A+E Networks
Ling-Sze Gan, Senior Director, International Content Sales, Asia Pacific
At ATF, we plan to follow up with all of the clients we saw at MIPCOM to finalise new deals before the end of the year. And, we plan to start conversations with our key partners in the region about deal renewals. This year, we’ve seen an increased number in buyers of various platforms from Vietnam, Myanmar and China.
At ATF, we will be pushing Liz & Dick, an original Lifetime movie starring Lindsay Lohan and Grant Bowler. In addition, we will be showcasing two new megadocs – Miracle Rising: South Africa, which tells the epic legacy of South Africa’s political transformation, and The Men Who Built America, which reveals how at the height of the industrial age, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Astor, Ford and Morgan modernised America.
On the reality series front, we will introduce My Life is a Lifetime Movie, Dance Moms, Barter Kings, Duck Dynasty, Monster In-Laws and Mountain Men.
ABC Commercial
Natalie Lawley, Manager, Content Sales, ABC Commercial
I have very positive expectations for ATF. MIPCOM was extremely successful and we received significant interest in our new releases. We released 31 titles, which was our biggest release to date. In our key genres that continue to sell well in Asia – Factual, Kids and Lifestyle – we presented premium, high-end content and the level of interest reflected this.
Buyers at ATF have always been solid clients for ABC Commercial. I feel that we have strong relationships in place and offer content that they are looking for, across all genres, but especially in Factual, Lifestyle and Kids. ATF is a stable, predictable market in terms of being able to reconnect with my clients in a familiar environment. However, this year ABC Commercial will be joining the newly formed Australian Pavilion which we anticipate will bring greater attention to the high standard of content available from Australian distributors. Our content at ATF will be fresh, unique and blue chip and I believe this is very suitable for the Asian market.
BBC Worldwide
Joyce Yeung, SVP & GM, BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution Asia
There was real buzz around a lot of our content at MIPCOM. For example Oscar-winner Jane Campion was there to launch new drama Top of the Lake with her co-writer Gerard Lee. And dramas like Sinbad, which has been a ratings hit in the UK, continued to generate interest – we announced a sale of Sinbad to KBS, and have since closed another deal with SyFy Asia. We highlight a very wide slate at MIPCOM, and ATF is very much about refining that, talking to buyers about titles like cookery show Nigellissima, key factual title Wild Arabia, Generation Earth and our flagpole BBC crime drama Ripper Street, which we feel have the potential to be big sellers in Asia.
We find most of the Southeast Asian buyers who have attended MIPCOM also attend ATF, though we are expecting to see more clients from China and Taiwan, as well as portals or digital platforms. Top quality factual series, in particular natural history, are always at the top of buyers’ lists in Asia but we are definitely seeing a growing interest in British drama. At ATF we might be seeing a wider range of clients, and more representatives from the clients who are there, so it’s a chance to continue conversations started at MIPCOM, and also look at new platforms for our content.
Beyond Distribution
Joanne Azzopardi, VP International Sales Australasia, Beyond Distribution
This year at ATF we are looking forward to finalising deals which we started discussing at MIPCOM and to introduce our latest programming slate to broadcasters that we did not have a chance to meet with previously in October. We have high expectations from this market for children’s edutainment, quality lifestyle and documentaries in HD, all genres which our clients in Asia continue to be interested in.
Steam Punks is that wonderful combination of education and entertainment that Beyond does so well and that, traditionally, broadcasters in Asia have responded to. It has loads of fun science and is very visual with great experiments throughout. The other key element for Steam Punks is that it will work as a canned show for foreign markets. However it is also a great format for broadcasters which they can easily adapt. Interest in quality formats which are cost effective remains high in Asia. Initial feedback has been very positive and we are looking forward to further discussions at ATF.
Lifestyle and documentary continue to resonate with audiences across Asia and we are bringing to the market Income Property, combining home renovation that turns your house into a money generating asset, Vintage Hunter, focused on searching out antique collectibles across Asia and Myth or Science, which tests out scientific and health claims.
Caracol TV
Roberto Corrente, Sales Executive for Eastern Europe and Asia
The expectations we are bringing to ATF are high and will be focused on the expansion of our presence to new markets, new audiences that want the kind of productions Caracol is known for: a line-up focused on entertaining viewers all around Asia with shows that portraits all the human emotions in ways no other latin producer can match.
