The June Challenge
This is an unique month for the content industry. While the last years before the pandemic, content people tended to be focused on the biggest shows, now they are on the opposite. There are many buyers, distributors and producers looking for new events to gain fresh networking and contents. This way, there are many markets growing and others, reactivating themselves. Prensario covers just in June, five European events with the same edition: NEM Croatia, MIFA/Annecy for kids, Natpe Budapest, Conecta Ficton Spain, Content Budapest.
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European trends, useful for any of these events? The big SVOD project reductions happen everywhere, generating many effects and reactions:
• The AVOD and FAST channels boom, as a way to get the monetization that SVOD systems are failing about. The market is full now of new players offering content providers to create FAST channels and develop them internationally, by revenue sharing. The subscriber-supported model is changed back by advertisement, and the FAST channels reach very segmented audiences anywhere, through Internet.
• The return of major international distribution, sales to third parties, that were stressed in LA Screenings last month, with the Disney screenings back opening some product and the announcement that Amazon now distributes its originals through MGM. The new product available will push free TV, pay TV, regional distributors, buyers and the events in general. Independents are now stronger to compete with majors, so the market will be very competitive.
• The broadcasters are again a priority for main providers to develop flagship projects, due to their stability. They are now producing unscripted (well-known successes, low risks) and they even try again with scripted. Some projects they shared with OTTs, now are
by their own, and they will sell them through their own distribution arms.
• In production, this is a time for co-productions, alliances, collaborations, to share rights, even for the big OTT platforms that took the projects all rights so far. The ‘studios’ system is just for these times: flexible models and partners, depending on the project. They are more resistant than simple producers, to project ups & downs.
• The writer strike that affects USA, turns the content market more international, especially towards Europe. The big UK players as ITV, BBC, are already present in many Hollywood projects, but also during this year, many projects will be moved outside USA not to be stopped. It is a big opportunity to get more market and make new alliances.
The challenge of the events
Three of the five June events (NEM, Natpe Budapest, Content Budapest) are focused on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), while MIFA is for kids mainly in Europe and Conecta Fiction is dedicated to co-productions between Europe and the Americas.
The big challenge of the month is between two event organizers: Canadian Brunico that bought Natpe (Budapest) vs. UK’s C21 that develops Content Budapest. They will have a second battle next January, in Miami. What can we comment? Most of the people say it is nonsense to organize two events in the same city in two weeks. It is a loss of time and money for everybody. But, the two events will take place and deploy their strategies.
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trends, June 2023
Big SVOD project reductions
AVOD and FAST channels boom
The return of major international distribution
The broadcasters are again a priority
In production, time for co-productions, alliances
The US writer strike turns content market towards Europe
Content Budapest: A generalist market arises on the CEE landscape
After Content Americas was held in Miami last January, C21 confirmed that its next event would be called Content Budapest, a market with a specific format: to promote the coproduction business in the countries of the CEE region. The event takes place from June 27 to 29, and more than 130 leading companies participate, and almost 400 buyers and acquisition executives attend, both from the region and from around the world.
Among the exhibiting companies are: Sony Pictures Television, ITV Studios, BBC Studios, Lionsgate, Grupo Globo, RaiCom, Caracol TV, CJENM, TRT Sales, ZEE, Leonine Studios, ZDF Studios, among others. While company executives from high-caliber companies it’s participating as buyers, or as speakers in the sessions, including: Paparika, Paramount, WBD, AMC Networks International, mena.tv, Merzigo, Antenna Entertainment, blutv, Prima; among many others.
The market is taking place at The Kempinski Hotel and is on a mission to foster new programming relationships in Central and Eastern Europe and connect fresh creativity with international partners. It also includes some differentials compared to traditional markets.
Conecta FICTION 2023: América y Europa se reúnen nuevamente en Toledo
Arribando a su séptimo aniversario, Conecta FICTION & ENTERTAINMENT (CFE), el mercado enfocado en la creación, desarrollo, producción y financiación de contenido para la televisión regresa a Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha (España) hasta el 29 de junio donde recibe a ejecutivos de más de 40 países en su ya clásico y exclusivo formato donde los asistentes buscarán fomentar nuevos negocios, impulsar proyectos o buscar colaboradores a largo plazo.
