Markets

Reed MIDEM’s Laurine Garaude and Lucy Smith told reporters more details about a “reimagined” MIPTV at a press conference on Wednesday October 16 during MIPCOM, while Robert Marking offered up a tour of the new turnkey exhibition options.

MIPTV 2020 takes place March 30 to April 2, with MIPDoc and MIPFormats returning for the weekend before.

MIPTV exhibitors will be able to opt for a range of styles and sizes, and different color schemes. The stands all feature a wood finish. Exhibitors will be set up in P-1, R7 and R8. The Essential Stand, from 9 square meters to 27 square meters, is an open space that promises to be economical and promote visibility. The Club Stand, from 18 square meters to 45 square meters, offers up a private space for meetings. The Business Stand, beginning at 18 square meters, offers a semi-private space. And the Lounge Stand, also beginning at 18 square meters, features a semi-private space as well as VIP services. There will be a range of furniture options to choose from.

Addressing reporters, Garaude, director of the television division at Reed MIDEM, said the changes follow “an extensive and widespread industry consultation to discuss the MIP markets in a changing environment.” Out of that research, Reed MIDEM said clients wanted “more scalable, more flexible, more cost-effective options.” They also wanted more buyers. “We have 3,300 buyers, but they want more, and more quality buyers.” The consultation also found a “greater need for identifying new contacts and making new partnerships. They need help in navigating this market. Any way we can help do that is really important.” Garaude added that buyers, in particular, indicated a need for more market intelligence. “Filtering content, filtering trends, filtering market intelligence.”

The consultation led the team to “re-create the event to match where we need to be in the future,” Garaude said, with changes to the overall market experience. “We want to open it up, create more networking opportunities, change the way people use the show. It’s been very much about the 20-minute back-to-back meetings. This is a new event with more quality time, more networking, and having In Development as part of the whole thing.”

“This is a long-term strategy. A reimagined MIPTV is going to take several years. MIPTV 2020 is going to be phase one.”

Lucy Smith, deputy director of the television division at Reed MIDEM, said that conversations are ongoing with clients “to make sure these new solutions work for them.”

She also noted that the conference schedule will be streamlined. “We will have four and a half hours during each day dedicated to the exhibition, with no conferences happening.”

In terms of buyer attendance, Smith said, “We’re increasing the number of invited and hosted buyers. We’ll target broadcasters, VOD platforms in specific regions. We work very closely with our exhibitors to make sure we’re bringing the key buyers they need at the market. The invitation process has started, and we have 230-plus top buyers committed to coming to MIPTV 2020.”

The MIPDrama Summit will return on the Sunday before MIPTV begins. “During MIPTV, we will have [screenings] for formats, factual and kids’ content, allowing people to discover what’s new before they get into the business of MIPTV.”