Foreign Series Take Root in US Soil
Transcription
Foreign Series Take Root in US Soil
THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF FILM, BROADCASTING, BROADBAND, PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION MAY 2008 VOL. 28 NO. 3 $9.75 L.A. Screenings ® Guide www.videoage.org Foreign Series Take Root in U.S. Soil Challenges As Opportunities: Writers Strike Benefited Indies BY ERIN SOMERS I While many have speculated that fewer his year, the pilot process is pilots might become the norm during somewhat different. It had to future pilot seasons, others believe that be, what with the time next year, things will go back to the way constraints imposed by the they were in a pre-strike world. The big lengthy Writers Guild of (Continued on Page 54) America strike in the U.S. Last year, the U.S. TV networks commissioned their typical number of pilots (ABC had 29; CBS, BY LEVI SHAPIRO 21; CW, 12; Fox, 24; and enry Luce, the founder of Time Magazine, once NBC, 20). This year, the famously remarked, “There is no such thing as numbers are notably different (as of press time, a China expert, only varying degrees of ABC had 17; CBS, 14; CW, ignorance.” The same could be said about 4; Fox, 14; and NBC had Western content owners selling their programming to already greenlit 13 shows at local Chinese television stations. Because of economic, its early mini-upfront). BY LEAH HOCHBAUM ROSNER n the industry all are well aware of the Hollywood writers strike’s effects on upcoming TV seasons worldwide and the changes to the U.S. television industry. It remains to be seen if these changes are going to be permanent, as predicted, or just temporary, as hoped. However, little has been said about the effects –– one way or another –– of the strike on the U.S. independents and foreign television production and distribution companies. At first sight, many independents seemed to have come out of the strike unscathed, and a lucky few even saw some benefits. VideoAge spoke to a cross-section of independent companies to find out if and why David fared better than Goliath during the writers’ crisis, which engulfed TV networks, studios, producers, distributors and even cities. (Continued on Page 56) T China’s Foreign TV Content Viewed With Contempt H (Continued on Page 50) Latin America’s Top Guns Shoot For Region’s Top Show F orum Brasil is fast becoming Latin America’s premier TV trade show. This year’s ninth edition promises improvements, and, next year, there’s an even more drastic plan to move the event from its traditional São Paulo location to Rio de Janeiro. These changes are viewed as a signal to the international TV sector to get an early jump on the bandwagon in order to secure a more privileged standing in the future. Forum Brasil, which will take place June 3-5 in São Paulo, will bring (Continued on Page 52) EN ESPAÑOL • DISCOP Africa • Hollywood apunta al EST • Dólares de los L.A. Screenings • Evaluando los daños post-huelga ONTENTS C V I D E O A G E • N o. 3 • M a y 2 0 0 8 Cover stories: Comparing TV Seasons. This time foreign series take root in U.S. soil for reel 17. • Indie Programming Selection. When Fare is Fair Brasil TV Forum: Latin America’s top guns shoot for region’s top TV trade show 4. Official L.A. Screenings Guide • Where, When and Who is screening Local Sino TV: China’s foreign TV content viewed with contempt • Parties & Events Challenges and opportunities: Hollywood writers strike benefited indies and foreign producers • 2008-2009 new season TV series. Yes, that’s all there is! • Capturing the moment. Photopage World: U.K., Afghanistan, Australia, U.S., China Plus: Famous Quotes, Letters • Studio sales team. They’re the stars’ stars • Key acquisition executives. Always nice to see y’all. 43. 8. Sección en Español: • Dólares de los L.A. Screenings para Los Angeles Book Review: Schulz’s life in the unfunny pages. Not just a few peanuts for Peanuts • DISCOP Africa: la última frontera de la TV • Evaluando los daños posthuelga. La calma luego de la tormenta • Hollywood apunta al EST 12. 58. MIP-TV Review: Few parties, many deals. Eco-friendliness now a plus 60. Conferences & Events News. Plus, your usual portion of dates and places My 2¢. To dis-cuss or not to dis a cuss (like the “F” word on television) FremantleMedia Enterprises is pleased to announce MERLIN A YOUNG MAN WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY FUTURE DRAMA 13 x 1 HOUR Coming soon in primetime to the BBC and NBC www.fidtv.com 1 Stephen Street, London W1T 1AL, UK E: fi[email protected] Movies Pirated Before Premiere A l Pacino thriller 88 Minutes opened in U.S. theaters on April 18. But according to Bloomberg.com, prior to its debut, SurfTheChannel.com had already played the film roughly 51,000 times. A new danger in the Web piracy arena, SurfTheChannel links to a number of other sites, including Tudou.com, 56.com and many sites around the globe. Streaming technology makes movies and TV shows instantly available on Web browsers and hides viewers’ identities, making it nearly impossible for anyone to stop them. The site uses an Internet service to hide its location and links to sites that make copyrighted material available. According to a site spokesman, it’s legal because the content doesn’t reside on SurfTheChannel’s network. Sony’s 88 Minutes is just one of 95,000 titles on Stockholm-based SurfTheChannel, which boasts about 650,000 viewers a month. The site offers films that are still in theaters, as well as movies that aren’t out yet, such as Time Warner Inc.’s Good Chemistry. Online piracy cost the movie biz $7.1 billion in 2005 and, according to the Motion Picture Association of America, is the fastest-growing threat to the film industry A host of other sites, including QuickSilverScreen.com, Joox.net and SideReel.com provide similar services. SurfTheChannel even had a page on MySpace.com, a social networking site owned by News Corp. The page was blocked after the company learned of its existence. Sweden has recently started cracking down on pirates, though. In March, the government began focusing on file sharing after the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry registered complaints against PirateBay.com, which locates pirated material — just like SurfTheChannel does. Afghan Clerics Anti Indian Soaps I ndian soap operas have caused outrage in Afghanistan in recent months. In April, a Muslim movement opposing the scandalous programs gained steam when members of Parliament, backed by the national Ministry of Information and Culture, issued a statement demanding that private TV channels stop broadcasting five of the controversial shows. Since they hit the airwaves, the soaps have provoked protests from conservative Muslim clerics and politicians. Opponents object to the shows because men and women are portrayed together, the Hindu religion is prominently featured and women are dressed “immodestly.” Following the demise of the Taliban in 2001, a dozen or so private television stations emerged and began to broadcast the soaps to eager subscribers. A spokesman for Tolo TV, the country’s leading private channel, dismissed the parliamentary declaration, claiming it was against the law. However, many of Kabul’s most influential Muslim leaders have taken up the campaign and have vowed to resort to violence if the shows are not removed. U.S. Video Game Sales Hit The Roof T he ailing U.S. economy has not affected video game sales, according to industry data released on April 17. March video game sales in the U.S. were up 57 percent from 2007, reaching $1.7 billion. Nintendo, which led the boom with its Wii console sales, boasted its biggest non-holiday month ever. The sudden popularity of Nintendo Wii accessories has been attributed to the release of the “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” game. The company reported 720,000 Wiis sold, and an additional 2.7 million copies of the hit game. “Wii Fit,” an innovative game that encourages couch potatoes to get some exercise, hits the shelves in May. Nintendo is confident that, with the help of the new game, its strong showing will continue. Sony’s PS3 game console also took off in March, with figures doubling from (Continued on Page 6) M AY 2 0 0 8 If you think it’s tough at the top in Hollywood – you’ve never been at the bottom! STARRING: BRENDAN PENNY, BRITT IRVIN, ZAK SANTIAGO, MEAGHAN RATH, MICHAEL B. JORDAN Series: 13 x 1/ 2 hour LA SCREENINGS CONTACTS: Saralo MacGregor, Executive Vice-President Worldwide, saralo.macgregor@contentfilm.com Melissa Wohl, Senior Vice-President, melissa.wohl@contentfilm.com Diana Zakis, Vice-President, diana.zakis@contentfilm.com 1337 Third Street Promenade, Suite 302, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA. T: +1 310 576 1059, F: +1 310 576 1859, www.contentfilm.com figures for Nintendo and Sony. As Nintendo’s ability to keep Wiis in stock improved, sales hit new heights. Though Nintendo is still dealing with pockets of shortages, it has become much more adept at handling supply issues. (Continued from Page 4) 2007. The company expects sales to continue to rise, with the premiere of such games as “Metal Gear Solid 4” and “Gran Turismo 5 Prologue” in the coming months. Additionally, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS games sales have shown improvement, along with handheld units from a variety of makers. Sales on games and consoles are also going up due to a recent increase in supply. Previously, retail shortages of systems throughout the U.S. damaged U.K. To Review BBC Funding O fcom, Britain’s media regulator, is considering requiring the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) to share its annual license fees with commercial broadcasters that offer public service programs. The proposal was one of many under consideration by the regulator, as it began its second major review of the sector. The BBC opposes the idea of sharing the license fee with its rivals and has said that a cut in funding would hurt its ability to fulfill its public service requirements. One choice is to invite commercial broadcasters to bid for “long-term funding to provide public service competition to the BBC.” The license fee is one way to finance it, according to Ofcom. Other options are government funding from a number of different sources or industry levies. Putting a stop to the BBC’s exclusive access to public funds would pressure it to reduce spending. In October, the BBC announced that it would cut 2,500 jobs, sell its London headquarters and produce fewer programs because the government refused to increase the license fee by the amount it had requested. The BBC is financed through a mandatory fee paid by all British households with a TV set. Downloads Down Under A unique struggle has begun down under for the rights to the “last mile” of broadband cabling. The term refers to the last 10 meters of wiring between the front door of a house and the owner’s television. Though it may seem trivial, control of this digital gateway will dictate who gets a piece of the Internet-streaming pie that could end up being worth billions. A variety of diverse companies, including Internet service providers, cable companies and game console makers, have all joined the competition. Australia faces an unusual obstacle in terms of Internet-based television services, in that monthly download limits are much lower than in other countries. This both inhibits the amount of programming users can access, and caps the amount of revenue available to companies. The winner of the “last mile” would be able to exclude its own content from a subscriber’s download cap, and thus exclusively serve a large audience. One of the major players in the running is broadband service provider Telstra Big Pond, which owns rights to distribute Fox News and coverage of the Bejing Olympics. Its biggest competitor for the final 10 meters is provider SingTel Optus, which is partnering with MTV and Disney. Letter to the Editor Great piece on TV/Radio Age. I found it especially amusing about how you were considered kind of weird because you knew how to work the telex. I had the same experience with the fax machine and the computer (not to mention using an electric typewriter!). Keep up the great work. Les Luchter LL Communications, New York Famous Quotes Charlotte TV stations should run cartoons instead of local news. They are more entertaining and just as informative. The Charlotte Observer, April 27, 2008 North Carolina M AY 2 0 0 8 A FAMILY RANCH... A HORSE WHISPERER... ...A FIGHT TO SAVE A DREAM... Drama Series: 31 x 1 hour LA SCREENINGS CONTACTS: Saralo MacGregor, Executive Vice-President Worldwide, saralo.macgregor@contentfilm.com Melissa Wohl, Senior Vice-President, melissa.wohl@contentfilm.com Diana Zakis, Vice-President, diana.zakis@contentfilm.com 1337 Third Street Promenade, Suite 302, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA. T: +1 310 576 1059, F: +1 310 576 1859, www.contentfilm.com Book Review Schulz’s Life In The Unfunny Pages G enerations of comics readers and TV watchers view Peanuts as merely a kind-hearted cartoon, rife with gently humorous observations about human nature. Yet, in the 50 years of his life in print, Charlie Brown did a whole lot more than tickle the funny bone of those perusing the Sunday papers. Though his character was forever thwarted in his attempts to kick a football, Schulz succeeded in creating a media empire that spanned print, TV and merchandising, and generated millions of dollars. In biography Schulz and Peanuts (2007, HarperCollins, 655 pages, U.S. $34.95), author David Michaelis looks to the comic strip for insights into the life of its creator and the intricacies of his relationship with television. Schulz himself was quoted as saying, “If somebody reads my strip every day, they’ll know me for sure — they’ll know exactly what I am.” However, despite Michaelis’ impressive breadth of research and painstakingly thorough (and at times absurd) analysis of the comic strip that both catalogued and drove Schulz’s life, the artist and media mogul remains elusive. Success was hard won for Schulz, despite his singular talent and determination. Trained only by a correspondence drawing course, Schulz worked diligently and suffered many rejections in seeking to get his strip picked up by a syndicate. However, his skill was undeniable, and when United Features Syndicate finally premiered his strip on October 2, 1950, he was off and running. It was not long before Peanuts outgrew newsprint. Merchandisers came knocking, looking to slap Snoopy’s recognizable mug on everything from linens to plush toys, and the entertainment industry soon followed suit. However, Schulz was reluctant to lend his characters to film and TV projects. “There are some greater things in the world than animated cartoons” became his mantra over the next 10 years. Schulz’s real fear was that Hollywood would swoop in and change his characters’ “essential qualities.” But by 1965, when CBS and CocaCola offered to fund a Peanuts Christmas special, a producer named Lee Mendelson had earned Schulz’s trust through collaboration on a handful of commercials. Schulz was confident that Mendelson and his selected director, Bill Melendez, would preserve the look of his uncluttered drawings and the integrity of his vision. He was ready to make his 8 VIDEO • AGE Although author Michaelis dutifully recounts the particulars of Schulz’s professional success and personal life, he neglects to fully assess his impact on the entertainment industry. Charlie Brown and his friends changed the way people thought about comics. Suddenly, two-dimensional drawings could become TV stars, sell cars and insurance, and work their charm in countless languages. Though the world saw Schulz simply as Charlie Brown’s human incarnation, he was, in truth, an entertainment and marketing genius. Charles Monroe Schulz was born on November 26, 1922, in St. Paul, Minnesota to a German immigrant and his Norwegian-American bride. Schulz was dubbed “Sparky” by one of his many boisterous Scandinavian relatives while still in infancy. The nickname became ever more contradictory as Schulz grew up — he was a reticent child and an insecure adult. But it nevertheless stuck, contributing to the “Average Joe” image that made him likeable to the public despite the phenomenal wealth he eventually accrued. Michaelis delights in pointing out similarities between young Schulz and Charlie Brown. Both had barbers for fathers, an affinity for little red-haired girls, and a love-hate relationship with a “dog that thought he was a human.” Throughout the book, landmarks from Schulz’s upbringing and childhood friends pop up in the abundant strips that accompany the text. However, the most poignant resemblance of the illustrator to his round-headed drawing is the loser mentality, the shared fixation on being a “bland, stupid-looking kid” unworthy of love or recognition. For Charlie Brown, it was a trait that would draw millions of sympathetic readers to the strip. But for Schulz, it represented a deeper struggle with neuroses and undiagnosed depression. magnum opus. Throughout his life, Schulz was determined and willful, but never were these traits so apparent as during the development of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Melendez recalled that the illustrator “was very sensitive and [collaborators] had to be very careful” when dealing with him. In spite of objections from his director and producer, Schulz was insistent that the special be a condemnation of the holiday season’s materialistic side. Surprisingly, Michaelis fails to call attention to the irony of Schulz’s eagerness to comment on commercialism. He had made millions licensing his characters into merchandizing and endorsement deals and would go on to make a Peanuts special for every holiday including, laughably, Arbor Day. The director and producer voiced their objections to Schulz’s offbeat ideas, but the artist would have his way, and Charlie Brown’s quest for the true meaning of Christmas became the special’s centerpiece. When A Charlie Brown Christmas was finally presented to CBS executives, one week before it was scheduled to air and $25,000 over the miniscule $150,000 budget, the suits were baffled. The movie had a melancholy jazz score by Vince Guaraldi, lacked the laugh track that was standard in cartoons of the day, was voiced by children rather than professionals and featured Linus reciting a biblical passage at the climax. All of these were Schulz’s touches. Expecting the worst, they broadcast the quirky film on December 9, 1965. The movie was an instant hit, declared a “Yule classic,” and nominated for prestigious TV awards. Letters poured into CBS, thanking the network and the man of the hour, Charle Schulz. Money-wise, A Charlie Brown Christmas continues to be a gift that keeps on giving for CBS, which re-airs the special each year. Charles Schulz passed away in 2000. His contribution to the world of comics is immeasurable, and the sheer joy he has brought to the public cannot be denied. Michaelis’ book pays tribute to the adventures of Schulz’s iconic characters in their famed holiday specials and on the printed page. However, when it debuted, Michaelis was denounced by Schulz’s surviving family members. They accused him of deliberately portraying the icon in an unfavorable light, and calling attention to his crippling social deficiencies and greed. But Michaelis’ account is nothing if not balanced. The book’s shortcomings occur not because the analysis is biased, but rather because its focus is off. Michaelis uses Schulz strips to explain the inner workings of Schulz’s psyche, which, coming from an author and not a psychoanalyst, seems presumptuous and irrelevant. Surely, not every strip Schulz ever created reflected his inner turmoil. The intriguing part of Schulz’s story is not in his unknowable emotions, but his impact on comics, entertainment, merchandizing and even holidays, the world over. ES M AY 2 0 0 8 IN A WORLD DIVIDED BY FEAR, THEY HOLD THE LINE STARRING JAMES MCGOWAN AND SOFIA MILOS Drama Series: 26 x 1 hour LA SCREENINGS CONTACTS: Saralo MacGregor, Executive Vice-President Worldwide, saralo.macgregor@contentfilm.com Melissa Wohl, Senior Vice-President, melissa.wohl@contentfilm.com Diana Zakis, Vice-President, diana.zakis@contentfilm.com 1337 Third Street Promenade, Suite 302, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA. T: +1 310 576 1059, F: +1 310 576 1859, www.contentfilm.com MIP-TV Review Few Parties, Many Deals. Eco-Friendliness A Plus F ewer parties (but an abundance of celebs), the rise of African television, and an attempt at honest-to-goodness ecofriendliness in the Palais des Festivals. This could summarize MIP-TV 2008, which took place in Cannes, France in April. Many companies, including Lionsgate and U.K.