PROGRAMME DISTRIBUTION
Today, there is a world market for television. The main players in this market are the producers, distributors, and broadcasters. The phrase that "content is king" has greater relevance with each year that passes. The established channels of networks, syndicated programming, and DVD sale is now augmented by Streaming, Video on Demand, and Internet Distribution. The producer today is in a stronger position to maximize his profits if he creates programming which resonates with the viewers.
Television is revelling in a new golden age of scripted programming. Dramas like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and House of Cards are “unmissable”.
In this new golden age, programmes are paid for in a different way. Subscription channels via cable and the internet have empowered producers to create intricate worlds over several seasons. They’ve drawn viewers into the most improbable and addictive scenarios, such as True Detective, a gruesomely compelling murder mystery starring Woody Harrelson or The Good Wife, about a lawyer’s wife trying to piece her life back together after a sex scandal.
Cleverly, the hit shows win over their audience in stages.
First, they screen to a small, dedicated fan-base of subscribers who have paid for access to the production through cable channels such as Home Box Office (HBO) or streaming internet services such as Netflix.
That generates excitement on social media, so that when the DVD box-set is released, millions are ready to binge-watch, consuming a dozen episodes over a couple of nights.
Add that experience to downloads to mobile devices of “bite size” episodes of, say, 5 minutes each, as well as game applications, and one can see the expanse of revenue streams.
Finally, the series is syndicated to TV channels worldwide. The result is a multi stream wave of income that funds the next visionary hit.
Sales conventions are well established. The MIDEM organisation, which runs the MIP events, started in the 1950s and is now owned by Reed International, the publishing company. Others are just beginning; MIP Asia began in December 1994 in Hong Kong. MIP TV, the longest running of the markets, attracted 400 exhibitors and 9500 participants from 99 countries last year. MIPCOM (International Market for Television, Video, Cable and Satellite Films and Programmes) began life in the early 1980s as an obscure sibling to the long running MIP TV, which is held in Cannes, grew fast to become the second biggest event after MIP TV, and now is a huge meeting of the world's television buyers and sellers. The event attracts over 1700 participating companies and over 8000 individual participants representing 36 countries.
Other markets are the AFM, held in Los Angeles in January, the Monte Carlo market, and the National Association of Television Programming Executives, NATPE (held in the USA in March).