Organizado por primera vez en 2017 y 2018 en Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, CFE se mudó luego a Pamplona-Iruña donde celebró una edición 100% física (2019) y dos híbridas (2020 y 2021), para filnalmente llegar a Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, donde repetirá la fórmula de su aforo limitado, con la presencia de los más importantes players de la industria y así mejorar su efectividad para los asistentes. Este formato lo ha hecho ser uno de los 10 mejores mercados internacionales de televisión de la industria audiovisual.
El países en foco de esta séptima edición serán México (por la parte de América) y Polonia (por la parte Europea). Estos “country focus” del mercado siempre han sido muy valorados en ediciones anteriores, destacando el valor de su know-how y profundizando en los actores y players de cada territorio.
CFE: Crecimiento del 30%, 2018-2022
Esta edición vuelve a ser una iniciativa de Inside Content, con el apoyo del gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha, Turismo Castilla-La Mancha, La Comisión Fílmica local, y con la participación de y patrocinio de una veintena de instituciones como el ICEX, AVS Hub, Spain Film Commission; entre otros.
En tanto, entre las empresas participantes se encuentran: Grupo Globo, iZen, Studiocanal, Movistar+ International, TelevisaUnivision, Amazon Studios, ZDF Studios, Gato Grande, France TV, Atresmedia, Universal Production Music, Banijay, RTP, OCS, Red Arrow Studios, ARTE, Samsung TV Plus, eOne, Onza Distribution, Marvista Entertainment, Ecuavisa Studios, por mencionar algunas.
NATPE Budapest 2023: The Brunico era for a CEE classic
NATPE Budapest, the iconic market focused on lowproduction CEE countries, returns once again to the agenda of TV industry executives at the InterContinental Hotel in the Hungarian capital. After a 2022 edition (organized by the founders of the association) that saw a notable drop in attendance, as a result of the Covid-19 lag, and on the other hand, the changes in the TV business.
But it was last January, after the acquisition of the fair’s operations by the Canadian Brunico Communications, that the event was relaunched and announced, under the premise of once again bringing together executives eager for business in this region of the world. A market that has been growing in the streaming segment, but which also still has deep roots focused on the traditional linear TV business.
NEM Dubrovnik: 10 years reuniting the best TV players from CEE
New Europe Marker (NEM) has celebrated its 10th anniversary this June, again in the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The four-day market organized by the Croatian Mediavision, continues to maintain its precise focus on the countries of the CEE region that seek to explore the business of FTAs, Pay-TV channels, cable and satellite operators, IPTV, production, distribution and technology applications, and other business verticals within the TV industry.
The 2023 edition has brought together more than 1,000 participants, making it the largest to date.
Dubrovnik, Croatia, off the Adriatic coast, for 10 years, is the meeting point for global TV executives looking for opportunities in the CEE market
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‘Since 1993, NATPE Budapest has been the gold standard of marketplaces connecting the world with the Central and Eastern European content community. It is also the only European market to feature US studios in its exclusive screening program for registered buyers. Last year, NATPE Budapest welcomed nearly 400 leading buyers from the CEE region, and we look forward to building on the critical success of the last edition’, said Russell Goldstein, Brunico President and CEO.
One of the successes of NATPE Budapest is the massive call to the main US studios, and to specific Latin distributors, who see great opportunities because for more than 30 years it has attracted the main acquisition executives in the CEE region in the Greater volume.
Goldstein also said that Brunico implemented additional rigor in the buyer qualification process to ensure a roster of executives superior in both quality and quantity, making NATPE Budapest 2023 free to buyers, ...
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OMDIA: CEE FAST revenue to double by 2028
FAST race’, however its growth will be ‘limited’ compared to other regions.
Traditional linear television and social video are the factors that are driving the entry of these countries into the AVOD segment and have generated US$5.6 billion and US$1.1 billion, respectively. ‘Pay TV continues to grow in this market along with the traditional broadcast TV viewing model. Meanwhile, the online advertising market in this region is much less developed compared to its Western European counterparts, and there is currently no
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During the recent edition of NEM Dubrovnik 2023, the CEE market, Maria Rua Aguete, Senior Director of OMDIA, said that by 2028, the region is on its way to reach US$42 million in revenue by FAST concepts, according a new research from the consultancy.