-based Fireworks, opted to ditch the confines of the convention center’s “bunker,” instead choosing outdoor terrace areas alongside such luminaries as Disney-ABC and FremantleMedia. On some executives’ minds were Webbased TV series — in fact, a keynote delivered by Hulu CEO Jason Kilar was one of the best attended at the market, on par with a keynote given by Shine Group’s Elisabeth Murdoch. Execs were also talking about the ever-increasing price of oil, and whether or not these petrodollars from the Middle East will soon be making their way to Hollywood, as predicted by The New York Times. Since the L.A. Screenings were right around the corner, the U.S. pilots with early buzz attached to them also had buyers talking. Yet unsurprisingly, it was those people who couldn’t get to Cannes who really had tongues wagging. A number of (former) industry bigwigs, including Drew Levin and Noel Cronin of Team Communications Group and Harel Goldstein of Hilltop Entertainment, were arrested prior to the market for various white-collar Dori Media’s Nadav Palti infractions. But while these many topics kept people entertained and informed at the conference, it was business as usual for most companies, with deals a-plenty announced throughout the event. Comcast International Media Group announced that its E! Entertainment Television will debut an observational documentary series about Hollywood icon Pamela Anderson. Produced by World of Wonder Productions, the halfhour series, Pamela (working title), will debut summer 2008. The series will focus on Anderson and will not feature her children with ex-husband Tommy Lee. “Pamela Anderson is one of the most captivating personalities in pop culture today,” said Lisa Berger, executive vice president, Original Programming and Series Development for E! “It’s going to be a wild ride.” Duccio Donati, senior vice president, Comcast International Media Group, concurred. “This MIP-TV has been a big show for us. Because of the strike, a lot of programmers have holes in their schedules,” he said. “And it’s a bit of a perfect storm for us that we have programming to fill those schedules.” In addition to Pamela, Comcast was also promoting its previously announced docu-series Living Lohan, which chronicles Lindsay Lohan’s mom Dina as she grooms younger daughter Ali for super stardom, and Denise Richards: It’s Complicated, which follows the actress as she navigates Hollywood. Other deals also made at the market included Starz Media and Tandem Communications’ announcement that, beginning immediately and continuing through 2009, Tandem will handle worldwide TV sales of several key Starz series and collections, including the Fantasy/Adventure Collection and the new Ladies Out Collection; Germanybased Bavaria Media Television’s announcement that it sold three 90- This MIP-TV has been a big show for us. Because of the strike, a lot of programmers have holes in their schedules,” he said. “And it’s a bit of a perfect storm for us that we have programming to fill those schedules. Comcast’s Duccio Donati and Leilani Farinas — Comcast’s Duccio Donati 12 VIDEO • AGE Power’s Chris Philip and Eloise Tooke minute episodes of international crime series Aspe to German public broadcaster ZDF, and Italy-based RAI Trade’s sales of its Viceroys to Russia’s Film Depot, Bulgaria’s BNT, Benelux’s AMedia, Czech TV, Romania’s TVR and Sweden’s NoStop. MGM Networks said that it would soon launch a high-definition version of The MGM Channel to subscribers in Israel. Like the standard definition channel, it will be subtitled in Hebrew. Argentina’s Telefe and Colombia’s RCN were at MIP fresh off of celebrating the opening of their joint office in Russia. Through the Moscow office, run by Russian specialist Anastasia Korchagina, both companies are seeking to increase their presences in the region through the distribution of programs, telenovelas and formats. “Being in Russia allows us to closely monitor the needs of such a competitive market,” said Alejandro Parra, director of Telefe International, adding that “the Russian market has grown 15 to 20 percent over the last two years.” RCN’s Maria Lucia Hernandez Frieri echoed Parra’s sentiments. “The possibilities are endless,” she said. Nigerian TV companies had planned to be at the market in full force, but unfortunately, things went awry when the majority of the delegation from the three exhibiting companies was held at the border due to visa problems. Despite this, the delegates who did manage to make it to Cannes made an impact. With DISCOP Africa premiering in February 2009 in Senegal, the continent is being hailed as an emerging market. Toyin Subair of Nigeria’s HiTV, one of Africa’s first commercial payTV companies, said: “Africa is the only market now that needs to be expanded,” pointing out that TV has taken off throughout Eastern Europe and Asia, regions which were previously assumed to be barren wastelands of television. This year’s MIP-TV was a more ecofriendly affair than previous incarnations of the international television market. “All of the carpeting in the main areas [in the Palais] is recyclable,” said Paul Johnson of ReedMidem, which organizes MIP-TV, before adding that all of Reed’s print production was also on recycled paper.” Japanese broadcaster NHK was the recipient of the Green World Award, which recognized the network’s (Continued on Page 16) M AY 2 0 0 8 of this unexpected development. Serafini pointed out that the studios might keep buyers in their screening rooms for fewer hours, leaving them ample time to spend with independents. “This year, buyers will have more time to visit independents at their hotels,” said Pedro Leda of Ledafilms. “It will be a very good year for independent product.” MIP-TV Review (Continued from Page 12) MIP-TV Power Women: Mediaset’s Nella Allegretti, SPI’s Revi Benshohsan, Rai Trade’s Marilena Avola and Rita Lombardi, Funwood Media’s Almudena Campo, Zebracom’s Amanda Garay Sarasti, Sonaecom’s Susanna Barbato, Telemundo’s Esperanza Garay Launch -pad for Philip Mazzei, a film by Francesco Fulcini (left) to be produced by Buskin Film’s Roberto Bessi, here with Bavaria Media Italia’s Giuseppe Proietti (right) Court TV (launching its new rebrand as truTV) and the Singapore Media Development Agency hosted some bashes. Regardless of the dearth of gettogethers, the stars were out in full force. Actors Shirley MacLaine, Derek Jacobi and Sam Neill graced the hallowed halls of the Palais with their presences. Simon Beaufoy, writer of The Full Monty, was also on hand to meet and greet. MIP-TV Power Women II: Sony’s Hayley Babcock, NBC Universal’s Pauline Bohm, Channel Four’s Ruby Kuraishe, Programs4Media’s Tracy Vaughan, Granada’s Jennifer Harrington, NBC Universal’s Lara Ingle, Outline Productions’ Helen Veale, Promofilm’s Marcela Campos, NBC Universal’s Millie Savinon, Mediaset’s Nella Allegretti, International Emmys’ Camille Bidermann, Debmar-Mercury’s Beata Hegedus continued commitment to raising public awareness on environmental issues. “They’ve been [trying to raise awareness] for over 50 years — way before it was even cool or trendy,” said Johnson. Teri Fleming, vp, Marketing, for Santa Monica, California-based Lionsgate, also took it upon herself to ensure that her company’s new booth and location were as green as possible. “The decking is all reusable,” she said. She also brought biodegradable cups and reused walls from Lionsgate’s old booth. “We’re just trying to be as eco-friendly as possible,” she said. Being eco-friendly is less expensive for new booths. Re-fitting older booths can be quite pricey, however. Plus, it seems that the new trend is having a booth with terrace 16 VIDEO • AGE At VideoAge’s traditional MIP-TV breakfast, held at the Plage Royale in Cannes, editor Dom Serafini told a crowd of 20 executives that this year’s L.A. Screenings could finally be the break that independents have been waiting for. “This is a unique opportunity simply because the studios have fewer pilots this year,” said Serafini, alluding to the after-effects of the writers strike. “The independents need to capitalize on this.” Representatives from such indies as Ledafilms, Televisa, CDC United Network, RCN, Globo TV and RAI Trade were present looking for suggestions on how best to take advantage The L.A. Screenings were on many executives’ minds at MIP. “Like everyone else, we’re still recovering from the hit of the strike,” said Henri Ringel, vice president of Sales for Walt Disney Television International (Latin America). “But if anything, that’s only given us more strength.” Keith LeGoy, executive vice president, Distribution, Sony Pictures Television International, said that he believes the Screenings will be “pretty much the same as any year.” But he did mention that he thinks the Screenings might be shorter this year. “The real difficulty for buyers will be how to evaluate a series that has been picked up straight from a script,” said LeGoy. On the seminars side, there were a total of 51 seminars, including keynotes, pitch sessions and master classes. MIP-TV 2008 drew 13,360 participants up from 13,311 in 2007. Some 4,551 companies from 111 countries took part in the market. MIP-TV 2009 will take place March 30-April 3. space, which offers lots of natural sunlight. And while entertainment companies were successful in their attempts at being green (meaning environmentally conscious), it seemed that they were holding onto their greenbacks (as dollars and other currencies are sometimes called) this year. Lavish parties are usually a large part of MIP-TV, but this year, they were few and far between. Of course, there was the traditional opening night gala provided by Reed Midem. This year’s had a Japanese theme complete with paper lanterns and ladies dressed in traditional kimonos. Also on the first night, Granada, Portman and Distraction all threw their own shindigs. On the second day of MIP, Dori Media, Turkish Power lunch: Antalya Fest’s Ziya Temeltas, Comcast’s Nazan Giasson and Regent’s Merve Berker discuss how to best promote the Antalya Film Fest. M AY 2 0 0 8 ® L.A. Screenings Guide 2008 VISION FILMS & VISION MUSIC LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT LA SCREENINGS • CENTURY PLAZA SUITE 1730 F E A T U R E F I L M S • Indie Program Offerings • Who's Screening and Where DIAMOND DOG CAPER MAMA, I WANT TO SING! T V EXIT SPEED BRUCE LEE & JACKIE CHAN FILM PACKAGE S E R I E S • New Season Pilots • Photo Gallery EXTREME SPORTS PACKAGE 42 x 1/2 hr FASCINATION: THE HISTORY OF MERCEDES-BENZ 6 x 1hr EGYPT: NEW DISCOVERIES HIGH DEFINITION 7 x 1hr CONQUEST OF THE SKY: THE HISTORY OF AVIATION 2 x 1hr M U S I C • Studios’ Teams • Acquisition Executives in L.A. IN CONCERT 430 Episodes LEGENDS IN CONCERT 30 x 1hr BEYOND THE MUSIC 10 x 1/2 hr BOB MARLEY: FREEDOM ROAD VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.VISIONFILMS.NET 14945 VENTURA BLVD. STE. 306, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91403, USA PHONE: 818-784-1702 FAX: 818-788-3715 [email protected] WWW.VISIONFILMS.NET L.A. SCREENINGS 2 0 0 8 Indie Programming Guide 1. Artear’s Socias 2. Cube’s Pangea 3. DIC’s Dino Squad 4. Caracol’s The Snitch Cartel 5. CCI’s Frankstein’s Cat 6. Dori Media’s Lalola 7. ACI’s Jack Hunter: The Lost Treasure of Ugarit 8. Granada’s Headcases 1 AMERICAN CINEMA INTERNATIONAL 1563 Victory Blvd. Van Nuys, CA 91406 T: (818) 907-8700 F: (818) 907-8719 www.aci-americancinema.com Jack Hunter: The Lost Treasure of Ugarit Action movie about a treasure hunter who journeys to an ancient city. Jack Hunter: The Quest For Akhenaton’s Tomb The adventurer’s journey continues, this time with a pharaoh’s fortune at stake. The Boxer An ex-con redeems himself with the help of his mentor. T h e L o s t S a m a r itan When a passerby stops to help two car accident victims, he becomes the target of deadly assassins. Fatal Rescue A boy’s mysterious disappearance into a magical well brings his divorced parents back together. Las t Chanc e Sci-fi film set in the future in which humanity faces ecological disaster. 80 Minutes After being injected with lethal poison, Alex has 80 minutes to save his own life. ARTEAR/PREMIUM MEDIA Lima 1261, C1138ACA Buenos Aires, Argentina T: (54 11) 4370 1234 F: (54 11) 4370 1403 www.mki.artear.com.ar More Than Par tners (Socias) Dramedy about three female lawyers who open a firm together. Nobody’s Women (Mujeres de Nadie) Telenovela set at a hospital following the lives of a trio of women. Jam Session Acclaimed Latin guitarist Diego Mizrahi hosts a music program that incorporates guest performances, interviews with musicians and footage from live concerts. Killer Women ( Mujeres A sesinas) This series dramatizes the stories of different women who have committed jaw-dropping crimes, including murder. CARACOL TELEVISION 2100 Coral Way, Ste 602 Miami, FL 33145 T: (305) 960-2018 F: (305) 960-2017 www.caracolinternacional.com Accomplices When a wealthy foreigner sets out in search of his birth family, nine con artists take advantage of his naiveté with an elaborate ruse. Overdrawn Love A man is torn between his fiancé and an intriguing woman who appears in his life. A Branch of Heaven Telenovela set in 1971 that tells the story of two families coping with the cultural changes of the times. New Rich, New Poor Brayan and Andres join forces to try to make it in the business world. Who Will Love Maria? Maria’s self-imposed deadline to have a child is fast approaching and she doesn’t even have a boyfriend. She sets out to find a mate that has the ideal genetic material. The Snitch Car tel A group of friends rise through the ranks of a drug cartel. But when they get to the top, betrayal and violence ruin their lives. CCI ENTERTAINMENT 18 Dupont St. Toronto, Canada M5R 1V2 T: (416) 964-8750 F: (416) 964-1980 www.ccientertainment.com Harr y and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs Animated children’s show in which a little boy’s dinosaurs are much more than toys. When no one is looking, his prehistoric pals come to life and join him. Frankenstein’s Cat Named Nine for the number of ill-fated felines that went into making him, this cat is a monstrous pet. Erky Perky Two silly bugs are taken from their hotdog cart home and transplanted to a squeaky clean suburban kitchen. Beautiful Dreamer A story about love in wartime. Sticks and Stones Based on the true story of a Canadian peewee hockey team that organized a tournament to make amends for the ill treatment of a U.S. team during a visit to Canada. In Dreams In each episode two guests reveal their most haunting and memorable dreams. CUBE INTERNATIONAL 1330 West 165 North, Ste B-3 Orem, Utah 84057 T: (801) 722-1000 www.cubeinternational.com Pangea Stop-motion animation brings the ancient super-continent of Pangea to life. T h e L i g h t B e f o r e Chr i s t m a s Holiday special incorporating the classic tale The Night Before Christmas. Spooky Bats and Scaredy Cats Two friends take a haunted Halloween journey that leads them through swamps, cemeteries and forests. The Mysterious Origins of Man: Re-writing Human Histor y Charlton Heston hosts a documentary investigating the validity of startling evidence that indicates that humans and dinosaurs co-existed. Dark Secret of the Black Sea Ancient legends of the mysterious body of water, including its possible connection to the Bible. About Face The story of young Jewish immigrants who fled Europe during the Holocaust and then enlisted in the Allied forces to fight Hitler. The Secret: Evidence We Are Not Alone Science-fiction program centering on the U.S. government’s position on UFOs. DIC ENTERTAINMENT 4100 W. Alameda Ave. Burbank, CA 91505 T: (818) 955-5400 F: (818) 955-5409 www.dicentertainment.com Dino Squad Five adolescent misfits discover they have the ability to transform into crime-fighting dinosaurs. Together, they use their powers to defeat an evil velociraptor. Sushi Pack An animated series that follows five superhero sushi rolls as they protect Wharf City from a slew of evil villains. Horseland Horses and kids can talk to each other at the world’s most amazing stable. Cake A live-action/reality series starring 13 Going On 30’s Christa B. Allen that centers on a teen (Continued on Page 20) 2 4 8 3 5 18 VIDEO • AGE 6 7 M AY 2 0 0 8 L.A. SCREENINGS 2008 7 6 4 1 3 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 2 Fireworks’ The Border Lionsgate’s Mad Men FremantleMedia’s Oprah’s Big Give Power’s XIII: The Conspiracy Latin Flower’s Urban Tales Telefilms’ Dan In Real Life Ledafilms’ Blonde Ambition Mediaset’s Corleone Telefe’s Talking Lives 8 5 Indie Programming Guide (Continued from Page 18) with her own cable access show. DORI MEDIA GROUP 2 Raul Wallenberg St. Ramat Hachayal, Tel Aviv, Israel 69719 T: 972 3 647 8185 F: 972 3 647 8491 www.dorimedia.com The Wizardess (La Maga) Classic tale The Wizard of Oz is revamped into a modern teen series. Olivia & I (Olivia y Yo) A timid cartoonist falls in love with her studio manager. To cope with her feelings, she creates an animated proxy who ends up doing more harm than good. Screenz (Pantallaz) Drama about relationships formed on the Internet. Mannequins (Maniquiz) The cutthroat world of modeling is revealed in this drama series. Lalola A spurned girlfriend takes revenge on her philandering ex by magically turning him into a woman. FIREWORKS INTERNATIONAL 19 Heddon Street London, U.K. W19 8HR T: (44) 20 7034 3410 F: (44) 20 7851 6504 www.contentfilm.com The Border Agents of the Immigration and Customs Security Squad investigate terrorism and trafficking at the Mexican border. Hear tland Hi-def drama series about a family that owns a horse ranch in the rugged Rocky Mountains. The Assistants Four Hollywood underlings slave away under their eccentric producer boss. Dating Confidential Documentary exploring the lengths to which people go to find a mate. Wine Confidential Takes viewers behind the scenes of the intoxicating world of wine production. Gardening Confidential The history of the popular leisure activity with some surprising modern twists. ABC WID DA MOB Animated adult comedy that lampoons 20 VIDEO • AGE Mafioso stereotypes. FRECUENCIA L ATINA 1250 East Hallandale Beach Blvd, Ste 606 Hallandale, FL 33009 T: (954) 457-1200 F: (954) 457-1213 www.flinternational.tv La Pre The son of a famous singer, who died tragically in a car accident, wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and enrolls in an exclusive performing arts school. El Otro Plano A show about the paranormal world. Does life exist after death? Can the dead communicate with the living? Amores en Conflicto Raul and Veronica, a therapist and a lawyer, join forces to open a couples-therapy practice. But they can’t seem to keep from getting involved in their clients’ lives. Mi Problema Con las Mujeres Jose undergoes a special therapy treatment, in which he has to revisit the problems of past relationships. Sexo Con…Sentido Talk show exploring all aspects of sex in modern life. Diablos A zules A group of kids with a passion for soccer help each other grow up and overcome problems. (THE) FREMANTLE CORPORATION 23 Lesmill Rd, Ste 201 Toronto, Canada M3B 3P6 T: (416) 443-9200 F: (416) 443-8685 www.fremantlecorp.com Spor ts Extreme and Wrestling A variety of titles including Wrestling Titans, Lucha Mania, Tactical Paintball and monster truck and motocross competitions. ZombieFest Made up of seven gory horror flicks. Hot Pursuit Feature film jammed with car races. All My Children Classic soap now in its 38th season. Documania Edgy documentary series featuring Impaler, Snuff, Risk Takers, Kidnapped, and many more. Christmas Holiday Fare The Alpha-Bots Christmas Special and two other holiday cartoons. Bikini Beach Hi-def series full of bathing beauties and sunkissed celebrities. FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES 1 Stephen Street London, U.K. W1T 1 AL T: (44) 20 7691 6000 F: (44) 20 7691 6100 www.fremantlemedia.com DEA Viewers are invited along as special agents from Detroit’s Drug Enforcement Agency do battle in the war on drugs. Anthony Bourdain No Reser vations The prestigious chef and food writer travels the world tasting local fare. Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern No dish is too exotic for this globetrotting chef, who will consume anything. She’s Got the Look Reality series featuring supermodel Kim Alexis in her search for the next up-and-coming top model. Oprah’s Big Give Ten contestants compete to see who can do the most to help perfect strangers. The Best Years Set at a university in Boston, this drama series chronicles the lives of college students as they cope with their love lives and plan for the future. Falcon Beach A teenage drama set in a seaside town in the off season. GRANADA INTERNATIONAL The London Television Centre, Upper Ground London, U.K. SE1 9LT T: (44 20) 7491 1441 F: (44 20) 7493 7677 www.granadamedia.com/international The Colour of Money Gameshow where contestants battle a super cash machine to try to win a fortune. The Pinky & Perky Show Two cuddly piglets host a variety show with hilarious stunts, crazy cartoons and a ton of celeb guests. Lost in A u s t e n Modern remake of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice. Headcases An animated series that skewers public fig- 9 ures and pop culture icons including Gordon Brown, Victoria Beckham and Vladimir Putin. The Murdoch Mysteries Period drama series about a 19th century detective and his cutting-edge forensic techniques (THE) L ATIN FLOWER COMPANY Julio a Roca 590, 12th Floor 1067 Cap. Fed. Buenos Aires, Argentina T: (54) 911 5025 9521 www.thelatinflowercompany.com Living on the Edge (El Tiempo No Pa r a) A group of thirtysomethings is reunited by an old friend’s suicide. My Beloved Housekeeper (Amo de Casa) When Alberto loses his job, his wife decides to return to the workforce to support the family. The Black Sheep (Oveja Negra) Family comedy about a married couple with opposite personalities and their spirited teenage children. Urban Tales ( Voces Anonimas) Suspense series that travels the globe in search of chilling urban legends and hair-raising modern myths. Social Slaves ( Adicciones) Series dealing with 13 different kinds of addictions and their consequences. High Mountain (Breaking Limits) (Alta Montaña) Teen series set in breathtaking Patagonia, Argentina about a group of young people from different walks of life who work together to restore a hotel. Swindlers ( Farstantes) Two very different con artists team up to become the perfect crime duo. LEDAFILMS Virrey Olaguer Feliu 2462, 3rd Floor C1426EBB Buenos Aires, Argentina T: (54 11) 4788 5215 F: (54 11) 4788 5220 www.ledafilms.com B londe Ambition An innocent country girl takes on big city executives in this feature film starring Jessica Simpson. Home of the Brave Four American soldiers face their final tour of duty in Iraq. My Mom’s New Boyfriend Meg Ryan, Antonio Banderas and Colin Hanks star in this action comedy about an FBI agent and his lovelorn mother. I Know Who K illed Me Aubrey Fleming (Lindsay Lohan) escapes the clutches of a sadistic serial killer. But she is not out of danger yet… Lost City Raiders When a series of radical natural disasters flood the continents, a group of adventurers roam the high seas in submarines searching for relics of lost civilizations. (Continued on Page 22) M AY 2 0 0 8 CONTINUING A TRADITION SINCE 1952 NETWORK ANIMATION HORROR FEATURES MOVIE COLLECTION FAMILY CLASSICS (ABC) AWARDS ® (CBS) (CBS) (SHOWTIME) (TBA) WRESTLING TITANS Emerald 24movie collection 100 X 30 MIN. BLACK Beauty 104 X 30 MIN. L.A. SCREENINGS 2008 2 1 4 1. 2. 3. 4. Televisa’s Soul of Steel Vision’s Diamond Dog Caper Telemundo’s Betrayed Venevision’s Poor Millionaire 3 Indie Programming Guide (Continued from Page 20) Masters of Horror 2 An anthology series featuring 13 new thrillers from an all-star group of horror directors. Planet’s Funniest Animals A clip show made up of home videos, bloopers and commercials featuring hilarious creatures. LIONSGATE 2700 Colorado Avenue, Ste 200 Santa Monica, CA 90404 T: (310) 255-3700 F: (310) 255-3880 www.lionsgate.com Fear Itself Horror anthology show featuring the genre’s premier writers and directors. Crash Series based on the Oscar-winning feature dealing with race issues in Los Angeles. Mad Men Drama series set in the world of ad executives on Madison Avenue in the ’60s. Weeds Dramedy about a suburban mom who resorts to dealing marijuana to support her family after the death of her husband. Chandon Pictures Sitcom following an over-ambitious wedding videographer. Speed Racer: The Next Generation Animated series that builds on the classic cartoon. Dir ty Dancing UK: The Time of Your Life Reality competition in which 16 dancers battle it out for the grand prize. MEDIASET DISTRIBUTION Via Aurelia Antica 422 Rome, Italy 00165 T: (39) 06 66390566 F: (39) 06 66390650 www.mediasetdistribution.com Corelone: Il Capo dei Capi Miniseries depicting the life of notorious Italian mob boss Totó Riina. Nasiriyah: A True Stor y From Iraq Based on a true story, this dramatic miniseries follows a unit of Italian soldiers on a dangerous peace-keeping mission in Iraq. Teacher in the Hood Pietro teaches remedial students with troubled homes and ties to organized crime. Teaching the Future: The True Life of Maria Montessori The true-life story of the Nobel Prize-winner who revolutionized early education. What I f S a n t a C l a u s … A g a i n ? 22 VIDEO • AGE TV movie about a thief who wreaks havoc on toy stores just two days before Christmas. POWER 34 Gresse St. London, U.K. W1T 1QX T: (44) 20 7323 0070 F: (44) 20 7323 0060 www.powcorp.com Crusoe A castaway is marooned on a desert island in this adaptation of the classic adventure novel by Daniel Defoe. XIII: T h e C o n s p i r a c y A miniseries following a man with a mysterious neck tattoo and a bad case of amnesia. T h e Summit Desperate for retribution, a mother turns to biological weapons to avenge her son’s death. The Changeling Heroine Sorrow is caught between the cruel city of Metropolis and the world of the Faeries in this sci-fi/fantasy series. Pinocchio The timeless classic about a puppet turned real boy gets a modern makeover. The Catch Ex-cons become government agents to bust an underground crime ring. The Devil’s Mistress Angelica Fanshawe manipulates and exploits everyone in her way in a period drama about lust and ambition. TELEFE INTERNATIONAL Pavón 2495 (1248) Cap. Fed. Buenos Aires, Argentina T: (54 11) 4308 4496 F: (54 11) 4774 6848 www.telefeinternacional.com.ar Don Juan and His Fair Lady Telenovela about a lothario who fears commitment and the woman who reforms him. Taking Lives Telenovela dealing with forensics and peopletrafficking. Dazzled Teen telenovela about a girl with humble roots who has one chance to make a splash in the film industry. Teenangels Series for teens centering on a group of adolescents who live together in a home. Cool Daddy Family comedy about a widower with three teenage daughters and a world of relationship problems. Countdown Each episode takes place in real time and follows different people during the most sus- penseful hour of their lives. B&B A ballet dancer and a rock musician team up to open an arts school. They soon discover they have undeniable chemistry. TELEFILMS S.A. Avda. Del Libertador 1068, Piso 11, C1112 ABN Buenos Aires, Argentina T: (54) 11 5032 6000 F: (54) 11 5032 6099 www.telefilms.com.ar Che Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro stars as Che Guevara in this gripping movie about the famous revolutionary. 3:10 To Yuma Rusell Crowe stars in this Western about a small town rancher who is enlisted to escort an outlaw on a train ride. Dan In Real Life Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a single father who is devoted soley to his children, but his life is changed when he meets Marie (Juliette Binoche) in a bookstore. The Other Boleyn Girl Period drama featuring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson as sisters who compete for the affections of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). Eastern Promises Viggo Mortensen stars as Nikolai, a member of one of the most feared crime families in London. Naomi Watts plays the woman who gets involved with him and risks destroying the organization. Butter fly on a Wheel Suspense film starring Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello about a family threatened by kidnappers. In Bruges Follows the adventures of two hired killers (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) who are exiled to Bruges, Belgium. TELEMUNDO INTERNACIONAL 2745 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Coral Gables, FL 33134 T: (305) 774-0033 F: (305) 774-7372 www.telemundointernacional.com Secret Lies (El Juramento) The story of a man who will stop at nothing to avenge his brother’s death, based on classic novela La Mentira. Victoria Telenovela about a middle-aged woman who gets a second shot at love after a turbulent failed marriage. Happy Widow (Viuda Alegre) When Beatriz’s fourth husband passes away, she begins to realize that she may be the carrier of a deadly curse. Dance Dance Dance Shot in hi-def, this musical telenovela follows aspiring dancers in São Paulo, Brazil. Betrayed (La Traición) Twin brothers are torn apart by a rivalry over a beautiful woman. My Husband’s Lover ( La Mujer de mi Esposo) Telenovela set in Korea about a woman who conducts an affair with her best friend’s husband. Aqualarre Only female babies have been born in a small town for the last 30 years. A doctor goes to investigate the phenomenon. TELEVISA INTERNACIONAL 6355 NW 36th St. Miami, FL 33166 T: (786) 265-2500 F: (786) 265-2269 www.televisainternacional.tv Dear Enemy (Querida Enemiga) Two sisters turn on each other when they discover that one is inheriting a fortune. Dumb Girls Don’t Go to Heaven (Las Tontas No Van al Cielo) Telenovela about a woman who finds her husband in her sister’s arms and decides to begin her life afresh. Soul of Steel (Alma de Hierro) Jose’s world is turned upside down when his wife’s prosperous ex-boyfriend returns to town. Burning For Revenge (Fuego en la Sangre) Three brothers set out to avenge their sister’s death by any means necessary. The Panther (El Pantera) After five years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, Gervasio breaks out to search for his fiancé’s murderer. Searching for Timbiriche, the New Band (Buscando a la Nueva Banda Timbiriche) Reality show in which hopefuls compete to become part of a band. Code FAME (Código FAMA) Viewers decide the winner of this talent competition. VENEVISION INTERNATIONAL 121 Alhambra Plaza, Ste 1400 Coral Gables, FL T: (305) 442-3411 F:(305) 446-4743 www.venevisioninternational.com Valeria Telenovela in which a woman’s past comes back to haunt her. Reach for the Stars (Te Llegue a Querer) Six young musicians struggle to make it to the top. Torrent of Passions ( Torrente) Love and motherhood tear two lifelong friends apart. China Through the Yangtze River ( China a Través del Rio Yangtz e) Documentary revealing the many natural wonders of China. Poor Millionaire (Pobre Millonaria) The Panama Canal provides the lush, tropical setting for a story of love and betrayal. Love Contract (Amor Comprado) Telenovela in which a young couple’s relationship is constantly thwarted by their financial situation. VISION FILMS/VISION MUSIC 14945 Ventura Blvd., Ste 306 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 T: (818) 784-1702 F: (818) 788-3715 www.visionfilms.net Exit Speed A bus full of passengers is attacked by a vicious motorcycle gang. Diamond Dog Caper A clever kid takes on a gang of crooks to save the dog being used in a heist. Mama, I Want to Sing! Patti LaBelle, Billy Zane and singer Ciara star in a drama about a young girl who dreams of a musical career. Necessar y Evil Thriller about a young journalist who encounters paranormal events while investigating a mysterious psychiatric institute. What We Do Is Secret Biopic starring Shane West and Bijou Phillips about the hectic life of Darby Crash, lead singer of The Germs. National Lampoon’s TV: The Movie The Jackass gang spoof popular reality shows. Jackie Chan & Bruce Lee Film Package Anthology of martial arts films showcasing the two masters from the years 1973 – 1983. Legends in Concer t Features performances by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash and many more. M AY 2 0 0 8 L.A. SCREENINGS 2 0 0 8 Who’s Screening 20th Century Fox TV Distribution Fox Studios 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Beverly Hills Tel: (310) 369-8870 Adness Entertainment Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 914 GranCine Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1716 Cube International Phill Catherall Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1214 HBO Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1757 Alebrije Entertainment Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1711 DIC Entertainment Dan Waite, Daniel Uribe Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1760 Alfred Haber Distribution Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1208 Discovery Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1418 Alomi Productions Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1705 Disney-ABC International Television The Walt Disney Studios 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank Tel: (818) 460-7960 Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1917 America Video Films Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1216 American Cinema International Chevonne O’Shaughnessy Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1707 Distraction Formats Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1022 Invision Entertainment Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1005 Laguna Productions Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1021 Lain International Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 908 Latele Novela Network Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 927 (The) Latin Flower Company Silvana D’Angelo, Carolina Garcia Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 960 Ledafilms Pedro F. Leda, Sebastian Leda, Moira McNamara, Fernando Paduczak Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 716 Bender Media Services Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 860 Dori Media Nadav Palti, Michal Nashiv, Celina Amadeo, Jose Escalante, Juan Fernandez, Elena Antonini, Andres Santos, Tali Fink Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1160 Beta Films Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1923 Endemol Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1706 Lightworks Program Distribution/SCG Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 921 Beverly Hills Entertainment Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1901 Entertainment Studios Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1708 Caracol Television Angelica Guerra, Lisette Osorio, Pedro Davila, Monica Ramon Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1909 Film Independent Intercontinental Hotel, Mezzanine 207 Lionsgate Craig Cegielski, Amanda Cordner, Tim Stuart, Hana Zidek, Teri Fleming, Tori Crotts 2700 Colorado Avenue, Ste 200 Santa Monica Tel: (310) 255-3700 BBC Worldwide Century Plaza Hotel, Suite 660 Carsey-Werner International Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1260 Fireworks International Greg Phillips, Saralo MacGregor, Melissa Wohl, Diana Zakis 1337 Third Street Promenade, Ste 302 Santa Monica Tel: (310) 576-1059 CBS Paramount Int’l TV Paramount Studios 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood Tel: (323) 956-5000 Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1402 Frecuencia Latina International Limited Miki Ivcher, Patricia Jasin Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 902 CCI Entertainment Fred Vargas Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 918 (The) Fremantle Corporation Irv Holender Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1421 CDC Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1910 FremantleMedia Enterprises Sheila Aguirre Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1722 ChinaTV Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 727 Comarex/TV Azteca Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1924 Comcast/E! Networks Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1921 24 Cookie Jar Entertainment Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1713 VIDEO • AGE Globo TV International Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1860 Liberman Broadcasting Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1721 LucasFilms Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1018 Mediaset Distribution c/o Comarex Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1924 Mel Giniger & Associates Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1214 MGM International TV 10250 Constellation Blvd. Los Angeles Tel: (310) 449-3376 Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1002 Mondo TV Spain Maria Bonaria Fois, Migdalia Inocencio, Jacqueline Lopez Silvero Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1723 Granada International Flavio Medeiros Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1102 (Continued on Page 26) M AY 2 0 0 8 Todos Vuelos Internacionales Con más que 500 horas de programaciíon en más que 130 países y 22 idiomas...estarán sorprendidos de donde les podemos llevar. Visit us at the Intercontinental Hotel – Century City, Suite 1221 Contact Information: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. 1241 East Main Street Stamford, CT USA (T) +(203) 352.7098 (F) +1 (203) 353.2983 [email protected] World Wrestling Entertainment® TELEVISION | ON DEMAND | PAY-PER-VIEW | LIVE EVENTS | FILMS | MOBILE | HOME VIDEO | PUBLISHING | MUSIC | LICENSED PRODUCTS | ONLINE All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries.. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. © 2008 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Intercontinental Exhibitors at a Glance Adness Ent. Ste 914 Nelvana Ste 721 Alfred Haber Distr. Ste 1208 Polar Star Ste 916 America Video Films Ste 1216 Rai Trade Ste 1424 CCI Entertainment Ste 918 Rive Gauche/Dinter Ste 1725 ChinaTV Ste 727 Sony Pictures TV Int’l Ste 1416 Cube International Ste 1214 Spiral International Ste 718 Discovery Ste 1418 Tandem Studios Ste 1214 Distraction Ste 1022 Toei Animation Ste 1427 World Wide Ent. Ste 1014 World Wrestling Ent. Ste 1221 Film Independent Mezz 207 (The) Fremantle Corp Ste 1421 Invision Ent. Ste 1005 Laguna Productions Ste 1021 Lain Ste 908 Latele Novela Net Ste 927 Ledafilms Ste 716 Lightworks/SCG Ste 921 LucasFilms Ste 1018 Mel Giniger & Assoc. Ste 1214 Century Plaza Exhibitors at a Glance Alebrije Ent. Ste 1711 Alomi Productions Ste 1705 ACI Ste 1707 BBC Worldwide Ste 660 Bender Media Ste 860 Beta Films Ste 1923 Beverly Hills Ent. Ste 1901 Caracol Television Ste 1909 Carsey-Werner Ste 1260 CBS Paramount Int’l TV Ste 1402 CDC Ste 1910 Comarex/TV Azteca Ste 1924 Comcast/E! Networks Ste 1921 Cookie Jar Ent. Ste 1713 DIC Entertainment Ste 1760 Disney Latin America Ste 1917 Dori Media Ste 1160 Endemol Ste 1706 Entertainment Studios Ste 1708 Frecuencia Latina Ste 902 FremantleMedia Ste 1722 Ste 1860 Globo TV Int’l Granada Int’l Ste 1102 GranCine Ste 1716 HBO Ste 1757 The Latin Flower Co. Ste 960 Liberman Broad. Ste 1721 MGM TV Ste 1002 MondoTV Spain Ste 1723 Ste 1202 MTV Networks NBC Universal Int’l TV Ste 1460 Power Ste 1928 Premium Media/Artear Ste 1660 RCN Ste 1906 RCTV International Ste 1905 Record TV Network Ste 1502 Rose Entertainment Ste 1560 Salsa Entertainment Ste 1717 South Winds Ste 1414 Telefe International Ste 1802 Telefilms Ste 1902 Ste 1918 Telemundo Intl Televisa Ste 1915 Televix Ste 1907 TV Film Int’l Ste 802 Venevision Intl Ste 1701 VIP 2000 Ste 1728 Vision Films/ KO Films Ste 1730 (Continued from Page 24) WHO’S SCREENING MTV Networks Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1202 NBC Universal Int’l Television Universal Studios 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City Tel: (818) 777-4534 Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1460 Nelvana Enterprises Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 721 Polar Star Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 916 Latin Screenings, Parties & Events May 14 • Premium Media/Artear (7:30 pm) • Venevision International (6:00 pm-8:00 pm) May 15 • Dreamworks-Ledafilms Latin America Screenings • CEO Meetings Wine Tasting (6:00 pm-8:00 pm) Intercontinental • Dori Media Cocktail Party (8:00 pm) May 16-17 • Café Ole (8:00 am-4:00 pm) Intercontinental May 16 • Twentieth Century Fox Latin America Screenings • VideoAge Breakfast Meeting (9:15 am) Intercontinental • Telenoveleros Party (7:00 pm-10:00 pm) May 17 • CBS-Paramount Latin America Screenings • Telefé Party (8:00 pm) May 18 • NBC Universal Latin America Screenings May 19 • Warner Bros. Latin America Screenings May 21 • Disney-ABC Latin America Screenings 26 VIDEO • AGE Power Pepe Echegaray, Ericka Arango-Rojas Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1928 Premium Media/Artear Blanca Ponce, Luciana Egurrola, Natalia Affranchino Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1660 RAI Trade Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1424 RCN Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1906 RCTV International Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1905 Record TV Network Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1502 Rive Gauche/Dinter Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1725 Rose Entertainment Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1560 Salsa Entertainment Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1717 Sony Pictures TV Int’l Sony Pictures Studios 10202 West Washington Blvd. Culver City Tel: (310) 244-3977 Intercontinental Hotel, Suite 1416 South Winds Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1414 Spiral International Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 718 Tandem Motion Picture Studios Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1214 Telefe International Alejandro Parra, Michelle Wasserman, Diana Coifman, Jesica Stescobich, Gonzalo Cilley, Guillermo Henrich, Meca Salado Pizarro Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1802 