Deal-making at MIPCOM 2015 was brisk across all genres, reflecting the continued dynamism of the international content business. While continued demand for schedule-defining scripted content meant that this genre was the most high profile at the market, there was also a high volume of business across factual, kids and entertainment.
North American content continued to be in demand but there was also robust business for large and small players in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. An expansion in the number of channels and platforms drove demand for quality content and also continued the trend towards innovative partnerships and windowing. Collaboration is a key feature of the 21st century content business, fuelling format deals and co-production alliances.
Drama deals highlights
1. Disney Media Distribution sold ABC Studios’ The Muppets to broadcasters in 122 countries. It also secured deals in 186 territories of Shondaland’s brand new series The Catch.
2. Beta Films pre-sold the upcoming UFA/Beta drama series Hitler (working title) to French broadcaster TF1. The 10-hour event series is in development for German broadcaster RTL.
3. A+E Networks in the US is to air mystery series The Frankenstein Chronicles, having acquired it from Endemol Shine International.
4. Canal+, Capa Drama, Zodiak Fiction and Incendo announced at MIPCOM that there will be a second series of period drama Versailles. The first series will air on Canal+ in November.
5. Fox International Channels acquired the original version of Keshet International’s False Flag, marking the first time Fox has taken a foreign-language drama for its networks. Fox is also developing an English-language series of the show.
6. SPT licensed Crackle’s new drama series The Art Of More to 25 territories at MIPCOM. The Dennis Quaid-starring series (top photo), premiered in Cannes the day before MIPCOM began, was picked up by broadcasters such as Viacom’s Colors in India, OSN in the Middle East and D-Smart in Turkey.
7. Italy’s Rai Com sold a new season of detective series Young Montalbano, to the BBC, RLJ (UK video rights), Hi Gloss (Australia/New Zealand video rights) and NEP (Japan pay-TV rights).
8. On-demand foreign-language drama service Walter Presents acquired five series from distributor ZDF Enterprises. It also picked up content from TF1 International, Film & Picture TV Distribution and Dutch Features Global Entertainment.
9. Lionsgate formed a global TV distribution partnership with Skydance Media, the company behind Emmy-nominated series Grace And Frankie and critically acclaimed drama Manhattan.
10. SundanceTV announced that it has come on board Irish broadcaster RTE’s period drama Rebellion as a co-producer. SundanceTV also joined Sky Atlantic/Canal+ high-concept crime drama — and MIPCOM World Premiere Screening — The Last Panthers as a co-production partner.
11. FremantleMedia International (FMI) German-language spy thriller Deutschland 83 was sold to a number of broadcasters including Channel One (Russia), Sky Italia (Italy), Hulu (US), SundanceTV (English-speaking Canada) and Stan (Australia & New Zealand). FMI also sold its UK detective series No Offence to France 2.
12. Netflix acquired Rob Schneider’s eight-part sitcom Real Rob from Tricon Films and Television for use on its service in the US, UK, Canada, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.
13. Content Television & Digital did a deal to distribute Shaftesbury Films’ horror series Slasher while at MIPCOM.
14. Viacom International Media Networks signed a deal with UK broadcaster Sky for the comedy series Big Time In Hollywood, FL, produced by Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Productions.
15. Spanish producer Plano has joined forces with France’s MakingProd to co-produce Salazar, a Spanish inquisition witch-hunting series that will be distributed by Eccho Rights.
16. All3media International sold British thriller The Missing to ZDF in Germany. It also licensed 130 hours of Hollyoaks to Latvia.
17. Sony Pictures Television secured a large number of deals for its Wesley Snipes drama The Player. Buyers included TF1 France, RTL Germany, AXN Spain and Seven Network Australia. Japanese pay-TV broadcaster Wowow acquired the show as well as CBS drama Zoo, which has just been renewed for a second season.
18. South African SVOD service ShowMax bought 125 hours from ITV Studios Global Entertainment, including new fantasy action adventure series Jekyll And Hyde. The deal also comprises seasons one to three of Rectify, period drama Mr Selfridge, family drama Good Witch, event drama Texas Rising and three seasons of crime series Vera.
18. Dori Media Group sold a season of its new romantic comedy Esperanza Mia (My Lovely Hope) to Spain’s Planeta Junior. Esperanza Mia is a co-production between Dori Media International and Pol-Ka Producciones, and has recently been sold to a range of countries including Indonesia and Vietnam.
Kids deals highlights
19. TVP ABC Poland acquired a number of animation series at MIPCOM, including Thomas And Friends, Fireman Sam, Barbie Rock Princess, My Little Pony and The Littlest Pet Shop.
20. Cannes newcomer Super8, from Brazil, was at MIPCOM with Universo Z, a 52 x 11 mins live-action/animation hybrid series that it co-produced with Atama Filmes. Universo Z already airs successfully on Nickelodeon Latin America and was poised to be picked up by new networks at the market’s close.
21. TBS’s kids channel Boing acquired the rights to Portfolio Entertainment’s 52 x 11 mins animation series Freaktown for France and French-speaking EMEA territories.
22. Method Animation and AB Groupe used MIPCOM to launch their new international kids production Seven And Me.
23. Kiyoshi Entertainment acquired more than 100 hours of animation content from China’s Fantawild for use on Indian cable channels and digital platforms around the world.
24. Gaumont Animation’s new series Belle And Sebastian has been sold to M6 and Canal+ in France as well as Quebec’s Radio Canada, Belgium’s VRT and Swiss broadcaster RTS.
25. Mattel sold its CG animation series Little People to channels including Cartoonito (UK), TV Cultura (Brazil), Televisa (Mexico), Discovery Kids (Latin America) and E-TV (South Africa).
26. VIZ Media Europe appointed m4e AG to represent Japanese anime series Yo-Kai Watch in the German-speaking territories.
27. DHX Media signed a deal with Turner Broadcasting for a new animated series Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, based on the 2009 movie of the same name (and its 2013 sequel).
28. Studio 100 Media concluded a co-production with EuropaCorp television on the series Arthur And The Minimoys. It also sold a raft of titles to Al Jazeera Media Network.
29. Germany’s KiKA acquired broadcast rights to The Avatars, a co-pro from Boomerang TV, Fly Distribuzione and Brave Films.
30. Spain’s TVE acquired the first two seasons of kids animation series Geronimo Stilton from Atlantyca Entertainment.
31. Latin American PayTV network Discovery Kids announced that it is partnering Cris Morena Group and Mundoloco CGI on three kids animated series — Floribella, Underdogs and Baby Rockers — to air exclusively on Discovery Kids across Latin America.
32. Korean producer Studio Gale signed a deal with Bastei Media to oversee distribution of Grami’s Circus Show in Austria and Germany. The first season of the show already runs across Asia, including on the Disney Channel in Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
33. Belgian-Dutch kids series The Kattenoog Mystery Club was picked up by Lagardère Entertainment Rights at MIPCOM.
Discover more factual and formats deals, plus all the highlights of MIPCOM’s 2015 edition, in the MIPCOM Review app! Download it now, for iOS and Android.