This market was described as ‘incipient’ on the European scene, joining markets dominated by the United States, even, OMDIA stressed that it expects a ‘rapid expansion from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia over the next four years’.
During the first day of NEM, the executive and delegate from OMDIA described the CEE region as ‘being present in the global
España se posiciona como uno de los grandes mercados audiovisuales de Europa
La proliferación de las plataformas de streaming y los distintos modelos del negocio de la producción han hecho que cada región empiece a potenciar sus hub audiovisuales, soportado por la fuerza de empresas locales y por los esfuerzos gubernamentales por ofrecer incentivos y leyes que potencien la actividad.
Gaming business opportunities are growing in Europe
Western Europe has unquestionably become one of the emerging markets within the gaming segment: it is the third largest mobile gaming market by revenue (after East Asia and North America), generating more than $7 billion of consumer spending in 2021, according to Newzoo data.
CEE, a safe place to invest in advertising
The global advertising market continues to grow and recover after the ravages of Covid-19. In the case of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, GroupM predicts that the segment will grow by 4.5% this year, however it will be inferred with respect to other Western European countries.
According to the consultant, in a report that analyzes the situation in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, Serbia and Poland, this growth will be less than the 6% registered in 2022 and adds that it will be less than the current economic situation and associated uncertainty. to investment in marketing in certain countries.
Being one of the largest markets in this region, Poland is one of
Producing in CEE: the moment of AV incentives
Audiovisual co-productions and the incentives to carry them out continue to play a valuable role in the global content industry. With a general rate of around 2530% of eligible spending (although higher rates and other benefits are offered), they can provide developers with the cornerstone of a financing plan for their project and an instrumental
Pay TV in CEE: The mixture of a business that keeps growing
Reaching $8.8 billion by 2027, Pay TV is expected to continue to grow for years to come. This forecast is driven by the low penetration of the large streaming platforms and some distributors, who have highlighted the language and location barrier as one of the problems for operating there.
the countries whose advertising segment will grow more slowly than others this year. Traditional media advertising revenue will increase by 0.5% according to current estimates compared to 2022 figures, and will amount to just over PLN 12.6 billion (EUR 2.69 billion). The smaller markets in the region, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Croatia, will continue to maintain a growth rate of several percentage points in this year.
TV2
Hungary:
free TV consolidation and digital expansion
Being leader in Hungarian TV for the fifth consecutive month during this year, TV2 continues to maintain its leadership in daily and prime-time in all three key target groups (A18-59, A18-49, A4+).
Gábor Fischer, Programming Director at TV2, talked with Prensario about the position of the broadcaster in the country, trends, and how the group has evolved regarding digital space.
‘In 2023 TV2’s success is due in particular to its local productions, especially Wheel of Fortune The gameshow confidently dominates its time slot in all three key target groups’, added Fischer
In addition, the return of the USA format Let’s Make a Deal after almost 30 years made its debut on TV2 with outstanding success, its special episode past March 12th became the most-watched show this year in all three important age groups.
Also, Your Face Sounds Familiar, the Hungarian version of the Banijay format, returned early this year with it’s 9th season and delivered strong slot-winning results.
RTL Hungary: a new strategy due to the OTT success
With good projections for the coming months of the year, RTL Hungary outlines its 2023 plans, marked by progress in its strategic and operational agenda, and after company’s profitability which has increased in 2022. Gabriella Vidus, CEO; Péter Kolosi, Deputy CEO, Director of Programming; and Balázs Szabo, Chief Content Management Officer, spoke exclusively with Prensario about the current situation of their respective areas within the company, where they recounted the highlights of the following months.