Telefilms S.A. Tomás Darcyl, Ricardo Costianovsky, Alfredo Andreotti, Humberto Delmás, Alejandro Carballo Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1902 Telemundo International Marcos Santana, Xavier Aristimuño, Carlos Bardasano, Karen Barroeta, Mariano Calasso, Luis Daniel Capriles, Esperanza Garay, Adriana Ibañez, Joysette Rivera, Eddy Vivas Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1918 Televisa Internacional Fernando Perez Gavilan, Carlos Castro, Claudia Sahab, Mario Castro, Jose Luis Romero, Oscar Belaich, Cecilia Galeana Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1915 TV Film International Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 802 Venevision International Luis Villanueva, Cesar Diaz, Jose Antonio Espinal, Cristobal Ponte, Miguel Somoza, Daniel Rodriguez Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1702 VIP 2000 Century Plaza Hotel, Suite 1728 Vision Films/KO Films Brittany Mullikin, Lise Romanoff Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1730 Warner Bros. International TV 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank Tel: (818) 954-600 Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1915 World Wide Entertainment Intercontinental Hotel, Suite 1014 World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1221 VideoAge Information Desk Intercontinental Hotel Lobby Tel: (310) 444-3189 [email protected] Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel 2025 Ave of the Stars Los Angeles • Tel: (310) 228-1234 Televix Century Plaza Hotel, Ste 1907 Toei Animation Intercontinental Hotel, Ste 1427 Intercontinental Hotel 2151 Ave of the Stars Los Angeles • Tel: (310) 284-6500 M AY 2 0 0 8 Fever Pitch Original commission for ITV1, UK ITV Productions Relentless Original commission for Channel 4, UK A Zig Zag production The Rich List The Colour Of Money Original commission for BBC1, UK A 12 Yard production Original commission for ITV1, UK. A 12 Yard production LA Screenings Granada International Century Suite Room 1102 Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles www.granadamedia.com/international Flavio Medeiros Tel: +55 21 3204 4065 Email: [email protected] L.A. SCREENINGS 2 0 0 8 2008-09 Season’s New Series By International Distribution Company Please note that this list includes only ABC, CBS, NBC, the CW and cable network pilots. In the May 19 issue of VideoAge the list will be updated to reflect the announcements made at the Fox upfronts. CBS PARAMOUNT INTERNATIONAL TV 90210 (CW) Production Team: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah, Mark Piznarski Format: One-hour drama Contemporary spinoff of the Aaron Spelling classic. Kath & Kim (NBC) Production Team: Michelle Nader, Paul Feig, Wil Calhoun, Mark Koops, Howard Owens, Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Rick McKenna Format: Half-hour comedy About a 40-something divorced mom and her self-absorbed daughter. Harper’s Island (CBS) (midseason) Production Team: Jon Turteltaub Format: One-hour drama Murder mystery that unfolds as friends attend a destination wedding on a secluded island. Kings (NBC) Production Team: Michael Green, Francis Lawrence, Erwin Stoff Format: One-hour drama David and Goliath set in a meta modern world. Stylista (CW) Production Team: Tyra Banks, Ken Mok, Eli Holzman, Desiree Gruber, Jane Cha Format: One-hour reality Aspiring fashion assistants vie for an editorial job with Elle magazine. Knight Rider (NBC) Production Team: David Bartis, Doug Liman, Gary Scott Thompson Format: One-hour drama A modern take on the original series with a brand-new KITT and cast. Worst Week (CBS) Production Team: Matt Tarses, Jimmy Mulville Format: Half-hour comedy About a man who’ll do anything to please his girlfriend’s parents. My Own Worst Enemy (NBC) Production Team: Jason Smilovic, David Semel Format: One-hour drama An executive lives a double life as a government agent. DISNEY-ABC INT’L TV Project Gary (CBS) Production Team: Ed Yeager, Ric Swartzlander Format: Half-hour comedy Dad tries to navigate new waters with his kids, his ex and his newfound romantic life. The Office Spinoff (NBC) Production Team: Greg Daniels Format: Half-hour comedy Spinoff of the hugely successful sitcom. FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES America’s Toughest Jobs (NBC) Production Team: Thom Beers, Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun Format: One-hour reality Twelve people leave their safe jobs for demanding ones. Merlin (NBC) Production Team: Julian Murphy, Johnny Capps, Jake Michie, Julian Jones Format: One-hour drama Fantasy series set in Camelot. Shark Taggers (NBC) Production Team: Thom Beers, Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun Format: One-hour reality Marine biologists track down and investigate ocean predators. 30 NBC UNIVERSAL INT’L TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION Date My Ex (Bravo) Production Team: Douglas Ross, Gregory Stewart, Kathleen French Format: One-hour reality Follows a Real Housewives of Orange County alum as she looks for love in Los Angeles. VIDEO • AGE The Philanthropist (NBC) Production Team: Charlie Corwin Format: One-hour drama About a billionaire who uses his resources to help those in need. The Rachel Zoe Project (Bravo) Production Team: Charlie Corwin, Jamie Patricof, Rachel Zoe Format: One-hour reality Celebrity stylist Zoe gives viewers a fly-on-the-wall look at how she juggles it all. The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo) Production Team: Sirens Media Format: One-hour reality Showcases the McMansions and lavish lifestyles of some of New Jersey’s wealthiest wives. POWER Crusoe (NBC) Production Team: Justin Bodle, Michael Prupas, Genevieve Hofmeyr Format: One-hour drama New twist on Daniel Defoe’s classic tale. SHAFTESBURY FILMS The Listener (NBC) Production Team: Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Michael Amo, Russ Cochrane, Glen Davis, Bill Laurin Format: One-hour drama A suspenseful series that follows a paramedic who can read people’s minds. Production Team: Joss Whedon Format: One-hour drama From the mind of Joss Whedon comes this action series about a female Jason Bourne who is stripped of her memories after completing missions. The Ex List (CBS) Production Team: Diane Ruggiero, Jonathan Levin Format: One-hour drama Focuses on a woman who is surprised to learn from a psychic that she’s already dated her future husband. WARNER BROS. INTERNATIONAL TV Eleventh Hour (CBS) Production Team: Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Danny Cannon, Cyris Voris, Ethan Reiff, Mick Davis, Paul Buccieri Format: One-hour drama Focuses on a government agent who investigates scientific crises and oddities. The Goode Family (ABC) (midseason) Production Team: Mike Judge, David Krinsky, John Altschuler, Michael Rotenberg, Tom Lassaly. Animated comedy from creator Mike Judge about a family obsessed with doing the “right” thing whether it’s environmentally, politically or socially. Man vs. Cartoon (truTV) Production Team: Craig Piligian Format: One-hour reality Real humans attempt stunts like those done by Looney Tunes characters. Leverage (TNT) Production Team: Dean Devlin Format: One-hour drama Timothy Hutton stars as a former insurance investigator who turns against corporate America. The Mentalist (CBS) Production Team: David Nutter, Bruno Heller Format: One-hour drama About a former celebrity psychicturned-detective, who uses his skills of observation to “read” people and solve crimes. Life on Mars (ABC) Production Team: Josh Applebaum, Andre Nemec, Scott Rosenberg, Jane Featherstone, Stephen Garrett, David E. Kelley Format: One-hour drama Adaptation of a BBC series about a cop who wakes up 30 years in the past. Surviving the Filthy Rich (CW) Production Team: Rina Mimoun, Leslie Morgenstein, Bob Levy Format: One-hour drama Tells the tale of a recently fired tabloid journalist who is offered a position as a tutor for twin 16year-old billionaire sisters. Momma’s Boys (NBC) Production Team: Ryan Seacrest, Andrew Glassman Format: One-hour reality Moms select brides for their complacent sons. Truth in Advertising (TNT) Production Team: Greer Shephard, Michael M. Robin, John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin Format: One-hour drama About two talented ad men whose jobs and friendship are increasingly on the line. INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTOR TBA Chopping Block (NBC) Production Team: David Barbour, Julian Cress Format: One-hour reality Couples are tested in various restaurant challenges. Dollhouse (FOX) Opportunity Knocks (ABC) Production Team: Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg, Karey Burke, J.D. Roth, Todd A. Nelson Format: One-hour reality A game show that shows up on America’s doorstep. Raising the Bar (TNT) Production Team: Steven Bochco Format: One-hour drama A public defender tries to help the down and out. Untitled Ashton Kutcher/ Tyra Banks Project (ABC) Production Team: Ashton Kutcher, Tyra Banks Format: One-hour reality A beauty pageant unlike all others. M AY 2 0 0 8 L.A. SCREENINGS 2 1 2 0 0 8 3 1. Kicking off the Latin L.A. Screenings was the first ever Hispanic TV Conference, held in Miami, Florida. Pictured are: conference organizer Amanda Ospina, Disney-ABC Latin America’s Leonardo Aranguibel, Telemundo’s Perla Farias, TV Venezolano’s Luis Zelkowicz and Argentinean scriptwriter Marcela Citterio. 2. Lionsgate’s Craig Cegielski and Amanda Cordner. 3. The Latin Flower’s Silvana D’Angelo. 4. The Intercontinental team, including GM Raymond Vermolen and CEO Meetings & Conferences’ Neal Lloyd, welcomes L.A. Screenings participants. 5. Century Plaza’s Heather Humphries and Carly Weinstein in front of the X Bar, a hotspot for L.A. Screenings attendees. 6. Carsey-Werner’s Herb Lazarus. 7. Prez of Entertainment Dawn Ostroff at the CW upfront presentation in New York City. 8. RAI Trade’s Sabrina Eleuteri is exhibiting at the Intercontinental. 5 4 6 34 7 VIDEO • AGE 8 M AY 2 0 0 8 MEDIASET GROUP Creative and Image Coordination Department THE TRUE STORY DRAMA MINISERIES/SERIES 6x100’ or 12x50’ BEST FICTION Century Plaza Suite # 1924 Latin American Distribution mediasetdistribution.com [email protected] TV-MOVIES SERIES MINI-SERIES SOAP OPERAS CLASSIC FILMS SITCOMS L.A. SCREENINGS 2 0 0 8 STUDIOS’ SALES TEAMS CBS Paramount International Television Disney-ABC International Television May 17, May 19-May 22 May 19-May 22 Sue Akens, EVP, Business Affairs Joe Lucas, EVP, Sales and Marketing Barry Chamberlain, SVP, Sales Paul Gilbert, SVP, International Formats Isis Moussa, SVP, Marketing Stephen Tague, SVP, European Sales Cece Braun, VP, Finance Chrissy De Pauw, VP, Sales Administration Rob Haiat, VP, Business Operations Scott Michels, VP, Sales Operation and Administration Catherine Molinier, Managing Director Stephanie Pacheco, Managing Director, Latin America Michelle Payne, VP, European Sales Giovanni Pedde, VP, European Operations Guy Petty, VP, Business Development Bruce Swanson, VP and General Manager Jennifer Weingroff, VP, Communications Stephen White, VP, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Sarah Clarke, Sr. Director of Sales, Canada Mie Horasawa, Director of Sales, Northeast Asia Roxanne Lettman, Director, International Sales and Production Eric Mueller, Executive Director of Sales, Latin America Amelia Plant, Sales Manager Nicole Sinclair, Director of Sales, Asia Pacific Tim Wright, Director of Sales A rm a n d o N u ñ e z , J r. P re s i d e n t Paramount Theater Paramount Studios 5555 Melrose Avenue Hollywood Tel: (323) 956-5000 Tom Toumazis, EVP & Managing Director, EMEA & Canada Paul Candland, EVP & Managing Director, Japan Rob Gilby, SVP & Managing Director, Asia-Pacific Fernando Barbosa, SVP, Sales, Latin America Catherine Powell, SVP, Program Distribution, EMEA (North) Francesca Tauriello, SVP, Program Distribution EMEA (South) Maria Kyriacou, SVP, New Media Distribution, EMEA Orest Olijnyk, SVP, Sales, Canada Greg Johnson, VP, Sales, Asia-Pacific Harry Tanaka, VP, Sales, Japan Henri Ringel, VP, Sales, Latin America Carsten Fink, VP, Sales & Distribution, Germany Alexandre Moussard, VP, Sales, French-Speaking Europe David Nogueira, VP, TV Sales & Distribution, Spain Tatjana Vucanvoic, VP, Sales, Central & Eastern Europe & Africa NBC Universal International TV Distribution Sony Pictures Television International May 18-May 23 May 19-May 23 Haydn Arndt, SVP, Sales Liaison, Australia and New Zealand Liz Avery, Director, Sales Liaison, U.K. and Eire Rob Bell, VP, Digital Platforms Justin Che, SVP, Sales, International New Media Rajiv Dhawn, VP, Sales Liaison, Asia Vimish Gandesha, VP, Sales Liaison, Scandinavia, Benelux, Israel, S. Africa Marwan Helayel, Director, Sales Liaison, Middle East Kerry Hutson, Director, Sales, International New Media Sonya Joo, VP, Branded On Demand Development Don McGregor, SVP, Sales Liaison, UK, Northern Europe, CEE, CIX, Baltics, S. Africa, & Middle East Maxim Mikailov, Director, Liaison, CIS, Baltic States & Turkey Beth Minehart, EVP, Sales, International New Media Tamara Misert, Director, Sales Liaison, Spain & Portugal Atsushi Miyasaka, VP, Sales Liaison Allan Navarrete, VP, Sales Liaison, Latin America Sven Noth, Director, Sales Liaison, Germany Maria Rodriguez, Director, Sales Liaison, Australia Maria Sanchez, SVP, Liaison, Spain, Portugal & Latin America Anne-Lorraine Villeroy, Director, Sales Liaison, France, Italy & N. Africa Belinda Menendez P re s i d e n t Universal Studios Lot 100 Universal City Plaza Universal City Tel: (818) 777-4534 John McMahon, President and Managing Director, Europe John Migicovsky, President, Columbia TriStar Media Group of Canada Ken Munekata, President, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Japan Stuart Baxter, EVP, European Distribution Jack Ford, EVP and Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand Keith Le Goy, EVP, Distribution Todd Miller, EVP and Managing Director, Asia TC Schultz, EVP and Managing Director, Latin America John Fukunaga, SVP, Distribution Danny Goldman, SVP, Sales Angel Orengo, SVP, Distribution, Latin America & Caribbean Ross Pollack, SVP, Distribution, Asia Mike Wald, SVP, Pay TV and New Media Distribution Noémie Weisse, SVP, Sales, France Marco Cingoli, VP, Sales and Production, Italy Kerstin Gühne, VP, Distribution, Germany Masaki Ushiroku, VP, TV Licensing, Japan Kylie Munnich, Director, Sales, Australia & New Zealand Maria Valenzuela, Director, Sales, Spain Twentieth Century Fox TV Distribution Warner Bros. International Television May 16-May 23 May 19-May 23 Marion Edwards, President, International Television Jamie McCabe, EVP, PPV VOD EST Richard Samuels, SVP Sales, Asia Brendan Zauner, VP Sales, Asia Elie Wahba, SVP Sales, Latin America Jose Luis Gascue, VP Sales, Florida Ricardo Rubini, VP Sales, Latin America Michael Murphy, SVP Sales, Canada David Heath, VP Sales, Canada Jean Vezina, Director Sales, French Canada Gerard Grant, SVP Sales, France Martine Bazin, VP Sales, France Denis Cantin, Director, Format Sales, Europe Steve Cornish, SVP Sales, U.K. Yoni Cohen, VP Sales, U.K. Steve Turney, Director Sales, U.K. Sylvie Lebosse, European Operations Roderick Molinare, European Operations Jose Abad, SVP & Managing Director, Southern Europe Robert Blair, SVP, Northern Europe Jim Brehm, SVP, Sales, Canada, Latin America and Asia Tony Cornish, Sales Director Tomas Davison, Director of Sales Malcolm Dudley-Smith, EVP, Branded Services — Business Management John Garcia, VP & General Manager – Latin America Enrique Juarez, Director, Sales – Latin America Ted Lai, VP, International Television Caroline Lang, VP & Managing Director, France Chris Law, SVP & Managing Director, UK Television & Digital Distribution Juan Mayne, Director of Sales Joanna Murchie, Sales Director, Central and Eastern Europe Mitsuru Oda, VP & General Manager Roni Patel, Director, Benelux/Middle East Rosario Ponzio, Managing Director, Italy Greg Robertson, SVP & Managing Director Sylvia Rothblum, Managing Director, German-Speaking Territories Mickie Steinmann, VP & General Manager, Canada Nicky Wood, VP, Scandinavia & Eastern Europe 36 VIDEO • AGE Mark Kaner P re s i d e n t Fox Studios 10201 W. Pico Blvd. Bldg. 310 Beverly Hills Tel: (310) 369-8870 Ben Pyne P re s i d e n t Global Distribution The Walt Disney Studios 500 S. Buena Vista Street Burbank Tel: (818) 460-7960 Michael Grindon P re s i d e n t Sony Pictures Studios 10202 West Washington Blvd. Culver City Tel: (310) 244-3977 J e ff re y R . S c h l e s i n g e r P re s i d e n t Steven J. Ross Theater Warner Bros. Studios 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank Tel: (818) 954-6000 M AY 2 0 0 8 s ing 2 en 70 cre e 1 . S suit L.A za, the la at y P us ntur See Ce att Hy L.A. SCREENINGS 2 0 0 8 KEY ACQUISITION EXECUTIVES ARGENTINA Artear: Walter Sequeira, Bernardette Del Mas Playboy: Ariel Taboada Telefe: Claudio Villaruel, Bernarda Llorente, Julian Rodriguez Montero AUSTRALIA Foxtel: Stephen Baldwin, Jamie Campbell, Deb Darby, Duane Hatherly, Brian Walsh, Penny Win Seven: Tim Worner, John Stephens, Angus Ross, Zane Bair Showtime: Tony Pollitt, Peter Rose, Glen Kinging Ten: David Mott, Beverley McGarvey, Peter Andrews TV1: Justin Arnall, Selena Crowley, Peter Hudson, Danielle Rowland AUSTRIA ORF: Andrea Bogad-Radatz, Alexander Wrabetz, Wolfgang Hoefer, Elisabeth Mayerhoffer, Werner Taibon BELGIUM Comedy: Evert van der Veer, Maurice Hols, Victor Coolman (MTV) NBC Uni: Jon Farrar, Martin Heaton Cooper RTBF: Valerie Lardinois, Emmanuel Tourpe RTL-TVI: Stephane Rosenblatt, Erwin Lapraille, Patrick Vandenbosch, Maria Pia Defourny SBS: Esther van den Brink Skynet: Ingrid De Coninck, Didier Lupfer, Ramzi Malouki Telenet: Piero Cavaliere, Paty Colemont, Anouk Mertens VMMA: Luc Janssens, Nico Nulens VRT: Hilde Debackere, Jean-Luc Sterckx BOLIVIA ATB: Daniel Cruz, Jose Luis Penaranda, Carlos Villazon ECOR: Ernesto Monasterio, Carlos Novaro, Alberto Wichtendal Red Uno: Jessica Kuljis, Julio Romero BRAZIL Bandeirantes: Goyo Garcia Globo TV: Roberto Buzzoni, Suzy Ubing Globosat: Claudia Macedo, Wilson Cuhna NBC Uni: Paulo Barata, Andre Audler Record: Paulo Calil, Honorilton Costa, Tereza Franco, Rosana Oliveira, Manoel Silva Rede TV: Marcelo Carvalho, Luciana Gimenez, Monica Pimentel SBT: Nelson Akira Sato Teleamazonas: Maria Eulalia Eguiguren, Margarita Davalos CANADA Corus: Joanna Webb, Ted Ellis CTV: Michael Murphy Global: Leonard Asper, Errol Da-Re, Kathy Gardner, Andrew Janik, Walter Levitt, Phil Piazza, Arthur Reinstein, Michael Serafini, Christine Shipton, Peter Viner, Barbara Williams, Cathy Young Highway: Adam Ivers, Michael McLaughlin, Sherry O’Neil NTV: Jesse Stirling, Judith Stirling, Scott Stirling Rogers: Hayden Mindell, Dawn Morden, Leslie Sole, Alain Strati, Tony Viner Skibo: Jim Reid, Paul Sweeney Sun TV: Don Gaudet, Jim Nelles Superchannel: Malcolm Knox, Dandy Perkins TeleAstral: Dominique Bazay, Judith Brosseau, Di-Ann Laurier, Jacques Mathieu, Josee Mignault, Elaine Mourez, Pierre Roy TLN: Aldo DiFelice TVA: Maxine Bissonette, Claude Foisy, Sylvie Gaudreault, Sophie Henault, Claire Syril Monteleone, Sylvie Tremblay Vision: Beverley Shenken CHILE Chilevision: Jaime de Aguirre, Pablo Morales, Sebastian Pinera Megavision: Alfredo Escobar, Francisco Henriquez, Baltazar Sanchez TVN: Vicente Sabatini, Eduardo Tironi Univ Catholica: Maea Garcia, Carmen Gloria Lopez, Paulo Ramirez VRT: Ana Maria Nuñez Toledo CHINA Shanghai Media: Chen Lei, Sun Wei, Wang Yan, Jimmy Zhang COLOMBIA City: Olga Navarro, Lorencita Santamaria Provideo: Luis Stipanovic, Andres Marulanda Botero Recall: Juan Jorge Jaeckel COSTA RICA Teletica: Rene Picado, Sr., Rene Picado, Jr., Zaida Jimenez, Mario Gonzalez, Luis Castro CROATIA Nova: Nina Mikola, Drazan Mavric, Zranka Jankoev RTL: Christoph Mainusch, Eckard Stressig CYPRUS Lumiere: George Xinaris CZECH REPUBLIC Czech TV: Alena Blahosova-Polednakova, Michael Malek Prima: Hannes Nothegger DENMARK DR: Steen Salomonsen, Kaare Schmidt SBS: Tina Moreton TV2: Anette Romer, Feline Munck TV3: Peter Slot DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Colmed: Nicolas Rodriguez, Jordan Rodriguez, Michael Rodriguez ECUADOR Gamavision: Iti Donoso, Nicolas Vega EL SALVADOR Canal 2: Juan Carlos Eserski, Salvador Gadala Canal 12: Raimundo Alonso, Pedro Cabanas ESTONIA Kanal 2: Olle Mirme FINLAND Ch 4: Pirjo Airaksinen, Tiina Karo, Karoliina Kytomaa, Elina Pentinsaari MTV3: Jani Hartikainen, Marko Karvo, Liisa Stenberg, Jorma Sairanen YLE: Tarmo Kivikallio, Johanna Salmela FRANCE AB: Fabrice Bailly, Nathalie Biancolli, Xavier Gandon, Richard Maroko ARTE: Nicholas Deschamps BETV: Christian Loiseau, Alexandrine Duez Canal+: Sandra Ouaiss, Franck Legrand, Rene Saal, Laurence Blaevoet, Catherine Comte (Jimmy), Diane Reunald, François Mergier Canal J: Julia Tenret Double V: Vincent Desforges, Valerie Peschels France2: Cecile Negrier, Helene Goujet France3: Caroline Got France4: Frederic Prallet-Dujols M6: Bernard Majani, Remi Jiminez, Berangere Terouanne MCM: Olivier Richard, Cecile Mercier NBC Uni: