If you are not working for a public broadcaster with a remit to produce it, blue-chip wildlife can be a bit of hard sell for a commissioning editor. The lead time is long, often two or three years for one six-part series, and the cost is enormous. But Netflix has deep pockets and a long-term strategy, so perhaps it shouldn’t have been a big surprise when it unveiled Our Planet last April. The eight-part was made by Silverback Films, the indie set up in 2012 by Alastair … [Read more...] about Reforms in the factual world
Features
The Rise of Asian Television
The vibrant Asian TV market has been actively co-producing with record-breaking US$244 million estimated worth of deals and partnerships brokered within the region in a single market. The new trends skyrocketing in the Asian market drew attention to South Korean formats in the recent years. Keshet International, the international TV Production Company known for their global phenomenon Homeland and Rising Star, has opened an office in Hong Kong. All3Media has opened an office in … [Read more...] about The Rise of Asian Television
Matchmaker
Amanda, what is your focus right now? The real focus right now is with the U.K. and U.S. broadcasters who do not have Asian producers, and the Asian producers here don’t have to talk to hundreds of Americans or British producers because I am their bridge. I bring the ideas that will work so I’m a glorified matchmaker for broadcasters for television programme ideas and business strategy as a whole. I’m looking at how we can share development, funding and how I can get British broadcasters and … [Read more...] about Matchmaker
The making of: Cirque du Cambodia
The Story An art school called Phare Ponleu Selpak, located in rural Cambodia along Battambang, conducts circus as a curriculum to at-risk youths in the local village. The youths are at-risk in terms of drugs, violence, prostitution and everything else due to extreme poverty. The kids are doing stuff that are superhuman in a certain way and these are children who normally work in a factory or in the rice fields without having any opportunity. I felt like there was a lot to cover with the … [Read more...] about The making of: Cirque du Cambodia
Asia’s largest robust media market
The vast growth potential in Asia’s content industry comes from the burgeoning event in the region - Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF). The 17th edition of ATF is held this year in association with MIPTV and MIPCOM. ATF serves as a quality platform for the entertainment content ecosystem in Asia. It brings international content sellers and Asian buyers together with its’ C-level Summit, markets, conferences and networking events. ATF provides information on new media trends, business models from … [Read more...] about Asia’s largest robust media market
Securing the best shows is a risky business
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg once said that in today’s rapidly expanding business world, the only strategy guaranteed to fail is not taking risks. It’s unlikely the internet entrepreneur was thinking about the international television distribution business when he said this, but his opinion couldn’t be more appropriate in today’s TV industry. With the marketplace increasingly crowded, injecting cash into shows when they are just treatments, or even before that, is now a necessary gamble for … [Read more...] about Securing the best shows is a risky business
