MIP-TV leaves its mark: cost increases hurt. (Market Report).

MIP-TV organizers were walking the Palais in Cannes to reassure outraged exhibitors that cost increases were to be dealt with at the local government and hotel association levels, so that they will not be repeated next time. Many distributors were said to be shocked at hotel-room rate increases that, in some cases, reached upwards of 50 percent compared to last year's MIPCOM, held before the euro, the new European-wide currency, was widely introduced. The protests mainly concerned the Carlton, the Majestic and the Martinez hotels, but increases in taxi fares and restaurant bills were also reported to MIP-TV organizers.

On the business side, there were reports of buyers being interested in restocking their shelves with new product, but it was still spotty, with some distributors (like Italy's Mondo TV and Switzerland's RTSI) completely overwhelmed by acquisition executives, and others totally ignored.

Market organizers emphasized the large presence of buyers, but the report was generally dismissed as unrealistic. According to official figures, the number of participants was down seven percent, while the number of exhibitors was unchanged and the number of buyers was actually up 20 percent. Officially, MIP-TV attracted 10,200 participants from 2,715 companies from 97 countries. Of these, 2,601 were buyers from 1,052 companies.

What showed a real increase, though, was the number of Asian exhibitors, with Japan setting up 28 stands (22 last year), South Korea with 33 exhibitors (13 in 2001) and Thailand with seven companies on the floor (six last year).

Naturally, May's Los Angeles Screenings were in the minds and plans of large companies, busy putting the final touches on their appointment schedules. In another show of growing unity and organization, Latin American independents gathered for the traditional and informal VideoAge-sponsored breakfast meeting at the Martinez Hotel to gear up for the L.A. Screenings. Although the consensus of the participants was that some TV outlets would be sending fewer buyers to the screenings this year, the overall attendance is expected to equal last years.

Also of relevance was the planning of a new association of indepedent TV companies, whose seeds were planted during a breakfast meeting at the Martinez Hotel. One of the purposes of the proposed association would be to present a bargaining power similar to that of the studios vis a vis NATPE and other TV markets.

In conjunction with MIP-TV there were the MIPDOC market and MIPNET seminars. The first, dedicated to the documentary market, began on April 13, two days before MIP-TV; the second, concurrent with MIP, focused on Internet-related topics. One of the five MIPNET conferences dealt with "Post Internet, New Outlets, New Formats." Some participants questioned how one can talk about "Post Internet" when the Internet's potential hasn't yet been remotely exploited. According to the panelists, in the past 10 years, the Internet has not changed the nature of television, at least not to the extent many had predicted. However, as Michel Rodrigue of Canada's Distraction Formats pointed out, "that is not to say that the Internet won't change things in the next 10 years." According to producer Eric Huc of France's Bionik, "many of the technologies are still in an embryonic stage."

Independently from the market organizers, the Russian contingent -- some 13 companies -- organized a conference on Russian and low-cost production.

Also this year, some rumblings were heard about next year's MIP-TV dates, set for March 24-28, barely 57 days after NATPE in New Orleans and 23 days after the AFM in Los Angeles, if one considers MIPDOC, which preceedes MIP-TV and which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Lots of attention was also given to BetaFilms, Endemol and Discovery problems. Political woes played a big role in the buying process, with France in the midst of an election, Italy's RAI having just gotten its management in place, Germany in the midst of turmoil, Venezuela dealing with various coups and other Latin American countries in the eye of a financial storm.

The fact that a proliferation of distributors' selective screenings is now chipping away at major TV markets came to the surface. It was pointed out that, in order to stand out in an increasingly crowded international market, companies are using the strategy of "mini markets" -- such as the Rai Trade Screenings, the BBC Screenings, the Cologne Screenings and the French TV Screenings -- to boost sales and better promote their television programming.

Mathieu Bejot, managing director of TV France International, said that the French TV screenings, to be held September 9-13 in St. Tropez, is important to French producers "because they can present their programming without any competition." Likewise, the purpose of the Rai Trade Screenings is said to offer buyers a relaxed atmosphere in which to view the company's wide-ranging programming without the pressure of negotiating.

Mexico's Televisa used MIP-TV to introduce Eugenio Lopez Negrete, who was appointed Director General of Miami, Florida-based Televisa International on April 1. His professional life at Mexico's Televisa began six years ago, touching on several aspects of the broadcasters' activities: business development, buyer for Sky and Cablevision (pay-TV rights) and, most recently, CEO of Esmas.com, Televisa's Internet division.