The Cannes market started with a busy Sunday before the Palais opened for business, with a sneak press preview of A+E Networks’ new stand. In addition to MipJunior official parties, there were also screenings/cocktails from RaiCom and Global Agency, which took guests by helicopter from Cannes to Monte Carlo. (The main attraction, Cansu Dere, star of new drama series Mother was in attendance together with the Global Agency team headed by Izzet Pinto.)
On Monday, MIPCOM’s first day, the floor in the Palais was unexpectedly quiet, mostly because the action moved to the U.S. studios’ stands, which is a typical pattern, since buyers tend to flock to the studios first before going to visit the indies.
More activities were registered late in the afternoon with many on-the-floor receptions, including one from Scripps Networks. However, the evening rain slowed the activities for people running from the Fox Networks Group cocktail to the Eccho Rights party, to the opening reception to the Disney party.
As predicted, on day two the floor, was flooded with buyers meeting with indies in a very hectic environment (helped by the sunny weather outside). Tuesday also kicked Japan’s day, as MIPCOM Country of Honor with seminars, performances and a sake tasting courtesy of Tohokushinsha.
VideoAge’s November Issue will feature a full MIPCOM review. Meanwhile, below, here’s more news from the market floor:
- Content Media Corporation signed a distribution partnership with Cardinal Releasing, adding a raft of Cardinal’s new Emperor Media titles produced and directed by music and media industry veteran Jon Brewer.
- Canada’s Breakthrough Entertainment has secured an added relationship with the Anne of Green Gables Licensing Authority to globally represent merchandising interests related to their Anne of Green Gables film franchise.
- CBS has ordered Candy Crush, a new one-hour, live action game show based on the wildly popular mobile game franchise. CBS, Lionsgate and King are coming together on the new format, created and executive produced by Matt Kunitz, which will be distributed in the U.S. by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by Lionsgate.
- Gaumont Animation entered into a long-term agreement with American Greetings Entertainment (AGE), the intellectual property and outbound licensing division of American Greetings Corporation. The companies will collaborate on the development, production and distribution of an animated series based on AGE’s 1980’s girls’ brand Herself the Elf. AGE and Gaumont Animation will share worldwide distribution, while AGE will retain ownership of the Herself the Elf intellectual property.
- Blue Ant International sold over 300 hours of UHD programming to broadcasters across Asia and Western Europe. AB Groupe forUltra Nature (France) acquired 240 hours of UHD natural history content. Le TV (Hong Kong) picked up an array of series including The Big Feed. Hong Kong’s now TV purchased Kenya Wildlife Diaries, Undiscovered Vistas, Extreme Africa and Mysteries Of Evolution. Amazon Prime Video (Japan) has acquired four series from Blue Ant International’s expanded UHD catalogue: Great Parks of Africa, Africa’s Wild Horizons. Finally, Autentic GmbH (Germany) channel bought Nomads of the Serengeti. Additionally, Blue Ant’s title Jago: A Life Underwater was recently recognized with a Panasonic U.K. Award for Cinematography (Small Crew).
- NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises unveiled Telemundo International Studios (TIS). The new production unit will focus on creating high-end short form, scripted formats with an eye towards emerging platforms and international markets. Marcos Santana, president of Telemundo International, will lead the new business unit. Based out of Miami, TIS will hire award-winning Hispanic talent and producers to deliver premium mini-series that can travel across broadcast, cable and digital media.
- Rai Com, along with Planeta Junior, DQ Entertainment and Gruppo Alcuni, introduced 3D CGI comedy Pio Rocks! – The Series at a special event during this year’s MIPJunior. The series, aimed at 5-to-8-year-old digital natives follows the adventures of YouTube star Pulcino Pio at music school.
- Telemundo’s super series El Chema, Sin Senos Sí Hay Paraíso and Guerra de Ídolos, among others, will premiere exclusively on Netflix in Latin America, including Mexico and Brazil, and will also be available exclusively in Spain and in the U.S.
- Televisa and Somos Distribution closed a deal on Greek telenovela Stolen Dreams from Mega TV. The telenovela tells the story of two men who compete for the love of a woman, but both have secrets. Somos has been characterized by marketing dramas from non-traditional producers (Turkey, India, Greece, Poland among others) in Spanish-speaking territories.
- Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has unveiled a Format Lab to develop several new formats for the international marketplace. As part of the initiative, the company is presenting six new and current formats at MIPCOM for licensing and development. Zee’s unscripted formats include India’s original dance reality show,Dance India Dance, and game show Moksha. Their scripted formats include: Phantasmagoria, The Eclipse Harvest, Hum Paanch (Five Is A Crowd) and Kareena Kareena.
- Italy-based Nexo Digital, which distributes high-definition event cinema, introduced a new television and digital distribution division at MIPCOM, headed by Pedro Citaristi. Their library is topped by documentary Boticelli’s Inferno.
- NBC picked up the rights to Telefe’s Un año para recordar. The network will adapt the Argentine series, and will be called A Year to Remember. Capital Entertainment and Telefe USA will be in charge of the series’ production, making it the first project run by the Argentine channel since it arrived in the U.S. Michael Foley, on the production team of How to Get Away with Murder, will be in charge of adapting the script.
- The inaugural ATF Formats Pitch Competition has confirmed part of the on-stage jury, which will include Sabrina Duguet, evp (Asia Pacific), all3Media International, Kelly Martin, CEO, South Pacific Pictures, Alan Hodges, MD (APAC), A + E Networks, Kristian Kinder, partner & managing director, CMM-I and Janine Stein, editorial director, Content Asia magazine. The 17th edition of ATF, Asia’s leading entertainment content market and conference event, will take place in Singapore from December 6—9, 2016.
- Italy’s Mediaset Distribution and Malaysian pay TV broadcaster Astro have inked a production and distribution deal for Mediaset series Tuscan Passion. The deal unites three parties—Mediaset, Astro and Malaysian production house Global Station. The series will be adapted for Malaysian and Southeast Asian audiences, and marks the first collaboration between Astro and Mediaset. Astro has also closed an agreement for Mediaset’s original series Intelligence, For Love Alone, Beyond The Lake and Kissed By Love, which are set to premiere in the coming months.
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