Buyers worry about license fees. Sellers worry about license fees. If like the new A&E series Barter Kings (pg. 30), we can all trade in our programming without paying a dime (and still get associated rights), then the world would be a happier place wouldn’t it?

Some distributors I spoke to are well aware that post MIPTV, many buyers would have seen their wallets shrunk as the volatile economy continues its slide. This market should probably see buyers walking down the Croisette with new budgets from the new financial year – though can anyone claim to have more to spend? MIPCOM 2012 then, would prove a challenging ground for securing deals. Just how much volume will transact? And at what price? What’s the trade off? More volume for lower fees? Same fees for fewer ancillary rights?

Finished programmes aside, there seem to be some opportunities for sellers of formats.

In Asia, some notable formats will roll out before the year closes. Tyra Banks’ Next Top Model will splash across pay-TV and FTA screens simultaneously next month. Not nationwide, not nation against nation (think ANTM’s British Invasion), but an entire continent will duke it out as Asia’s skinniest, I mean, prettiest. Also in November, The Amazing Race Philippines goes on air with a scheduling strategy never-before attempted in the franchise’s 11-year history.

For the first time, the show will be stripped Mondays to Saturdays on TV5 – that’s A LOT of detours and pit stops per week! So Asia’s certainly not done with formats. If anything, Asia’s taking tried-and-tested formulas and reinventing them; and the most tenacious format sellers who could grant flexibility and consultancy while working with less-than-desirable fees and (sometimes) government regulations would triumph.

What about children’s programming? MIPJunior will not just discuss content, it’ll pit the best in the business for their chance to dazzle the kiddies on tele. Six finalists will pitch for top honours at the MIPJunior International Pitch on October 6 while 15 top programmes will have their fates decided by the toughest jury of all – kids. The Kids’ Jury Awards, as determined by fifteen children from the International School of Nice, will be handed out October 6.

While the buying and selling of kids’ content will certainly be no child’s play when the market opens, new demand for kids content from Asian buyers brings good news. The region will see four new pay-TV kids’ channels – Discovery Kids launched in April, followed by Disney XD in September, and hot on the heels are Turner’s Toonami and Cartoonito, due for early 2013 launches. None of these international players can claim to have a full library of content, which means their buyers will likely have substantial MIP shopping lists!

Television Asia Plus’ MIPCOM issue, in conjunction with MIPJunior, will feature our regular Guide to Pre-school and Children’s Programming that will provide comprehensive viewpoints on where the genre is heading. We’ll profile the four new children’s channels in Asia that will certainly make for a vibrant kids’ market by next year. In our Guide to Formats, key sellers independently predict a market slowdown but all demonstrate a commitment to work with broadcasters to get the most out of their buck.

To cap our discussion on formats, I sat down with Bertram Van Munster, co-creator of The Amazing Race, who at age 72, is still at it (pg. 50). And finally, in an Asian-exclusive interview, Simon Cowell speaks candidly about the Got Talent franchise, which is touted as the current top-seller in formats history (pg. 46).

Here’s wishing all a fruitful market at MIPCOM 2012.