Laurent Dumeau, Pauline Dauvin, Francois Roux NRJ12: Gerald Brice Viret, Olivier Fernandez, Julien Figue Telecom: Mark Cutten, Bernard Tani TF1: Mara Sorbera, Andre Beraud, Elisabeth Durand, Remi Jacquelin, Capucine Lallemand, Sophie Levaux TF6: Vincent Broussard, Thomas Crosson, Christine Hodanger GERMANY ATV: Martin Gastinger, Roman Rinner AXN: Ute Reichel, Robert Niemann Beta: Christian Gockel, Patrick Keller, Nataly Kudiabor, Peter Norrenbert, Stefan Raiser, Claudia Sihler-Rosei, Eric Welbers Degeto: Kristina Dubin, Hans-Wolfgang Jurgan, Thomas Weymar, Jana Brandt, Barbara Dusek, Marc Gabizon, Angela Gilbert, Claudia Grassel, Benny Kiser, Whitney Oliver, Conrad Schoeffter, Corinna Scholz, Oliver Schuendler, Gunter Struve, Philippe Van Doornick, Hubert von Spreti, Rosemarie Wintgen, Jessica Young, Doris Zander DMax: Michael Grubinger, Katja HofemBest Grundy-UFA: Rainer Wemcken ITTC: Katie Caprio, Klaus Hallig, Cornelia Liebig-Marciniak Kabel1: Guido Bolten, Karin Bombe Kinowelt: Achim Apell MTV: Catherine Muehlemann, Stephan Schwarzer, Elmar Giglinger (Comedy), Karin Schrader (Comedy) NBC Uni: Roger Schneider Plus TV: Dominik Kaiser, Torsten Prenter Polyphon: Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt Premiere: Hans Seger, Rainer Ingber, Martin Calsow, Sebastian Lau ProSieben: Andreas Bartl, Thilo Proff, Juergen Hoerner ProSiebenSat1: Guillaume De Posch, Jan Frouman, Ruediger Boess, Thomas Lasarzik, Claudia Ruehl RTL: Kaspar Pflueger, Holger Andersen, Klaus Henning, Manuela Huhn, Dirk Schweitzer, Christoph Mainusch, Eckhard Stressig RTL2: Jochen Starke, Axel Kuehn, Minea Bauer, Claudia Schorr Sat1: Matthias Alberti, Frank Schnelle SuperRTL: Claude Schmidt, Carsten Goettel, Frank Dietz TeleMuenchen: Thomas Augsberger, Herbert Kloiber, Bernd Schloetterer Turner: Anke Greifeneder, Hannes Heyelmann UFA: Thomas-Peter Friedl (Cinema), Joerg Winger Universum: Anja Pallasch Vox: Ladya Van Eeden ZDF: Thomas Bellut, Norbert Himmler, Klaus Bassiner, Hans Juergen Steimer, Alexander Coridass, Susanne Mueller, Reinhold Elschot, Jutta Lieck-Klenke, Daniel Fiedler GREECE Alpha: Bokolis Panagiotis Alter: Costas Giannikos, Alexandra Theodoris Antenna: Lindy Isherwood, Athina Kyriakou, John Latsios, George Levendis JTTV: John Triantafyllis Mega: Nassos Katakouzinos, Dennis Kinigos Skai: Dimitris Koliodimos, Elpida Kallinteri Star: Gina Dimitriadi, Eleni Paschalidou GUATEMALA Latitud TV: Alejandro Botran, Pamela Urrutia HONDURAS Canal 11: Cinthia Nehring, Gabriela Rodriguez, Cesar Rosenthal, Erika Seevers Televicentro: Anamaria Kafati, Rosina Pastor, Rafael Villeda HONG KONG Promo: Lanny Albina Huang, Ko Ping Yeung Star: Donovan Castillo, Todd Lituchy TV Broadcast: Cecilia Tan, Nancy Lai HUNGARY: AXN: Katalin Joboru, Marietta Temesvari HBO: Judit Minda MTV: Attila Lengyel RTL Klub: Dirk Gerkens, Peter Kolosi, Tibor Forizs, Tamas Rakosi TV2: Zoltan Vardy, Bence Gyongyossy ICELAND 365: Palmi Gidmundsson, Skarphedinn Gudmundsson RUV: Erna Kettler, Gudmundur Ingi Kristjansson INDIA Entv: Ajay Trigunayat Inx: Richard Platt, Indrani Mukerajea Zee: Deblina Chakravarti INDONESIA Indosiar: Triandy Suyatman LPP: Yon Anwar, Antar Merau Sianturi RCTI: Nana Putra SCTV: Soemijato Muin, Vita Intan IRELAND Channel 6: Michael Murphy RTE: Dermot Horan, Brian Walsh, Andrew Fitzpatrick TG4: Deirbhile Ni Churraighin, Lis Ni Dhalaigh TV3: Ben Frow, Catherine Mackin, David McRedmond ISRAEL DBS: Ron Eilon, Yona Wiesenthal, Danna Stern Hot: Karni Ziv, Simone Hesselberg Keshet: Avi Nir, Muli Segev Orange: Shay Gissin, Erez Paz, Yael Scop ITALY All Music: Giovanni Brasca, Elisa Ambanelli, Antonio Visca AXN: Susanna Vitelli, Andrea Paoletti Babelgum: Gabriella Ballabio Comedy: Eve Navarro Fox: Paola Acquaviva, Laura Carafoli, Maria Laura Mozzetti, Fabrizio Salini, Agata Spatola, Mauro Torrente, Diego Londono Jimmy: Antonella Attenni, Giusto Toni La 7: Alfredo Moroni, Gianluca Foschi, Alberto Rossini NBC Uni: Luca Cadura, Giorgina di Santo RAI: Giorgio Buscaglia, Patrizia Cardelli, Adriano Coni, Guido Corso, Paolo Del Brocco, Francesco Di Pace, Erika Esposito, Cesare Genolini, Vincenza Gentile, Luca Macciocca, Bianca Maria Pontillo, Guido Pugnetti, Donatella Saroli, Angelo Teodoli, Cristina Villoresi RTI: Guido Barbieri, Francesco Mozzetti, Zelda Stewart, Sonia Danieli, Lucia Del (Continued on Page 40) 38 VIDEO • AGE M AY 2 0 0 8 HISTORIAS AL DESCUBIERTO La misión de CCI Entertainment es crear una programación de televisión extraordinaria, una televisión que divierta, deleite y estimule nuestras mentes y corazones; Una televisión que haga volar tu imaginación! ERKY PERKY FRANKENSTEIN’S CAT GHOST TRACKERS HARRY & HIS BUCKET FULL OF DINOSAURS www.ccientertainment.com Visite Federico Vargas, Ejecutivo de Ventas y Adquisiciones, en el Suite 918 InterContinental Los Angeles, Century City, 2151 Avenue of the Stars teléfono +1.416.578.7890 L.A. SCREENINGS 2008 ACQUISITION EXECUTIVES (Continued from Page 38) Prete, Imma Petrosino, Maurizio Colombo, Aldo Romersa, Marco Costa, Piercarlo Guglielmi, Paolo Paggetta, Carlo Panzeri Sky: Luisa Borella, Stefano Orsucci, Kathryn Fink JAPAN AXN: Masato Ito, Satoko Minagawa, Hiroko Ozawa Broadmedia: Ai Morizane, Naoki Nakamura, Yoshihiro Seki, Shu Watanabe, Akiko Yoshikawa Cente: Sonoko Fuji, Taka Ito, Manabu Kameya, Shizuka Koike, Kousuke Mihara, Takayuki Terashima Dentsu: Daisuke Fukuoka, Shoichiro Ishiwatari Hanaro: Stephen Kim, Sangsu Park Jupiter: Yuko Hirota, Hiroyuki Nakatani Medianet: Fuminori Isono Mico: Chie Muto NHK: Yukihiro Shibata, Kiyoshi Umibe Nikkatsu: Yusuke Kurokawa NTV: Koji Kashiwagi, Hajime Takeuchi Super: Tatsuo Suzuki, Kiyoshi Tokumaru Toei: Hideyuki Baba, Masayoshi Endo, Masahiro Kimura, Taro Minami, Natsuko Morita, Yusei Nagamastsu, Yumiko Sato TFC: Ryuji Hayashi, Masato Kashiwagi, Kyoko Kato, Keiichi Kosaka, Hiromichi Sato, Kazuki Tokunaga Wowow: Aya Kawaguchi, Keiko Nakazono, Tetsuya Nasuno YTV: Takeshi Kita KOREA Asia TV: May Leung, KK Leung CJ Media: Shang Hwi Ahn, Chul Yeon Kim, Won Pil Shim, Ae Sohn Dramanet: Tae-Hui Kim, Gyeong-Min Moon, InCheol Som Fox: Sung-uk Cho, Sofia Kim, Taehee Kim KBC: Hyun Jeong Hong, Jun Bum Park KBS: John-Sun Na, Seung-Jae Suh Kim: Se Ung Kim MBC: Kwang-Han Ahn, Ji-Sou Kim OBS: Dong-Ho Choi, Hayeon Shin Orion: Dae Hyun Cho, In Hee Choi, Eun Jeong Kim, Hyun Sung Kim, Jey Hyun Kim, Choong Hyo Lee SBSI: Sangsu Kim, Kevin Kim, LITHUANIA Viasat: Leva Govedaite MALAYSIA Gama Taktik: Illi Nadiah Ibrahim, Nik Razali Jusoh, Mohd Azhar Khalid Juita Viden: Peter Foo, Francis Foo, Daphne Lim RTM: Jamal Abdullah, Zainal Abidin Asri Solimac: Jaslinda Ahmad TV3: Dato Amrin Awaluddin, Dato Anthony Bujang, Lam Swee Kim, Ahmad Izham Omar, Shareen Ooi, Farisha Pawanteh, Dato Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, Airin Zainul Vision Plus: Lim Beng Teck, Ho Poh Lin MEXICO Cadena 3: Ernesto Rivera, Roberto Salmeron, Erik Zuckerman En Pantalla: Rodrigo Ruiz, Julio Ruiz MVS: Alejandro Vazquez-Vela, Claudia Morales Televisa: Alberto Ciurana, Adrian Ortega, Carlos Sandoval TV Azteca: Rodrigo Fernandez, Pedro Lascurain, Martin Luna, Erika Macin, Mario San Roman, Guillermo Zubiaur Tycoon: Benito Villarreal, Rosinda Garcia (THE) NETHERLANDS NPB: Frank Mulder, John van der Klauw, Paul van der Niet, Timo van der Niet, Mignon Huisman RTL: Inge Lubsen, Harold Oomes, Gijs Tulleken SBS: Rozan Hamaker NEW ZEALAND SKY: Karen Bieleski, Travis Dunbar, John Fellet TV3: Kelly Martin, Jan Gubbins, Mark Caulton, Rick Friesen, Andrew Szusterman, Brent Impey TVNZ: Rick Ellis, John Kelly, Jeff Latch, Andrew Shaw, James Wilson NICARAGUA 40 VIDEO • AGE Televicentro: Octavio Sacasa, Marta Sacasa, Alejandro Sacasa NORWAY NRK: Fredrik Luihn, Trine Fossan, Elisabeth Mjoes TV2: Nils Ketil Andresen, John Ranelagh, Anette With, Dennis de Alme Visscher, Pat Quinn, Marianne Boge TV3: Trygve Ronningen TV Norge: Nina Lorgen Flemmen, Bente Engebretsen PANAMA Medcom: Yolanda Eleta, Maria Helena Paniza, Lorena Sanchez, Michelle Simons, Magali Urrutia Televideo: Analida Lopez, Ignacio Barrera TV Nacional: Armando Guerra, Laura Lan, Sandra Motta, Luis Mouynes, Analisa Ortega PERU America TV: Luis Guillermo Camacho, Kimberly Jurgensen, Eric Jurgensen Frecuencia: Alberto Cabello, Cecilia Gomez, Baruch Ivcher, Ricardo Tokuda PHILIPPINES ABS-CBN: Leonardo Katigbak, Evelyn Raymundo, Robert Labayen, Richard Reynante, Carlos Mori Rodriguez, Maria Cecilia Imperial, Ronald Arguelles, Jose Ramon Olives CPI: Macie Imperial, Monchet Olives GMA: Roxanne Barcelona, Manuel Quiogue, Joel Jimenez, Vicky Pacis, Marivin Arayata, Lilybeth Rasonable, Gigi Santiago-Lara NBN: Rosario Alberto, Maria Gatan RMN: Eric Canoy, Manolito Cruz, Roger Oriel Solar: Cora Adorador, Neenu Khemlani, Peter Chan Liong, Tess Pascual, Edel Pepito, Gidget Policarpio, Ronald Tieng POLAND ITI: Maciey Sojka, Tim Horan, Grzegorz Pfaza MTV: Monika Chojnacka, Daniel Reska TVN: Anna Borys, Renata Mecina TVP: Slawomir Cyra, Katarzyna Bojarska, Magdalena Chajewska, Jacek Kozlowski TV Puls: Kasia Bukowska, Dariusz Dabski, Piotr Radziszewski PORTUGAL RTP: Fatima Cavaco, Helena Torres, Jorge Wemans, Bruno Santos SIC: Pedro Boucherie Mendes, Nuno Santos, Vanessa Tierno TV1: Margarida Victoria Pereira, Jose Eduardo Moniz, Maria Ana Borges de Sousa, Paulo Soares PUERTO RICO Telemundo: Hilary Hattler, Ibra Morales, Ileana Santiago WAPA: Jimmy Arteaga, Alan Sokol ROMANIA ABC Plus: Anamaria Diaconu, Dan Diaconu, Larisa Mohut, Carmen Purle Kanal D: Hatice Kolat, Romana Suciu Prima: Veronica Sorescu, Ioana Popescu Zone Vision: Alina Florea RUSSIA Amedia: Tatjana Belichenko, Mikhail Bondarenko, Eleanor Safonova, Diana Shishkina Channel One: Konstantin Ernest Cinemotion: Pavel Lipanovsky, Kate Martynova, Dmitry Nesterov CTC: Alexander Rodnyansky, Vyacheslav Murugov, Oleksiy Zyunkin, Anastasia Byalobzheskaya, Natalia Myshkina, Evguenia Belyaeva, Bogatyrev Vasily MTV: Nikolay Golovin, Olga Tsygankova NTV: Zoya Bado, Inga Koshavtseva, Ilya Ognev Ren TV: Stanislav Pribylov, Alexander Marchenko Report: Svetlana Litvinova, Pavel Tsarvoulanov RTR: Ekaterina Efanova, Olga Koshkarova, Alexander Koushaev TNT: Alexander Dulerayn TV3: Alexander Karpov, Julia Vinokurova, Serguei Spiridonov, Julia Mirnaya SINGAPORE AXN: Yan Jong Wong MediaCorp: Chang Long Jong, Kenneth Liang, Joy Olby-Tan Singapore Comm: Selena Ho, Katheryn Lim SLOVAKIA Joj: Zuzana Aichova, Eva Dzurovcinova, Erika Tothova STV: Alica Cincarova SLOVENIA Pop TV: Tomaz Krzicnik, Gorazd Slak SOUTH AFRICA MNET: Jan Du Plessis, Pauline Cunningham, Helen Smit SPAIN Antena 3: Mercedes Gamero, Mikel Lejarza AXN: Carlos Herran, Natalia Lorenzo Canal Sur: Lidia Lorente Cosmopolitan: Laura Abril, David Nunez ETB: Jesus Higuera, Jose Luis Blanco Fox: Pilar Jimenez, Gonzalo Moura, Jesus Perezagua, Pablo Vinuales FRM: Adolfo Fernandez Martinez IB3: Olga Vizcaino La Mancha: Carmen Summers La Sexta: Sergio Ramos, Andres Varela, Luis Fernambuco NBC Uni: Carolina Godayol, Rocio Centurion Sogecable: Ignacio Campo, Alejandro Florez, Fernando Jerez, Silvia Lama, Angel Lopez, Miguel Salvat, Elena Sanchez Telecinco: Ghislain Barrois, Alberto Carullo, Gemma Cuadripanis, Patricia Marco Telefonica: Lali Bachs, Alberto Ennis, Vicente Munoz, Alfonso Pajuelo, Pedro Rolla Telemadrid: Yolanda Ausin, Sandra Gayarre Teuve: Fernando Riera, Daniel Perez, Adria Mones Turner: Domingo Corral, Guillermo Farre, Rafael Portela TV Aragon: Jaime Fontan, Elisabeth Lopez TV Asturias: Arturo Somoano TV Catalunya: Carles Blanch, Carme Baste TVE: Jose Antonio Anton, Carlos Fernandez, Lola Molina, Javier Pons TV Galicia: Encina Ramos, Benigno Sanchez, Jesus Iglesias, Jose Rey-Cabarcos TV Valenciana: Vicente Suberviola, Michael Koven, Jose Angel Quintanilla VEO: Jaime Gutiererz Colomer, Melchor Miralles, Fernando Quintela, Miguel Torrente SRI LANKA Vanguard: Lakshaman Bandaranayake SWEDEN Canal Plus: Line Mykland, Mats Orbrink Kanal5: Karin Krafft, Katarina Eriksson SVT: Goran Danasten, Thomas Nilsson, Agneta Perman, Gunnar Carlsson, Per Ogren TV3: Anders Knave TV4: Clara Scherman, Helena Forsman, Asa Sjoberg SWITZERLAND RTSI: Silvana Carminati, Gea Marina-Montorfani TSR: Yves Menestrier, Isabell HagemannPouliquen, Barbara Karkin, Alix Nicole TAIWAN Tempo: James Chang, Nancy Zee THAILAND UBC: Arthit Prompasit, Attaphon Na Bangxiong TRINIDAD CNC3: Cyntra Achong TV6: Rhonda Ottley TURKEY CNBC: Asli Arihan, Cem Aydin, Pinar Rayon, Gorkem Yasayan Digiturk: Ezgi Inci Ozer, Esra Ozaral Fox: Yadigar Belbuken Turner: Sarp Batur, Efe Onbilgin UAE Dubai Media: Najla Al Awadhi, Sarah Al Jarman, Lina Matta EVision: Humaid Sahoo, Kamal Nassif MBC: Jemma Yates Showtime: Carlie Goode, Pia Maria Hakka, Eric Preven, George Sayegh UKRAINE ICTV: Elena Belik-Sakhatskaya, Viacheslav Ostapenko Inter: Alexander Bilkun, Sergiy Demyanchuk New Channel: Olexander Bohutskyy, Victoria Levchenko, Iryna Lysenko, Olga Zadorozhna TET TV: Iryna Chernyak, Maria Pinchuk, Grygory Tychnya U.K. AXN: Tom Davidson, Ross Hair BBC: George McGhee, Sue Deeks, Jana Bennett, Jane Trantor, Danny Cohen, George Dixo, Angie Stephenson, Paul Telegdy BSkyB: Sophie Turner-Laing, Richard Woolfe, David Smyth, Rebecca Segal, Jason Jacob BT: Kate Dean, Michael Barry Channel Four: Jeff Ford, Kevin Lygo, Crispin Leuser Comedy: Jill Offman, Matt Tombs, Sarah Mahoney Five: Hannah Barnes, Vanessa Brookman, Katie Keenan Fox: Jason Thorp, Jason Simms, Toby Etheridge, Emma Mason ITV: Jay Kandola, Jonathan Vandermeer, Zai Bennett, Emma Tennant, Dave Fewings MTV: Heather Jones, David Booth, Louise Benham, Philip Sissons (EMEA), NBC Uni: Roma Khanna, Mark Lawrence, Greg Matson, Colin McLeod Nickelodeon: Jules Borkent, Debbie Macdonald, Howard Litton Programs4Media: Nicole Schlagman, Michael Schlagman, Michael Stolerman Tiscali: Jonathan Sykes, Hugh Williams U.K. TV: Sarah Wright, Christian Drobnyk, Steve North Viasat: Alexander Holland, Jakob Mejihede, Camilla Hammer, Camilla Thornberg Drenos, Ilze Korjusa, Joe Lupo, Elvyra DunauskaiteGaideliene, Max Taylor Virgin: Amy Barham, Claudia Rosencrantz, Johnny Webb, Chris Collie, Daniella Newman URUGUAY Ch. 10: Lucia De Feo, Gabriel Inchausti, Cecilia Presto Montecarlo: Alberto Gossweiler, Hugo Lorenzo Romay, Marcelo Viscarret Teledoce: Eduardo Radio, Eugenio Restano U.S. AFN: Larry Marotta Arief: Dato Raun Atmosumarto, Eling Raun Fox Lat Am: Emiliano Saccone, Mauricio Rios, Patricia Daujotas, Gonzalo Fiure, Katia Murgel, Diana Puentes, Gabriela Gil HBO Lat Am: William Benshimol, Helena Bernardi, Gaston Comas, Gustavo Grossman, Jose Manuel Pagani, Luis Peraza, Roberto Rios, Alexander Salas LAPTV: Richard Rohrbach LATTV: Jaime Penaranda NBC Uni: Steve Patscheck, Angel Gomez, Fabian Vasques Nickelodeon: Tatiana Rodriguez, Migdalis Silva Ole: Eddy Ruis, Daniel Alvarez, Beatriz O’Higgins, Isabel Quintero Skyrider: Sharone Melamed, Katie Callahan Turner: Rick Perez, Angel Zambrano, Cindy Kerr, Pablo Corona, Marcelo Tamburri, Joy Ross, Mariano Cesar VH1: Dean Broadhurst Warner: Alfredo Duran, Wilma Maciel, Kyrenia Saavedra VENEZUELA Televen: German Perez Nahim Venevision: Miguel Dvorak, Manuel FraizGrijalba, Carlos Noguera, Soledad Leiva, Karolina Carrillo VIETNAM Thaole: Hong Ling Phan • An updated list of international acquisitions and programming executives in attendance at the L.A. Screenings will be published in VideoAge’s May 19 issue. M AY 2 0 0 8 NewCo Rai International Your New Global Italian Partner For: • Rai Italia (formerly Rai International), Italy’s flagship TV channel • Thematic channels from the best of Rai (where quality meets quantity) • Extended platforms - Cable/satellite, IPTV, MobileTV, WebTV • Expanded target audiences with multiple-language transmissions • World coverage - Adding Europe to Rai Italia's global reach • Partnerships and co-ventures under innovative revenue models Today, when you think of Italy, think of NewCo Rai International ! NewCo N ewCo Rai International: Viale Mazzini, 14 Rome, Italy 00195 Tel. + 39-06-321- 9695 www.international.rai.it (Rai Italia’s web site) Pier Luigi Malesani, Chairman Carlo Sartori, CEO Piero Badaloni, Channel Director THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF FILM, BROADCASTING, CABLE TV, PAY TV, VOD, DBS, IPTV, PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION MAYO 2008 VOL. 28 NO. 3 $9.75 Sección en Español ® www.videoagelatino.com Dólares de los L.A. Screenings para L.A. Africa: La última frontera de la TV. DISCOP Africa está lista ahora. El primer país es Nigeria, y el ay un país que tiene mas del Segundo es Camerún. doble de la superficie de Ambos son típicos países de Africa - un California con un PBI de continente que prácticamente no ha sido USD300 billones, posee una de las mayores reservas de tocado por la televisión, incluso en el petróleo del mundo, con una Siglo XXI. Africa es la última frontera de (Continuación a la pàgina 44) población de 135 millones de personas que poseen mas de 32 millones de teléfonos celulares, pero que tiene solo tres estaciones de TV- dos estatales. ¿Adivinan dónde está? i bien la amarga negociación del Sindicato de Aquí una pista. Es la guionistas ha pasado, las nuevas luchas en la puerta lindera con otro país, industria de la TV están solo por comenzar. La un poco más grande que huelga del Sindicato de Guionistas de AméricaCalifornia, pero que tiene solo un canal de Televisión. SGA (The Writers Guild of America-WGA) contra la No, no es Europa en los asociación de productores llegó a su fin el 12 de años 60, pero sí es Africa Febrero cuando el Sindicato aceptó oficialmente el POR DAVID SHORT POR DOM SERAFINI M ucha atención ha sido dada al hecho de que Los Angeles perdía cerca de USD23 millones diarios durante la huelga de los guionistas. Durante esos penosos días, ciertas consideraciones fueron realizadas sobre los L.A. Screenings. ¿Los Estudios lo llevarán a cabo o no? Si los Estudios hubieran optado por cancelar o incluso posponer los L.A. Screening, la consecuencia estratégica hubiera sido reforzar el rol de MIPTV (y realmente sus organizadores estaban preparados para esa eventualidad) y de cambiar el calendario de los mercados del año, que tradicionalmente comienza con (Continuación a la pàgina 48) Hollywood apunta al EST POR LEVI SHAPIRO E l guionista William Goldman remarcó famosamente que en Hollywood “nadie sabe nada”. Mientras que la mayoría interpretó que quiso decir “que la mayoría de los ejecutivos de los Estudios son (expletivo),” Goldman estaba en realidad describiendo la dificultad en predecir un éxito. Hoy, esa frase fácilmente podría ser aplicable a la venta de video por descarga de Internet, conocida como EST (Electronic-Sell-Through). Por el momento, Estudios y cadenas de TV usan EST como una plataforma de Medios complementaria. Entre las grandes cadenas de TV americanas, ABC fue la primera en área. Desde octubre 2005, ABC ha vendido cerca de 35 millones de episodios de TV vía iTunes. Karen Hobson, vp de la Corporate Communications en Disney ABC Television Group, describió la estrategia de ABC como la combinación de distintas plataformas de entrega. “El consumidor que paga (EST) vive en armonía junto con nuestro soporte de contenidos en ABC.com. No hay ningún tipo de publicidad en iTunes, y el precio (Continuación a la pàgina 44) H Evaluando los daños post-huelga S (Continuación a la pàgina 46) billones chinos no se detienen con el petróleo. Está reconstruyendo la infraestructura africana, mientras que la ayuda de Occidente está restringida a la asistencia alimenticia y otros temas humanitarios. China está reconstruyendo rutas en Etiopía y Mozambique y hospitales y escuelas en Liberia. Además, China está reconstruyendo la magnífica vía férrea de Benguela que iba desde el Atlántico sur hasta el Océano Indico. DISCOP Africa (Continuación de la pàgina 43) la TV. Incluso Sudáfrica, el único país desarrollado del continente, ha tenido TV solo desde hace 30 años. Pero hay una compañía que piensa que habrá un gran cambio. La gente detrás de DISCOP, el mercado de TV para el centro y el Este de Europa, que lanzará DISCOP Africa el año entrante. DISCOP Africa será lanzado oficialmente en MIP, expresó Patrick Jucaud. “Será un evento con base en un hotel en Dakar, Senegal, desde el 25 al 27 de febrero del año próximo. Esperamos que concurran más de 250 estaciones de televisión africanas de casi todos los países de Africa. Incluso estaciones de Zimbabwe han demostrado interés. Nunca han participado de MIP o de NATPE (asociados a DISCOP). Solo dos países, Libia y Túnez, son reacios a participar de DISCOP Africa.” ¿Un mercado de TV en Africa? La mayoría de la gente en el mundo Occidental piensa que son afortunados los que subsisten día a día en África. ¿Tienen tiempo para relajarse y ver un episodio de JAG antes de ir a dormir? ¿Está Jucaud loco? No. De hecho, según Jucaud, eso es exactamente lo que dijo la gente cuando fueron anunciados los planes originales para DISCOP. Luego de 50 años de comunismo y dominación Soviética, poca gente sabía algo acerca de estos renovados y abiertos países. ¿Desearían los obreros checoslovacos de las fábricas de tranvías, los peones húngaros, los mineros rumanos, los tractoristas ucranianos o los