One of the great novelties of the end of 2022 was the launch of the company’s streaming service RTL+, last November, with the aim of being the first domestic streaming platform to offer
local, Hungarian-language content to paying subscribers. ‘At the end of March 2023, the streaming service added up to 0.277 million paying subscribers. This is the cumulative number of paying subscribers for the RTL+ and RTL+ Active service tiers, excluding users in the free trial phase. These results exceed our expectations by far and we consider them a huge success’, expressed Vidus
Your Face Sounds Familiar, the Hungarian version of the Banijay format, returned early this year with it's 9th season and delivered strong slot-winning results
MEGOGO: Exploring new businesses in the western countries
The streaming platform from Ukraine, MEGOGO, is expanding to other countries and recently announced its operations in Poland, where it will begin to explore the western market in Europe. Artur Pacula, director of the new unit, recently revealed the plans for the service that is currently available in 14 countries around the world.
Movistar TV+: copros, contenido Premium y una estrategia única de distribución
NOVA TV: A year of leadership in Bulgaria
María Valenzuela, General Manager‘Estamos en una nueva etapa’, así definió al nuevo foco de negocio que está llevando adelante la división internacional de Movistar Plus+, área que lidera María Valenzuela, General Manager. El streamer, productor y distribuidor, ha logrado su primer gran volumen de ventas internacionales en los últimos dos años, por lo que ya está preparado para transitar a una nueva fase del negocio.
La ejecutiva, quien viene de ocupar puestos de liderazgos en Huawei y en Buendía Estudios, durante un panel en la reciente edición de NEM 2023, precisó en los éxitos de la plataforma y sus originales, los cuales han llamado la atención en América, en medio del boom de la narrativa hispana,
Latvian TV: educational TV and international copros
Operating two of the main free-to-air and mostwatched channels in Latvia, Latvian Television (LTV) is a state-owned public service television broadcaster that operates two generalists, but with a different focus, channels LTV2 and LTV7. About the market share and the programming seeks in the international, Zane Valeniece, Head of Acquisitions, talked with Prensario regarding the company’s participation in global TV markets.
‘Latvian Television is most watched in Latvia, and I think for the public media, it’s very important to be leaders that the audience trusts in us. And our mission, as buyers of course, is to bring the best programs that we can to more audiences. Specifically in animation, which is one of our current needs’, explained Valeniece
Regarding themes in content, LTV is looking for programs that involve imagination, good feelings, good behaviors, and values, like values about friendships, about family.
Following her appointment last year as CEO of Nova Broadcasting Group (Bulgaria) by United Group, Stefana Zdravkova has been driving the strategy of NBG, focusing on creating more successful synergies of digital and traditional media and ensuring high performance and sustainable growth. The company reported last March the biggest viewership result in its history: an average daily audience share of over 30% among the audience 1849 y.o. To date, this is the highest rate for NOVA reported by a peoplemetric system since 2005. In a recent interview, Zdravkova spoke about the good moment of the broadcaster in Bulgaria, and the strategy that gave her good results at the beginning of the year.
Stefana Zdravkova, CEOCalinos pushes Farah and Indefensible
Calinos Entertainment’s mission is to ‘spread joy to global audiences, to make them enjoy the drama by enhancing the presence of Calinos dramas on all the platforms, in every country, with the newest content’, expressed the company due its participation at NATPE Budapest 2023. The company’s mission in this market is enwidened its catalog with content created by international producers in addition to Turkish dramas. The company’s mission in this market is enwidened its catalog with content created by international producers in addition to Turkish dramas.
As for its distribution side, the company is highlighting some titles, among them, the success of Fall/Winter season Farah; which successfully finalized its 1stseason at the end of May in Turkey. Produced by O3 Medya, Farah is a strong story about an empowered woman.
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Unifrance: The great moment of French audiovisual
After outstanding participation in Annecy Festival/MIFA, Sunny Side of the Doc, Series Mania, and MIPTV, Unifrance, the institute that covers French audiovisuals, returns to NATPE Budapest, with a large umbrella stand that will have no less than 45 of its member distribution companies.
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Alfred Haber: a specialist in live entertainment shows
With several entertainment titles, Alfred Haber Distribution is promoting its catalog in the seasonal markets in the CEE. Among his highlights are Help My House is Haunted and Into the Wild Frontier
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RTVE beats on Los Argonautas for International
With a renewed line up, RTVE arrives at NATPE Budapest to show its novelties, such as the children’s fiction Los Argonautas, co-produced with Portocabo for its children channel, Clan, being the first original production series created for the channel.
