Singapore – Marking Singapore’s 12th expedition to one of the world’s largest audiovisual and digital content market—MIPCOM—the Media Development Authority’s (MDA) has announced successful international sale, and distribution and co-production deals for factual, drama and animation content during MIPCOM 2012 last week in Cannes.
Compared to MIPCOM 2011, the participation rate of Singapore companies at this year’s event has increased 18%, including a good mix of TV production companies, animation companies, and content distribution companies.
Some of the announcements made include M2B’s (M2B World Asia Pacific) launch of WOWtv Apps on Samsung Smart TVs and Samsung GALAXY devices. Singapore-based M2B signed a technological partnership with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd to use M2B’s WOWtv platform to distribute rich media and entertainment content to over 130 countries worldwide.
Boutique distribution company Bomanbridge Media Singapore, meanwhile, has signed a deal with Finnish company Intervisio for Angel’s Gate, the world’s first transmedia business reality format. Angel’s Gate is a unique 360-degree, multimedia programme that gives entrepreneurs the opportunity of a lifetime to pitch their dream business ideas to some of Asia’s most successful investors.
Another successful deal is Monstrou Studio Singapore’s US$5 million animation co-production agreement with Spanish production house Sweatbox and Televisio de Catalunya for Nightbreeds, a 26-episode 3D action-adventure cartoon series targeted at children aged 9 – 12. The animated series is scheduled to be aired on Televisio de Catalunya (TV3) at the end of 2014, leveraging Monstrou Studio’s unique Vicon Motion Capture system technology facility (MoCap) and Sweatbox’s wealth of experience from its earlier successes, including the international, award-winning TV animated feature Talma and the Myth of Agartha and the Academy Award-nominated animated feature Chico & Rita.
Meanwhile, August Media Holdings has concluded an agreement with Kool Produktion (Norway) to co-produce the second series of animated pre-school series Ella Bella Bingo. In addition to this, August Media Holdings’ newly launched distribution arm August Rights will handle international sales for series one and two of the show, while Kool Produktion will be responsible for all Scandinavian rights. August Media Holdings’ subsidiary Red Kite Animation will oversee the development and production of the second series of Ella Bella Bingo in Singapore and Edinburgh.
Asian Food Channel (AFC), for its part, has launched eight new productions, including 36 Ways To Live, Back To The Streets, The Boss 2, and The Big Break, at MIPCOM, adding to its stable of more than 70 hours of high-quality, Asian food and lifestyle programming.
Last but not the least is One Animation and Zodiak Kids The Foundation’s agreement regarding the development of three children’s animated television programmes beginning late this year.