esclavos de las fábricas de zapatos búlgaros realmente ver un episodio de L.A. Law, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld o Jerry Springer? Y si así lo desearan, ¿cómo los pagarían? “Ellos decían que lo pagarían con Vodka y mujeres, que no había dinero.” Sostuvo Jucaud. Bien, como sabe la industria de TV ahora, esto no fue cierto. En los años 90, las estaciones de TV comerciales surgieron a lo largo y lo ancho de toda la Europa central, todas ávidas de contenidos. Ahora, dijo Jucaud, 15 años después del primer DISCOP, ese mercado está valuado en “varios cientos de millones de dólares habiendo comenzado de la nada.” El estímulo para ese crecimiento, por supuesto, fue el acelerado lanzamiento de estaciones comerciales en la región con la caída del comunismo. El principal pionero fue CME (Central European Media Enterprises), fundado por el multimillonario de la cosmética, Ronald Lauder. Recuerdo perfectamente el vertiginoso ritmo de los lanzamientos de CME. Todavía conservo la remera desteñida con la leyenda ‘CME Central European Tour’ escrita en la espalda. La lista cuenta la jadeante historia: República Checa- Febrero del 94, Rumania-Diciembre del 95, Eslovenia- 44 VIDEO • AGE Patrick Jucaud Diciembre del 95, Eslovaquia-Diciembre del 96, Ucrania-Septiembre del 97 y Polonia en Octubre del 97. CME se convirtió en una máquina de hacer dinero. Su estación Checa, Nova TV recuperó el costo de su lanzamiento de USD10 millones al primer año. ¿Cuál será la chispa que encienda a la TV africana? Jucaud puede que esté en lo correcto cuando dice que el crecimiento ya ha comenzado. “Hemos tenido un increíble interés por contenidos de TV y de distribuidores de formatos, también de agencias de publicidad africanas que sostienen que sus clientes necesitan mejor programación si van a invertir mas dinero.” Los datos del tamaño del marcado de la TV africana son duros, señaló Jucaud, pero sostuvo que “las estaciones de TV africanas están deseosas de hacer dinero, ya sea ahora o en el futuro. Es un mercado que no ha sido explotado.” Nuevas estaciones están siendo lanzadas por todos lados”, apuntó Jucaud. ¿Pero porqué? Bien, todo aquel que sabe hoy algo de Africa, debe susurrar solo una palabra: China. El nivel de inversión de China en Africa ha realmente cambiado el continente. Y esto ha sido así por años sin que Occidente fuera consciente de ello, que recientemente ha descubierto los intereses de China en Sudán y solo cuando esto fue noticia en febrero. En los meses siguientes, Steven Spielberg se alejó de su rol como asesor artístico de las olimpíadas de Beijing, persuadido por Mia Farrow y otras celebridades que apoyan la Coalición para salvar a Darfur (Save Darfur Coalition) Para ese entonces, China ya llevaba invertidos unos USD200 millones en la región de Darfur para llevar mas de 400.000 barriles diarios de petróleo, por medio de un oleoducto de 1000 millas, desde el sur de Sudán hasta el Mar Rojo, sin haber presionado en absoluto al gobierno sudanés para detener la miseria humana de Darfur. El petróleo es la llave. Un tercio del petróleo que llega a China viene de Africa. Fuera de Sudán, China ha invertido USD1.4 billones en zonas petroleras de Angola, el segundo productor de petróleo de África. Pero lo Africa se está convirtiendo rápidamente en el campo de juego industrial de China, con total interés en ellos mismos. Este interés en ellos mismos incluye el relanzamiento de la industria televisiva africana. DISCOP Africa trabaja conjuntamente con la televisión estatal China y otros entes, dijo Jucaud. “Tenemos clientes chinos y clientes rusos. Tenemos un socio chino trabajando actualmente para nosotros en Beijing.” No hay premios para aquel que adivine que país puede ser el abastecedor de televisores baratos para los nuevos espectadores africanos sentados en sus sofás. La TV necesita además de electricidad, que siempre es pobremente abastecida en Africa. Simplemente miren en el mapa de Google Earth cómo se ve África de noche. Fuera de Sudáfrica, es realmente el continente negro. ¿Quién proveerá y manejará las estaciones de electricidad? Según Jucaud: “Ya hay unos 20 millones de chinos en 13 países africanos.” Pero por más alentador que parezca el panorama para la TV en Africa, inevitablemente habrá problemas. No todo fue color de rosa en Europa central en los años 90. CME y otras compañías tuvieron dificultades con sus asociados locales llevándolos con gusto al mercado libre y ayudando a millones. Vladimir Zeleny, el licenciatario de Nova TV, estuvo preso en una cárcel checa y otros como él en la región cayeron profundamente. Africa es famosa por sus sobornos y su corrupción. Jucaud ya lo ha probado. Su primera elección fue lógicamente la capital de Nigeria, Lagos. El Este de África verá el más anticipado y rápido crecimiento del negocio de la TV en el continente. Tiene la población más grande, la mayor economía fuera de Sudáfrica y es políticamente, relativamente estable. Pero, dijo Jucaud, demasiadas personas en Lagos deseaban demasiados sobornos. Luego de especular con Cape Town en Sudáfrica como alternativa, decidió que el show debe quedar en el Este de África. Por lo tanto, será Senegal. Allí hablan francés y Dakar está al borde del océano. En ese extraño lugar llamado África, esos dos elementos al menos, ¡serán familiares para los que usualmente atienden MIP! Hollywood apunta al EST (Continuación de la pàgina 43) va desde USD1.99 por episodio hasta USD34.99 para toda la temporada.” En enero, ofreciendo iTunes Movie Rentals, Apple aumentó su oferta de video. El servicio incluye más de 1000 títulos, con costos desde USD2.99 para los títulos de catálogo y USD3.99 para los estrenos. NBC podría haber retirado sus shows de TV de iTunes el año pasado, pero su compañía hermana, Universal Pictures, continúa siendo socia de Apple. Michael Bonner, svp de NBC Universal Digital Distribution, “los próximos años serán los de la convergencia de la TV con la PC. NBC está buscando socios que sean flexibles al momento de desarrollar modelos novedosos de paquetes y precios. Hemos lanzado en Amazon hace ocho meses un modelo con siete marcas diferentes y 90 series de televisión. Queremos que nuestros contenidos tengan la mayor llegada posible mientras al mismo tiempo protegemos el centro de nuestro negocio. Desde 1999, el centro del negocio de la compañía de distribución de video digital CinemaNow, ubicada en California, ha sido el EST. Curt Marvis, CEO de CinemaNow aprendió por el camino duro lo que debe recorrer la industria para que el mercado crezca. “Dos cosas deben suceder,” comentó Marvis. “Presencia de contenidos y precio amigable para el consumidor. Ese es el Santo Grial y tendrá lugar dentro de dos a cuatro años.” Pero ese tiempo no fue lo suficientemente rápido para el servicio de video-on-demand por Web de MovieLink, que reclutó USD100 millones de Warner Brothers, MGM, Paramount, Universal y Sony, pero fue vendida el año pasado a Blockbuster por menos de USD20 millones. Recientemente Blockbusters apuntó USD2 millones a la Paramount durante el período de la Navidad, para disponer de una ventana de 10 días en la que podía ofrecer Jackass 2.5. Según Alex Carloss, EVP de Digital Media en Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment, “Esta fue una jugada ganadora para ambas compañías. Excedimos nuestras proyecciones de descargas. Jackass 2.5 ocupó el primer lugar en el ranking de descargas de iTunes durante varias semanas. Hemos descubierto que el EST es otra manera de llegar al público joven. Fue excelente con los films de catálogo como Zoolander, School of Rock, Mean Girls and Jackass.” Mientras los Estudios y las cadenas de TV siguen experimentando con el EST, otros continúan ganando subscripciones y modelos de negocios para publicidad. Bob Green, el evp de Starz Entertainment para Advanced Services, cree que “el (Continuación a la pàgina 46) M AY 2 0 0 8 The Snitch Cartel SERIES (40 x 1h) 100% HD & 100% EXTERIORS U.S.A. LISSETE OSORIO 2100 Coral Way # 602 Miami, FL 33145 Tel: +1 (305) 960 2018 [email protected] COLOMBIA PEDRO DÁVILA Cll 103 No. 69b - 43, Bogotá D.C. Tel: +57 (1) 6 430 430 ext. 1319 [email protected] [email protected] / www.caracolinternacional.com Hollywood apunta al EST (Continuación de la pàgina 44) sistema por suscripción seguirá siendo el mecanismo dominante para contenidos de larga duración como las películas. Con el tiempo irá creciendo, pero en este momento EST es solo un punto de luz en la pantalla del radar que influye sobre los dueños de los contenidos.” Dos años atrás, Green supervisó el lanzamiento de Vongo, un servicio por suscripción que envía películas y contenido de videos a la PC y accesorios portátiles. “El mercado ha evolucionado rápidamente. En Evaluando los daños post-huelga (Continuación de la pàgina 43) contrato ofrecido por los estudios. Comenzada a inicios de noviembre, la huelga detuvo casi toda la producción tanto de TV como de films por casi tres meses infligiendo un descalabro financiero a lo largo de toda la industria y a Los Angeles en particular. De todas maneras, a pesar del hecho que la producción ha comenzado su reanudación lenta pero segura, ni los guionistas ni los estudios podrán respirar aliviados hasta que a largo plazo no se perciban las consecuencias de la huelga. Pasadas 15 semanas de huelga, ambas partes estaban deseosas de llegar a un acuerdo. La amenaza combinada de la cancelación de la entrega de los Oscars y la puesta en peligro de la temporada de pilotos del 2008, empujaron a los adversarios a salir del callejón sin salida en el que estaban. Además de que si la huelga se prolongaba hasta junio, cuando el contrato con el Sindicato de Actores finaliza, estaba la amenaza de que este Sindicato que prometió oficialmente sumarse al piquete del conflicto. La mayor parte de las demandas de la SGA se vieron reducidas hasta acelerar el acuerdo. El sindicato renunció a su demanda que los escritores de animaciones y reality TV shows fueran permitidos sumarse al Sindicato y también redujeron sus demandas de pagos por emisiones diferidas por 46 VIDEO • AGE realidad es todo una cuestión de interoperabilidad… proveyendo la simple utilización de un producto invisible de DRM (Digital Rights Management).” Hulu y Joost adoptaron conjuntamente una manera de promocionarse. “No podemos realmente competir con el sistema abierto,” dice Christina Lee, Directora de Corporate Communications del servicio VOD de Hulu. Lanzado en una versión beta privada el último octubre como un proyecto conjunto entre Newscorp y NBC, Hulu ofrece contenido Premium de exitosos TV shows, como también films de Sony y MGM, que incluye la inserción de comerciales. “Estamos tratando de agregar todo el contenido Premium del mundo, haciéndolo fácilmente disponible para el Internet. En el acuerdo final, al Sindicato le fue garantizado un pago fijo de U$D1300 por contenido en Internet y un 2% de las ganancias brutas por distribución en diferido luego de un período de dos años. La SGA también hizo una concesión en su reclamo de incrementar los beneficios de regalías por DVD’s. La producción se reanudó el 15 de febrero, pocos días después de que el contrato fuera ratificado. Nuevos episodios de Sitcoms de fácil realización fueron producidos en cuestión de semanas. NBC Saturday Night Live, que fuera una de las primeros en salir del aire, lideró el regreso de de casi todos el 23 de febrero. Comedias y dramas de una sola cámara tomaron mas tiempo en ser producidos que los de 3 cámaras en estudios y los ejecutivos de las cadenas predijeron que retornarían en abril. En su mayoría, las cadenas se centran en completar la mayor cantidad de “hit series” posibles. Shows que no son considerados un éxito deberán esperar y muchos ni siquiera regresarán hasta el otoño. Si bien los efectos inmediatos retrasos de temporada y cancelacionesse han observado, llevará meses develar los efectos finales de la huelga. El primer síntoma de lo que serán efectos a largo plazo golpearon incluso antes de que la huelga finalice con dramáticos anuncios de los grandes Estudios. Los majors NBC, ABC, y FOX se adelantaron a mitad de enero para anunciar recortes extremos en la cantidad de pilotos que producirán para la temporada de otoño. La semana siguiente en NATPE, Jeff Zucker, Presidente y CEO de NBC Universal, explicó en su discurso que, a pesar de la perdida de ingresos, su compañía veía la huelga con una actitud positiva y sugirió que la misma pudo usuario,” Hulu puede ser visto por medio de socios tales como MSN, MySpace, AOL, Yahoo, Comcast Fancast, así también el servicio de uso individual como los blogs. “La televisión tradicional ha demostrado que la gente está interesada en ver los anuncios publicitarios en un contenido Premium. Tenemos nuestro propio equipo de ventas de publicidad que trabaja con anunciantes y reciben las respuestas de los consumidores. Esto es mas Sillicon Valley que Hollywood,” dijo Lee, marcando que el CEO de Hulu, Jason Kilar, provino de Amazon. Puede que sea cierto que en el tema del EST, “nadie sepa nada.” Lo que es claro, es que el consumidor contribuirá en las discusiones de cuál será el nuevo modelo de negocios. haber servido para “limpiar los cimientos y robustecer el crecimiento.” Zucker pasó a demarcar que con su grilla limpia (de programas) NBC planea reestructurar su estrategia de desarrollo de nuevas series. Con el nuevo sistema, NBC aspira a reducir la pérdida de millones de dólares. En el pasado su cadena vertía dinero en casi 80 pilotos, con solo un 10% llegando al aire. De ese 10% solo uno o dos podían ser considerados un “hit”. Al comienzo del otoño, NBC va a producir solo unos pocos pilotos, el resto del line up serán programas en vivo. “Esto no tiene que ver con hacer menos programas,” dijo Zucker, “Esto tiene que ver con hacer menos derroche.” Los guionistas pueden ver en este cambio una cachetada en sus rostros luego de la dura batalla contractual que pelearon, las cadenas garantizan que el cambio es puramente una decisión financiera. Sin embargo, a pesar del dinero que posiblemente ahorren las cadenas, el nuevo sistema de pilotos causará bajas en los escritores. Muchos de ellos son escépticos con respecto al plan de NBC, aduciendo que las cadenas de TV se están pegando un tiro en el pié al eliminar la investigación y el desarrollo y están seguros que el viejo sistema regresará en corto tiempo. Pero si el nuevo sistema se afirma, reduciendo la producción de pilotos en un 90% o más como fue propuesto, esto reducirá también el número de guionistas que tendrán la posibilidad de ver sus show realizados. Luego del tembloroso comienzo del 2008, con la que parecía ser una huelga interminable y poniendo en peligro sus contratos, los escritores deben prepararse para otro posible golpe. Las producciones también han sido aceleradas como precaución a una posible huelga de actores. Esta situación Curt Marvis de Cinema Now ha creado más dificultades laborales que exacerban todavía más aún el desarrollo de la nueva temporada. Hacia fines de febrero, NBC anunció otro cambio en su forma de proceder, esta vez relacionada en la manera en que presenta su contenido a los anunciantes. En vez de la tradicional presentación anticipada (upfront), NBC realizará un evento en el que presentará su completo line-up de 52 semanas. El objetivo del nuevo sistema es el de dar una imagen completa de la estrategia de programación de NBC, y de sacar parte de la presión que tiene el prime time como principal atractivo para los anunciantes. Marion Edwards, Presidenta de International Television para 20th Century Fox Distribution, acuerda que si bien “será bueno ver cómo no se escriben pilotos por 50, 60 o 70 mil dólares,” la nueva estrategia de NBC está lejos de ser adoptada por todos. Edwards sugiere que el futuro de la industria es, por el momento, totalmente impredecible y, en lo que se refiere a estrategias de desarrollo, habrá mucho de prueba y error hasta dar con la estrategia correcta. “Estamos como en el Lejano Oeste en este instante,” señaló Edwards, es prematuro poder decir que funcionará y que no.” Mientras que un sistema a prueba de fallas tomará su tiempo, los ejecutivos de los Estudios concuerdan en un punto: el sistema de pilotos de los años recientes no es más viable. “Todos nos beneficiaremos de un modelo de negocios mas eficiente,” dijo Edwards. Sin embargo, agregó cautelosa, que ordenar siete episodios para una temporada y verlo fracasar no es sustancialmente diferente al antiguo sistema de pilotos. En cambio, Edwards sugirió que la Internet puede ser un lugar perfecto para “incubar” nuevos (Continuación a la pàgina 48) M AY 2 0 0 8 Dólares de los L.A. Screenings (Continuación de la pàgina 43) los L.A. Screenings y culmina con MIPTV. Naturalmente, los Estudios no hubieran tomado esa decisión unilateralmente, dado que las fechas en Mayo de los L.A. Screnings están ligadas a las nuevas presentaciones que hacen las cadenas de TV en Nueva York. Una vez llegado al acuerdo con los guionistas, las cadenas de TV programaron sus presentaciones para agencias de publicidad y clientes y los Estudios los siguieron con los L.A. Screenings. A pesar de que las cadenas consideraban descartar las presentaciones, aún contaban con el implícito beneficio de la buena publicidad que recibía la nueva grilla de programación. Un zumbido positivo trasladado a más CPM (valor de los anuncios). Finalmente, para las fechas del calendario de ambos eventos, las presentaciones en Nueva York y los L.A. Screenings, la huelga de los guionistas tuvo cero efecto. Lo que sí se vio afectado por la huelga es la cantidad de programas piloto que los compradores internacionales podrán ver en Los Angeles del 15 al 23 de Mayo. Pero sobre este tema regresaremos luego. Algo que no fue tomado en cuenta, entre las varios escenarios barajados de tipo ‘día del juicio final’, es qué habría perdido Los Angeles si los L.A. Screenings hubieran sido cancelados. Para los Estudios, la distribución internacional de TV es un negocio anual. Sin embargo, muchos convenios se cierran durante los L.A. Screenings. Se estima que en condiciones normales, para los Estudios los L.A. Screenings pueden llegar a representar el 60% de sus ingresos, aún teniendo en cuenta que algunos acuerdos pueden tomar varias semanas o meses hasta ser cerrados. Pero en esta gran vasija de oro, hay muchas mas pepitas para tomar, tales como el valor para la prensa, asesores, coordinadores y para la ciudad en sí misma. Relativo a este último punto, de acuerdo a la estimación de VideoAge, los nueve días del evento aportan al menos USD7 millones a la economía local. Este número fue obtenido teniendo en cuenta el pico de participación de 2000 personas, multiplicado por la permanencia de cada delegado (cinco días), multiplicado por el promedio de gasto diario por delegado (USD350, que incluyen alojamiento, transporte, comida, shopping, etc.) y esto multiplicando ese valor por el factor 1.64, lo que da un total cercano a USD5.74 millones. El factor multiplicador depende del perfil del evento y puede variar de 1.5 a 1.64. 