At ATF this year, we have the pleasure to introduce to our clients, some incredible new productions. Starting with Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord, one of the most ambitious mega productions ever made before by a Latin American producer. There is also Made In Cartagena, an incredible story full of music, action and romance, 5 Widows On The Loose, an incredible story of five women who don´t have anything in common except for one thing: every Sunday morning they see each other when they go visit their men, who because of some mistake, an injustice or simply because of a careless act lands them in jail turning them in to widows while still being alive, and finally we are premiering for this market The White Line, a story about four different characters that intervene during each phase of the complex route of cocaine trafficking.
FINAS
Mohd Naguib Razak, Director General of FINAS
As the global buyers in MIPCOM were increasingly more selective, there was a rising demand in quality cultural programming that would be universally adaptable by all races across the world. Malaysia is poised to bring a new and large selection of leading-edge animations, documentaries, feature films and other TV programmes that will depict the virtues of Asia for international audiences in ATF.
ATF, held in conjunction with Screen Singapore, is one of the largest Asian markets. Unlike markets such as MIPCOM which attracts television content buyers, ATF this year is expected to bring together both serious television content and film buyers from Asia and across the globe. We expect that ATF buyers will be shopping for new and exciting programmes of all genres that will cater to an extended series of convergence in media platforms. There will also be a rise in demand for short films, filler animations and documentaries.
War of the Worlds: Goliath, a 90 minute 3D animated feature film was recently released in Malaysian cinemas and will be available for sales and distribution for the rest of the world. Bola Kampung The Movie, another 95 minute 3D animated feature film, will also make its debut at ATF for their release in March 2013. Co-produced by Funcel, Gonzo (Japan) and FINAS, Satria: The Warriors of 7 Elements, a 2D animation series (26 x 24’) will also make its announcement at ATF for their release in Q2, 2013.
ITV Studios Global Entertainment
Hyeonza Hong, VP Sales, Asia, ITV Studios Global Entertainment
We’re looking to raise awareness of the breadth of our catalogue, which offers buyers everything from high quality dramas such as Mr Selfridge, insightful documentaries like Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan and creative and unique formats such as Surprise Surprise. Through ATF meetings, we hope to wrap up some deals before the end of the year.
Compared to MIPCOM, ATF attracts more local broadcasters from the region and therefore the market focus is narrower in the sense that we focus on content that is attractive to Asian clients. Additionally, there are more lifestyle and travel channels and VOD services launching, so there is more demand for fun and glossy entertainment programmes.
Our scripted highlights include: highly anticipated period drama Mr Selfridge (ITV Studios), about American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge (starring Jeremy Piven), the man behind London’s iconic department store; award-winning dramatist Stephen Poliakoff’s Dancing On The Edge (Ruby Film and Television), about a black jazz band in 1930s London; Falcón (Mammoth Screen, Canal+ Spain, ZDF), based on the series of bestselling novels from acclaimed crime writer Robert Wilson and Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour (Mammoth Screen, Masterpiece, ITV Studios).
Key factual titles include travel-adventure series Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan (produced by Cream Productions and Wildlife Television) which follows the actor as he travels the globe in search of the biggest and scariest insects, and Too Cute! (True Entertainment), a remarkable look at some of our most loveable animal friends.
Format highlights include entertainment hits such as: Surprise Surprise (ITV Studios), a revamped version of the classic British format which has returned to the UK in 2012; and The Audience (The Garden), which is already in production in France, Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands, primetime entertainment series Red or Black? (ITV Studios).
MediaCorp
Tang Yun Leung, Vice President of Content Distribution, MediaCorp
We see little interest from European buyers at MIPCOM this year, probably due to the weak economic climate sweeping across the continent. European agents are mostly shopping for interesting products to pitch without any clear buying objectives in mind. However, two significant trends emerge; firstly, more interest coming from North Africa and Latin America; and secondly, the rise of the internet and mobile devices platforms. Latin America has started taking interest in Chinese and Korean dramas, similarly we have interested parties from North Africa wanting to acquire The Little Nyonya because it has done well in Asia. The internet platforms are also collaborating with mainstream channels and acquiring large volume of content to cater to the changing media consumption patterns.
We see an increasing trend of buyers considering new media platforms. With more free-to air licenses to be issued in Hong Kong by 2013, we expect more activities coming from Hong Kong buyers.
We are bringing to ATF a plethora of dramas ranging from love, paranormal to turn-of-the-century. These include Poetic Justice, Beyond X and The Quarters. One new drama we are launching at ATF is 96° Café. It is the first time we are producing a drama with the internet platform in mind, before extending the story onto the traditional TV platform.