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ATV is diversifying its content catalog, and as for NATPE Budapest, the company it’s presenting beyond adult drama series into the market.
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Miracle of Love, from OGM
OGM Universe, the distribution arm of OGM Pictures (Turkey), participates in NATPE Budapest for a new edition of the CEE market, ...
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Centauro: New high-caliber deals
The Colombian-based production company and post-production services studio Centauro, had an excellent run last May at international festivals, where it signed important coproduction and collaboration agreements.
ATV: a diversified catalogue that provides value
Kanal D makes a difference with Farewell Letter
With global sales reaching 10,231 hours of content in 2022, Kanal D International participates in the CEE market to showcase its line-up in this region. Seasonal highlights are That girl and Farewell letter, a melodrama that recently premiered in Turkey.
Limit, the new psycho-drama from Raya Group
Raya Group has been busy with a lot of recent activity. The company, beyond distributing, also produces, and has been working on five different feature films, which were optioned to Netflix and is now ready to seek new business partners in the market of Central and Eastern Europe.
We Love Entertainment celebrates its first year with important achievements
We Love Entertainment, the company that provides services and offers facilities to production companies and entertainment platforms to produce their audiovisual content, has just celebrated its first anniversary. Carlos Mesber, CEO of the company,
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Mediapro promotes the second season of its thriller series Express
The distribution unit of The Mediapro Studio is participating at NATPE and Content Budapest, where are highlighting three titles that are part of its seasonal catalog: Las Pelotaris 1926, and the second season of Express and The Head 2
The Kitchen Hungary welcomes NATPE Budapest & Content Budapest
With two back-to-back industry forums set to take place in Hungary in June, NATPE Budapest (June 12 to22) and Content Budapest (June 27to 29), Gabor Somogyi, Managing Director of The Kitchen Hungary believes the timing is right for his country to be receiving all of the attention.
Caracol, three new titles and strong European presence
With a renewed line up of in-house productions, Caracol TV participates in NATPE Budapest, where it presents three new novelties, whose stories touch racial empowerment themes, strong women, and Colombian popular music.
The first of these stories is Love of My Live, a new romance drama that addresses issues such as racial discrimination, and tells the story of a forbidden love between Mariana, the daughter of a powerful landowner from Valle del Cauca, and Joaquín, a laborer afro from the cotton farm that his father owns. The series brings together great talents such as Jairo Camargo, Modesto Lacen, Melanie del Olmo, Paula Castaño, Jair Romero and the return of Luis Jerónimo Abreu (Bolívar) in the antagonistic role.
Lisette Osorio, Vice President of International SalesAlso Power Romina, a series that follows a heroine, played by Juanita Molina (The Queen of Flow), passionate about downhill and defender of the weakest, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that she has a twin sister: Laura .
Globoplay Original Intolerantes debuts in Europe
Inter Medya: The Girl of The Green Valley and other hits
Inter Medya launched its slate of MiniSeries a couple of years ago, which opened a new path for Turkish series, moving away from traditional paradigms to make way for a new generation of Turkish narrative.
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The ViX era at TelevisaUnivision
‘The challenge that we have at TelevisaUnivision, since the launch of ViX, is to scale to the next level of content distribution. Our group has leading freeto-air channels in Mexico and the U.S., and also we are global leaders in the production
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Created by Lucas Paraizo, author of Bajo Presión, and directed by Luisa Lima, the Globoplay Original Intolerantes, arrives in Europe and is shown for the first time on the market at Content Budapest. The new series of the Brazilian company is part of the showcase that will be presented in the event.
After being presented by Globo to the international market during LA Screenings Independents past May, and premiering in Brazil, the series is officially shown in the European market, together with the soap opera Solo Confia Intolerantes addresses the problem of intolerance and the difficulty of dialogue in today’s society.
‘I really wanted to talk about intolerance, and the artifice I found was to show the inherent relationship between neighbours, strangers living side by side. In the plot, they are an allegorical way of referring to living in society.