48 VIDEO • AGE La fórmula fue desarrollada por la empresa Destination Marketing Association International (anteriormente conocida como International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus) ubicada en Washington D. C., tal cual como fue informada en la publicación Meetings & Conventions. De todas maneras, esas cifras no incluyen los gastos de los Estudios, de las fiestas de algunos distribuidores independientes, regalos, material promocional y similar y los informes que encargan los compradores a asesores locales. Todo eso habría llevado la cifra a mas de USD7 millones. ¡Nada mal para un mercado que ni siquiera ha sido organizado! En los L.A. Screenings, el tiempo de permanencia por delegado es mucho más extenso que el promedio usual (que, de acuerdo a un estudio, es de 3.5 días por mercado) debido a la naturaleza del evento, que exige proyecciones diarias seguidas de negociaciones y fiestas de fin del día. La parte de los L.A. Screenings que más dinero aporta a la ecuación de la economía local es la creación de pilotos para la nueva temporada americana. De acuerdo al altamente publicitado comentario realizado por el CEO de NBC-Universal, Jeff Zucker, el broaadcaster americano puede ahorrar hasta USD50 millones si redujera su dependencia de costosos pilotos. Esto se traslada a un ahorro acumulado para las grandes cadenas de TV cercanos a los USD200 millones por año. Aún cuando no sea claro cuánto de este ahorro afectaría la economía local de Los Angeles, el impacto es de todas maneras substancial. Zucker dijo que actualmente, cada piloto cuesta hasta USD7 millones (habiendo subido de USD3 millones en 2005) y algunos no llegan nunca al aire. El último enero, ABC abandonó cerca de 40 guiones, dejando caer la mayoría de los proyectos para cualquier cadena americana. Con 29 pilotos el año pasado, ABC financió la mayor cantidad de pilotos, seguida por FOX (25), CBS (21), NBC (20) y CW (12). De estos 107 pilotos, las cadenas tomaron 66: un porcentaje del 61%. Este año, con conversaciones que hablan de acotar el número de pilotos a la mitad, se podrían estar viendo 50 pilotos, pero con un porcentaje mayor de aceptación. En años recientes, para ahorrar dinero, muchas cadenas, en lugar de pilotos comenzaron a usar la estrategia de un sistema de SerieDirecta o requiriendo la presentación de los pilotos en video (que son menos pulidos, mas cortos y menos costosos que los pilotos regulares) Según se informa, Moonlight de CBS, que fue estrenado la temporada pasada, fue comandado como una presentación. De la misma manera, la serie de larga data, Judging Amy, fue también el resultado de una presentación. De todas maneras, por extraño que parezca, ya que las cadenas poseen sus propios estudios, estos prefieren hacer pilotos en lugar que presentaciones, ya que reciben un pago más elevado. Otra solución posible para ahorrar dinero para las cadenas y los estudios es seguir la estrategia de MGM de producir pilotos encubiertos (backdoor pilots), que son películas con el potencial de devenir en series de TV. Así es, que en febrero último, NBC sacó al aire Knight Rider como una película de TV de dos horas de duración que podría servir de piloto. Mientras los L.A. Screenings van cobrando forma, uno podría esperar que debido a la escasez de desarrollo, muchos de los shows de la actual temporada sean repetidos este otoño. Además, como muchos nuevos shows van a ser producidos con tiempos acotados (por ejemplo: cuando hay menos tiempo para una orden de trabajo, cast, filmación de pilotos o presentaciones) los estudios puede que no tengan material de esas series para los compradores internacionales. Sin embargo, si los broadcasters reducen el número de nuevas series, siempre están las cadenas de Cable, que acelerarán las presentaciones de sus temporadas iniciando sus encuentros con agencias de publicidad al comienzo de febrero. Incluso cuando los estudios están contentos cuando las cadenas ordenan realizar pilotos, mucho mas apreciados son las órdenes para producir episodios. Pero, debido a todas las medidas de recortes en los costos implementadas por las cadenas americanas, los estudios están reacios a aceptar series de seis episodios, pujando en cambio para que sean al menos 13 en la orden inicial, que son también bien apreciados a nivel internacional. Para poder navegar por la maraña de la nueva terminología de los estudios/networks de TV, Gary Marenzi, co-presidente de MGM TV Distribution, se ofreció a explicar como tradicionalmente las networks realizaban sus pedidos: Orden de Script: El script de un piloto más una “Biblia” con las sinopsis de varios episodios. Usualmente la cadena paga el 100%. Orden de Piloto: Un video del piloto o una presentación extendida para decidir si el concepto del script funciona. La cadena televisiva usualmente paga un costo acordado de antemano por esta tarea. Orden de Series: Si a la cadena le agrada el piloto, ordenará la serie (usualmente de seis a trece episodios) y la pondrá en su grilla. Esos son los shows que serán presentados en los L.A. Screenings. Pickup: Esto significa que la cadena extiende la orden inicial de producir 22 episodios de la primera temporada (lo usual). Si la orden inicial fue de 13 episodios esto también se denomina “Pickup de nueve” (13+9=22). Renovación: Esto significa ordenar una segunda temporada de un show (pasados los 22 episodios originales o cuantos haya tenido) En términos de tiempos de producción, la temporada de pilotos comienza en febrero y concluye cerca del 15 de abril. La temporada de episodios, por otro lado, comienza después del 4 de julio, toma ímpetu en la mitad de agosto, y va hasta las fiestas terminado en Navidad. Hay algunos episodios que se emiten todo el año, especialmente en el Cable. Evaluando los daños post-huelga (Continuación de la pàgina 44) materiales, tal como lo está haciendo la 20th Century Fox con sus serie Iris Expanding en la Web. De manera similar como lo reportara VideoAge en su nota de tapa, Patric M. Verrone, presidente de la SGA Oeste, comentó que el legado de la huelga será que los guionistas verán incrementada su competencia con la distribución tipo doit-yourself en la Internet. Durante el transcurso de la huelga, escritores desempleados utilizaron la Internet para presentar sus desalentadoras aptitudes. Parodias y videos ácidos sobre la huelga escritos por huelguistas aparecieron por toda la Internet. En su discurso en NATPE, Jeff Zucker expresó que las cadenas de TV deben aprender la manera de incorporar de una forma mejor la Internet y la tecnología móvil en sus planes de negocios. Quizás esta es su oportunidad. Puntos centrales del contrato de 3 años con los guionistas: En su lista inicial de demandas, la SGA deseaba ganar la jurisdicción sobre los escritores de animaciones y realty TV shows. Pero finalmente debieron retirar esta demanda de las negociaciones. La SGA se concentrará en organizar estas áreas fuera del contrato. Los guionistas pedían un incremento en las regalías por DVD’s que les paga aproximadamente un 4% por venta. No podrán incrementar ese porcentaje sobre los DVD’s en este contrato. Los escritores inicialmente solicitaban regalías de un 2.5% de paga por emisiones en Internet y aceptaron cambiar esto por una fórmula fija a pedido de los conglomerados de medios. En el nuevo contrato, los guionistas recibirán una paga fija durante los dos primeros años (para un programa de una hora la paga será de USD654 en el primer año y de USD677 en el segundo año) En el tercer año del contrato, recibirán el 2% de las ganancias brutas El contrato reconoce a la SGA la representatividad exclusiva para negociar la escritura de guiones para los nuevos sistemas de Medios. También establece pagos mínimos para quienes escriban en nuevos Medios. El contrato permite aumentos salariales anuales de 3% a 3.5% a la mayoría de los autores. M AY 2 0 0 8 worse, “95 percent of the time they want you to pay for the dubbing,” said Michael Polin. Added Maggie Zhou of Shanghai Media Group: “most deals are fee-paying in the form of a one-time payment. There can be a minimum guarantee or revenue share but barter is seldom used unless the sponsor requires it.” Given these unfavorable economics, most major production companies tend to forego the Chinese market. China’s Foreign TV (Continued from Cover) cultural and regulatory challenges, precious little programming from “Hollywood” and other nations finds its way to the 370 million TV households in the Middle Kingdom (as China is sometimes called). Understanding those challenges, and applying a hybrid model toward monetization, can help foreign content owners build long-term profitability in China. The television industry in China is booming. According to Beijing-based research firm China Media Monitor Intelligence (CMM-I), an independent business-to-business intelligence resource for Chinese media, viewers watch 135 minutes of the boob tube on workdays and 175.7 minutes on days off. Revenue is also soaring. The Annual Media & Entertainment Report from PriceWaterhouse Coopers noted faster annual growth in China (15.7 percent) than any other territory in Asia. That represents $5.1 billion and a forecasted annual growth rate of 13.4 percent through 2011. Chinese audiences crave sappy dramas. According to Beijing-based CVSC-SOFRES Media, an audience measurement company, dramas accounted for 24.1 percent of the content broadcast on all TV channels last year and 33.9 percent of audience ratings. This mirrors the results for 2006, with 22.9 percent of the content and 32.3 percent of the audience devoted to dramas. Of course, there are differences for age and gender. While female audiences prefer entertainment and drama programs, the guys prefer military, news and financial programs. CCTV is the only network with a national footprint (Shanghai Media Group is the second-largest media group), and has 15 distinct national SpongeBob SquarePants: Banned in primetime 50 VIDEO • AGE Equally important are the cultural preferences of the Chinese audience. Beginning in 1999 with dramas like Jewel in the Palace and Winter Sonata, Korean dramas connected with Chinese viewers. These shows had less character development and more sentimentality than American serials like Desperate Housewives. The stars of Desperate Housewives channels. Unfortunately for foreign content owners, CCTV is particularly conservative. “The one thing the government doesn’t want is for people to be ‘Americanized.’ The government prefers non-offensive content, like Discovery and National Geographic,” said Michael Polin, a Chinese media consultant and author of the DVD-series Teach Me China. Most of the remaining 3,000 local TV stations have a limited reach and extremely limited acquisition budgets. One exception is the Shanghai Media Group, which acquired a number of stations in the affluent Shanghai region. The satellite channels with the largest reach in China are depicted in the chart on page 54. closures with a rigid new set of restrictions on TV talent shows. For example, no reality shows between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., no voting via mobile phone or the Internet, competitions cannot run for more than two months, and each episode must finish within 90 minutes. In 2008, the central government gave the green light to several new talent shows: Jiangsu TV’s Absolute Singers, Beijing TV’s The Disciple and Zhejiang Satellite TV’s competition to select the cast for the TV remake of the classic Journey to the West. One potentially profitable approach for foreign rights holders is licensing formats for local productions. Hunan However, before scheduling sales meetings at Beijing’s Great Wall Sheraton hotel, it is important to know that all content and programming in the Middle Kingdom is regulated by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). These bureaucrats are so tough they even went after animated SpongeBob SquarePants. China Entertainment TV’s Anthony Tse Rather than showing one episode per week, Desperate Housewives aired four episodes per day for six consecutive days. Polin, the Chinese media consultant, who has been doing business in China for over 20 years, recommends comedy. “I Love Lucy is great. The Chinese love Seinfeld but it isn’t what you think…they are actually laughing at Kramer’s physical comedy.” Beginning this May 1, all foreign cartoons were banned from the 5-9 p.m. slot. SARFT Director Wang Taihua promised to “provide a favorable environment for the innovation of China’s cartoon industry,” by increasing the daily broadcast ratio to 7:3 for Chinese-made cartoons and foreign product. Since local stations are limited in the amount of foreign programming they can show, there has been an increase in locally produced, original content. The most popular weekly show in Chinese television history was SuperGirl, a localized version of Pop Idol produced by Hunan Satellite TV. The finale of the 2005 season attained an audience of 400 million viewers. Two weeks later, SARFT banned the show. Granada’s James Ross Several popular shows, including Chongqing TV’s First Heart-Throb, Guangdong TV’s Date with Beauty and Shenzhen TV’s Super Date were removed by the authorities. SARFT followed these Selling original content directly to local TV stations is much less lucrative than other foreign markets with fees from the local stations around 10 percent of international prices. Even TV scored big ratings in January with a local version of Granada’s Saturday Night Take-Away, renamed Happy 2008. James Ross, regional director at Granada International, cited “making local versions of our entertainment shows as part of our strategy to develop our presence in China.” I Love Lucy and Seinfeld are examples of a branding platform upon which to monetize video assets in China. Because acquisition budgets are 90 percent lower than international rates, it may actually be a better long-term strategy to give the content away for free to local TV stations and make the money on the back-end. That includes merchandising, mobile, retail, etc. According to Polin “Once they know the brand, you can convert money from short, funny clips. There are 650 million cell phone users growing at 50 million per year. If I have a partner that can reach that audience, how much do I have to charge for a download? A nickel or a dime is enough. I just give them 500 clips, ask them to post on their site and then promote virally.” Monetizing on the back-end is risky, but ultimately China is a volume story. Practically speaking, “you cannot shop around a show to 3,000 different (Continued on Page 54) M AY 2 0 0 8 Introducing… Digital Delivery of VideoAge VideoAge now offers you the opportunity to receive and read each issue right on your computer. The digital edition has the same look and feel of the printed one. For our print advertisers, the electronic version offers added visibility. After each Issue has been received by our subscribers via snail mail, an alert signaling that VideoAge's electronic edition is online, will be e-mailed to VideoAge's 7,000 addresses that currently receive our online VIDEONEWSletter and our daily e-Beat reports. To be added to our mailing list, simply send your e-mail to: [email protected] or log on to www.VideoAge.org and click on “Current Issue.” • Instant viewing and easy reading • Select only the page(s) you want • Quick downloading for off-line reading • Pages can be enlarged on the screen and/or printed • No software needed • Hotlinks to advertiser sites • All print ads receive added visibility Latin America’s Top Guns (Continued from Cover) Flavio Medeiros of Granada together broadcasters and producers from more than 30 countries to network, share experiences and find product. The event began simply enough as a conference for the local television industry. But two years ago, organizers expanded it into an international market. “There are many changes this year,” said Forum Brasil’s André Mermelstein. First, the Forum is moving to a different floor at the Frei Caneca Convention Center, which will double last year’s exhibition space. Second, the Forum will, for the first time, offer a lounge where TV executives can have meetings and stop for coffee. And third, this year’s Forum will also present the Portuguese-Speaking Broadcasters Meeting. Broadcasters hailing from Portuguese-speaking territories around the world will gather on June 6 (the day after the Forum ends) to discuss technological innovations and coproduction opportunities. should also be in attendance in droves since there are currently a number of Brazil-Canada co-productions in the works. But, being that it is still mainly a Brazil-centric market, TV Globo, which is also an associated partner of the event, will be there in full force. “This year, we are going to present our main products to the international market, as well as our new visual identity,” said a Globo rep. “As in previous editions of Brasil TV Forum, our executives will participate in lectures and roundtables, debating subjects related to the production and distribution of content. As the biggest broadcaster in Brazil, TV Globo is always aiming to be present at events such as these, specifically ones where the production and distribution of content is to be discussed.” U.K.-based Granada International will also be present at the Forum. “We go there to meet local clients so we can better understand local trends and market changes,” said Flavio Medeiros, senior sales executive for Granada. “It’s a well-attended event and Granada would like to foster local relationships to acquire and co-produce local content.” Granada will not, however, have a stand, because, as Medeiros pointed out, “it’s not a distribution event per se.” As for why it’s important for Granada to be there, Medeiros pointed to the fact that Brazil is “the biggest market in Latin America, with a strong and fast-growing media sector. Any major company should have a strong presence” at the Forum. But he did suggest a few things that could be done to improve the event. Mermelstein expects roughly 1,500 people to attend the Forum this year. “Last year we had about 900 people,” he said. “But we’re growing. It takes a while for word of mouth to spread.” A majority of attendees will still be Brazilian, but Mermelstein said the event should also draw execs from other Latin American countries, the U.S., and Europe, specifically from regions like Portugal, Spain and France. Canadians 52 VIDEO • AGE This year’s ninth edition promises improvements, and, next year, there’s an even more drastic plan to move the event from its traditional São Paulo location to Rio de Janeiro. give tax credits for co-productions. Forum Brasil will also offer attendees the opportunity to pitch a project to the Discovery Channel, with a U.S.$20,000 prize for the best documentary. Screenings of programs and pilots throughout the market will be relatively easy, due to a fully automated system that should help even the least tech-savvy of industry execs. “ Minutes With…” sessions have included HBO, Canal Futura, National Geographic, Discovery, Canal + and Channel 4. “This meeting is especially interesting because Portuguese is not spoken in all that many territories,” said Mermelstein. “So it’s a great opportunity for producers to do business with these countries.” In addition, the Forum is putting in its best efforts to lure buyers by paying for their flights and hotel accommodations. Forum Brasil 2007 Forum Brasil’s André Mermelstein “Make it more international,” he said. “And keep the guest speakers and the focus on production.” In addition to the new additions, the market will feature “30 Minutes With…” sessions in which directors from around the globe can discuss their programming and acquisition policies, as well as offer tips for producers and distributors on how best to pitch projects to acquisition execs. Participants in previous editions of the Forum’s “30 The event will also play host to approximately 15 seminars designed to foster the knowledge bases of those in the television industry. Topics include the international market for Latin American productions, the challenges of international co-productions, mechanisms for financing production and these methods’ impact on local and international markets, the changing face of TV as telecom operators enter the video services arena, programming trends (the rise of formats and documentaries), and the advance of new distribution platforms such as IPTV, Web TV and mobile phones. “It’s a good moment for the Brazilian economy, and therefore, a good time for local production,” said Mermelstein. He went on to say that Brazilian government funds established for TV production should soon inject a lot of money into the arena. “Local productions are definitely going to boom,” he said. “These funds can be used to make TV series, animated programming or co-productions.” Another bill in Brazil’s Congress would “For producers, the Forum is a great opportunity to be part of a growing market,” said Mermelstein. “Brazil was never very open to the international market, but now, that’s changing. Globo is entering the documentary world. And many companies are selling formats and scripts rather than telenovelas that have already been produced. And for broadcasters, the event, obviously, offers them the opportunity to sell their content. And if they’re looking for original programming outside of major U.S. studios, the Forum is a great place to search for new content.” Mermelstein went on to say that industry insiders looking to break into the Brazilian market should come on down. “The Forum is not like NATPE or MIPCOM, where you know what you’re getting,” he said. “It’s something new.” Next year, the event will move to Rio, which, Mermelstein said, “should make it more attractive for visitors.” LHR Forum Brasil 2007 M AY 2 0 0 8 Foreign Series (Continued from Cover) question still unanswered is therefore: Will this unusual pilot season become usual or will this year be forever viewed as an unfortunate anomaly? In addition to the vastly divergent pilot process, it seems that Hollywood studios are, more forcefully than ever, reworking series that have already worked for international broadcasters. In fact, shows based on foreign programming were all over the truncated 2008-2009 pilot list, showing once again that it doesn’t take a “Made in the USA” tag to guarantee small screen success. We’ve come a long way from the 2003 season in which NBC’s Americanized version of British hit Coupling tanked quicker than anyone could say: “I told you so.” In recent years, the success of shows based on international series — such as NBC’s The Office, which borrowed whole scripts from its U.K. predecessor and ABC’s Ugly Betty, which was modeled on Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty, La Fea — have been an indication to programmers that mining foreign depths is the new not-so-secret secret to primetime success. This year, quite a few pilots were loosely or wholly adapted from shows around the globe. ABC drama Life on Mars, about a cop who wakes up 30 years in the past, is super-producer David E. Kelley’s adaptation of a BBC series. An