Playboy Plus TV Entertainment Inc.
Lanny Huang, General Manager, Playboy Plus TV Asia and Japan
With the coming of ATF 2012, we are optimistic. We received many buyer enquiries from Asian countries at MIPCOM. We know there will be a number of new IPTV launches in Asia in 2013, which require VOD content and channels. And we have been in touch with many active buyers sourcing innovative and “talk-of-the-town” content.
AT ATF, buyers will be mainly Asian and usually looking for all rights, including rights for channel, VOD, OTT, mobile, etc. Regardless, they are always looking for “suitable” content at good prices. Playboy may just have what they are looking for! For “talk-of-the-town” buzz, we have an array of “dare to tell the truth” programmes, “hot contest” programmes and “dating” programme. Moreover, we also offer Digital Playground movies which won numerous AVN Awards and XBIZ Awards.
From Q1, 2013, Dirty Little Secrets will explore sexual myths and experiment to determine right from wrong. Then there is Dream Dates to select the dream girls for the dream boys and a new game show called The Man, which will challenge ladies to pick the most appealing men.
Televisa
Mario Castro, Director of Sales Asia and Africa
Each market is unique and different in many ways. ATF more specifically allows us to reach in a deeper way with the Asia Pacific markets. The region has always been important to Televisa as we have been developing our presence and building good relations and partnerships in key markets.
More than a generalisation of what ATF buyers expect, each buyer or client has always shown a specific need, driven by the trends of the industry. A common denominator will always be a good story and an excellent production. Originality in the content offered is something that clients are always looking for.
Some key highlights at ATF this year are Carrossel, a wonderful family production about the children’s day to day lives, addressing current and real conflicts of school and families; and Hollywood Heights, the story of a talented but shy teenage songwriter who wins a songwriting contest sponsored by her favourite artist who will help her develop in the music world.
Turner Content Solutions
Grace Chan, Executive Director, Syndication, Turner International Asia Pacific Limited
Following on from the huge success of Falling Skies (3 seasons, 30 x 60’), Turner Content Solutions will present a new drama series called Monday Mornings (10 x 60’) at ATF. The TNT series is based on a book written by Dr Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent. David E Kelley is executive producer and it will premiere on TNT in the U.S. in early 2013. As we’re expecting considerable interest from Asian broadcasters at ATF, Turner is hosting a private screening to let them share in our excitement.
Further to the recent announcement that Turner represents the motivational hit series LazyTown in the region, we’ll be taking its third season to buyers at ATF. This brand new season (13 x 30’) focuses on a healthy lifestyle, and features even more songs and fun for young viewers all around the world. We’re expecting Sportacus and Stephanie to be the new favourite characters in Asian households very soon!
Building on our extensive Asian lifestyle entertainment slate, Turner continues to offer our partners original content featuring popular celebrities and the very latest trends. Highlights from this genre include B2st on QTV (2 x 60’) from Korea and Hello! Camping Girls! (12 x 30’) from Tabi Channel in Japan.
Zodiak Rights
Naomi Koh, Vice President of Sales for Asia
I’m hoping to recreate the interest generated in the new prime time format from I&U that RDF Television is producing for BBC One in January: Nation’s Brightest. Also following on from the deals I have made recently for So You Think You Can Dance and Don’t Forget the Lyrics in Vietnam and True Talent in China, I hope that other territories in Asia will look again at these successful studio-based formats alongside many others that populate our catalogue.
I think that the focus for the ATF buyer is slightly different to the Central Eastern European buyers that I sell to. In terms of finished content; documentaries should have a broad international appeal, either in wildlife, history or technology & science genres or, alternatively, be a story that has a strong Asian focus – for example our new documentary Aung San Suu Kyi: The Choice. For formats I think ATF buyers are often looking for the next big studio show whereas the other buyers I sell to are also interested in formats outside of the studio environment.
Concerning new content we are excited about the American version of You’ve Got to be Kidding me! which has been piloted for one of the main U.S. networks. In terms of finished content I am particularly happy to present Networks of Power, a new six-part series profiling the most wealthy and famous people in six of the world’s greatest cities and Objects of Desire a six part series about the most wanted objects, their production and the celebrities who can’t live without them. In terms of drama we have an excellent and haunting new French drama Rebound which we are very excited about – it is supernatural but feels very fresh and we also have a new UK drama, Switch, about two groups of 20-something witches which is young and fun!
