MIPDOC, Cannes – Programming heads at international factual entertainment networks have said that content acquisition will rise in the short-term as production is slowed; speaking at a session on programme financing, being held as part of MIPDOC, 28-29 March 2009, Carlton Hotel, Cannes, France. Asked how budgets have been affected by the financial crisis, AETN International’s vice president programming and production Michael Katz said that budgets were not necessarily dropping but that the network was working on fewer projects at the present time. “We’re certainly not cancelling projects but some may be put on hold. We’ve also held back premiering a lot of our new content, which will now roll out third or fourth quarter – lessening our demand later this year and into early 2010.” In agreement was executive vice president, content, National Geographic Channels International, Sidney Suissa, saying that budgets will remain flat this year, so acquisitions will go up, and the network will be looking for more opportunities to localize content. “Hopefully early in the new year our masters will loosen the purse strings again.” Asked by Television Asia Plus how the crisis impacts co-production opportunities in Asia, both execs said they are agnostic to where programming comes from, so long as it’s good. Katz advised potential co-producers to hold off for the time being, but also mentioned that AETN International’s localization strategy in Southeast Asia is continuing as planned. Currency exchange was cited as the single biggest (economy-related) problem facing (these) international networks at this time. “Currency fluctuation has been our biggest worry so far, because our revenues are paid in (each) local currency,” said Suissa.