as yet untitled ABC drama from Veronica Mars showrunner Rob Thomas tells the tale of a matriarch of a family of criminals who decides it’s time for her brood to go straight is based on a New Zealand format called Outrageous Fortune. CBS comedy Worst Week is a U.S. version of BBC series The Worst Week of My Life, which chronicled the lives of a young couple who must survive their soon-to-be in-laws, while drama The Eleventh Hour, which focuses on a government agent who protects people from scientific abuses, is also based on a British show. Another CBS drama, Mythological X, is a new take on an Israeli series, and tells the tale of a woman who is told by her psychic that she has already dated the man she is destined to marry. Fox laffer Outnumbered, about a family struggling to raise three overly intelligent and highly rambunctious kids, is also based on a U.K. format. Keith LeGoy, executive vice president, Distribution, Sony Pictures Television International, believes that due to the fact that many U.S. broadcasters simply didn’t have the usual amount of time to cast or produce their pilots, that there will be a second wave of new series for midseason, which will probably hit in September or October. “That will provide a fresh opportunity for everyone to take a look at 54 VIDEO • AGE Keith LeGoy, evp, Distribution, Sony Pictures Television International Marion Edwards, president, International Television, Twentieth Century Fox even more new U.S. series,” said LeGoy. Marion Edwards, president, International Television at Twentieth Century Fox, concurred with LeGoy. “It seems like we’re having two development seasons this year,” she said. “A number of pilots were shot prior to the strike. But for a lot of the pilots [that were picked up post-strike], there’s no real time to cast and shoot them in a typical time frame. I foresee more midseason shows.” But for now, everyone’s focused on the regular-season shows. In addition to overseas series gaining traction on U.S. soil, another big trend is taking what’s worked in the past and trying to make it work now. In February, NBC aired Knight Rider, a two-hour modern take on the original series about a talking car and the man who drives it. The backdoor pilot has already been picked up as a series, and many insiders speculated that this was what NBC Universal president Jeff Zucker meant when he told audiences at NATPE that instead of pouring the studio’s resources into 80 or so pilots, as it typically does, that it would change up the pilot process. Knight Rider, which garnered decent ratings for the peacock net, might simply have been a one-off movie-of-theweek that did well with viewers. At NATPE, Zucker also told eager listeners that his station planned on ordering a number of series straight to air. He’s kept his promise, picking up Kath and Kim, a comedy about a divorced mother and her self-absorbed daughter, as well as dramas Crusoe, The Listener and The Philanthropist, without ever seeing a pilot for any of them. In April, NBC held a mini upfront event for advertisers in which the network revealed its a complete 52-week programming strategy — a full month before the studios’ usual upfronts. Other blasts from the past trying to make their way into the future include ABC’s Cupid, a revamped version of a short-lived 1998 series about a man who thinks he’s been sent by Zeus to unite 100 romantically challenged couples, and an untitled reality competition series based on Disney juggernaut High School Musical in which contestants live together at a music conservatory and are eliminated one by one until one is eventually crowned America’s best performer. Based on the runaway success of its flagship show, Gossip Girl, about the lives and times of spoiled rich girls on New York’s Upper East Side, comes the CW’s newest potential hit, How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls. Based on the book of the same name by Zoey Dean, the show follows a Yale graduate who is hired by a wealthy man to be a live-in tutor and life coach for his granddaughters. And based on Daniel Defoe’s masterpiece “Robinson Crusoe” comes NBC’s Crusoe. The 13part series from the U.K.’s Power is an ambitious update of the classic novel. “This deal is the first for nearly 40 years where a leading British producer has received an order directly from a U.S. network,” said Justin Bodle, founder and CEO of Power, in a statement. Also in fashion this year are science fiction series. From the mind of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator and cult hero Joss Whedon comes Fox’s Dollhouse, a heavyon-action series about a female spy who is stripped of her memories after completing missions. Another show on tap for Fox is Fringe, a sci-fi series about an FBI agent, an institutionalized scientist and a certified genius who team up to identify paranormal activity, and The Oaks, a drama that follows one house and the families that live in it through several decades. NBC’s The Listener tells the tale of a man who struggles to lead an ordinary life while using his extraordinary powers of telepathy to help others. CBS pilot The Mentalist focuses on a mentalist who uses his abilities to solve crimes. And ABC’s Section 8 is a sci-fi drama from XMen writer Zak Penn. Other common themes include the always in-vogue police, lawyer and doctor shows. ABC is offering an as yet untitled show from Dave Hemingson about a law school graduate with a Rank 1 2 3 4 5 Channel middle-class background who goes to work for a boutique firm in Los Angeles; Castle, a drama about a horror novelist working for the New York Police Department homicide unit; and The Unusuals, about a New York police precinct. CBS has Can Openers, about female physicians fighting to survive the doctors’ boys club and Exit 19, a pilot presentation about a quirky homicide detective balancing her job and her single mom status. The CW has Austin Golden Hour, about a group of young emergency room surgeons and EMTs and Wrecking Ball, about a young attorney and scion of a famous political dynasty who joins forces with a newly graduated law student to start a law firm. Fox has another law show, Courtroom K, a dark drama about a judge, a public defender and a prosecutor in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin courtroom. There may be fewer pilots to choose from this year. But until the upfronts, there’s no way to know for sure which of these shows will see the light of day and which will end up in the scrap heap. Yet it seems clear that despite reports to the contrary, pilot season is alive and kicking in Los Angeles. China’s Foreign TV (Continued from Page 50) stations,” said Lilly Zhou, president of Content Asia Network. “You need local partners with expertise and “guanxi” (or relationships). One person with oodles of guanxi is Anthony Tse, president of China Entertainment Television, which is part of Hong Kong billionaire Li KaShing’s Tom Group. Anthony spoke on a panel at the NATPE conference last January and commented on how foreign rights holders can monetize in China. “Initially, you will earn less on a per deal basis in China than in the United States. But there are many, many stations and most do not require exclusivity. Choose the right local partners and eventually your brand will grow.” If you lose heart, take comfort in the old Confucian proverb, “With time and patience, the mulberry leaf becomes satin.” Reach-Persons (Millions) Shandong Satellite TV 826.1 Zhejiang Satellite TV 798.3 Anhui Satellite TV 769.9 Hunan Satellite TV 755.3 Sichuan Satellite TV 732.1 Reach-Households (Millions) 241.0 232.9 224.6 220.3 213.5 Reach % 65.2 63.0 60.7 59.6 57.7 M AY 2 0 0 8 Challenges As Opportunities (Continued from Cover) The city of Los Angeles lost an estimated $2.2 billion over the course of the 14-week industry-wide shutdown. After the walkout, it took months to get scripted programming back up and running. Los Angeles-based industry veteran Irv Holender, who recently took the helm at Toronto-based Fremantle Corp., provided an overview of the strike’s effects. Overall, he said, “no one was immune to the shutdown because companies lost the momentum and continuity they were building when shows were put on hiatus.” But in contrast to the millions lost by the networks during the three-month hiatus, the cost to independent companies was far less drastic. Still, Holender explained, indie-wise, the consequences of the strike varied from company to company. How a production company fared in the drought depended on product inventory, he said. “If you had plenty of product in the pipeline, you didn’t suffer.” He also pointed out that U.S.-based independent distributors with off-network products were in a good position to sell, as the stations were looking to fill holes in their schedules. Herb Lazarus, president of CarseyWerner International, cited the nature of his company as the reason it avoided catastrophe. Carsey-Werner’s properties are all syndicated shows, mostly classic sitcoms, and thus the firm requires no new content. “If you weren’t producing any programming, there was no effect,” he said. “The library that we deal with just keeps turning over and over whether there is a strike or not.” Lazarus also pointed out that the fact that some series did not return to the airwaves after the strike was a plus for small distributors. The shows that perished left gaps to be filled by syndicated shows or international content. A non-American TV executive who wished to remain nameless concurred that non-U.S. companies also profited from the strike. He suggested that the dearth of content from the U.S. gave foreign production houses the opportunity to step in and serve local audiences. “Some of the locallyproduced shows took off,” said the source, “And [TV] stations realized that they don’t have to spend so much money on American content when what they make domestically is just as popular.” Some companies, like Toronto-based Cookie Jar Entertainment –– which employs predominantly Canadian writers who report to their own national union, the Writers Guild of Canada –– were able to avoid the WGA blackout. “We definitely hire some American writers and we had some live-action series that were put on hold during the strike,” said Ann Austin, head of Development for Cookie Jar. But because it had a lot of product in the can, Cookie Jar “wasn’t in a place where the three-month delay affected it drastically.” Additionally, because Cookie Jar’s programming is comprised mostly of animation, it was more or less business as usual. Greg Phillips, president of Londonbased Fireworks International, pointed out that the industry is already bouncing back, and that, thankfully, “the strike did not go on long enough to have any major negative effects on the way business is conducted.” On the up side, he said, “it highlighted for the buyers an opportunity to give more serious consideration to non-U.S. network and non-U.S. major product.” Phillips summed up the consequences as “a qualified positive,” because although the industry as a whole suffered, it allowed high-quality content from indies and foreign producers to get some much-deserved attention. Additionally, Phillips called attention to the fact that everyone knew the strike was coming and no one was blindsided by it. The shrewd foreign company, he said, took advantage of this knowledge and prepared accordingly by “setting the bar higher, carefully examining what the U.S. market needed and engaging itself fully with what the market required.” Dan Waite, vp, International Sales for Burbank, California-based DIC, said his company also experienced minimal strike fallout. “We’ve been moving on as we normally do,” he said. Waite went on to explain that since DIC is a children’s animation studio, and animation writers are not covered by the WGA, it was able to continue work without interruption. Plus, he added, “we have our scripts done well ahead of time.” Waite also added that, although his company emerged from the strike unharmed, the walkout had no positive effects whatsoever outside of the writers getting an agreeable contract. “I don’t think there have been any positives for anybody,” he said. “Any pluses pale in comparison to the amount of suffering everyone in L.A. underwent.” Indeed, the industry was greatly harmed by the three-month stoppage. It was reported that $10 million were lost due to the cancellation of the Golden Globes alone. And that was only one night. However, for some indies, there was an undeniable silver lining. From the beginning of the strike, it has been the norm that many TV executives, wishing to steer clear of the sensitive issue, have kept mum about the strike, and a number of companies contacted by VideoAge refused to comment, for fear of stepping on writers’ or studios’ toes. However, no matter how diplomatic the indies are being, studio paralysis during the strike created opportunities for the little guy. At this year’s L.A. Screenings, with studio content occupying only two or three hours of the buyers’ time, rather than whole days, perhaps the indies will get one last chance to take advantage of the strike. M AY 2 0 0 8 Drive your content business forward MIPCOM - The world’s audiovisual content market 13 - 17 October 2008 Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France www.mipcom.com MONTE CARLO TV FESTIVAL Conferences & Events News OPEN SKIES & CLOSED WALLETS With the new Open Skies policy between the U.S. and E.U., the airline industry is hoping that people will open up their wallets and start flying more. Open Skies allows European carriers to fly passengers to any U.S. city and vice versa. Prior to March, when the agreement came into effect, carriers had to stop in their home countries before dropping passengers in other locales. Open Skies will increase competition and reduce costs, which will make more passengers willing to travel. Wallets, however, will remain closed if airlines continue to offer high-chair sized seats to adult passengers. JUNE 8-12 Monte Carlo, Monaco T E L : (377) 9310 4060 FA X : (377) 9350 7014 www.tvfestival.com VideoAge bonus distribution CANNES FILM FESTIVAL FORUM BRAZIL MAY 14-25 JUNE 3-5 Cannes, France T E L : (33 1) 5359 6100 FA X : (33 1) 5359 6110 www.festival-cannes.fr São Paulo, Brazil T E L : (55 11) 3138 4648 FA X : (55 11) 3257 5910 www.forumbrasiltv.com VideoAge bonus distribution NCTA CABLE SHOW BANFF WORLD TV FESTIVAL MAY 18-20 New Orleans, U.S. T E L : (202) 222-2430 FA X : (202) 222-2431 www.thecableshow.com LICENSING INT’L EXPO JUNE 10-12 New York City, U.S. T E L : (212) 532-1660 FA X : (212) 951-6749 www.licensingexpo.com VideoAge bonus distribution JUNE 8-11 Banff, Canada T E L : (403) 678-1216 FA X : (403) 678-3357 www.banff2008.com PROMAX JUNE 17-19 New York City, U.S. T E L : (310) 789-1509 FA X : (310) 788-7616 www.promax.tv VideoAge bonus distribution DISCOP JUNE 18-20 Budapest, Hungary T E L : (33 1) 4229 3224 FA X : (33 1) 4229 3474 www.discop.com VideoAge bonus distribution SUNNY SIDE OF THE DOC JUNE 24-27 SOULS ON THE RUN (TV MOVIE) 156’ La Rochelle, France T E L : (33 1) 7735 5300 FA X : (33 1) 7238 9858 www.sunnysideofthedoc.com MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 21 – SEPTEMBER 1 WOMEN PORTRAYING ART (DOCUMENTARY) 29’ Montreal, Canada T E L : (514) 848-3883 FA X : (514) 848-3886 www.ffm-montreal.org VENICE FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 6 Venice, Italy T E L : (39 041) 521 8882 FA X : (39 041) 522 7539 www.labiennale.org VideoAge bonus distribution TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 4-13 CROMOSOMICS (VIDEODANCE) 15’ Toronto, Canada T E L : (416) 967-7371 FA X : (416) 967-9277 www.torontointernationalfilmfestival.ca VideoAge participation LE RENDEZ-VOUS SEPTEMBER 8-12 TWINS - OUTSIDE THE LINE (DOCUMENTARY) 30’ Biarritz, France T E L : (33 1) 4053 2300 FA X : (33 1) 4053 2301 www.tvfrance-intl.com My Two Cents MAIN OFFICES 216 EAST 75TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10021 TEL: (212) 288-3933 FAX: (212) 734-9033 VIDEO AGE WEBSITES: www.videoage.org www.videoagelatino.com I’ m not a religious fundamentalist of any creed, but this U.S. controversy over “decency” on television is becoming indecent. Let me rephrase: The debate over TV “indecency” that went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, is, in my view, really misguided. At the heart of the matter is U.S. TV regulator, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) ruling that punishes broadcasters for airing “fleeting expletives.” The New York Times came out with an editorial against such a ruling, stating: “We hope the Supreme Court does not authorize the FCC to return to its censorial policies.” Well, I disagree with the way the Times sees the crux of the matter. You aliens (everyone not from the U.S. is considered an alien by the U.S. Government) and spacewalkers have to understand that, to Americans, expletives are not just funny, but hysterical. For this reason, many comics, would-be comedians and aspiring humorous people, when stuck with a boring gig (aka, a dud), resort to expletives. One could easily test this truth by simply watching cable/satellite channels, which are not policed by the FCC’s “wash-your-mouth policy.” At the most, some of the more family-friendly channels subscribe to a “watch-your-mouth” doctrine. As soon as stand-up comedians realize that they’re entering into the Pierrot-zone (the reaction obtained with sad, sob stories), they start spitting out expletives as if they were pyrotechnics. And, guess what? People start laughing! Usually, it involves the “F” word. Just say it and the audience, which, until a few minutes earlier was quietly minding its own business (often nursing bottles of beer), will explode in a roar. At this point, once the ball is rolling, the resuscitated comedian starts using the “F” word every other word, managing to make a dull story duller, but apparently more fun. My disagreement with The New York Times derives from the conviction that proxies like the “F” word should not overtake language creativity and a good sense of humor. In this case, the FCC should become not only the interpreter of Congressional laws, but also the Viagra of the creative process. If left to corporate suits, creativity will be reduced to shouting matches among cursing, cussing and swearing (the English language is very rich with these types of terms) individuals. Just see what happened with those unregulated financial institutions involved with sub-rate mortgages! (They flooded the market with “F”-rated bonds). Now, one could argue, why is only broadcast television stuck with this decency of indecency? Indeed, it shouldn’t be. Cable networks that profess to be family channels and have the privilege of being part of basic packages, should fall under this FCC jurisdiction as well. All other networks that are addressing “mature” audiences, and therefore require special subscriber orders, could use all the “F” words they want to entertain their immature audiences. In this case, it is to be expected that “F” word creators are paid by the “I’m looking for a fun, F-word-free comedy act.” number of “F” words they manage to insert in one sentence. Basically, they should be likened to “B” movie artists who are judged by the number of car crashes, blow-ups and the amount of brain matter spattered around by bullets. I’m not impressed by The New York Times’ rationale either. The whole thing started with the broadcast of the 2002 Billboard Music Awards, when singer Cher accepted the prize uttering an expletive, which, as you could imagine, got much laughter. Writers of such shows took note of the response and, predictably, at the next few occasions, managed to get the now infamously famous “F” word into telecasts. Unfortunately, the “F” word stratagem worked, making subsequent awards ceremonies much more laughable than the 2008 Oscars. But while the American public was being entertained by the “F” word, the FCC people were enraged by it, if not outright cussing at it, and declared that, in the future, broadcasting “fleeting expletives” could lead to sizable fines. Clearly, the FCC doesn’t like American people enjoying themselves! At this point, the broadcasters went crying all the way to the U.S. Federal Appeals court, which struck down the FCC’s no “F” word rule. This rule was considered harsh because, in lieu of more creative material, it prevented laughter and, according to The New York Times, it has “done serious damage to free speech.” Recently, the FCC petitioned the Supreme Court to review the Appeals Court ruling and the Court agreed to review it. The FCC rationale is that the indecency rule reflects community standards, but, in my view, it would be more poignant if the FCC would argue before the Court that it should not uphold the ruling in order to protect the public right to be entertained by Dom Serafini squeezing some creative juice out of –– as any spent comedian would say –– that F-- Hollywood. 60 VIDEO • AGE www.videoage.it P.O. 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