With all the news regarding the amount of content being unveiled at this year’s MIPCOM circulating these past two (plus) months, you’d be forgiven for thinking that business all round is just as jovially buoyant.

But with the OECD warning that a double-dip recession is a serious concern and Morgan Stanley stating that there is now a one in three chance of the economy taking a tumble, what’s expected to go on at MIP is the exception, rather than the rule in current world business.

Looking at the coin on both sides; the rose tinted view would be that following a fantastic year of growth and pushing the boundaries of television, there is understandably a swathe of content on offer this MIP and countless choices for buyers; chequebook at the ready. However, a more skeptical view would see this market as the industry going into defence mode pulling out all its ammunition as a last ditched attempt to secure deals before the economic rain clouds roll in and dampen business. This could also be a factor into why MIPCOM is shorter this year – get them in and out as quickly as possible!

There’s no doubt the content business is a costly business and although it’s been shown that television can triumph in times of economic angst, the ripple effect of the declining and strapped-for-cash US economy, coupled with the woes of a severly weakening US dollar, could impact heavily on production budgets and distribution costs. We’ve seen it all before.

That being said, you can never keep a good idea down and that is where the Asia-Pacifi c remains resolute. Talking with content executives for the feature Eyes On Asia (pg 27), I got a true sense of this “make it happen” candor and by far, this is the region’s best weapon, which will help the industry weather the storm – if or when it occurs.

Economics aside, television, fundamentally, is about ideas and the energy to see it through. Going by the year of television in Asia, we’re not short of these assets.

See you at MIP!