International markets
MIPTV

France | Television
 

Background

MIPTV is held in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes during March–April each year and runs for six days. Traditionally the biggest and the strongest of the television markets, MIPTV has evolved as the development deal market where programs are pre-sold to international broadcasters. Sales on completed programs have always been good with major buyer interest in television features, telemovies and mini-series, children's programs and general interest documentaries.

This market is most appropriate for experienced producers seeking pre-sale and development deals. The market attracts the most important European and American broadcasters. For those who are well-prepared, have organised meetings in advance, and have researched the appropriate people to approach, it can be extremely effective. For the documentary producer with a single documentary to sell, MIPTV can be a very frustrating and unproductive experience. The majority of potential buyers are actively working the market as sellers, the demand for one-off documentaries is limited, the lack of a product catalogue can make selling one film extremely difficult, and at a market as high-powered as this, the major buyers are looking to develop long-term relationships with regular suppliers.
 

Registration/Accommodation

Registration forms can be obtained from the Reed Midem Organisation. Hotel accommodation can be arranged through the Reed Midem Organisation on receipt of accreditation forms.

Attendee tips

"We established a project website before the event which housed all our pitch documents, the cross-platform strategy, additional artwork, our trailer and contact details. It was great to be able to direct interested people to the website for more information."

"Stay close to the Palais, as it is so important to be able to dart back and forth from your hotel and have the spontaneity to accept drinks and dinner invitations."

"While the size of the market is overwhelming, the quality is varied. I visited every stand in the Palais and was surprised to see that there was actually a lot of crap."

"It’s good practice to follow up every meeting with an email on return. Don’t expect to walk away with deals – follow up."

"The market remains very receptive to Australian programs in both children’s and adult genres."

"Australian product is highly regarded. There is a great appetite for long-running scripted series or telemovies franchises."

"It is very difficult to attract international distribution for anything unless it has marquee cast. Co-productions continue to be the main focus."

"By targeting six to eight quality meetings I was able to spend time considering, preparing and following up. It’s a much better market strategy than exhausting oneself on too many unprofitable meetings and then arriving home exhausted and wondering whether it had all happened."

"Watch out for dog poo – it’s everywhere."

"Get there a day early. The first three days of the market are the most important."

"Know who you’re pitching to. Keep your dignity."

"Take an old mobile and get a French phone chip for it."

"Don’t have long videos to show people – 3 minutes max."

"Don’t try to sell the licensing, merchandising etc before they have embraced the show and story. Most want fabulous ideas and to know that you can deliver."

"Make the Screen Australia stand your home."

"There was a distinct lack of interest in traditional docs – fewer sales agents and many well aware that Australian broadcasters had moved away from these and that there were difficulties getting presales."

"There was very strong interest in formats. Ideally they had been produced rather than paper formats. This was across drama, reality, food and lifestyle, and kids TV series."

"HD + HD Cam Delivery were a given with buyers."

"Across the market there was receptiveness for key talent for lifestyle/ entertainment programming to be Australian if they were strong personalities. All wanted to view teasers of key talent we were working with."

"Keep concepts simple; find talent that can travel; new ways to tell stories; and to think beyond the TV box. Simple formats were seen to be preferred as return on investment was higher – and can repeat."