Toonz Media partners Kenn Viselman to launch itsy bitsy Animation
India’s powerhouse studio Toonz Media, and Kids’ and family entertainment producer Kenn Viselman (Teletubbies, Moonzy) have launched Itsy bitsy Animation brand.
Banijay Kids partners Bayard to develop printed publications based on Totally Spies!
Banijay Kids and Family announced a partnership with Bayard, one of the oldest press and publishing companies in France, to develop a range of magazines and children’s books
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TV Film: Formats and series of proven success
Being independent distributors in the Latin market, and working hand in hand with TVN Chile, TV Film, the company led by Juan Pablo Carpenter and Pamela Argandoña attends CEE markets to explore new business opportunities.
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BBC Studios Kids & Family make senior appointments
BBC Studios Kids & Family, has announced the appointments of Katharina Pietzsch as VP Content Sales, BBC Studios Kids & Family; and Kelly Wood in the newly created role of Head of Content Strategy, BBC Studios Kids & Family.
Lithuania: JunitaBudvytiene, head of acquisitions at LRT; Tadas Burneika, NS Media Manager, and Ksenija Kozenkova, NS Media Marketing Manager, both at Vinted (strong ecommerce online platform)
Annecy, once again the global capital for animation industry
The Festival and MIFA have experienced substantial growth, with the exception of the 2021 edition, which had complications due to the Covid-19 restrictions
The Wit Kids Garden: Social media, influencers and positive themes
One of the central events of the animation industry, The Annecy International Animation Film Festival and its MIFA market, organized by the Center national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) and CITIA, reach 60 and 35 years respectively from June 11 to 17 in the city of Annecy, France.
‘The kids and young-adult content available on the international market has not change that much. Change in content is happening mostly on YouTube and Tik Tok where this segment have taken power and create what they want to watch’ explained Virginia Mouseler, CEO of The Wit on a recent presentation.
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Racial and gender issues as a trend in children’s content
The pandemic and the boost that pubcasters have had on children’s content has resumed family viewing. And although this consumption takes place more and more through devices and platforms, the importance for safe content and with themes that helps children at home has grown.
These times and the saturation of content and narratives have made children more aware of issues such as racism and homophobia.
Markets that boost the global animation business
In addition to The Annecy International Animation Film Festival, executives dedicated to the animation industry have two events on their agenda that continue to grow year after year: Premios Quirino de la Animación Iberoamericana and Ventana Sur. The first is organized and sponsored by the Cabildo de Tenerife, Turismo de Tenerife and the Tenerife Film Commission along with some twenty Spanish institutions,
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TFI, for youth audiences: gender neutral shows that mix comedy with adventure
Yann Labasque, director of youth programs at TF1, has been highlighting the company’s strong focus on delivering genderneutral shows that mix comedy and adventure with relatable characters and strong franchise potential.
‘Editorially, our focus is on entertainment rather than education,’ the executive recently said. ‘It’s more about deeper characters and their stories’.
In his recent appearance at Kidscreen 2023, the executive mentioned that two-thirds of the content that TF1 pre-purchases or co-produces must be French,
Amazon Kids+: 360 content focus
It’s been a good year for Amazon Kids+. The service was honored at the recent edition of the Kidscreen Awards where it was named the Best Kids-Only Streaming Service.
Amazon’s service, dedicated to children’s content, is looking for series with consumer product potential to fill its recently
PBS Kids: Content that teaches and educates
PBS, the American pubcaster, is looking for series for childrens from two to five years old or from three to eight years old, with education as the narrative thread. ‘At PBS Kids we are open to programs that have topics such as literacy, mathematics and character problem solving using these skills are of
Netflix
Kids:
Fanbase IPs and family viewing content
‘Netflix has become a platform where everyone in a family can find something they love to watch’, Dominique Bazay, head of global independent TV originals, said at a recent conference. The executive highlighted that the biggest current attraction of the service is its broad demographic reach that affects multiple groups of tastes.
‘I think the goal of any platform is to please everyone, from twoyear-olds to grandparents. But we’re also looking to be that space for those who can’t find content they love, from a super female show or a super action adventure series’, she said.