various executives about their plans for the upcoming market. Melissa Pillow, vp of Sales for Europe, Telemundo Internacional, shared her thoughts on the year-round TV festivals, and the company’s new series from the HBO Latin America Originals catalog.
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)?
MP: Joining NBCUniversal International Distribution physically at MIPCOM allows us to better showcase our synergies. That will be something new that traditional MIPCOM visitors can witness. We also expect a very positive reaction to our new programming as Telemundo Network is leading prime time ratings among Hispanic TV channels in the United States with its newest titles – Rich in Love (Silvana Sin Lana), Without Breasts There Is Paradise (Sin Senos Sí Hay Paraíso), and The Acero Dynasty (Señora Acero 3: La Coyote) – all on the same day.
VA: Do you feel that MIPCOM is becoming too big?
MP: No, I don’t feel that way. In fact, I’ve noticed that buyers and sellers alike are shortening their trips to Cannes. Being that there are now so many year-round television festivals, for buyers, there have been an increasing amount of opportunities to meet with clients outside of the market.
VA: Are you bringing new shows? What are they?
MP: Yes, we’ll have several. Dios, Inc, (God, Inc.) is the new series from our HBO Latin America Originals catalog, in which an archeologist believes to have found the remains of a universal god. From Telemundo we’ll present the continuation of the 2008 hit production Without Breasts There Is No Paradise (Sin Senos No Hay Paraíso), also written by Gustavo Bolivar. Our visitors will also have a sneak peek of La Doña, starring Aracely Arámbula, scheduled to launch by end of 2016. Telemundo Internacional will also present the Mega Chile fiction formats Eres Mi Tesoro and Te Doy La Vida.
VA: Which territories are emerging for you?
MP: While most would consider Africa and Eastern Europe emerging markets in the EMEA, Telemundo Internacional’s productions and telenovelas have been beloved in both regions for many years, and the Telemundo Africa channel, now in its third year broadcasting, is a phenomenon in the continent. Within the EMEA region we see a constant growing demand for our content.
VA: Which window is increasing in sales? (FTA, SVOD, etc)
MP: It’s no secret that digital sales are on the rise and our products are finding a new home on VOD platforms. We have a fantastic team dedicated to the worldwide sale of these rights and we are working together on a great number of deals these days, with a high quality offer.
Leave A Comment